CR7 Shine: Al-Hilal Secures 19th Title in Saudi Pro League

CR7 (Cristiano Ronaldo) arrival at Al-Nassr in December 2022 marked the beginning of a significant shift in the Saudi Pro League. Steven Gerrard concluded his roller-coaster debut season in the league on Monday. Despite a promising start, his Ettifaq side endured a worrying stretch of just one victory in 12 matches, sparking concerns about the job security of the Liverpool legend. However, they managed to rally and secure a sixth-place finish.

Yet, challenging the dominance of the ‘Big Four’ was always going to be an uphill battle. In June 2023, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, all based in Riyadh and Jeddah were acquired by the Public Investment Fund which also owns Newcastle United. This quartet embarked on a staggering spending spree, reportedly splurging around £750 million, sending shockwaves through the footballing world. They attracted several renowned players to the Kingdom.

However, what has become of one of the most discussed leagues globally?

Ronaldo’s (CR7) achievements

Al-Hilal clinched their 19th league title, extending their own record, meaning Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7) missed out on the Saudi Pro League title for the second consecutive season. Nonetheless, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner found solace in winning the Golden Boot and setting a new goal scoring record for the league. His 35 goals in 31 games surpassed Abderrazak Hamdallah’s 2019 record. Ronaldo’s season was marked by four hat-tricks and 12 assists but also marred by two suspensions: one for a red card in April and another in February for an incident with Al-Shabab fans.

No Neymar, no issue

Despite Ronaldo’s (CR7) prolific form, Al-Nassr fell short of claiming their tenth title, finishing second, 14 points adrift of Al-Hilal, who powered to the championship with a remarkable 34-game winning streak across all competitions. Al-Nassr’s hopes were hampered by the absence of Neymar, their superstar forward, who suffered a knee injury in October while on international duty with Brazil, likely sidelining him until August. However, Aleksandar Mitrovic, signed from Fulham, stepped up admirably, scoring 28 goals, aided by Serbian compatriot Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and new signings Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Star-studded signings

Meanwhile, Al-Nassr boasted their own array of star signings, including Sadio Mane from Bayern Munich, Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan, and Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City. Although both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr breached the 100-goal mark this season, the latter’s defensive frailties contributed to their second-place finish.

Elsewhere in the league, Al-Ahli secured third place, clinching the final Asian Champions League spot. Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin impressed for the team while Roberto Firmino found his footing after a slow start. However, of the ‘Big Four’, Al-Ittihad underperformed, despite bolstering their squad with the likes of Karim Benzema, Fabinho, and N’Golo Kante, leading to the dismissal of coach Nuno Santo in November.

Other developments

Attendance figures fell short of expectations, with an average of just over 8,000 spectators per match. Only the ‘Big Four’ attracted five-figure attendances, with Al-Ittihad experiencing a significant decline from over 40,000 to less than half compared to the previous season. Some clubs, such as Ettifaq and Al-Shabab, unveiled new boutique stadiums, aiming to enhance the matchday experience and attract larger crowds.

In terms of performance, Al-Shabab had a disappointing season, finishing eighth despite signing Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona mid-season. Al-Taawoun impressed with a fourth-place finish but lacked the financial resources to mount a serious title challenge. As for Ettifaq, while their on-field performances improved marginally, star signing Jordan Henderson departed for Ajax in January. However, Gini Wijnaldum and Jack Hendry made notable contributions, with Moussa Dembele providing the goals.

Looking ahead, breaking into the top four next season would represent significant progress for Ettifaq, though formidable challenges lie ahead with rumors already swirling about potential signings from the English Premier League including Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Casemiro. Another eventful summer transfer window beckons for the Saudi Pro League.