Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

The Prince Mohammad bin Salman League (often referred to as the MS League for short), also called the Saudi First Division is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. The Prince Mohammad bin Salman League is ranked below the Saudi Professional League and above the Saudi Second Division in the Saudi Arabian football league system. All of the MS League clubs qualify for the King Cup, the annual Saudi Cup competition. Abha are the most recent champions winning their first title during the 2018–19 season.

Prince Mohammad bin Salman League
Organising bodySaudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded1976 (1976)
CountrySaudi Arabia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toProfessional League
Relegation toSecond Division
Domestic cup(s)King Cup
Current championsAbha (1st title)
(2018–19 season)
Most championshipsHajer
Al-Wehda
(4 titles each)
TV partnersKSA Sports
2019–20 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

The number of clubs in the league have changed throughout history, most recently in the 2018–19 season when the number of clubs increased from 16 to 20. Since 2018 three clubs from the MS League are directly promoted to the Pro League, while a fourth club can be promoted through play-offs, on the other hand, four clubs are directly relegated to the Second Division.[1]

Hajer and Al-Wehda hold the record number of championships in the league with four. While Ohod holds the record for number of promotions from the MS League to the Pro League, nine.[2]

Promotion and relegation

The top three teams are promoted to the Professional League directly, and the fourth-placed team will qualify for the promotion play-offs against the team which finishes 13th in Professional League. The bottom four teams are relegated to the Second Division.

List of teams (2018–19 season)

For details on the MS League 2018–19 season, see here.

Locations of teams in the 2017–18 Saudi First Division
Team Location Stadium Capacity
AbhaAbhaPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium20,000[3]
Al-AdalhAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[4]
Al-AinAl-AtawilahKing Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)10,000[5]
Al-AnsarMedinaAl-Ansar Club Stadium5,000[6]
Al-JabalainHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium12,000[7]
Al-JeelAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[4]
Al-KawkabAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200[8]
Al-KhaleejSaihatPrince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Stadium10,000[9]
Al-MujazzalAl-Majma'ahAl-Majma'ah City Stadium5,200[10]
Al-NahdaDammamPrince Fahd bin Salman Stadium21,701[11]
Al-NojoomAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[4]
Al-OrobahSakakahAl-Oruba Club Stadium7,000[12]
Al-QaisumahQaisumahAl-Batin Club Stadium6,000[13]
Al-ShoullaAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200[8]
Al-TaiHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium12,000[7]
Al-WashmShaqraaAl-Washm Club Stadium3,670[14]
DamacKhamis MushaitDamac Club Stadium3,556[15]
HajerAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 19,096[4]
JeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City1,000[16]
NajranNajranPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 20,000[3]

League rules

Since the 2018–19 season the number of foreign players in the league was increased from 3 to 7.[17] Seven substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which three can be used in the duration of the game.

Club performances

Promotions by season
Al-Najma vs Al-Riyadh in 2010–11 Saudi First Division
Season Winners Runners-up
1976–77 Al-Ettifaq Al-Nahda
1977–78 Al-Riyadh Al-Tai
1978–79 Al-Shabab Ohod
1979–80 Al-Jabalain Al-Riyadh
1980–81 Ohod Al-Rawdhah
1981–82
Not held1
1982–83 Al-Wehda Al-Riyadh
1983–84 Ohod Al-Jabalain
1984–85 Al-Tai Al-Kawkab
1985–86 Al-Ansar Al-Raed
1986–87 Al-Kawkab Ohod
1987–88 Hajer Al-Rawdhah
1988–89 Al-Riyadh Al-Raed
1989–90 Al-Najma Al-Arabi
1990–91 Al-Nahda Ohod
1991–92 Al-Raed Al-Najma
1992–93 Al-Nahda Ohod
1993–94 Al-Najma Al-Rawdhah
1994–95 Al-Tai Al-Taawoun
1995–96 Al-Wehda Al-Ansar
1996–97 Al-Taawoun Al-Shoulla
Season Winners Runners-up
1997–98 Hajer Al-Ansar
1998–99 Sdoos Al-Raed
1999–2000 Al-Ansar Al-Qadsiah
2000–01 Al-Tai Al-Shoulla
2001–02 Al-Qadsiah Al-Raed
2002–03 Al-Wehda Al-Khaleej
2003–04 Ohod Al-Ansar
2004–05 Al-Hazem Abha
2005–06 Al-Khaleej Al-Faisaly
2006–07 Al-Watani Najran
2007–08 Al-Raed Abha
2008–09 Al-Qadsiah Al Fateh
2009–10 Al-Faisaly Al-Taawoun
2010–11 Hajer Al-Ansar
2011–12 Al-Shoulla Al-Wehda
2012–13 Al-Orobah Al-Nahda
2013–14 Hajer Al-Khaleej
2014–15 Al-Qadsiah Al-Wehda
2015–16 Al-Ettifaq Al-Batin
2016–17 Al-Fayha Ohod
2017–18 Al-Wehda Al-Hazem
Season Winners Runners-up
2018–19 Abha Damac
Note
1First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82.

Performance by club
Club Winners Winning years
Hajer
4
 1988, 1998, 2011, 2014
Al-Wehda
4
 1983, 1996, 2003, 2018
Al-Tai
3
 1985, 1995, 2001
Ohod
3
 1981, 1984, 2004
Al-Qadsiah
3
 2002, 2009, 2015
Al-Riyadh
2
 1978, 1989
Al-Nahda
2
 1991, 1993
Al-Najma
2
 1990, 1994
Al-Ansar
2
 1986, 2000
Al-Raed
2
 1992, 2008
Al-Ettifaq
2
 1977, 2016
Al-Shabab
1
 1979
Al-Jabalin
1
 1980
Al-Kawkab
1
 1987
Al-Taawoun
1
 1997
Sdoos
1
 1999
Al-Hazm
1
 2005
Al-Khaleej
1
 2006
Al-Watani
1
 2007
Al-Faisaly
1
 2010
Al-Shoulla
1
 2012
Al-Orobah
1
 2013
Al-Fayha
1
 2017
Abha
1
 2019

Top scorers
Nat. Top Scorers Club Season Goals
Mashari Al-Enezi Al-Tai 2017–2018 21
Abdulfattah Adam Al Jeel 2016–2017 20
Abdulfattah Adam Al Jeel 2015–2016 20
Mousa Madkhali Al-Wehda 2014–2015 20
Hamad Al-Juhaim Al-Ta'ee 2013–2014 20
Mousa Madkhali Hetten 2012–2013 22
Younes Alaiwi Al-Batin 2011–2012 21
Hussain Al-Turki Khaleej 2010–2011 20
Hussain Al-Turki Khaleej 2009–2010 16

 Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
Mohammad Alhelo		 Al-Qadsiah
Sdoos		 2008–2009 15[18]
Khalid Al Rejaib Hajer 2007–2008 9
Al Hasan Al-Yami Najran 2006–2007 20
Mubarak Al Khaleefah Khaleej 2005–2006 18
Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2004–2005 19
Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2003–2004 15
Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2002–2003 16
Mohammed Manga Sdoos 2001–2002 12[19]
Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2000–2001 14
Mohammed Harshan Najran 1999–2000 11
Mubarak Al Khaleefah Al-Rawdhah 1998–1999 13[20]
1997–1998
Mousa Sahab Al-Taawoun 1996–1997
Obeid Al-Dosari Al-Wehda 1995–1996
Yehey Jako Al-Ta'ee 1994–1995 11[21]
Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 1993–1994 15
Hamzah Idris Ohod 1992–93 10


 Sulaiman Al Hadaithi
Mohamed Al Khalifa
Nasser Al-Qahtani		 Al-Najma
Hajer
Al-Rawdhah		 1991–1992 11
Ahmed Al-Zaaq Al-Taawoun 1990–1991 11

 Khalid Al-Mansour
Hamzah Idris		 Al-Arabi
Ohod		 1989–1990 11
Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 1988–1989 14

 Khalid Al-Mansour
Fahd Al Hamdan		 Al-Arabi
Al-Riyadh		 1987–1988 11
Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 1986–1987 16
Abdullah Al Saab Al-Fayha 1985–1986 8[22]
Walid Sharqi Al-Ansar 1984–1985
Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed Damac 1983–1984 11
Shaye Al-Nafisah Al-Kawkab 1982–1983 12
1981–1982

1First Division and Premier League were merged
1980–1981
Daran Al Daran Al-Jabalain 1979–1980 16[23]
1978–1979
1977–1978
1976–1977

See also
  • Saudi Arabia Football Federation

References
  1. تنفيذاً لقرار مجلس ادارة الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم بزيادة عدد الأندية في الموسم المقبل: (in Arabic). SAFF. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. "سجل الفائزين". Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  3. "استاد مدينة الأمير سلطان بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية (المحالة)". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  4. "www.slstat.com/spl2016-2017en/stadium.php?id=7". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  5. "استاد مدينة الملك سعود الرياضية". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  6. "ملعب نادي الأنصار". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  7. "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  8. "www.slstat.com/spl2014-2015en/stadium.php?id=19". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  9. http://www.kooora.com/?showstadiums=1&stadium=4429
  10. "www.slstat.com/spl2016-2017en/stadium.php?id=11". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  11. "استاد الأمير محمد بن فهد". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  12. "www.slstat.com/spl2013-2014en/stadium.php?id=20". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  13. "www.slstat.com/spl2016-2017en/stadium.php?id=25". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  14. "ملعب نادي الوشم". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  15. https://sabq.org/بالصور-عبدالله-بن-مساعد-يفتتح-منشأة-نادي-ضمك-بتكلفة-مليون-ريال
  16. "www.slstat.com/spl2015-2016en/stadium.php?id=24". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  17. "10 ملايين و7 أجانب في دوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان". 24 February 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  18. alriyadh 12 May 2009 issue 14932 (in Arabic)
  19. Al Jazirah 30 Mar 2002 issue 10775 (in Arabic)
  20. Al Jazirah 5 Mar 1999 issue 9654 (in Arabic)
  21. Al Jazirah 2 Apr 1995 issue 8211 (in Arabic)
  22. Al Jazirah 7 Mar 1986 issue 4908 (in Arabic)
  23. Al Jazirah 7 April 1980 issue 2819 (in Arabic)
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