Football in Lebanon

In Lebanon, football is the most popular sport. It is governed by the Federation Libanaise de Football. The country's most popular clubs are Nejmeh and Al-Ansar. The top league is the Lebanese Premier League, which is made up of 12 teams.

The national team has never qualified for the World Cup, but star man Roda Antar says Lebanon's hopes are at a peak.

National football team

The Lebanon national football team is managed by Emile Rustom and captained by Faisal Antar. Most members play in Lebanon, and only two play outside. Roda Antar and Youssef Mohamad both play for 1. FC Köln in Germany. The national team is ranked 148 in the FIFA rankings and has never qualified for the World Cup.

Guinness World Record

The Al-Ansar club won 11 consecutive league titles between 1988 and 1999 inclusive.

Famous Players

Players Outside Lebanon
*Roda Antar plays for German club FC Köln, and formerly Hamburger SV and SC Freiburg (also in Germany). He played for Tadamon Sour before a shock move to Hamburg.
*Youssef Mohamad is another Lebanese international player who also plays for FC Köln in Germany. He started his foreign career when he moved from Olympic Beirut to SC Freiburg in 2004. He moved to FC Köln in 2007 with Roda Antar at the same time.
*Dr. Amir Masoud Boroumand, former Iranian captain and 1951 Asian Games Silver Medalist, played for Lebanon National Football Team for a period of 3 years roughly 1961-1964.
*Buddy Farah is an Australian Lebanese who formerly played for Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He moved to join the Lebanon football team. He has played club football in Lebanon, Iceland, Malaysia and Australia.
*Ali Chaaban is a current Lebanese footballer playing for Bromley F.C. in England.
*Marcilio Alves Silva is a current Lebanese Brazilian footballer who plays for Madureira Esporte Clube in Brazil.Others
*Colombian Goalkeeper Faryd Aly Camilo Mondragon was born to Lebanese parents. He currently plays for Turkish club Galatasaray S.K. of Istanbul, and the Colombian national team.
*Pierre Issa is a South African footballer, who played for Marseille (France) in the French Ligue 1 as well as Watford FC He played in the World Cup twice in 1998 and 2002 (with the South African team). He is ethnically Lebanese but a South African national. He played for Olympic Beirut until 2002 but was released later on.

pecial Events

Nejmeh is arguably the most popular football club in Lebanon.In 1974, the famous Brazilian player Pelé played a game with them.In 1975, they won 2-1 over USSR champion's holder club. They have also beaten other great teams.They have the largest fan club in Lebanon with about 60% from all the Lebanese supporting them.

See also

* Federation Libanaise de Football
* Lebanon national football team
* Lebanese Premier League
* Lebanese Elite Cup
* Lebanese Super Cup
* Lebanese FA Cup
* Lebanese Federation Cup
* List of Lebanese football players abroad