The Bahraini Premier League is the main domestic football competition in the kingdom of Bahrain. Currently known as the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League, the first season was held in 1957. The winners of the domestic championship qualify for the AFC Champions League Two. The championship is currently contested by 12 clubs.
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Founded | 1956 |
---|---|
Country | Bahrain |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Bahraini Second Division |
Domestic cup(s) | King's Cup FA Cup Super Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two |
Current champions | Al-Khaldiya (2nd title) (2023–24) |
Most championships | Al-Muharraq (34 titles) |
Top goalscorer | Ismail Abdullatif (124) |
TV partners | Bahrain Sports TV |
Current: 2024–25 Bahraini Premier League |
Structure
editCurrent structure
edit12 clubs currently play a two round robin set of fixtures totaling 22 games in order to determine the league champions. Although games are theoretically to be played on a home and away basis, almost all games are played at the National Stadium.
The eleventh and twelfth-placed clubs are relegated with the ninth and tenth entering the relegation play-offs.
Previous structures
editIn earlier seasons, the league has been radically overhauled to feature all the professional clubs of Bahrain. Instances being the 2008–09 and 2002 league seasons. The leagues featuring up to 19 teams would play each other on one occasion with the top 10 teams staying in the Premier League top flight and the bottom sides (from 11 to 19) forming the next seasons 2nd division.
Between the seasons of 2002 and 2009, the top four sides of the league would also play in the Crown Prince Cup.
Clubs (2023–24)
edit2022–23 Clubs' stadiums
editTeam | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Al-Ahli | Manama | Al Ahli Stadium (Bahrain) | 10,000 |
Al-Hala | Muharraq | Muharraq Club Stadium | 10,000 |
Al-Hidd | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Al-Khaldiya | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Al-Muharraq | Muharraq | Al Muharraq Stadium | 20,000 |
Al-Riffa | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Al-Shabab | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Busaiteen SC | Busaiteen | ||
Al-Najma | Manama | ||
East Riffa | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Manama | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Sitra | Riffa | Bahrain National Stadium | 24,000 |
Team re-structuring
editIn 2002, a host of clubs were amalgamated:
- Bahrain is an amalgamation of Bahrain and Al-Khaleej.
- Riffa is an amalgamation of West Riffa and Zallaq.
- Al-Najma is an amalgamation of Al-Hilal, Al-Qadisiya and Ras Al-Rumman.
- Al-Sahel is an amalgamation of Qalali and Hadd.
- Al-Tadamun is an amalgamation of Boori, Karazkan, Hamla, Reef Union and Damastan.
- Al-Shabab is an amalgamation of Deyya, Sanabis, Jadd Hafs, Naeem, Karrana, Sahla and Karbabad.
- Al-Ittifaq is an amalgamation of Al-Arabi, Maqaba and Bani Jumra.
List of champions
editChampions are:[1]
Total championships
editThe number of national championships that clubs in Bahrain have attained.
Club |
Number of Championships |
---|---|
Al-Muharraq SC | 34 |
Al-Riffa (includes West Riffa) | 14 |
Bahrain SC | 5 |
Al-Ahli SC | 5 |
Al-Hidd | 2 |
style="text-align:left;"Al-Khaldiya | 2 |
Al-Nasr | 1 |
Al-Arabi (Al-Najma SC now) | 1 |
Al Hala | 1 |
East Riffa SCC | 1 |
Busaiteen | 1 |
Malkiya SCC | 1 |
Top scorers
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bahrain - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "الدوري البحريني الممتاز". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
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- ^ "الدوري البحريني الممتاز". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "دوري الدرجة الأولى البحريني". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "دوري الدرجة الأولى البحريني". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ a b "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Bahraini Premier League". soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Bahraini Premier League". soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 May 2021.