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September 13, 2024

Al Riyadh Revamped to Recapture Its Former Glory – Saudi Pro League

Riyadh is a sprawling city with over seven million residents, covering a larger area than Rome, Madrid, and London.

In football, standing out in a city dominated by Al Hilal and Al Nassr is no easy feat. Despite its successful history, even Al Shabab, the capital’s oldest football club, often plays third fiddle to these two giants.

Please spare a thought for Al Riyadh, the city’s other professional club, as they strive to make an impact after returning to the Roshn Saudi League last season for the first time in almost two decades.

Success has been elusive in recent years, but in the mid-1990s, Al Riyadh posed a severe challenge to the dominance of the other three Riyadh clubs. During that period, Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Shabab had claimed every league title from 1987 to 1996.

Remarkably, Al Riyadh disrupted the dominance of the big three during the 1993-94 season, securing second place in the regular season, just five points behind Al Hilal. Guided by club legend Fahd Al Hamdan, who scored 14 goals that campaign, they narrowly missed out against Al Nassr in the play-off final, the league format at that time. However, they did manage to claim the Crown Prince Cup that season.

The following season, Al Riyadh came closer to the top, finishing just two points behind Al Hilal. However, they ended up in third place as Al Ettifaq took second on goal difference. Al Hamdan was once again a standout performer with 15 goals. Still, his team fell to local rivals Al Hilal in the semi-final before securing a 4-0 victory over Al Ettifaq in the third-place play-off.

During what was a golden era for the club, Al Riyadh also found success both continentally and regionally. They reached the semi-finals of the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995 and repeated this feat in the Arab Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995 and 1996. Their domestic achievements were further highlighted on the international stage, with three of their players representing Saudi Arabia in the Kingdom’s FIFA World Cup debut in 1994.

However, the success lasted briefly, as Al Riyadh slipped to ninth place in the 1995-96 season. Despite achieving consecutive fifth-place finishes around the turn of the century, the club faced relegation at the end of the 2004-05 season. They stayed out of the top flight until finally securing promotion for the 2023-24 campaign.

Understandably, their first season back in the top flight focused on survival. Al Riyadh concentrated on staying afloat and establishing a foundation for future campaigns.

In reality, they barely managed to do so. Throughout the second half of the season, Al Riyadh remained just above the relegation zone, fully aware that a few poor results could see them drop. They ultimately secured safety, finishing three points clear of the relegation zone and earning a second consecutive season in the RSL.

Having cleared this initial hurdle, Al Riyadh approached the off-season and recent transfer window more aggressively. This shift indicates their ambition to achieve more than just survival. It signals a desire to return to the heights of their successful nineties era.

The process began with a coaching change, as former French international and Cardiff City manager Sabri Lamouchi took charge. As the summer transfer window closed, the distinguished Frenchman managed a comprehensive overhaul of the squad, dramatically reshaping its profile in one decisive move.

Despite other clubs’ interest, Al Riyadh secured Bernard Mensah, one of last season’s standout players. The Ghanaian forward, who scored 14 goals for the relegated Al Tai, was a major signing and a significant coup for the capital club.

Their pursuit of players from relegated teams continued; they also acquired Al Hazem’s dynamic midfield duo of Faiz Selemani and Toze. Both players are expected to thrive under Lamouchi’s guidance.

Lamouchi and the club’s leadership explored various options, focusing on enhancing the squad overall, making them one of the most active clubs during the transfer window. They brought in veteran Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan to provide experience at the back, along with former Queens Park Rangers defender Yoann Barbet.

The stylish Lucas Kal and the promising Iraqi international Ibrahim Bayesh add strength and finesse to the midfield. Burkina Faso international Mohamed Konate, who joined after five seasons with Akhmat Grozny in Russia, is expected to complement Mensah at the forefront of the attack.

Early indications are, indeed, promising.

In the opening match of the 2024-25 season, Kal’s stunning goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time earned Al Riyadh a 3-3 draw away at Al Wehda. In their next game at home, they secured a well-deserved 3-1 victory over newly promoted Al Kholood, showcasing the strength of their attack. Bayesh scored the goal that put the hosts 2-1 ahead, setting them on the path to victory.

The strong start has Al Riyadh in sixth place on the table, their highest position since the early 2000s. While the season is still young, the early signs are promising.

However, after the FIFA international break, Al Riyadh faced its most formidable challenge yet: a Riyadh derby against an Al Hilal team that hadn’t lost in the Roshn Saudi League 2024 for 16 months. Will Al Riyadh be able to demonstrate that this city, specifically its own red and black, also has a claim to dominance?

The signs are promising, based on a savvy summer transfer window and the first two match weeks of the season.

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