New trophy unveiled for 2023 King Salman Club Cup

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The Arab Club Champions Cup was unveiled at Terra Mall in Taif on Aug. 10, 2023. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 August 2023
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New trophy unveiled for 2023 King Salman Club Cup

  • Specially created for the tournament, also known as the Arab Club Champions Cup, the trophy was revealed during an event at Tera Mall in the western Saudi city of Taif
  • The design includes elements inspired by the headscarf that is one of the symbols of formal Saudi attire, and is topped by a golden soccer ball

RIYADH: The Union of Arab Football Associations on Thursday unveiled the new trophy that will be presented this weekend to the winners of the 2023 King Salman Club Cup.

The brand new trophy, specially created for the tournament, which is also known as the Arab Club Champions Cup, was revealed during a special event at Tera Mall in the western Saudi city of Taif.




The brand new trophy was specially created for this year's Arab Club Champions Cup. (Supplied)

Made by Sports Partners International, the trophy’s design includes elements inspired by the headscarf that is one of the symbols of formal Saudi attire. It is topped by a golden soccer ball, and an inscription at the bottom includes the name of the tournament. Made from bronze-coated copper, plated with 24-carat gold, it weighs 6.1 kilograms and stands 39.5 centimeters tall.

Special guests at the unveiling included tournament director Mu’eed Al-Shahri and Abdullah Al-Zayedi, the director of the Ministry of Sports in Taif. Afterwards, fans had a chance to have their photo taken with the trophy.

Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr will battle it out for the trophy in the final of the competition, which kicks off at 7pm on Aug. 12 at King Fahd Stadium in Taif.

 

 


Al-Hilal slip up at home against Al-Ahli as a Toney hat-trick dents their title hopes

Updated 01 March 2025
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Al-Hilal slip up at home against Al-Ahli as a Toney hat-trick dents their title hopes

  • The England striker shines to give the visitors from Jeddah a memorable away victory that did not look at all likely at half-time
  • Third-place Al-Nassr’s title ambitions also suffer a blow as they lose 2-1 at Al-Orubah; league leaders Al-Ittihad can go 8 points clear with a win on Sunday

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli defeated Al-Hilal 3-2 on Friday, with Ivan Toney blasting a big hole in the hosts’ Saudi Pro League title ambitions with a stunning second-half hat-trick in a thrilling game.

The England striker shone to give the visitors from Jeddah a famous victory that did bitter local rivals Al-Ittihad a huge favor, as the result means the league leaders remain five points clear of second-place Al-Hilal, now with a game in hand. Al-Ahli sit in fourth place, level on points with Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah.

The victory did not look at all likely at half-time, after 45 minutes during which the hosts were in control and had numerous chances. The game remained goalless at the break, however, and Blues would come to rue their misses.

Just moments after the restart, Gabri Veiga had the ball on the left wing and the Spaniard slipped the ball inside to Toney just inside the area. There was still a lot of work for the former Brentford man to do but he took a touch and then smoothly fired the ball across Yassine Bounou and into the net to send the away fans wild with delight.

The home support in the Kingdom Arena was stunned and things got worse for them after 52 minutes when Al-Ahli grabbed another well-worked goal, this time from the right. Galeno, who signed from Porto in January, sent a low cross across the face of goal to the waiting Toney who slotted home from close range.

Al-Hilal then pulled one back, courtesy of the in-form Salem Al-Dawsari. Malcom picked up the ball in the middle of the field and started a fluid move that ended with the Brazilian collecting possession again inside the area before pulling the ball back for Al-Dawsari, who timed his run perfectly.

Ten minutes later, the champions were level when, after a blatant handball in the area, Marcos Leonardo scored from the spot.

There was a final twist to come, though, as Toney completed his hat-trick with two minutes remaining. After an Al-Hilal clearance, Veiga hooked the ball back into the area for Toney to control and send a fierce shot past the helpless Bounou. Al-Hilal pushed forward during 15 minutes of added time but their efforts came to nothing.

Al-Hilal’s Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr also lost yesterday, 2-1 at Al-Orubah. Omar Al-Somah showed his goal-scoring instincts five minutes before the break when he slammed home a bouncing ball into the far corner.

Six minutes after the restart, though, Al-Nassr were back on level terms. Nawaf Boushal, just on as a substitute, ran onto an Angelo through ball and fired it home.

After 65 minutes, however, Al-Orubah scored the decider when Johann Gudmundsson picked up the ball well outside the area, advanced and then launched an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner.

Al-Ittihad fans would have enjoyed both of these results and the league leaders now have the chance to go eight points clear on Sunday when they host Al-Okhdood.


Ronaldo eyes Asian Champions League crown as Saudi sides resume campaigns in Round of 16

Updated 01 March 2025
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Ronaldo eyes Asian Champions League crown as Saudi sides resume campaigns in Round of 16

  • Al-Hilal topped the league stage on goal difference from Al-Ahli with both unbeaten in eight matches
  • Al-Nassr finished five points clear of fourth-placed Al-Sadd of Qatar and Ronaldo’s side take on Iran’s Esteghlal over two legs, the first in Tehran on Monday

TOKYO: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr travel to Iran in the Asian Champions League next week with his side one of three from Saudi Arabia in the last 16 of the region’s top club competition.
Saudi teams dominated the tournament’s West zone league stage, with four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal leading Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr in the top three in the final table.
Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.
Al-Hilal, the last side from Saudi Arabia to win the Champions League in 2021, topped the league stage on goal difference from Al-Ahli with both unbeaten in eight matches.
Al-Nassr finished five points clear of fourth-placed Al-Sadd of Qatar and Ronaldo’s side take on Iran’s Esteghlal over two legs, the first in Tehran on Monday.
Former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Ronaldo scored six goals in the league stage and is still going strong at the age of 40.
A first Asian crown would add to a bulging trophy haul that already includes five UEFA Champions League titles.
The Portuguese has been joined at Al-Nassr by Colombian striker Jhon Duran, although the big-money signing from Aston Villa was sent off during a Saudi league game last week.
The red card infuriated Ronaldo, who lashed out at the referee and booted the ball into the stands before continuing to remonstrate with the officials.
Coach Stefano Pioli will need his players to keep their heads against Esteghlal, who Al-Nassr beat 1-0 in the league stage thanks to a late goal from former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.
“We must try to improve every day as we have not yet reached the level where we can compare ourselves with the first level of world football,” Pioli said.
Al-Hilal can no longer call on the services of Brazil’s Neymar but they will still start as heavy favorites in their last-16 tie against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
Al-Ahli meanwhile saw their front three of England’s Ivan Toney, Brazil’s Roberto Firmino and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez all enjoy goalscoring form in the league stage.
German coach Matthias Jaissle will need them keep it going in the last 16 against Qatar’s Al-Rayyan.
“We achieved a historic record in this edition without losing, and this is not easy,” he said.
“We have the support of the fans and we look forward to winning this tournament.”
Japanese sides led the way in the East zone’s league phase, with last season’s runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos topping the table ahead of compatriots Kawasaki Frontale.
Yokohama, now coached by Gareth Southgate’s former England assistant Steve Holland, play China’s Shanghai Port in the last 16.
Kawasaki face Shanghai Shenhua while a third Japanese team, the domestic champions Vissel Kobe, take on South Korea’s Gwangju.
At least one non-Japanese team is guaranteed to advance in the East zone, with Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim meeting Thailand’s Buriram United.
Johor’s Argentine coach Hector Bidoglio has been impressed with his team’s performances so far.
“Before the start of the competition we set our target to qualify for the next stage,” he said after they booked their place with a 5-2 win over South Korea’s Pohang Steelers.
“But now we have not only qualified but we did it by showing our type of football.”
Last-16 games are played over two legs, with the winners going through to a finals stage to be played in Saudi Arabia in April and May.


Guardiola rules out mass Man City clearout

Updated 28 February 2025
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Guardiola rules out mass Man City clearout

  • Guardiola told his pre-match press conference on Friday that his experienced players would have an important role next season
  • "There are players here that are over 30 and they will be part of the future of this club"

LONDON: Pep Guardiola says his veteran Manchester City stars have a key role to play in the club’s rebuild as he tries to recapture former glories after a chastening season.
City have just the FA Cup still to play for in terms of silverware after the collapse of their Premier League title defense and their Champions League defeat by Real Madrid.
Guardiola’s team host second-tier Plymouth in the fifth round on Saturday.
The club have been criticized for not being quicker to renew an aging squad that has delivered six out of the past seven Premier League titles.


City made four signings in the January transfer window — Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis — illustrating the scale of the rebuild required following injuries and a loss of form for key players.
But Guardiola told his pre-match press conference on Friday that his experienced players would have an important role next season.
“There are players here that are over 30 and they will be part of the future of this club,” he said on Friday.
“Except Kevin — Kevin and the club will decide in the future — the others have contracts and next season I expect them to be here. They are going to help us.”
He added: “We cannot do it just with the new ones or the old ones. We have to be all together... It’s really, really important at the end of the season, the next season.
“I count with Gundo (Gundogan, 34), I count with Berni (Bernardo Silva, 30), I count with all the players that have a contract. They are there. I have no doubt about that.”
Guardiola, whose team are trying to reach the FA Cup final for a third straight season, is refusing to take Plymouth lightly.
The southcoast team, in the Championship relegation zone, shocked runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool in the fourth round.
“We played many times in the Carabao (League) Cup and the FA Cup against lower league teams and always they are tricky,” he said.
“What these teams do, they do really well. And if you are not ready you are in trouble. We have a chance to arrive in the last eight of the FA Cup again and we want to do it.”


Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast

Updated 28 February 2025
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Mourinho gets four-match ban for ‘monkeys’ and referee blast

  • After Monday’s game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the 62-year-old Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys“
  • The Turkish football federation (TFF) disciplinary council handed down a two-match suspension for his comments against the fourth referee and two additional matches for his blast at the Galatasaray bench

ISTANBUL: Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho was handed a four-match ban and fined more than €40,000 by the Turkish football federation on Thursday for comments he made after an explosive Istanbul derby against Galatasaray.

After Monday’s game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, the 62-year-old Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys.”

He also reportedly repeated his criticism of Turkish referees.

Fenerbahce said that Mourinho’s comments were taken out of context.

On Thursday the Turkish football federation (TFF) disciplinary council handed down a two-match suspension for his comments against the fourth referee and two additional matches for his blast at the Galatasaray bench.

They were judged “contrary to sporting ethics.”

Mourinho, whose team trail leaders Galatasaray by six points in the table, was also fined just over €42,000.


Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations

Updated 27 February 2025
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Saudi Football Federation reportedly asks PSG’s Luis Campos to handle its sporting operations

  • The Portuguese executive is said to have been offered a decade-long deal worth €20 million a year
  • Sources say the federation wants to restructure the national team ahead of 2034 World Cup, with the goal of reaching the semi-finals

PARIS: Representatives of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation met Luis Campos, the sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain, in Geneva last week to discuss an offer for him to handle the federation’s sporting operations, French daily newspaper Le Parisien reported on Wednesday.
The Portuguese executive was offered €20 million ($20.8 million) a year in a contract that would run until 2034, according to the newspaper. Citing unnamed sources, it said the move is part of the federation’s plans to restructure and reorganize the Saudi national team ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which the Kingdom will host, with the goal of reaching the semi-finals.
If Campos, also a former sporting director of AS Monaco, accepts the offer, he will reportedly submit reports on Saudi football and the national team to Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and the federation’s president, Yasser Al-Misehal.
The Le Parisien report added that Campos was given until the end of the year to respond to the offer, and in the meantime he will continue to focus on PSG until the end of the season. Campos joined the club in July 2022 and has helped it secure back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.