Saudi Pro League (Saudi Arabia)
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) is the top-tier professional football league in Saudi Arabia.
Established in 1976, it has grown into one of Asia’s most competitive and financially powerful leagues,
especially following the massive investment program launched in 2023.
History and facts
The Saudi Pro League was founded in 1976 and has been dominated historically by clubs such as Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli.
In 2023, the league became globally recognized after signing world-class stars like Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad), Neymar Jr (Al-Hilal), Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr), Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), and Sergej Milinković-Savić (Al-Hilal).
Saudi clubs have also succeeded in Asia, with Al-Hilal being the most successful club in AFC Champions League history.
League system
The Saudi Pro League is the top tier and features 18 clubs.
Promotion and relegation occur with the second-tier Saudi First Division League.
Table 1. Saudi football league pyramid
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Saudi Pro League | 1 |
| Saudi First Division League | 2 |
| Saudi Second Division | 3 |
| Saudi Third Division | 4 |
Below Tier 4, the system includes regional amateur divisions.
Stats
Teams with most Saudi Pro League titles
Table 2. Most SPL titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Al-Hilal | 18 |
| Al-Ittihad | 9 |
| Al-Nassr | 9 |
| Al-Ahli | 3 |
| Al-Shabab | 6 |
Al-Hilal is the dominant force in Saudi and Asian football.
Teams with most top-division participation
Table 3. Clubs with most seasons in the top division
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Al-Hilal | 40+ |
| Al-Ittihad | 40+ |
| Al-Nassr | 40+ |
| Al-Ahli | 40+ |
| Al-Shabab | 40+ |
These big five clubs have participated in nearly every SPL season.
Audience
Stadium capacities
Table 4. Major SPL stadiums
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Hilal | King Fahd International Stadium | 68,752 |
| Al-Ittihad | King Abdullah Sports City | 62,345 |
| Al-Nassr | Mrsool Park | 25,000 |
| Al-Ahli | Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium | 27,000 |
| Al-Shabab | Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium | 22,188 |
Players
Famous players in SPL history
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Neymar Jr
- Karim Benzema
- Sadio Mané
- Rúben Neves
- Sergej Milinković-Savić
- Roberto Firmino
- Yassine Bounou
- Kalidou Koulibaly
Saudi Pro League timeline
1976
Saudi Pro League is officially founded.
1990
Professionalism expands and major clubs dominate the league.
2011
Saudi clubs gain strong presence in AFC Champions League.
2023
Global superstars join the SPL under new investment program.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Pro_League
https://spl.com.sa
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Pro_League
https://spl.com.sa
https://www.rsssf.org
