Saudi Pro League: How passionate are the fans?

Many fans in Europe will be unfamiliar with football in Saudi. But the Pro League in it’s current form is now almost 50 years old. It has a long and rich history - cherished by millions of fans in its native country. The fans of Saudi Pro clubs are ecstatic that their league is finally getting the recognition they feel like it deserves.

In June 2023, four of Saudi’s biggest clubs were transformed into companies owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund. Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal already had histories of winning, as well as having long established, large fanbases. This criteria made these clubs obvious choices to lead the Pro League into a new era.

Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad are a club over 95 years old. They play at one of the biggest stadiums in the country. They are one of Asia’s most famous football clubs, winning the AFC Champions League twice.

They were also one of the biggest spenders this summer, and are the current Saudi champions. Led by former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham manager Nuno Espírito Santo, having a manager with Premier League pedigree has helped them attract some star names in the most recent transfer market. They signed the likes of Fabinho, N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema, who have all won trophies at the highest level of European football in recent years.

Their city rivals, Al-Ahli, are also one of the PIF backed clubs. When these two clubs play each other, it’s one of the biggest fixtures of every season. Dubbed the ‘Saudi El Clasico’, for fans in the Middle-East, it’s a game on par with Barcelona vs Real Madrid and the Manchester derby in England.

The most recent meeting between these clubs was a thrilling game. And like always, the supporters showed up in force. Over 60,000