The 2022–23 Saudi Professional League (known as the
Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons) is the 47th edition of the
Saudi Professional League
The Saudi Pro League (SPL for short) ( ar, دوري المحترفين السعودي, link=no, ''Dawriyy al-Muḥtarifayni as-Suʿūdī''), known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL for short) for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of associat ...
, the top Saudi professional league for
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is t ...
clubs, since its establishment in
1976
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phil ...
. Fixtures for the first half of the 2022–23 season were announced on 4 August 2022.
Al-Hilal
Hilal or Al-Hilal may refer to:
*Hilal ( ar, هلال, ''hilāl''), a crescent
** the crescent Moon visible after a new Moon, determining the beginning of a month in the Islamic calendar
* Banu Hilal, a confederation of tribes of Arabia
Arts ...
are the three-time defending champions after winning their recording extending 18th title
last season.
Al-Adalah,
Al-Khaleej, and
Al-Wehda join as the three promoted clubs from the
2021–22 Yelo League. They replaced
Al-Ahli,
Al-Faisaly, and
Al-Hazem who were relegated to the
2022–23 Yelo League. The winner might earn the right to play in the
2023 FIFA Club World Cup
The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup will be the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, a FIFA-organised international club football tournament between the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation's league champions. T ...
in Saudi Arabia as the host club.
Overview
Changes
On 14 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the
Pro League 2023–24 season would be increased from 16 to 18 teams. To prepare for this change, only 2 teams would be relegated to the First Division League and 4 teams would be promoted to the Pro League.
Name sponsorship
On 23 August 2022, the Saudi Pro League (SPL) announced that they had signed a sponsorship deal with real estate company
Roshn. As part of the sponsorship deal, the Saudi Pro League would be known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) for the next 5 seasons.
Teams
16 teams are competing in the league – the top 13 teams from the previous season and the 3 teams promoted from the
FD League.
Teams who were promoted to the Pro League
All 3 teams were promoted on the final day of the season.
Al-Khaleej were promoted and crowned champions following a 0–0 away draw with
Najran. Al-Khaleej return to the top flight for the first time since getting relegated in the
2016–17 season. Al-Khaleej will play in their 8th season in the top flight.
Al-Adalah were promoted following a 0–0 draw away to
Jeddah. Al-Adalah return to the top flight after an absence of two seasons. Al-Adalah will play in their 2nd season in the top flight.
Al-Wehda were promoted following a 3–0 away win against
Al-Diriyah. Al-Wehda will play in the top flight of Saudi football after a season's absence. Al-Wehda will play in their 38th season in the top flight.
Teams who were relegated to the FD League
Al-Hazem were the first team to be relegated following a 5–2 defeat away to
Al-Ettifaq
Al Ettifaq Football Club ( ar, نادي الاتفاق لكرة القدم) is a professional football club in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Al-Ettifaq was established after the merging of three clubs in the city of Dammam at the year 1944. Al Ettifaq ...
on 21 May. Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their second relegation in three years.
Both
Al-Ahli and
Al-Faisaly were relegated following on the final day of the season. Al-Ahli were relegated for the first time in their history following a 0–0 away draw with
Al-Shabab. They have previously competed in every edition of the Saudi Pro League since its inception in 1976–77. This is the first edition of the Pro League in which Al-Ahli will not be featured.
Al-Faisaly were relegated following a 2–1 away defeat to
Al-Hilal
Hilal or Al-Hilal may refer to:
*Hilal ( ar, هلال, ''hilāl''), a crescent
** the crescent Moon visible after a new Moon, determining the beginning of a month in the Islamic calendar
* Banu Hilal, a confederation of tribes of Arabia
Arts ...
. Al-Faisaly were relegated after 12 consecutive seasons in the top flight.
Stadiums
:Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Personnel and kits
*
1 On the back of the strip.
*
2 On the right sleeve of the strip.
*
3 On the shorts.
Managerial changes
Foreign players
The number of foreign players was increased from 7 to 8. Clubs can register a total of eight foreign players over the course of the season, but only seven could be named in the matchday squad.
*Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
*Players in ''italics'' were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
League table
Positions by round
The following table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward. If a club from the Saudi Professional League wins the
King Cup
The King Cup (sometimes spelled King's), officially known as The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Cup ( ar, كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين), is the Saudi Arabian football knockout cup competition, run by the Saudi Arabian Foot ...
, they will qualify for the AFC Champions League, unless they have already qualified for it through their league position. In this case, an additional AFC Champions League group stage berth will be given to the 3rd placed team, and the AFC Champions League play-off round spot will be given to 4th.
Results
Season statistics
Scoring
Top goalscorers
Hat-tricks
;Note
(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 Player scored 4 goals
Most assists
Clean sheets
Discipline
Player
* Most yellow cards: 7
**
Gustavo Cuéllar
Gustavo Leonardo Cuéllar Gallegos (born 14 October 1992) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and the Colombia national team.
Career Deportivo Cali
Cuéllar began playing for the De ...
(Al-Hilal)
**
Bassam Al-Hurayji (Al-Batin)
* Most red cards: 2
**
Fahad Al-Harbi (Al-Adalah)
Club
* Most yellow cards: 47
** Al-Batin
* Most red cards: 3
** Al-Adalah
** Al-Batin
** Al-Wehda
Attendances
By round
By team
†
†
†
Awards
Monthly awards
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2022-23 Saudi Professional League
1
Saudi Professional League seasons
Saudi Professional League
The Saudi Pro League (SPL for short) ( ar, دوري المحترفين السعودي, link=no, ''Dawriyy al-Muḥtarifayni as-Suʿūdī''), known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL for short) for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of associat ...
Saudi Arabia, 1