Get to know Roshn Saudi League’s Al Hilal: Saudi Arabia giants who sweep up silverware across the continent, featuring household names like Al Dawsari, Ighalo and Carrillo
Al Hilal are a football club that requires little introduction.
Saudi Arabia’s most-successful side are also the defending champions of the AFC Champions League, a title they hope to retain when they face Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in late April and early May.
Plus, they recently made history by becoming the first Asian nation to make the FIFA Club World Cup decider and provided nine out of 11 starters when Saudi Arabia defeated eventual-winners Argentina in FIFA World Cup 2022’s group stage.
Find out all about them below:
THE PLAYERS
There’s no shortage of headline acts in the Al Hilal squad, with the club boasting a sizeable contingent of the Saudi Arabia national team.
Salem Al Dawsari is a high-profile domestic player, with his own star having shot to prominence at last year’s FIFA World Cup with his stunning clincher against Argentina.
Just as important to Al Hilal are the midfield duo of Salman Al Faraj and Mohamed Kanno, while players like Mohammed Al Owais, Yasser Al Shahrani, Saleh Al Shehri and Mohammed Al Breik are all experienced internationals.
Odion Ighalo and Andre Carrillo both possess Premier League experience with Watford, while Mali international Moussa Marega became a household name for Porto during five seasons.
At the back, Jang Hyun-soo is the latest in a long line of South Korean players to call Al Hilal home, following in the footsteps of the likes of Lee Young-pyo and Kwak Tae-hwi.
THE COACH
Argentine Ramon Diaz, a legend of River Plate in his homeland, is no stranger to Al Hilal, having worked at the club for 18 months from 2016 to the start of 2018.
During his first stint in charge, Diaz won the 2016/17 Saudi Pro League title and 2017 King’s Cup, as well as making the final of the 2017 AFC Champions League.
Coaxed back at the start of 2022, he guided them to another SPL title and another AFC Champions League final, not to mention the FIFA Club World Cup’s decider.
2022/23 SEASON
Al Hilal have been fighting for glory on all fronts.
Domestically, they sit fourth in Roshn Saudi League and are into the King’s Cup semi-finals. They also had great success at the FIFA Club World Cup, where they beat Wydad Casablanca and Flamengo en route to the final against Real Madrid.
In the AFC Champions League, they hammered Qatar’s Al Duhail 7-1 in the semi-finals.
THE HISTORY
There are few clubs that can match the history and success of Al Hilal.
Founded in 1957, they boast a record 18 Saudi Pro League titles, including winning five of the last six.
When added to their nine King’s Cup titles and four continental titles, their trophy cabinet is bursting at the seams.
It’s not just about the trophies, however. The success of Al Hilal is as much about the players wearing their famous blue kit and over the years they’ve boasted some of the region’s biggest names – the likes of Sami Al Jaber, Nawaf Al Temyat, Ali Al Habsi and Omar Abdulrahman to name just a few.
THE STADIUM
Al Hilal split their home games between the legendary King Fahd International Stadium and smaller Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium.
Famous across Asia for their vociferous supporters, the King Fahd International Stadium in particular has played host to some of Al Hilal’s biggest matches, including all their recent AFC Champions League finals. Both stadiums are being redeveloped for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.