Al-Ula FC (women)

This article is about the women's association football team. For the men's association football club, see Al-Ula FC.
Al-Ula
Full nameAl-Ula Women's Football Club
Nickname(s)Arabian Tigress
Founded2022; 3 years ago (2022)
GroundPrince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Medina
Capacity24,000
OwnerRoyal Commission for Al-Ula
ChairmanAmr Al-Madani
Head coachMalta Ray Farrugia
LeagueSaudi Women's Premier League
2023–24(First Division League, Champions)

Al-Ula Women's Football Club (Arabic: فريق العلا للسيدات) is a Saudi professional women's football club based in Al-Ula, Medina Province. It plays in the Saudi Women's Premier League, the top tier women's football league in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ula successfully secured promotion to the premier league in their inaugural season.

History

Founded in 2023, Al-Ula's women's team began its journey in May, holding trials after appointing Jordanian coach Alaa Abu Qasheh to lead. Starting training sessions in mid-July, they aim to shape a team that meets high expectations for their debut in the Women's First Division League in November.[1][2][3] Prior to launching their league campaign, the club secured the signatures of five foreign players, including two European internationals, Bosnian Selma Kapetanović and Croatian Fatjesa Gegollaj, marking the league's first-ever signings of active European internationals.[4] The club made history by winning their inaugural match 14–0 against Ohd, a game that concluded before full time due to a shortage of players on the opposing team.[5]

Following an impressive performance in the group stage, where they won seven matches and drew one, maintaining an unbeaten record, Al-Ula secured qualification for the final stages.[6] Al-Ula outperformed Al-Bayraq with a 5–0 victory and drew 1–1 against Abha, securing their spot in the league's semi-finals.[7] On March 10, 2024, Al-Ula secured promotion to the Saudi Women's Premier League by defeating Al-Amal 3–0 in the semi-final match.[8]

Al-Ula emerged as champions of the First Division, clinching victory in the final by defeating Al-Taraji on penalties, thus becoming the second team ever to claim the title.[9][10]

Players

Current squad

As of 27 September 2024[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Saudi Arabia KSA Hiba Asad
3 DF Brazil BRA Tuani Lemos
4 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Dana Filemban
5 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Dena Bakar
6 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Wojood Al-Harthi
7 MF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Selma Kapetanović
8 FW Brazil BRA Jaine Lemke
9 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Shaima Mahmoud
11 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Hebah Bukhari
12 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Ghaliah bin Laden
17 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Nawras Al-Khaldi
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Yemen YEM Hadeel Jehran
19 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Mariam Al-Tamimi
20 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Nadiyah Al-Dhidan
21 MF Croatia CRO Fatjesa Gegollaj
22 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Lama Abdullah
25 GK Egypt EGY Tasnim Ahmed
26 MF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Melisa Hasanbegović
86 GK France FRA Sarah Bouhaddi
91 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Raghad Helmi
— FW Ivory Coast CIV Ange N'Guessan

Coaching and management staff

Position Name
Head coach Malta Ray Farrugia
Assistant coach Malta Brian Bartolo
Netherlands Wilco van Buuren [nl]
Saudi Arabia Nada Abdullah
Goalkeeping coach Portugal Miguel Ângelo Menezes
Fitness coach Spain Bethany Testro
Video analyst Romania Sergiu Bolboaca
Head of Physiotherapy Unit Spain Rodrigo Martín Baeza
Physiotherapy Specialist Egypt Marwa El Adrosy

Last updated: November 7, 2024
Source: Al-Ula

Records and statistics

Competition record

Al-Ula's performance over their completed seasons:

Season Div. pos. Pld W D L GF GA Season Top Scorer Saudi Women's Cup pos.
2023–24 1. D 1st 12 9 3 0 73 3 Bosnia and Herzegovina Selma Kapetanović N/A

Honours

References

  1. ^ "فريق السيدات ينطلق في يوليو" [The women's team kicks off in July.]. alulaclub.sa (in Arabic). Al-Ula FC. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  2. ^ ""سيدات العلا"... ترقب لظهور أول في دوري "الأولى" السعودي" [Ladies of Al-Ula... Anticipation for their debut in the Saudi Women's First Division League]. aawsat.com (in Arabic). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  3. ^ "أبوقشة: العلا جاهز للمنافس في دوري السيدات السعودي" [Abu Qusha: Al-Ula is ready to compete in the Saudi Women's League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  4. ^ "العلا السعودي يتعاقد مع البوسنية سلمى كابيتانوفيتش" [Al-Ula Saudi signs with the Bosnian Selma Kapetanović.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  5. ^ "في أولى مبارياته.. نادي العلا النسائي لكرة القدم يفوز بـ 14هدف" [In its first match, Al-Ula Women's Football team wins with 14 goals.]. hiamag.com (in Arabic). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  6. ^ "دوري الدرجة الأولى للسيدات السعودي يدخل مرحلة الحسم" [The Saudi Women's First Division League enters the decisive stage]. gate.ahram.org.eg (in Arabic). 29 February 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  7. ^ "التقدم والترجي والعلا والأمل في نصف نهائي "أولى السيدات"" [Al-Taqadam, Al-Taraji, Al-Ula, and Al-Amal in the semi-finals of the Women's First Division League.]. aawsat.com (in Arabic). 7 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  8. ^ "العلا يبلغ الدوري السعودي الممتاز للسيدات" [Al-Ula Reaches the Saudi Women's Premier League.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ^ "العلا يصنع حقبة جديدة في كرة القدم النسائية بالسعودية" [Al-Ula is creating a new era in women's football in Saudi Arabia.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  10. ^ "AlUla beat Al-Taraji to be crowned champions of SAFF Women's First Division League". arabnews.com. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Al Nassr v Al Ula match Report". int.soccerway.com. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.