Summary
Erbil Sports Club (Arabic: نادي أربيل الرياضي Kurdish: Yaney Werzişîy Hewlêr / یانەی وەرزشیی هەولێر) is a professional sports club based in the city of Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq that plays in the Iraq Stars League, the first-tier of Iraqi football. Erbil also fields a team in the Kurdistan Premier League.
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| Full name | Erbil Sports Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Yellow Castle | ||
| Founded | 3 November 1968 | ||
| Ground | Franso Hariri Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 25,000 | ||
| Chairman | Walid Arab | ||
| Manager | Abbas Obed | ||
| League | Iraq Stars League | ||
| 2022–23 | Iraqi Premier League, 6th of 20 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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For the first time in its history, Erbil became champions of the Iraqi Premier League after beating Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (1–0) in the final game on Friday, 6 July 2007. On 24 August 2008, Erbil retained their status as Iraqi Premier League champions with a win over Baghdad based Al-Zawraa. On 16 July 2009 Erbil became the champion of Iraq's super league for the third consecutive year after beating Najaf FC. They also won the league in 2012 with only one loss.
Erbil Sport Club is the first Iraq team to qualify for the Asian Champions League and the Arab Champions League. In 2012 and 2014 they reached the AFC Cup final but lost both times. Erbil SC is the first Iraqi Premier League team to get players from outside Iraq.
History edit
Foundation edit
Erbil SC was founded on 3 November 1968, by the former Kurdistan-Iraq Football Association and spent many years in mid-table obscurity, occasionally challenging the top Iraqi sides.[1]
2004–2005 edit
After the turn of the century and the beginning of the Iraq War, Erbil FC has dramatically improved and have become a real powerhouse in Iraqi club football. Top Iraqi players from southern Iraq and international players from around the world have begun coming to the kurdistan region and to Erbil SC to play their trade with good wages and relative safety.[1]
Nadhim Shaker and glory years edit
In the summer of 2005, Shaker left rivals Duhok SC to coach Erbil. In the 2005–06 season, Erbil started slow, only just managing to finish third in Group A just ahead of Sirwan FC on goal difference to advance to the second round. Erbil topped their group in the second round to advance to the end of season play-offs where they met southern giants Najaf FC in a two-legged home and away tie. Erbil were beaten by Najaf by a 4–1 scoreline which basically dented all hope of reaching the play-off final for the title. In the home leg, Erbil were winning 1–0 when the match got suspended with a replay taking place five days later with the match resulting in a 1–1 scoreline. This meant Erbil were knocked out of a chance of winning the championship but would instead take part in the third-place play-off match. This match didn't take place as in the other semi-final match between the two Baghdad giants, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Zawra'a. The second match of the leg was cancelled as the Al-Quwa players walked off the pitch, resulting in their disqualification and Erbil getting the automatic third-place finish. All in all, it was a strong first season under Shaker and that summer the team improved personnel ready for the next season.
Franso Hariri Stadium edit
Franso Hariri Stadium is the stadium where Erbil Sport Club play their home games. It is a multi-use stadium in Erbil. The stadium holds 25,000. It was built in 1992.
After the assassination of Franso Heriri on 18 February 2001, who actively supported rebuilding the stadium, the Kurdistan Regional Government renamed it in his memory.
In July 2009, Franso Hariri Stadium became Iraq national football team's home venue after the green-light from AFC to host the Iraqi national and clubs teams in Erbil.[2] However, due to technical problems, FIFA abandoned the idea of having more national games being hosted in the stadium.
Rivalries edit
Erbil SC's main rival is Duhok SC with whom they contest the South Kurdistan derby. Also, the rivalry between Erbil SC and Zakho SC is known as the "Kurdish derby".[3] Within the Kurdish Premier League, they also have a Derby against Peshmerga Hawler SC, which is another club situated inside Erbil.
Honours edit
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | Iraq Stars League | 4 | 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12 |
| Iraqi Premier Division League (second tier) | 1 | 1998–99 | |
| Regional | Kurdistan Premier League | 3 | 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16 |
Performance in AFC competitions edit
- AFC Champions League: 1 appearance
- 2008: Group Stage
- AFC Cup: 6 appearances
Individual honours edit
- The following players have played in the FIFA Confederations Cup whilst playing for Erbil:
2009 – Luay Salah
Current squad edit
First-team squad edit
- As of 18 October 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Recent history edit
| Season | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | AFC CL | AFC Cup | Arab CL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 12 | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 46 | 29 | ||||
| 2001–02 | 6 | 38 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 61 | 32 | 72 | ||||
| 2002–03 | — | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 33 | 37 | Abandoned due to war | |||
| 2003–04 | — | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 8 | Abandoned due to war | ||||
| 2004–05 | 5 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 32 | 23 | |||||
| 2005–06 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 16 | |||||
| 2006–07 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 34 | 11 | 1st round | ||||
| 2007–08 | 1 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 10 | Group stage | ||||
| 2008–09 | 1 | 27 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 55 | 17 | |||||
| 2009–10 | 4 | 42 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 79 | 22 | |||||
| 2010–11 | 2 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 54 | 21 | Semi-finals | ||||
| 2011–12 | 1 | 38 | 23 | 14 | 1 | 65 | 22 | 83 | Final | |||
| 2012–13 | 2 | 34 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 67 | 34 | 70 | Round of 16 | |||
| 2013–14 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 15 | 42 | Final | Ended prematurely | ||
| 2014–15 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 17 | Group stage | ||||
| 2015–16 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 17 | |||||
| 2016–17 | Withdrew | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Relegated | |||
| 2017–18 | 2 (Div. 1) |
Promoted | ||||||||||
| 2018–19 | 11 | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 34 | 36 | 48 | ||||
| 2019–20 | — | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | Abandoned due to COVID-19 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 41 | 44 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 11 | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 37 | 42 | 47 | ||||
| 2022–23 | 6 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 44 | 39 | 58 |
- From 2004 to 2005 season, the competition changed from League system to various rounds including table and knockout rounds.
- From 2011 to 2012 season, the competition went back to the single league system.
- From 2014 to 2015 season, the competition returned to a system with various rounds.
- From 2016 to 2017 season, the competition went back to the single league system.
Managerial history edit
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Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
Current technical staff edit
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Manager: | Ali Wahab | 
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| Assistant manager: | Taha Qadir |
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| Assistant manager: | Shwan Anwar Hasan |
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| Goalkeeping coach: | Abdulkhalq Mahmoud |
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| Medic: | Abdukhalq Muhammed |
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| Administrative director: | Pusho Khasraw |
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| U-16 Manager: | Emad Asaad |
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Updated to match played 2024
Source: http://erbilsc.com/ku_football_team1.aspx
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "About Erbil Sport Club". Erbil Sport Club website. 19 October 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ "AFC green-light to Arbil as venue". 15 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ^ "PM Barzani attends Erbil-Zakho football match". Kurdistan 24. 1 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Erbil Sport Club". erbilsc.com. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
External links edit
- Official logo (archived 16 March 2022)
- Official Site (archived 20 February 2014) (in Arabic)
- Club squad on the AFC official website (archived 30 September 2018)