Al-Wahda Sports Club ( ar, نادي الوحدة الرياضي) is a

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

n multi-sports club based in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

. It is mostly known for its

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly ...

and

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

teams. The football team plays in Syria's top competition, the

Syrian Premier League The Syrian Premier League ( ar, الدوري السوري الممتاز) is a professional association football league in Syria and the top division in of the Syrian football league system. The league comprises 12 teams and operates on a system ...

. Al-Wahda SC was founded in 1928 and its colours are orange and white. They play their home games at the

Al-Jalaa Stadium Al-Jalaa Stadium ( ar, مَلْعَب ٱلْجَلَاء, Malʿab al-Jalāʾ, English: Liberation Stadium) is a multi-use stadium in Damascus, Syria, currently used mostly for football matches. It is also home to Syrian Premier League clubs Al-W ...

. The club is nicknamed ''The Damascene orange.'' The club has one of Syria's most prominent football charts, as it won the

2 times, the

Syrian Cup The Syrian Cup ( ar, سوريا) is Syria's premier knockout Cup tournament in men's football. It was first contested in 1959. Al-Ittihad SC has won the competition on 10 occasions. The final was first played in the 1960-61 season during the UAR ...

8 times and the

Syrian Super Cup The Syrian Super Cup ( ar, كأس السوبر السوري) is a Syrian association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Syrian Premier League and the winners of the Syrian Cup. It was first played in 1982, after ...

3 times. Internationally, Al-Wahda biggest achievement is participation in the final of the

2004 AFC Cup The 2004 AFC Cup was the first edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation. Qualification The 'developing' 14 nations in the Asian Football Confederation were invited to nominat ...

. Al-Wahda SC have competed in the

AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League (abbreviated as ACL) is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's top-division football clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition ...

group stage as first Syrian club in history and have reached the knockout rounds of the

AFC Cup The AFC Cup is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Under its current rules, the competition is played primarily between clubs from nations that did not receive direct qualifying ...

four times, as well as reaching the round of 32 at the

Arab Club Champions Cup The Arab Club Champions Cup ( ar, كأس العرب للأندية الأبطال, french: Ligue des Champions Arabe) is an annual regional club football competition organised by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) and contested by eli ...

twice.

History

Founded in 1928, Al Wahda is one of the oldest clubs in the

Arab world The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western A ...

. Previous names for the club include Al Ghouta, and Qasioun (named after

Mount Qasioun Mount Qasioun ( ar, جَبَل قَاسِيُون, transliterated as Jabal Qāsiyūn) is a mountain overlooking the city of Damascus, Syria. It has a range of restaurants, from which the whole city can be viewed. As the city has expanded over the ...

which overlooks the city of Damascus). Ahmed Ezzat Rifai is the original founder of this club. He met with a group of friends in Souq Saruja, Damascus to discuss setting up a new sports club, and they agreed to found the club and named it Qasioun. The club was officially opened in 1928 and hosted a series of sports, including football and weightlifting.

The "Golden Era"

Nenad Stavrić is a Serbian coach who joined Al-Wahda club in 2001. He started with two losses against Al-Horriya and Al-Karamah followed with draw with Al-Jaish, the team had to wait until the fifth week of the season to achieve their first win with the new coach. The team finished the league in the third place. In his second year the team had a big improvement In the level of performance especially with the new formation 4–4–2 which was the first time ever a Syrian team to use it, in the beginning the results was awful with the new formation especially the big defeat against the Saudi Arabia champion Al-Ittihad Jeddah seven to nothing in the Arabian club tournament, but after that the team keep improving to win the

in 2003 against

Al-Ittihad Aleppo Al-Ittihad Sports Club of Aleppo ( ar, نادي الاتحاد الرياضي الحلبي) is a professional multi-sports club based in the Syrian city of Aleppo, mostly known for its football team which competes in the Syrian Premier League ...

after a dramatic match 5–3. In the next season he made the dream true and Al-Wahda is the 2003–04

Syrian League The Syrian Premier League ( ar, الدوري السوري الممتاز) is a professional association football league in Syria and the top division in of the Syrian football league system. The league comprises 12 teams and operates on a system ...

champion for the first time in the club history, also the team reached the final of

and lost against the other Syrian side Al-Jaish after losing the first game 2–3 and winning the second game 1–0. In 2004–05 the team was too close to win the title again but it lost it in the last few weeks with missing a key players along the season with major injury. The curse of injuries continued in the following season but even though the team was closer than the year before to clinch the title. The chairman of the club Khaled Hbobaty decided to replace him with Mansoor Haj Saied and the club entered the black tunnel for several years and remains so to this day.

Stadiums

Al-Jalaa Stadium

is located in

Mazzeh Mezzeh ( ar, ٱلْمَزَّة, al-Mazzah, also transcribed as al-Mazzah, el-Mezze, etc.) is a municipality in Damascus, Syria, due west of Kafr Sousa. It lies to the southwest of central Damascus, along the Mezzeh highway (also known as Fayez ...

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

, Syria. The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate around 10,000 spectators, together with a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests.

Abbasiyyin Stadium

Al-Wahda formerly played their home games at their own ground,

Abbasiyyin Stadium The Abbasiyyin Stadium ( ar, مَلْعَب ٱلْعَبَّاسِيِّين, Malʿab al-ʿAbbāsīyīn) is a multi-use all-seater stadium in Damascus, Syria, currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home venue of the Syrian n ...

, but maintenance deficiencies prevented the club from using the stadium. As a consequence,

replaced it as the official home ground.

Supporters and rivalries

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Al-Wahda has established itself as adored by the masses of the capital and all of Syria, reaching the third place among the clubs in the Arab world. Al-Wahda's supporters are called the "Crazy Orange" Ultras, and they emerged as an organized group around 2017. The biggest rival of the club is Al-Jaish SC, with whom they play the Damascus city derby. Other big rivalries are with

Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo Al-Ittihad Sports Club of Aleppo ( ar, نادي الاتحاد الرياضي الحلبي) is a professional multi-sports club based in the Syrian city of Aleppo, mostly known for its football team which competes in the Syrian Premier League, ...

Al-Karamah SC Al-Karamah SC ( ar, نادي الكرامة الرياضي) is a Syrian professional football club based in the city of Homs. Founded in 1928, it is considered to be one of Asia's oldest sporting clubs. The club has won eight Syrian League titl ...

or Tishreen SC.

Colours and kits

The club's home jersey is based on the orange color that, in addition to the Damascus sword monument located on

Umayyad Square Umayyad Square ( ar, ساحة الأمويين / ALA-LC: ''sāḥat al-Umawiyīn'') is a large and important square in Damascus, Syria. It connects the city center with several important highways and areas and contains various important buildings ...

and Damascene

Jasmine Jasmine ( taxonomic name: ''Jasminum''; , ) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. Jasmines are widely culti ...

, the club has had in its emblem since its foundation. Away jerseys are white with orange edges.

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

Honours

Domestic

: 2 ::Winners: 2003–04, 2013–2014 *

: 8 ::Winners: 1993, 2003,

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in t ...

: 3 ::Winners: 1993, 2016, 2020

Continental

: ::Runners-up:

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight ...

Regional

: ::Round of 32:

2006 File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro votes to declare independence from Serbia; The 2006 ...

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple Inc., Apple's first iPhone (1st generation), iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakis ...

Notes: *In 2016, Al-Wahda received an extraordinary Nine Values Cup, an award of the international children's social programme Football for Friendship.

Performance in AFC competitions

: 1 appearance ::

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; " Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discover ...

: Group Stage *

: 8 appearances ::

: Finalists ::

: Qualifying Round ::

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wa ...

: Group Stage ::

: Round of 16 ::

: Zonal finals ::

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

: Group Stage ::

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October 2021 coup in Sudan; Crowd shortly after t ...

: Group Stage

Records

''Accurate as of 28 September 2022''

Performance in UAFA competitions

: 3 appearances :: 2002–03: Group Stage :: 2005–06: Round of 32 :: 2006–07: Round of 32

Records

''Accurate as of 28 September 2022''

Players

First-team squad

Personnel

Current technical staff

{, class="wikitable" , - ! style="color:white; background: #FF5F00; , Position ! style="color:white; background: #FF5F00; , Name , - , Head coach , Ammar Shamali , - , Assistant coach , Ismail Fatout
Majed al-Haj , - , Assistant coach and analyst , Mohamed Al-Masry , - , Fitness coach , Farouk Al Khan
Khaled Zaza , - , Goalkeeping coach , Safwan Al Hussein , - , Team administrator , Samir Daoud , - , Technical director , Walid Al Sharif

Administration

Club presidents

* List of Al Wahda presidents since 1974: {, class="wikitable" , - ! style="color:white; background:#FF5F00;", Period ! style="color:white; background:#FF5F00;", President , - , 1974–1976 , Ahmed Al-Sharbaji , - , 1976–1982 , Hamad Al-Numan , - , 1982–1986 , Muntaz Malas , - , 1986–1988 , Ahmed Al-Sharbaji , - , 1988–1990 , Salim Daas , - , 1990–1994 , Salim Daas , - , 1994–1996 , Salim Daas , - , 1996–1997 , Ahmed Bitar , - , 1997–1998 , Ahmed Al Homsi , - , 1998–2001 , Muntaz Malas , - , 2001–2003 , Khaled Haboubati , - , 2003–2004 , Safwan Nizamuddin , - , 2004–2006 , Khaled Haboubati , - , 2006–2008 , Khaled Haboubati , - , 2008–2009 , Fouad Mahfoud , - , 2009–2019 , Ahmed Qutrash , - , 2019–2021 , Maher Al-Sayed , - , 2021–2022 , Anwar Abdel Hai , - , 2022–present , Maher Al-Sayed

Former managers

* Ayman Hakeem (1993–1995) * Sameer Soukieh (1995–2001) * Nenad Stavrić (2001–06) * Mansour Al Haj Saied (2006) * Ayman Hakeem (2006–07) * Costică Ştefănescu (2007) * Muhammad Jomma (2007–08) *

Nizar Mahrous Nizar Hamed Mahrous ( ar, نزار محروس; 12 March 1963), known as Abu Hamed, is a Syrian football manager and former player who is the head coach of Erbil. =Managerial career= Career In May 2011, Mahrous was appointed manager of the Syria ...

(2008) * Assaf Khalifa (2009) * Faruk Kolović (2009) *

(2009–11) * Ayman Hakeem (2012) * Hussam Al Sayed (2012) * Mohannad Al Fakir (2013) * Rafat Muhammad (2013–2017, 2018, 2019) * Eyad Abdulkareem (2019–2020) * Ghassan Maatouk (2020–2021) * Ayman Hakeem (2021) * Maher Bahri (2021–2022) * Siniša Dobrašinović (2022) * Ammar Shamali (2022–present)

Notable former players

Player records

League top scorer

* Al Wahda club players won the title of top scorer in the Syrian Premier League 7 times: {, class="wikitable" , - style="color:white;background:#FF5F00; text-align:center;" , style="width:20px;", No. , style="width:70px;", Season , style="width:100px;", Name , style="width:20px;", Nation , style="width:70px;", Goals , style="width:180px;", Notes , - , 1 , 1990–91 , Othman Bawarshi , Syria , align=center, 11 , , - , 2 , 1992–93 , Assaf Khalifa , Syria , align=center, 11 , With Mouhanad Boushi , - , 3 ,

2010–11 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...

, Ali Salah Hashim , Iraq , align=center, 9 , Season suspended , - , 4 , 2013–14 , Majed al-Haj , Syria , align=center, 11 , , - , 5 , 2015–16 ,

Raja Rafe Raja Rafe ( ar, رجا رافع; born 1 May 1983 in Jaramana, Rif Dimashq, Syria) is a Syrian footballer who plays as a striker for Taliya SC, which competes in the Syrian Premier League, and is a member of the Syria national football team. ...

, Syria , align=center, 22 , , - , 6 , 2016–17 ,

Osama Omari Osama Omari ( ar, أسامة أومري ) (born 10 January 1992 in Syria) is a Syrian footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are associatio ...

, Syria , align=center, 17 , , - , 7 , 2017–18 , Basel Mustafa , Syria , align=center, 15 ,

Top scorers

*List of top scorers for Al Wahda club in the league and cup historically: {, class="wikitable" , - style="color:white;background:#FF5F00; text-align:center;" , style="width:20px;", No. , style="width:100px;", Name , style="width:20px;", Nation , style="width:70px;", Goals , style="width:180px;", Notes , - , 1 ,

, Syria , align=center, 78 , , - , 2 , Maher Al-Sayed , Syria , align=center, 76 , , - , 3 , Assaf Khalifa , Syria , align=center, 59 , , - , 4 ,

Mahmoud Mahmalji Mahmud is a transliteration of the male Arabic given name (), common in most parts of the Islamic world. It comes from the Arabic triconsonantal root Ḥ-M-D, meaning ''praise'', along with ''Muhammad''. Siam Mahmud *Mahmood (singer) (born 199 ...

, Syria , align=center, 51 , , - , 5 ,

, Syria , align=center, 46 , , - , 6 ,

, Syria , align=center, 44 , , - , 7 , Majed al-Haj , Syria , align=center, 38 , , - , =7 , Nabil Al-Shahma , Syria , align=center, 38 , , - , 9 , Ismail Fatout , Syria , align=center, 31 , , - , 10 , Maher Kharrat , Syria , align=center, 30 , , -

Notes

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wahda 1928 establishments in Mandatory Syria Association football clubs established in 1928 Football clubs in Syria Sport in Damascus