Football clubs of Oman
Encyclopedia
The Sultanate of Oman has had a relatively long history of football clubs dating back to the 1940s. The oldest club still surviving to date in the Sultanate is Oman Club
which was established in 1942. Many clubs have also experienced mergers such as Muscat
, and Seeb
. There are currently 43 clubs known to Oman.
Dhofar
is known as the most successful club in Omani football earning them the nickname, "Al-Zaeem, or "The Leaders" due to them holding 9 Omani League titles
; the most won by a club, and winning 7 Sultan Qaboos Cup
s, as well as reaching the final of the Gulf Club Champions Cup
once in 1996 losing to Saudi club Al-Nassr. Fanja
has also had a successful title history with 7 Omani League titles to their name, 8 Sultan Qaboos Cup
s to their name; the most ever won by a club, and also winning in 1989 the Gulf Club Championship, the only Omani club to hold the title, despite having a successful history, Fanja has been in downfall since the early 1990s, winning no titles since.
as a Class D football League. Sayyid Khalid bin Hamid, OFA President, has announced his organization's plan to transform the Omani Football League into a professional league by the year 2012, and will change its name to the "Oman Mobile League." Many companies such as Nissan, Shell
, and Oman Mobile, are one of the main reasons why the league is expected to transform, along with the leadership of Sayyid Khalid.
Oman Club
Oman Club is an Omani football club playing at the second level. Oman Club was founded in 1942 and is the first football club established in Oman, and oldest surviving. It is based in Muscat. The team has had a history of bouncing around both the national stadium, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in...
which was established in 1942. Many clubs have also experienced mergers such as Muscat
Muscat (football club)
Muscat Club is an Omani football club playing at the top level.The club is a result of merging two clubs Ruwi and Al-Bustan.Current coach, Rashid Jaber is a former footballer himself, former star of Dhofar and the national team. He has also coached the national team on a number of...
, and Seeb
Seeb (football club)
Al-Seeb Sports Club is an Omani football club currently playing in second division after receiving last place in the 2009/10 Oman Mobile League. The club is located in Seeb, Muscat the capital of Oman, around 12 km far from Muscat International Airport. Their home stadium is Seeb Stadium....
. There are currently 43 clubs known to Oman.
Dhofar
Dhofar (football club)
Dhofar Sports, Cultural, and Social Club " because of their great success, or just plainly as Dhofar) is an Omani sports club, based in Salalah. Their home stadium is Al-Saada Stadium, but also recognize the older Salalah Sports Complex as their home ground...
is known as the most successful club in Omani football earning them the nickname, "Al-Zaeem, or "The Leaders" due to them holding 9 Omani League titles
Omani League
The Omani League is the top division of the Oman Football Association, and was officially created in 1976. Currently the most successful team in the Omani League, trophy-wise is Dhofar with a total of 9 trophies....
; the most won by a club, and winning 7 Sultan Qaboos Cup
Sultan Qaboos Cup
The Sultan Qaboos Cup is Oman's premier knockout tournament in men's football . Its first edition was held in 1972 and the champions were Al-Ahli. Fanja are the most successful club in the competition by the cup 8 times, and Dhofar comes next by winning 7 times.-Previous winners:-Performance by club:...
s, as well as reaching the final of the Gulf Club Champions Cup
Gulf Club Champions Cup
The GCC Champions League , formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Cup for Clubs , is an annually organized football league tournament for club of the Arab states...
once in 1996 losing to Saudi club Al-Nassr. Fanja
Fanja (Football club)
Fanja Sports Club is an Omani football club currently playing in the second division of the Oman Football Association. Fanja finished the 2010 season in the second division with third place—just short of qualifying for first division of the Omani League....
has also had a successful title history with 7 Omani League titles to their name, 8 Sultan Qaboos Cup
Sultan Qaboos Cup
The Sultan Qaboos Cup is Oman's premier knockout tournament in men's football . Its first edition was held in 1972 and the champions were Al-Ahli. Fanja are the most successful club in the competition by the cup 8 times, and Dhofar comes next by winning 7 times.-Previous winners:-Performance by club:...
s to their name; the most ever won by a club, and also winning in 1989 the Gulf Club Championship, the only Omani club to hold the title, despite having a successful history, Fanja has been in downfall since the early 1990s, winning no titles since.
Evolution to a Professional League
Although being very popular in the local community, it is ranked according to the AFCAsian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
as a Class D football League. Sayyid Khalid bin Hamid, OFA President, has announced his organization's plan to transform the Omani Football League into a professional league by the year 2012, and will change its name to the "Oman Mobile League." Many companies such as Nissan, Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
, and Oman Mobile, are one of the main reasons why the league is expected to transform, along with the leadership of Sayyid Khalid.