AL-QADSIAH - THIRD SHIRT 2024/2025
Al-Qadsiah are one of Saudi Arabia's most storied eastern clubs, founded in 1967 in Khobar after evolving from a side originally formed in 1935 by young Aramco workers. The club takes its name from the historic seventh-century Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, and its identity has been bound up with the oil industry of the Eastern Province ever since. In 2023 that bond was formalised when Saudi Aramco took ownership of the club as part of the Ministry of Sports privatisation programme, instantly transforming Al-Qadsiah into one of the wealthiest projects in Asian football. Home matches were played at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in Khobar, with the gleaming new Aramco Stadium rising alongside ahead of its 2026 opening.
The 2024/2025 campaign - during which this striking third shirt was worn - was Al-Qadsiah's first season back in the Saudi Pro League after promotion from the First Division, and Aramco's backing turned the summer window into one of the most spectacular in club history. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang arrived from Marseille, Aymeric Laporte joined from Manchester City, Nacho Fernández signed from Real Madrid, and Cameron Puertas came in from Union Saint-Gilloise. Spanish coach Míchel González took charge and guided the newly promoted side to a remarkable fourth-place finish, ahead of Al-Ahli and only behind champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.
It was a season of statement results. Al Qadsiah completed a league double over Al-Nassr, beating Cristiano Ronaldo's side 2-1 in Riyadh in November and 2-1 again in Khobar in April thanks to Turki Al-Ammar and Aubameyang. They drew 1-1 with Al-Ittihad in the return fixture and pushed deep into the King's Cup, beating Al-Raed in the semi-final before losing 3-1 to Al-Ittihad in the final.
Aubameyang led the line superbly, finishing the league season with 17 goals and three assists to sit among the Pro League's top scorers. Laporte and Nacho marshalled the defence, Puertas pulled the strings in midfield, and Julián Quiñones chipped in with vital goals as Al-Qadsiah announced themselves as Saudi Arabia's most exciting newcomers.
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