Safa SC

Safa Sporting Club (Arabic: نادي الصفاء الرياضي, lit.'The Purity Sporting Club') is a football club based in Wata El Msaytbeh, a district of Beirut, Lebanon. Competing in the Lebanese Premier League, the club was founded in 1939 and have since won three league titles, three domestic cups, one Super Cup, and two Elite Cups. Safa also finished runners-up in the 2008 AFC Cup.

Safa is primarily supported by the Druze community, and maintains a strong fanbase throughout Mount Lebanon. As Akhaa Ahli Aley is also based in the Mount Lebanon region, specifically in Aley, matches between the two clubs are referred to as the "Mountain derby" due to their shared regional support.

History

Early history (1933–1961)

Founded in 1933 at an amateur level in the Wata El-Museitbeh of Beirut, Safa Sporting Club was officially established in 1939 by seven people: Maher Wahab, Anis Naaim, Hasib Al-Jerdi, Amin Haidar, Chafik Nader, Toufik Al-Zouhairy and Adib Haidar.

On 23 December 1948, Safa obtained the official membership and license from the government as a private association. In the same year, the club was affiliated to the Lebanese Football Association and was ranked within the Second Division. In 1961, Safa was promoted to the First Division.[citation needed]

Recent history (2021–present)

On 4 May 2012, after defeating Nejmeh, Safa were crowned Lebanese Premier League champions for the first time in 2011–12. They were crowned league champions for the second consecutive time in 2012–13, after defeating Ahed 3–1 on 19 May 2013. Safa also won the 2012–13 Lebanese FA Cup, following a 2–1 win against Shabab Sahel in the final, achieving a domestic double for the first time.

After finishing the 2021–22 Lebanese Premier League in 11th place, Safa were due to be relegated to the Second Division for the first time. However, following Shabab Bourj's withdrawal from the league, they were relegated in place of Safa. Safa also narrowly avoided relegation the following season, finishing 10th above Salam Zgharta on account of their positive head-to-head record.

Kit manufacturers

The following is a list of kit manufacturers worn by Safa.

Stadium

The Safa Stadium opened in 1948, and has a capacity of 4,000 spectators. Located in the Wata El-Museitbeh district of Beirut, the stadium is five minutes from the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. While the stadium is of Safa's property, the club plays in various other stadiums around the country.[citation needed]

Club rivalries

Safa has important rivalries with Ansar and Nejmeh, both being based in Beirut. Safa also plays the Mountain derby with Akhaa Ahli, as Akhaa is based in Aley, a city in Mount Lebanon, and Safa's support comes from the Druze community in Lebanon, who mainly live in Chouf and Aley districts.[citation needed]

Players

Current squad

As of 13 January 2026

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

Players on loan

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

Notable players

Honours

Domestic

• Lebanese Premier League Winners (3): 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16
• Lebanese FA Cup Winners (3): 1964–65, 1986–87, 2012–13 Runners-up (8): 1970–71, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2016–17
• Lebanese Elite Cup (defunct) Winners (2): 2009, 2012 Runners-up (3): 2011, 2014, 2015
• Lebanese Super Cup Winners (1): 2013 Runners-up (3): 2011, 2012, 2016
• Lebanese Second Division Winners (1): 1960–61 (Beirut)

Continental

• AFC Cup Runners-up (1): 2008

Other achievements

• Lebanese Challenge Cup (defunct) Runners-up (1): 2022

Performance in AFC competitions

• AFC Cup: 5 appearances

2008: Final 2009: Round of 16 2012: Group stage 2013: Group stage 2014: Round of 16

• AFC Challenge League: 1 appearance

2025–26: Group stage

• Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances

1992–93: Withdrew in first round 2000–01: Withdrew in first round

Managerial history

• Lebanon Walid Zeineddine
• Egypt Mahmoud Saad
• Iraq Akram Salman
• Lebanon Ghassan Abou Diab
• Lebanon Samir Saad
• Lebanon Emile Rustom
• Romania Valeriu Tița (2013–2014)
• Lebanon Emile Rustom (2015–2018)
• Romania Valeriu Tița (2018–2019)
• Tunisia Tarek Jarraya (2019)
• Germany Robert Jaspert (2019–2020)
• Lebanon Emile Rustom (2020)
• Lebanon Mohammad Dakka (2020–2021)
• Lebanon Fadi Oumari (2021–22)
• Lebanon Malek Hassoun (2022)
• Lebanon Youssef Jawhari (2022–2023)
• Lebanon Moussa Hojeij (2023)
• Netherlands Johnny Jansen (2023)
• Netherlands Jan de Jonge (2023)
• Lebanon Bassem Marmar (2023–2025)
• Lebanon Hussein Tahan (2025-)

See also

• Safa WFC, defunct women's team
• List of football clubs in Lebanon

External links

• at the AFC
• at FA Lebanon