Al Raed S.FC

Al Raed Saudi Football Club (Arabic:نادي الرائد Nādī ar-Rāʾid; lit.'Pioneer Club') is a Saudi football club based in Buraidah, and the first of its kind in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. One of the club's notable founders is Abdulaziz Al-Aboudi. Established in 1954, Al Raed have played in the Saudi Pro League, the top division of Saudi football, since 2008 until 2025 when they got relegated.

History

The team was able to qualify for the Premier League Saudi Arabia in 1980–1981. It met Club K in the qualifiers held in Riyadh. In 1986, it was the first team from the Qassim region to enter the Saudi Premier League. The team repeated this ascension to the Premier League at the end of 1989, 1992, 1998, 2002 and 2007. The junior team reached the Saudi Premier League clubs for juniors in 1999, and in 2003.

Al-Raed FC has had varied performances in the King’s Cup over recent seasons. Here’s an overview:

2021–2022 Season: Round of 16: Al-Raed was eliminated by Al-Hilal.

2022–2023 Season: Round of 16: Al-Raed faced Al-Nassr and was knocked out after a 3-0 defeat.

2023–2024 Season: Round of 32: Al-Raed was eliminated by Al-Najma.

2024–2025 Season: Quarter-Finals: Al-Raed progressed to the quarter-finals, defeating Al-Jabalain.

This progression to the quarter-finals in the 2024–2025 season marks an improvement compared to previous seasons, indicating a positive trajectory in Al-Raed’s King’s Cup performances.

Stadium

The club play their home games at King Abdullah Sports City in Buraidah. They share the stadium with rivals Al-Taawoun, with whom they contest the Al-Qassim derby.

Honours

• Saudi First Division League Winners (2): 1991–92, 2007–08 Runners-up (4): 1985–86, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2001–02

Current squad

As of January 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Management staff

Managers

• Egypt El-Sayed El-Attiyah (1980–81)
• Saudi Arabia Saleh Al-Suhail (1985–86)
• Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljubiša Broćić (July 1, 1986 – September 27, 1986)
• Saudi Arabia Saleh Al-Suhail (September 27, 1986 – June 30, 1987)
• Brazil Joel Castro (1990–91)
• Egypt Mahmoud El-Khawaga (1991)
• Brazil China (1998–99)
• Brazil Aderbal Lana (1992–94)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Senad Kreso (July 1, 2000 – November 25, 2000)
• Brazil Marco Cunha (November 25, 2000 – February 13, 2001)
• Brazil China (February 13, 2001 – January 7, 2002)
• Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Al-Owdah (January 15, 2002 – May 1, 2002)
• Brazil José Fernandes (July 1, 2002 – September 22, 2002)
• Egypt Hani El Antabli (caretaker) (September 22, 2002 – October 24, 2002)
• Brazil Gainete (October 24, 2002 – December 28, 2002)
• Saudi Arabia Yousef Khamees (December 28, 2002 – April 27, 2003)
• Egypt Hani El Antabli (caretaker) (April 27, 2003 – October 8, 2003)
• Romania Viorel Kraus (October 8, 2003 – January 30, 2004)
• Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Al-Owdah (February 4, 2004 – February 13, 2004)
• Egypt Hani El Antabli (caretaker) (February 13, 2004 – February 25, 2004)
• Saudi Arabia Khalil Al-Masri (February 25, 2004 – May 1, 2004)
• Brazil Luís Freire (July 10, 2004 – March 21, 2005)
• Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Al-Owdah (March 21, 2005 – April 24, 2005)
• Saudi Arabia Mohammed Al-Nodali (caretaker) (April 24, 2005 – September 1, 2005)
• Egypt Aboud El Khodary (September 1, 2005 – November 14, 2005)
• Saudi Arabia Khalil Al-Masri (November 17, 2005 – February 12, 2006)
• Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Koroni (February 12, 2006 – May 1, 2006)
• Tunisia Mohammed Aldo (May 4, 2006 – December 21, 2008)
• Brazil Luís Antônio Zaluar (December 29, 2008 – June 1, 2009)
• Portugal Acácio Casimiro (June 21, 2009 – October 4, 2009)
• Brazil Edison Mario Souza (October 4, 2009 – May 30, 2010)
• Brazil Lucho Nizzo (July 15, 2010 – November 7, 2010)
• Portugal Eurico Gomes (November 7, 2010 – October 17, 2011)
• Tunisia Hafez Al-Hoarbi (caretaker) (October 17, 2011 – October 28, 2011)
• Tunisia Ammar Souayah (October 28, 2011 – February 1, 2013)
• North Macedonia Vlatko Kostov (February 2, 2013 – June 1, 2013)
• Algeria Noureddine Zekri (June 26, 2013 – February 14, 2014)
• Tunisia Emad Al-Sulami (caretaker) (February 14, 2014 – March 2, 2014)
• Belgium Marc Brys (March 2, 2014 – May 1, 2014)
• North Macedonia Vlatko Kostov (May 31, 2014 – September 1, 2014)
• Tunisia Emad Al-Sulami (caretaker) (September 1, 2014 – October 7, 2014)
• Belgium Marc Brys (October 7, 2014 – March 24, 2015)
• Tunisia Ammar Souayah (March 24, 2015 – May 19, 2015)
• Algeria Abdelkader Amrani (June 8, 2015 – August 29, 2015)
• Greece Takis Lemonis (September 3, 2015 – February 1, 2016)
• Morocco Reda Hakam (caretaker) (February 1, 2016 – February 4, 2016)
• Serbia Aleksandar Ilić (February 4, 2016 – June 17, 2016)
• Tunisia Nacif Beyaoui (June 17, 2016 – May 14, 2017)
• Algeria Taoufik Rouabah (June 4, 2017 – October 1, 2017)
• Romania Ciprian Panait (October 4, 2017 – February 5, 2018)
• Serbia Aleksandar Ilić (February 5, 2018 – June 1, 2018)
• Albania Besnik Hasi (July 26, 2018 – June 1, 2021)
• Spain Pablo Machín (June 19, 2021 – January 26, 2022)
• Portugal João Pedro Sousa (January 26, 2022 – May 24, 2022)
• Saudi Arabia Yousef Al-Ghadeer (June 6, 2022 – June 28, 2022)
• Romania Marius Șumudică (June 30, 2022 – June 1, 2023)
• Croatia Igor Jovićević (July 9, 2023 – June 1, 2024)
• Brazil Odair Hellmann (July 14, 2024 – April 1, 2025)
• Croatia Krešimir Režić (April 1, 2025 – June 1, 2025)
• Portugal Jorge Mendonça (September 4, 2025 – February 5, 2026)
• Palestine Rami El Hassan (caretaker) (February 5, 2026 – February 18, 2026)
• Tunisia Nacif Beyaoui (February 18, 2026 – )

See also

• List of football clubs in Saudi Arabia

External links