The Saudi Pro League was first competed in 1976. A total of 38 clubs have played in the topflight of Saudi Arabian football, with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr featuring in every season.
From a sports betting perspective, this league has been an afterthought for most in Europe, but that looks set to change with extraordinary investment.
While European football fans might have not paid a great deal of attention to the Pro League, Saudi Arabia’s teams have often been competitive in AFC Champions League football betting.
As of 2023, only South Korea has provided finalists for the AFC Champions League more frequently than Saudi Arabia.
Who Are The Most Successful Teams In Saudi Arabia?
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Al-Hilal – 18 Saudi Pro League Titles
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Al-Ittihad – 9 Saudi Pro League Titles
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Al-Nassr – 9 Saudi Pro League Titles
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Al-Shabab – 6 Saudi Pro League Titles
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Al-Ahli – 3 Saudi Pro League Titles
Saudi Arabian football was competed on a regional basis until the 1970s. At first, just eight teams took part in the Pro League. Over the years, the league’s structure has changed numerous times.
It is relatively recent that they have adopted the standard league, double-round-robin format. The league increased from 16 to 18 teams for the 2023-24 season.
It is no surprise to see the biggest Saudi Arabia football clubs feature on this list. Without further ado, here are the five most successful teams in the history of the Saudi Pro League…
Al-Ahli – 3 Titles
One of the founding members of the Pro League, Al-Ahli suffered a surprise relegation in 2021-22, but bounced back to the topflight at the first time of asking.
The club followed that up by signing one of the best African players in Premier League history in Edouard Mendy and Liverpool star striker Roberto Firmino.
Between 2014-15 and 2017-18, Al-Ahli finished in the top two in four consecutive seasons, picking up the third of their three league titles in 2015-16 behind a 27-goal effort from Omar Al Somah.
Their two previous titles were won in 1977-78 and 1983-84. They are also two-time runners-up in the AFC Champions League.
The Jeddah-based club are one of five teams to have been involved in all but one of the Saudi Pro League seasons played so far.
Al-Shabab – 6 Titles
Top-two finishers just once since 2012, Al-Shabab won their first three titles in a row in the 1990s.
They then picked up a further two in in the 2000s before finishing in top spot in 2012. The White Lion have a best effort of the last four in the AFC Champions League.
Over its history, Al-Shabab has leaned heavily on South America with the majority of their managers coming from Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay, even hiring Luiz Felipe Scolari for a brief stint in the 1980s.
That attraction to South American football has been replicated on the field, including the signing of Ever Banega in 2020.
Al-Nassr – 9 Titles
The joint-second most successful team in Saudi Pro League history shot to worldwide fame in late 2022 with their controversial signing of football prediction stalwart Cristiano Ronaldo.
The club had already acquired a couple of players from Europe, and have since added former Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
Al-Nassr won three titles in six years between 2013-14 and 2018-19. The club has generally picked up trophies at a consistent rate throughout its existence, aside from a 19-year league title drought between the mid-1990s and 2010s.
They were Champions League runners-up in 1995 and have frequently reached the knockout stages in recent years.
The club has often been involved with recognisable names, even before signing Anderson Talisca, Luis Gustavo and Ronaldo.
René Higuita, Fabio Cannavaro, Walter Zenga and Rudi Garcia feature on their list of previous managers.
Al-Ittihad – 9 Titles
Winning their ninth title in 2022-23, Al-Ittihad joined Al-Nassr in second place here. The club from Jeddah had not won the Pro League in 14 years after claiming five of their nine league crowns between 2000 and 2009.
Their two Champions League triumphs also came during that period, going back-to-back in 2004 and 2005.
In the news in 2023 after adding N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema, Al-Ittihad are no strangers to the spotlight, having had Roberto Donadoni pull on their colours over two decades ago.
Wilfried Bony, Jared Borgetti, Wilfried Bony and Dejan Petković have also represented the club. At the time of writing, former Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is at the helm having led the club to the Saudi Pro League title in 2023.
Other previous managers include Henk ten Cate, Slaven Bilic, Ossie Ardiles and Anghel Iordănescu.
Al-Hilal – 18 Titles
Long among the most successful clubs in world football, Al-Hilal have won double as many Pro League titles as any other club at the time of writing.
The 2022-23 season was the first time they finished outside the top two since 2003-04. Prior to their threepeat between 2020 and 2022, Al-Hilal had not had many periods of sustained dominance.
Rather, the club has consistently been in the mix – they have not placed outside the top three since 2013-14.
It’s no coincidence that they also hold the record with four AFC Champions League wins, and their tally of 10 final appearances is far ahead of any other club.
Ali Al-Habsi, one of the best Asian players in Premier League history, had a two-year stint with Al-Hilal in the late 2010s.
Of course, many other recognisable names have pulled on the jersey, including Moussa Marega and Sebastian Giovinco. Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves were two of their high-profile signings in 2023.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
