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The 2009–10 Saudi Professional League (known as the Zain Professional League for sponsorship reasons) was the 34th season of the
Saudi Professional League The Saudi Pro League (SPL for short) ( ar, دوري المحترفين السعودي, link=no, ''Dawriyy al-Muḥtarifayni as-Suʿūdī''), known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL for short) for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of associat ...
, the top Saudi professional league for
association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
clubs, since its establishment in
1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...
. The season began on 18 August 2009, and ended on 18 March 2010.
Al-Ittihad Al-Ittihad (Arabic: الاتحاد "The Union"), sometimes transliterated as Al-Etihad or Al-Ettihad may refer to: Sports Football Libya *Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli), a football club based in Bab Ben Gashier * Al Ittihad Gheryan, a football club bas ...
were the defending champions. Al-Hilal secured the title with a 2–0 win away to Al-Hazem on 24 January 2010. Al-Hilal won the league with three games to spare. Al-Hilal,
Al-Ittihad Al-Ittihad (Arabic: الاتحاد "The Union"), sometimes transliterated as Al-Etihad or Al-Ettihad may refer to: Sports Football Libya *Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli), a football club based in Bab Ben Gashier * Al Ittihad Gheryan, a football club bas ...
, Al-Shabab and
Al-Nassr Al Nassr Football Club ( ar, نادي النصر السعودي; '' Naṣr'' meaning ''Victory'') is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955, the club plays its home games at the Mrsool Park. Their home colours are yello ...
all secured a berth for the
2011 AFC Champions League The 2011 AFC Champions League was the 30th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 9th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winners, Al-Sadd qualified for ...
. No teams were relegated at the end of the season following the decision to increase the number of teams from 12 to 14.


Name sponsorship

On 16 June 2009, the Saudi Professional League announced a sponsorship with telecommunication company Zain. As part of the sponsorship deal the Saudi Professional League would be known as the Zain Professional League for the next 4 seasons.


Qualification and Prize Money

The League champions, runners-up and third-placed team, as well as the winners of the
King Cup of Champions The King Cup (sometimes spelled King's), officially known as The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Cup ( ar, كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين), is the Saudi Arabian football knockout cup competition, run by the Saudi Arabian Footb ...
, qualify for the
2011 AFC Champions League The 2011 AFC Champions League was the 30th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 9th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winners, Al-Sadd qualified for ...
. The top six teams, and the
Crown Prince Cup The Saudi Crown Prince's Cup ( ar, كأس ولي العهد) was the Saudi Arabian annual cup competition. It was the oldest domestic football competition in Saudi Arabia, its first edition was held in 1956–57, but was not crowned from 1975 unti ...
winners and runners-up qualify for
King Cup of Champions The King Cup (sometimes spelled King's), officially known as The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Cup ( ar, كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين), is the Saudi Arabian football knockout cup competition, run by the Saudi Arabian Footb ...
. * Prize money: ** First place: 2.5 million Saudi Riyals ** Second place: 1.5 million Saudi Riyals ** Third place: 1 million Saudi Riyals


Teams

Twelve teams competed in the league – the top nine teams from the previous season, the relegation play-off winner and the two teams promoted from the First Division. Al-Raed defeated
Abha Abha ( ar, أَبْهَا, ') is the capital of 'Asir Region in Saudi Arabia, with a population of 1,093,705 as of 2021. It is situated above sea level in the fertile Asir Mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia, near Asir National Park. Abh ...
4–3 on aggregate to confirm their top-flight status. The promoted teams were Al-Qadisiyah (returning after a season's absence) and Al-Fateh (playing top-flight football for the first time ever). They replaced
Abha Abha ( ar, أَبْهَا, ') is the capital of 'Asir Region in Saudi Arabia, with a population of 1,093,705 as of 2021. It is situated above sea level in the fertile Asir Mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia, near Asir National Park. Abh ...
(relegated after a season's presence) and Al-Watani (ending their two-year top-flight spell).


Stadiums and locations


Personnel


Managerial changes


Foreign players

The number of foreign players is restricted to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.


League table


Results


Season statistics


Scoring


Top scorers


Hat-tricks

;Notes 4 Player scored 4 goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team


Most assists


Clean sheets


Discipline


Player

* Most yellow cards: 8 ** Ramzi Ben Younès (Al-Fateh) * Most red cards: 2 ** Abdullah Al-Garni (Al-Nassr) ** Zakaria Al-Hadaf (Al-Qadsiah) ** Mansoor Al-Harbi (Al-Ahli) ** Ahmed Menawer (Al-Hazem)


Club

* Most yellow cards: 56 ** Al-Hazem * Most red cards: 8 ** Al-Ittihad


Awards


Arriyadiyah and Mobily Awards for Sports Excellence

The Arriyadiyah and
Mobily Etihad Etisalat Company ( ar, شركة إتحاد إتصالات) is a Saudi Arabian telecommunications services company that offers fixed line, mobile telephony, and Internet services under the brand name Mobily ( ar, موبايلي). The co ...
Awards for Sports Excellence were awarded at the conclusion of the season for the fourth time since its inception in 2007. The awards were sponsored by Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah and Saudi telecommunication company
Mobily Etihad Etisalat Company ( ar, شركة إتحاد إتصالات) is a Saudi Arabian telecommunications services company that offers fixed line, mobile telephony, and Internet services under the brand name Mobily ( ar, موبايلي). The co ...
. The awards were presented on 13 May 2010.


Al-Riyadiya Awards

Another set of awards were awarded at the end of the season. It was announced that Al-Riyadiya were presenting their awards for the first time. The awards were known as Al-Riyadiya Awards and were presented on 8 May 2010. *Best Goalkeeper: Waleed Abdullah (Al-Shabab) *Best Defender:
Osama Hawsawi Osama Hawsawi ( ar, أسامة هوساوي, born 31 March 1984) is a retired Saudi Arabian Association football, footballer who played as a central defender. After starting out at Al-Wehda, he went on to spend the vast majority of his career w ...
(Al-Hilal) *Best Midfielder: Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal) *Best Attacker:
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Sahlawi ( ar, محمد ابراهيم محمد السهلاوي; born 10 January 1987) is a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who plays as a striker. Al-Sahlawi won the best player of the league twice in a row in ...
(Al-Nassr) *Player of the Year:
Osama Hawsawi Osama Hawsawi ( ar, أسامة هوساوي, born 31 March 1984) is a retired Saudi Arabian Association football, footballer who played as a central defender. After starting out at Al-Wehda, he went on to spend the vast majority of his career w ...
(Al-Hilal)


See also

* 2010 King Cup of Champions * 2009–10 Crown Prince Cup (
Final Final, Finals or The Final may refer to: * Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event ** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of con ...
)
*
2011 AFC Champions League The 2011 AFC Champions League was the 30th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 9th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winners, Al-Sadd qualified for ...


References


External links


Saudi Arabia Football Federation

Saudi League Statistics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saudi Professional League 2009-10 2009–10 in Asian association football leagues
Professional League Professional sports, Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are one that developed in Europe, characterized by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation in order to determine participati ...