Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)

Football club infobox
clubname = Ittihad


fullname = Ittihad club - نادي الاتحاد
nickname = Itti ,
The senior (العميد)
The Tigers (النمور)

founded = 1928
ground = Prince Abdullah al-Faisal stadium
Jeddah, Hijaz, Saudi Arabia.
capacity = 27000
chairman = flagicon|KSA Jamal Abuemarh
mgrtitle = Head Coach
manager = flagicon|ARG Gabriel Calderón | league = Saudi Premier League
season = 2007-08
position = Saudi Premier League, 2nd
pattern_la1=_shouldersonblack|pattern_b1=_blackstripes|pattern_ra1=_shouldersonblack
leftarm1=FFFF00|body1=FFFF00|rightarm1=FFFF00|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=111111
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Al-Ittihad ( _ar. الاتحاد) or Ittihad Jeddah Abbrw|IJ is a Saudi Arabian sports club based in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. Officially formed in 1928, it is the oldest surviving club in Saudi Arabia, and one of the most popular and successful.

History

In 1927 a group of young men from Jeddah decided to hold a meeting to discuss the establishment of local Jeddah football (soccer) club. The attendees were Hamza Fitaihi "actual founder", Abdulsamad Najeeb Alsaady, Ismail Zahran, Ali Yamani, Abduazeez Jameel, Abdulateef Jameel, Othman Banajah and Ahmad Abu Talib. Ali Sultan and Ahmed Almir.

The name was coined by AbdulAziz Jameel who was quoted as saying: "Since we're gathered here united, let's call it United (Ittihad)". The late Ali Sultan was named as the club's first president, and it is worth to mention that Hasan Fitaihi was the first known fund contributor to the club.

In 1929 Ittihad played their first game, against rivals al-Riyadhi. After winning 3-0, Ittihad was given the seniority of Jeddan clubs. al-Riyadhi disbanded soon afterwards, leaving Ittihad as the only surviving club from the early days.

By the 1930s many clubs were formed, and challenge tournaments were regularly held, often sponsored by local businessmen. In 1937, Ittihad played their first game against eternal rival, al-Ahli (which ended in a draw). Football continued to be played on an unofficial basis until 1957 when the Saudi Football Federation was formed, and football clubs officially recognised. The first official tournament was held in that year, the King's cup, which was the premier competition until the formation of the national league in 1975. Ittihad didn't win the inaugural tournament, but did win it the next year, making it the first official trophy that Ittihad won.

In the mid seventies, the large oil boom allowed the Saudi government to lavish on sport. The General Presidency of youth welfare was formed, and existing football clubs were put under its control and turned into multi-sport clubs. al-Ittihad (as well as all other clubs) was transformed to the modern club that it is today.

Today

Today, Ittihad is one of the best teams in Saudi Arabia and one of the best teams in Asia. It is hugely successful not just in football, but in basketball, water polo, table tennis, volleyball, and swimming, amongst others. In all, Ittihad has won 661 trophies. However, football remains the primary sport.

Ittihad is now based in Sahafa street, Mushrefa district, in east Jeddah, where they have a large sports complex. Senior teams play official games at the municipal sports centre, in the south of the city, while youth teams play at the club.

The club is renowned throughout the region for its fans. They are particularly famous for their loyalty and chants, which are copied by many others. The head of the Ittihad fan club, Saleh al-Qarni, even records studio versions of the year's chants which are widely sold in Jeddah and beyond.

In December 2006, the club offered what was thought to be the most lucrative deal in Arabian football to Portuguese midfielder Luís Figo. It was said that Luís Figo will join the club on July 1st 2007 after his current contract with Inter Milan expires. However, not long after, Figo's current club, Internazionale released report that Figo had yet to sign a contract with Al-Ittihad and will not be joining. Figo has since extended his contract at Internazionale till the end of the 2007-2008 season citing that the terms of the agreement were not kept and thus voided the contract.

Mohamed Kallon's scandal

Al-Hilal lawyers team reported that Mansour Al-Balawi has offered 16 millions to Mohamed Kallon to move to Jeddah and play for Al-Ittihad again. Kallon was transported from Riyadh to Jeddah undercover but Jeddah Airport police have arrested him .Kallon rejected a one-and-a-half-year deal worth 10 million U.S dollar from Al-Hilal and raised a lawsuit against them due to the hostage situation that he was exposed to when he was leaving via Jeddah Airport.

The case ended by suspending of Al-Ittihad manager Al-Balawi.

It was later believed that it was all a hoax, to set up Mansour, to get him suspended after a highly successful time spent at the club by Al-Hilal which all Ittihad fans believe to be true.

And all of this is a big lie made by Al-Hilal manger and other prince to suspend Al-Balawi.

ponsorship

Official sponsor

In a press conference on January 9, 2006. President of the club Mansour Albalawi announced that SELA SPORT Co (which is the sponsor of Saudi National Team) will pay 350 millions SAR to sponsor AL-ITTIHAD CLUB for 5 seasons.

Kit providers

* 1999/03: Umbro.
* 2003/06: Lotto.
* 2006/07: Hattrick.
* 2007/08: Nike.
* Since 2008/09: Lotto.

Current first team squad

:"As of September, 2008"

ITTIHAD usual starting lineup for 2007–08 season.

quad Changes

(2008/2009 Transfer window)

Players In

Presidents

Captains

Managers

:"see also cl|Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) manager":* flagicon|Germany Dettmar Cramer:* flagicon|ENG Bob Houghton:* flagicon|BRA Vanderlei Luxemburgo:* flagicon|Belgium Dimitri Davidovic:* flagicon|Argentina Osvaldo Ardiles:* flagicon|BRA José Oscar Bernardi:* flagicon|BRA José Candinho:* flagicon|Croatia Tomislav Ivić:* flagicon|Romania Anghel Iordănescu:* flagicon|FRA Bruno Metsu:* flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina Vahid Halilhodžić:* flagicon|BRA Estevam Soares:* flagicon|Argentina Gabriel Calderón

Club honours (football)

*sport honours|Saudi Premier League|7|1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007
*sport honours|Saudi King's cup|6|1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1988
*sport honours|Crown Prince Cup|7|1958, 1959, 1963, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2004
*sport honours|Saudi Federation cup|3|1986, 1997, 1999
*sport honours|Al-Musyaf cup|6|1964-1987-1990-1991-1994-1995
* AFC Champions League: 2 :: 2004 6-3 vs. flagicon|KOR Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma:: 2005 5-3 vs. flagicon|ARE Al-Ain
* Asian Cup Winners Cup : 1 :: 1999 3-2 vs. flagicon|KOR Chunnam Dragons
* Arab Champions League : 1 :: 2005 4-1 vs. flagicon|TUN CS Sfaxien
* Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup : 2 ::* King of Saudi Arabia Cup (1) : 2003::* President of Egypt Cup (1) : 2001
*sport honours|Gulf Club Champions Cup|1|1999

Contact Al-Ittihad

:: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:: 21432 P.O. Box 5945:: Tel : [phone]:: Fax : [phone]

External links

* [http://www.alittihad.com.sa Official Website in Arabic (Updated)]
* [http://www.alittihad.com.sa/html/english/ Official website]
* [http://www.the-afc.com/english/national/default_club.asp?nationalID=99&clubID=67 Al Ittihad] at the AFC Official website
* [http://www.afcchampionsleague.com/en/tournament/teams.asp?cid=1363&sqid=993 Al Ittihad] at the AFC Champions League Official website
* [http://www.ittihadfans.com/ League of the Ittihad Club Fans on the Internet]
* [http://www.ittihadnet.com/net/forumdisplay.php?f=38 Alittihad in Languages] ("English - Francais - German - Italian")
* Al Ittihad at the Arab Champions League Official website : [http://82.201.143.69/acl/arabic/TeamProfile.asp?ID=381 Arabic] - [http://82.201.143.69/acl/English/TeamProfile.asp?ID=381 English] - [http://82.201.143.69/acl/French/TeamProfile.asp?ID=381 Francais]