The 2022–23 Saudi Pro League (known as the
Roshn
Roshn (stylized ROSHN; ) is a real estate development company based in Saudi Arabia. The company was founded in August 2020 by the Saudi Public Investment Fund as one of its Megaprojects. As one of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, Roshn aims t ...
Saudi League for sponsorship reasons) was the 48th edition of the
top-tier Saudi football league, established in
1974
Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...
, and the 15th edition since it was rebranded as the Saudi Pro League in
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
, Fixtures for the first half of the 2022–23 season were announced on 4 August 2022.
Al-Hilal were the three-time defending champions after winning their recording extending 18th title
last season.
Al-Adalah,
Al-Khaleej, and
Al-Wehda join as the three promoted clubs from the
2021–22 Yelo League. They replaced
Al-Ahli,
Al-Faisaly, and
Al-Hazem who were relegated to the
2022–23 Yelo League. The winner will play in the
2023 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup (officially known as the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 presented by Visit Saudi for sponsorship reasons) was the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organised international club football tourname ...
in Saudi Arabia as the host club.
On 27 May,
Al-Ittihad Al-Ittihad may refer to:
Sports Football Men Teams
* Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
* Al Ittihad SCSC (Tripoli), Tripoli, Libya
* Al Ittihad Gheryan, Gharyan, Libya
* Al Ittihad Misurata SC, Misurata, Libya
* Al Ittihad SC ...
secured their ninth league title, with one game to spare, following a 3–0 away win against
Al-Fayha.
Al-Batin
Bāṭin or baten () literally means "inner", "inward", "hidden", etc. The Quran, for instance, has a hidden meaning in contrast to its exterior or apparent meaning, the zahir (zaher). Sufis believe that every individual has a batin in the worl ...
were the first team to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Ittihad on 23 May.
Al-Adalah were the second and final club to be relegated following a 2–0 home defeat to
Al-Ettifaq
Al-Ettifaq Club (), commonly known as Al-Ettifaq or simply Ettifaq, is a professional football club in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which competes in the Saudi Pro League.
The club was established by the merger of three Dammam-based clubs in 1945. Al- ...
on the final matchday.
Overview
Changes
On 14 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the
Pro League 2023–24 season would be increased from 16 to 18 teams. To prepare for this change, only 2 teams would be relegated to the First Division League and 4 teams would be promoted to the Pro League.
Name sponsorship
On 23 August 2022, the Saudi Pro League (SPL) announced that they had signed a sponsorship deal with real estate company
Roshn
Roshn (stylized ROSHN; ) is a real estate development company based in Saudi Arabia. The company was founded in August 2020 by the Saudi Public Investment Fund as one of its Megaprojects. As one of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, Roshn aims t ...
. As part of the sponsorship deal, the Saudi Pro League would be known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) for the next 5 seasons.
Teams
16 teams are competing in the league – the top 13 teams from the previous season and the 3 teams promoted from the
FD League.
Teams who were promoted to the Pro League
All 3 teams were promoted on the final day of the season.
Al-Khaleej were promoted and crowned champions following a 0–0 away draw with
Najran
Najran ( '), is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of Najran Province. Today, the city of Najran is one of the fastest-growing cities in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As of the 2022 census, the city population was 381,431, wi ...
. Al-Khaleej return to the top flight for the first time since getting relegated in the
2016–17 season. Al-Khaleej will play in their 8th season in the top flight.
Al-Adalah were promoted following a 0–0 draw away to
Jeddah
Jeddah ( ), alternatively transliterated as Jedda, Jiddah or Jidda ( ; , ), is a List of governorates of Saudi Arabia, governorate and the largest city in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia, and the country's second largest city after Riyadh, located ...
. Al-Adalah return to the top flight after an absence of two seasons. Al-Adalah will play in their 2nd season in the top flight.
Al-Wehda were promoted following a 3–0 away win against
Al-Diriyah. Al-Wehda will play in the top flight of Saudi football after a season's absence. Al-Wehda will play in their 38th season in the top flight.
Teams who were relegated to the FD League
Al-Hazem were the first team to be relegated following a 5–2 defeat away to
Al-Ettifaq
Al-Ettifaq Club (), commonly known as Al-Ettifaq or simply Ettifaq, is a professional football club in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which competes in the Saudi Pro League.
The club was established by the merger of three Dammam-based clubs in 1945. Al- ...
on 21 May. Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their second relegation in three years.
Both
Al-Ahli and
Al-Faisaly were relegated following on the final day of the season. Al-Ahli were relegated for the first time in their history following a 0–0 away draw with
Al-Shabab. They have previously competed in every edition of the Saudi Pro League since its inception in 1976–77. This is the first edition of the Pro League in which Al-Ahli will not be featured.
Al-Faisaly were relegated following a 2–1 away defeat to
Al-Hilal.
Al-Faisaly were relegated after 12 consecutive seasons in the top flight.
Stadiums
:Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Personnel and kits
*
1 On the back of the strip.
*
2 On the right sleeve of the strip.
*
3 On the shorts.
Managerial changes
Foreign players
The number of foreign players was increased from 7 to 8. Clubs can register a total of eight foreign players over the course of the season, but only seven could be named in the matchday squad.
*Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
*Players in ''italics'' were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
League table
Positions by round
The following table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.
Results
Season statistics
Scoring
Top goalscorers
Hat-tricks
;Note
(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 Player scored 4 goals
Clean sheets
Discipline
Player
* Most yellow cards: 9
**
Bassam Al-Hurayji (Al-Batin)
* Most red cards: 2
**
Fahad Al-Harbi (Al-Adalah)
**
Sanousi Hawsawi (Al-Ettifaq)
Club
* Most yellow cards: 69
** Al-Batin
* Most red cards: 5
** Al-Adalah
** Al-Taawoun
Attendances
By round
By team
†
†
†
Awards
Monthly awards
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2022-23 Saudi Professional League
1
Saudi Pro League seasons
Saudi Professional League
The Saudi Pro League (SPL), also known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Saudi Arabia and the highest level of the Saudi football league system. The SPL is regarded as th ...