Categorization League was a League that included all top-performing clubs from their respective regional leagues of the East, West, and Central regions. The League was titled The Categorization League (Arabic: الدوري التصنيفي), because it categorized which clubs play in the Premier league and which clubs play in the First Division League and was a transitional League, making an end to Saudi Regional Leagues.[1]
| Season | 1974–75 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Al-Nassr (1st title) |
| Promoted | Al-Nassr Al-Qadsiah Al-Shabab Al-Ittihad Al-Ahli Al-Hilal Al-Wehda Al-Yamamah |
| Relegated | Al-Nahda Ohod Okaz Al-Kefah Al-Ettifaq Al-Ansar Al-Rabe’e Al-Khaleej |
| Matches played | 93 |
| Goals scored | 186 (2 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Mohammad S. Abdeli (13 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Al-Ahli 9–0 Al-Khaleej (13 February 1975) |
| Biggest away win | Al-Khaleej 0–7 Al-Ahli (3 December 1974) |
| Longest winning run | 5 matches Al-Nassr |
| Longest unbeaten run | 14 matches Al-Hilal |
| Longest winless run | 14 matches Al-Khaleej Al-Kefah |
| Longest losing run | 14 matches Al-Kefah |
Overview
editSixteen teams took part on a home and away basis. The top four from each group qualified for the next official Premier league, whereas the bottom four of each group were removed from the league until the inclusion of the First Division League.
Stadiums and locations
editThe 1974–75 Saudi Categorization League was contested by the top 16 teams in Saudi football at the time. Al-Ahli, Al-Ansar, Al-Ittihad, Al-Kefah, Al-Rabe'e, Al-Wehda, Ohod, and Okaz played in the top tier of the Western League at the time. Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Shabab, and Al-Yamamah played in the top tier of the Central League at the time. And Al-Ettifaq, Al-Khaleej, Al-Nahda, and Al-Qadsiah played in the top tier of the Eastern League at the time.
- Group A
| Club | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahli | Jeddah | Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah |
| Al-Ansar | Medina | Education Stadium |
| Al-Ettifaq | Dammam | Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam |
| Al-Hilal | Riyadh | Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz |
| Al-Khaleej | Saihat | Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam |
| Al-Rabe'e | Jeddah | Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah |
| Al-Yamamah | Riyadh | Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz |
| Al-Wehda | Mecca | Islam Square Stadium |
- Group B
| Club | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ittihad | Jeddah | Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah |
| Al-Kefah | Mecca | Islam Square Stadium |
| Al-Nahda | Dammam | Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam |
| Al-Nassr | Riyadh | Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz |
| Al-Qadsiah | Khobar | Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam |
| Al-Shabab | Riyadh | Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz |
| Okaz | Ta'if | Okaz Club Stadium |
| Ohod | Medina | Education Stadium |
League tables
editGroup A
edit- Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Hilal | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 8 | +26 | 25 | Qualification to the Final |
| 2 | Al-Ahli | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 41 | 10 | +31 | 21 | |
| 3 | Al-Wehda | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 10 | +18 | 21 | |
| 4 | Al-Yamamah | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 16 | |
| 5 | Al-Ettifaq (R) | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 13 | +13 | 15 | Relegation to the First Division |
| 6 | Al-Ansar (R) | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 27 | −17 | 7 | |
| 7 | Al-Rabe'e (R) | 14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 35 | −20 | 4 | |
| 8 | Al-Khaleej (R) | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 63 | −48 | 3 |
Group B
edit- Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Nassr | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 8 | +16 | 21 | Qualificatoin to the Final |
| 2 | Al-Ittihad | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 26 | 10 | +16 | 19 | |
| 3 | Al-Shabab | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 19 | |
| 4 | Al-Qadsiah | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 25 | +3 | 17 | |
| 5 | Al-Nahda (R) | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 16 | Relegation to the First Division |
| 6 | Ohod (R) | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 13 | |
| 7 | Okaz (R) | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 35 | −25 | 7 | |
| 8 | Al-Kefah (R) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 44 | −33 | 0 |
Final match
editAl-Nassr  | 3-1 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
Hassan Abu Eid  56' Fayez Al-Bishi 59' Mohammad S. Abdeli 72' |
Naji Abdul Matloob 90' |
| Saudi Categorization League 1974-75 winners |
|---|
| Al-Nassr 1st title |
References
edit- ^ Football Federation, Saudi Arabia. "Historic Football Events Under the Leadership of Faisal bin Fahad Al Saud". thesaff.com.sa/. The Saudi Arabia Football Federation. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ Fujioka, Atsushi; Qayed, Mohammed. "Saudi Arabia - List of Champions". RSSSF. The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 December 2014.