Nejmeh SC
Encyclopedia
This article is about the Lebanese football club.
For the Saudi Arabian team, see Al-Nejma (Saudi Arabia).
For the Bahraini team, see Al-Najma
.
For the Libyan team, see Annajma S.C..
Nejmeh Sporting Club , commonly known as Nadi Al-Nejma Al-Riyadia or Najma Beyrouth, is a professional multi-sports club based in the Manara
district of Beirut
, the capital of Lebanon
. It is most famous for its association football club, which competes in the Lebanese Premier League
, the top division football league in the nation. Nejmeh are the current champions of the Lebanese Premier League
. Nejmeh Sporting Club is considered as one of the glorious football teams in Lebanon. Nejmeh is Arabic for star. It was established in Beirut
in 1945, and received its license on 28 April 1947. The club had promoted gradually along the different divisions, and finally reached the first division in 1951.
Historically, the club is second only to their neighboring Beirut
rivals Al-Ansar and equal to Homenetmen Beirut in the amount of Lebanese Premier League
titles won since the establishment of the league. Al-Ansar have won 13 titles while Nejmeh and Homenetmen Beirut have won seven titles. They are also second to their rivals in amount of LFA Cups
won over the years. Nejmeh do lead in amount of titles of the nationally cherished Elite Cup
with a total of seven championships. That's five more than their rivals. They also won the Lebanese Super Cup
five times whereas Al-Ansar have won it four times.
In Asia, their best performance was becoming runners-up in the 2005 AFC Cup
. Other than that, they won an Arab tournament known as the Al-Adha Cup four times. The last time they won was in 1991.
The club plays its home games at the Rafic El-Hariri Stadium.
started when some Beiruti young men met together in 1945, and decided to establish an association football club. The first provisional committee of Nejmeh Club was formed in 1945 and included:
This committee applied for a license at the Lebanese government in 1945, which was issued on 28 April 1947.
The club qualified for the Lebanese First Division
in 1951.
The major breakthrough came in 1970 with the rise of the golden team at Nejmeh Club that included the best players in Lebanon
. Mohammad Hatoum, Hassan & Mahmoud Shatila, Habib Kammouneh, Zein Hashem, Jamal El Khatib, Youssef El Ghoul, to mention a few, with the rest of their teammates. This golden team led the way to a decade of glory for Nejmeh. The period of the 70's was the best in the club history. Nejmeh dominated the Lebanese scene, after becoming known worldwide many famous players played matches with Nejmeh as honour guests like: Pele
and Bebeto
In the late 1970s & the 1980s, the Lebanese Civil War
prevailed the Lebanese scene. The Lebanese championship was suspended for 12 years (1975–1987). The club won the Lebanese Premier League
title in the 1999–2000 and 2008–2009 seasons and earned a place to compete at the 2010 AFC Cup.
, Abbas Ahmed Atwi
, Mohammed Ghaddar
, Ali Nasseredine
, Bilal Najjarin, Khaled Hamieh
, Akram Moghrabi
, Ahmad Moghrabi, Errol McFarlane
, Abbas Shahrour, Bilal Fleifel, Mohammad Kassas
, Hussein Dokmak
, Faisal Antar
, Mohammed Halaweh
,Haitham Zein
.
The Club stadium
is located in Al Manara area, Beirut
, Lebanon
. The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate around 5,000 spectators, together with a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests, a cafeteria
, and a gymnasium. The club stadium was under rehabilitation including implanting the field with grass, increasing the seats spaces to allow more spectators, and enhancing the stadium facilities, walls, & fences. The first phase of the process started in June 2003 and was completed in late March 2004.
The stadium field was implanted with natural grass of the highest quality to provide the first team players with the best training conditions in Lebanon
.
In this direction, the administration took a wise decision to relocate the youth teams training sessions to a different field in Bir Hassan area
to avoid pressure on the newly implanted grass by the large number of players.
The second phase of the rehabilitation process including enhancing the club facilities, walls, & fences are currently underway and shall be completed later in 2004.
A tour visit for Sheikh Bahaaedine Hariri
was arranged. This rehabilitation process was among the first objectives of the current club administration headed by president Mohammad Fanj and guided by Sheikh Bahaaeddine Hariri who made the visit to the old stadium in 28 March 2003 to witness the conditions of the stadium, and listen to the views, and demands of the team players, staff, & club administration.
The old club stadium first consisted of a sand training field over the land number 704 in Ras Beirut
area with no facilities or fences. The club teams used to practice under poor conditions. The former club administrations had worked very hard on enhancing the
conditions by first building players facilities & administration offices around the stadium in 1969, the wall followed in 1974. The fact that the old stadium used to host the daily training sessions of all the club teams including around 150 players, as well as many official & friendly matches for most of the football teams in Lebanon
didn't allow the implantation of natural grass
. The dream become true in year 2004, and the fans can know enjoy the sight of their first team training on a professional field in order to achieve the best results in the local and regional competitions. On Monday, 21 February 2005 the club stadium was named "The Martyr Rafiq Hariri Stadium".
red and white
. The kit has varied over the years. Currently the away kit is a white top with white shorts and white socks. The home kit however is a burgundy-colored top with white socks and white shorts. Both shorts have burgundy stripes on the sides. The away kit has burgundy stripes on the side of the shirt,
In 2003 a new administration of the club was elected after more than 30 years under the presidency of Omar Ghandour [1969–2003]. The new president was Mohammad Fanj.
In 2005, the administration resigned, and a new election took place and a new administration headed by Mr. Mohammad Amin Daouk was elected.
Lebanese Premier League
: 7
TOTAL ACHIEVEMENTS: 40
was a product of the Nejmeh Academy and has carried on to be a great international striker and an expatriate Lebanese footballer in Bahrain for Al-Shabab Manama
and later in Egypt
for Al-Ahly
. Errol McFarlane
was part of the 23-man squad that travelled with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team
to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany whilst playing for Nejmeh. Several European talents have committed themselves to Nejmeh SC before. Among have come from Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Boris Lučić), Serbia
(Mirko Teodorovic
; Dejan Lučić; Milan Bogunovic
) and Croatia
(Mario Ivanković
). Two of the five naturalised Brazil-born players that represented Lebanon
at the 2000 Asian Cup played for Nejmeh (Gilberto dos Santos; Tomi Jarkmakani). Nejmeh has a history with African players. Currently, three Senegalese footballers are in the current squad (above). Emmanuel Duah, Daniel Nana Yeboah
and Daniel Addo
are three notable Ghana
ian footballers who were in former squads. Nejmeh has had expatriate talent from all continents since the arrival of Mohamed Karanouh (current squad; see above) has sealed a player from every continent (North America and Central America being counted as separate continents in this case).
Jamal Al Hajj Faisal Antar
Abbas Ahmed Atwi
Ahmad Boura Hussein Dokmak
Mohammed Ghaddar
Mohammed Halaweh
Mahmoud Hamoud Moussa Hojeij
Ali Hussein
Abbas Jomaa Mohammad Kassas
Hussein Naeem
Abbas Shahrour Ali Yaacoub
Haitham Zein
Africa Alphonse Tchami
(Former Boca Juniors
, Hertha BSC and OGC Nice
Player) Othman Safani Daniel Addo
(Former Bayer Leverkusen
Player) Emmanuel Duah (Former Torino FC and Real Mallorca Player) Daniel Nana Yeboah
Mohsen Saleh
Sunday Oko Papa Cisse Makhete Diop
Moussa Gueye
Asia Buddy Farah
* Bassim Abbas
Khaled Saad
Wael Nazha
*
Americas Evandro Gilberto dos Santos* Tomi Jarmakani* Kendall Velox
Errol McFarlane
(Was part of Trinidad and Tobago squad at 2006 World Cup)
Europe Hagob Donabedian
* Boris Lučić Mario Ivanković
Youssef Saad Spiridon Daskalakis Milan Bogunović
Dejan Lučić Mirko Teodorović
The following players mournfully died on Wednesday 13 June 2007 in the car bomb that killed Parliament member Walid Ido near the club stadium in Manara. Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Naeem
Managers:
Serbia
n manager Nenand Stavric mournfully died in a road accident in Damascus
, Syria
at 44 years of age. Nenad Stavric
For the Saudi Arabian team, see Al-Nejma (Saudi Arabia).
For the Bahraini team, see Al-Najma
Al-Najma
Al-Najma is a Bahraini football club based in Manama. They play in the top division in Bahraini football. Some of their famous players are striker mourad faris ,Rashed Jamal,young Bahrain Olympic team player Hamad Faisal , Yemeni international defender Salem Saeed ,and the main goalkeeper of the...
.
For the Libyan team, see Annajma S.C..
Nejmeh Sporting Club , commonly known as Nadi Al-Nejma Al-Riyadia or Najma Beyrouth, is a professional multi-sports club based in the Manara
Manara
Manara may refer to:People with the surname Manara:* Alessandro Manara, Italian astronomer* Luciano Manara, Italian soldier* Milo Manara , Italian comic book creatorPlaces:...
district of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, the capital of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. It is most famous for its association football club, which competes in the Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
, the top division football league in the nation. Nejmeh are the current champions of the Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
. Nejmeh Sporting Club is considered as one of the glorious football teams in Lebanon. Nejmeh is Arabic for star. It was established in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
in 1945, and received its license on 28 April 1947. The club had promoted gradually along the different divisions, and finally reached the first division in 1951.
Historically, the club is second only to their neighboring Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
rivals Al-Ansar and equal to Homenetmen Beirut in the amount of Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
titles won since the establishment of the league. Al-Ansar have won 13 titles while Nejmeh and Homenetmen Beirut have won seven titles. They are also second to their rivals in amount of LFA Cups
Lebanese FA Cup
The Lebanese FA Cup is the top knockout tournament in Lebanese football. The most successful team is Al-Ansar, winning 12 titles.- Finals :*1938 : Al Nahda FC *1939 : Helmi Sport*1940 : Helmi Sport*1941 : Al Nahda FC...
won over the years. Nejmeh do lead in amount of titles of the nationally cherished Elite Cup
Lebanese Elite Cup
The Lebanese Elite Cup is a Lebanese cup competition played by the top-6 league finishers of the previous season.The competition was first played in 1996 and was contested by the top four of the league and the cup winners. It was known as the Super League Cup...
with a total of seven championships. That's five more than their rivals. They also won the Lebanese Super Cup
Lebanese Super Cup
-Winners:*1996 : Al-Ansar*1997 : Al-Ansar*1998 : Al-Ansar*1999 : Al-Ansar*2000 : Nejmeh*2002 : Nejmeh*2004 : Nejmeh*2008 : Al-Ahed*2009 : Nejmeh*2010 : Al-Ahed-External Links:...
five times whereas Al-Ansar have won it four times.
In Asia, their best performance was becoming runners-up in the 2005 AFC Cup
AFC Cup
The AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their...
. Other than that, they won an Arab tournament known as the Al-Adha Cup four times. The last time they won was in 1991.
The club plays its home games at the Rafic El-Hariri Stadium.
History
The storyNarrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
started when some Beiruti young men met together in 1945, and decided to establish an association football club. The first provisional committee of Nejmeh Club was formed in 1945 and included:
- Anis Radwan (President)
- Yahia Daroub (Vice-President)
- Noureddine Hamedeh (General Secretary)
- Amin Monzer
- Hamzah Daroub
- Salah Sinno
This committee applied for a license at the Lebanese government in 1945, which was issued on 28 April 1947.
The club qualified for the Lebanese First Division
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
in 1951.
The major breakthrough came in 1970 with the rise of the golden team at Nejmeh Club that included the best players in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. Mohammad Hatoum, Hassan & Mahmoud Shatila, Habib Kammouneh, Zein Hashem, Jamal El Khatib, Youssef El Ghoul, to mention a few, with the rest of their teammates. This golden team led the way to a decade of glory for Nejmeh. The period of the 70's was the best in the club history. Nejmeh dominated the Lebanese scene, after becoming known worldwide many famous players played matches with Nejmeh as honour guests like: Pele
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
and Bebeto
Bebeto
José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, known as 'Bebeto', is a former football forward, a World Champion for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup...
In the late 1970s & the 1980s, the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
prevailed the Lebanese scene. The Lebanese championship was suspended for 12 years (1975–1987). The club won the Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
title in the 1999–2000 and 2008–2009 seasons and earned a place to compete at the 2010 AFC Cup.
Golden Era
The arab world witnessed the golden era of nejmeh club from the years 1997 till 2004 where they had the longest winning streak in the arab history with a lot of players who are: Moussa HojeijMoussa Hojeij
Moussa Hojeij is a Lebanese football player, born on August 6, 1974. He is the player and manager with the Nejmeh football club. He was the best player in the Al-Manar TV football festival several times, and was captain of the national team...
, Abbas Ahmed Atwi
Abbas Ahmed Atwi
Abbas Ahmed Atwi is Lebanese footballer. He currently plays in midfield for Nejmeh and serves as the team's captain, wearing the number 10 shirt. He is not related fellow Lebanese footballer and Al-Ahed player, Abbas Ali Atwi....
, Mohammed Ghaddar
Mohammed Ghaddar
Mohammed Mahmoud Ghaddar is a Lebanese footballer who currently plays for Kelantan FA in the Malaysian Super League and the Lebanon national football team.Ghaddar is the first ever Lebanese footballer to play for Kelantan FA.-Nejmeh:...
, Ali Nasseredine
Ali Nasseredine
Ali Nasseredine - is a Lebanese footballer who currently plays for Jordan League club Al-Jazeera.-Club career:On October 31, 1997 Nasseredine was signed to the youth teams of Nejmeh...
, Bilal Najjarin, Khaled Hamieh
Khaled Hamieh
Khaled Hamieh is a Lebanese international footballer. He currently plays for Nejmeh in the Lebanese Premier League.-Nejmeh:At 15 years of age, Khaled signed with Nejmeh from the club’s youth divisions...
, Akram Moghrabi
Akram Moghrabi
Akram Moghrabi is a Lebanese professional association football attacking midfielder. Akram Moghrabi is currently a regular starter for his current Lebanese Premier League club Nejmeh. He represents his nation by playing for the Lebanon national football team. Preferably, Scandar is an attacking...
, Ahmad Moghrabi, Errol McFarlane
Errol McFarlane
Errol McFarlane is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Rochester Rhinos in the USL First Division.-Youth and College:...
, Abbas Shahrour, Bilal Fleifel, Mohammad Kassas
Mohammad Kassas
Mohammad Kassas is a Lebanese international football forward.-Career:Kassas started his football career in Lebanon on the youth team of Al-Mabarrah. He then played for first division teams in Lebanon such as Safa Sporting Club, Shabab Al-Sahel, Hekmeh, Olympic Beirut, and Nejmeh...
, Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Dokmak was an association football player who died from the results of a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium in which Lebanese politician Walid Eido was killed...
, Faisal Antar
Faisal Antar
Faisal Antar – is a Lebanese retired football defender. He played for Tadamon Sour, Tripoli SC, Nejmeh and Al-Mabarrah in the Lebanese Premier League during 12 year career....
, Mohammed Halaweh
Mohammed Halaweh
Mohammed Halaweh is a Lebanese footballer who plays as a defender for Shabab Al-Sahel.He spent nine seasons with Nejmeh SC before moving to Al-Ahed in 2007. Two years later, he joined Shabab Al-Sahel. Halaweh has been capped 22 times for the Lebanon national team, scoring one goal.-References:...
,Haitham Zein
Haitham Zein
Haitham Zein is a Lebanese footballer who currently plays for Bahrain Club. He was formerly a Nejmeh player and represented Lebanon internationally. He started with Tadamon Sour and spent eight years. He moved to Nejmeh and spent only half a season, and later went to the Bahrain Club.Haitham...
.
Stadium
Main article is Rafiq El Hariri StadiumThe Club stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
is located in Al Manara area, Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate around 5,000 spectators, together with a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests, a cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
, and a gymnasium. The club stadium was under rehabilitation including implanting the field with grass, increasing the seats spaces to allow more spectators, and enhancing the stadium facilities, walls, & fences. The first phase of the process started in June 2003 and was completed in late March 2004.
The stadium field was implanted with natural grass of the highest quality to provide the first team players with the best training conditions in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
In this direction, the administration took a wise decision to relocate the youth teams training sessions to a different field in Bir Hassan area
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
to avoid pressure on the newly implanted grass by the large number of players.
The second phase of the rehabilitation process including enhancing the club facilities, walls, & fences are currently underway and shall be completed later in 2004.
A tour visit for Sheikh Bahaaedine Hariri
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
was arranged. This rehabilitation process was among the first objectives of the current club administration headed by president Mohammad Fanj and guided by Sheikh Bahaaeddine Hariri who made the visit to the old stadium in 28 March 2003 to witness the conditions of the stadium, and listen to the views, and demands of the team players, staff, & club administration.
The old club stadium first consisted of a sand training field over the land number 704 in Ras Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
area with no facilities or fences. The club teams used to practice under poor conditions. The former club administrations had worked very hard on enhancing the
conditions by first building players facilities & administration offices around the stadium in 1969, the wall followed in 1974. The fact that the old stadium used to host the daily training sessions of all the club teams including around 150 players, as well as many official & friendly matches for most of the football teams in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
didn't allow the implantation of natural grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
. The dream become true in year 2004, and the fans can know enjoy the sight of their first team training on a professional field in order to achieve the best results in the local and regional competitions. On Monday, 21 February 2005 the club stadium was named "The Martyr Rafiq Hariri Stadium".
Colours and Kits
Ever since the club's foundation, the traditional and primary colors of Nejmeh are burgundyBurgundy (color)
Burgundy is a shade of purplish red associated with the Burgundy wine of the same name, which in turn is named after the Burgundy region of France. The color burgundy is similar to other shades of dark red such as maroon...
red and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
. The kit has varied over the years. Currently the away kit is a white top with white shorts and white socks. The home kit however is a burgundy-colored top with white socks and white shorts. Both shorts have burgundy stripes on the sides. The away kit has burgundy stripes on the side of the shirt,
Performances and Achievements
Nejmeh have won the championship 7 times [Including last season 2008–2009], the FA cup 5 times, the Elite Cup 7 times, and the Super Cup 4 times (Including 2009). In 2005, Nejmeh reached the final match of The AFC Cup competition and lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan [0–1], & [2–3], this was the first time ever any Lebanese Football team reaches the final match of any Asian competition.In 2003 a new administration of the club was elected after more than 30 years under the presidency of Omar Ghandour [1969–2003]. The new president was Mohammad Fanj.
In 2005, the administration resigned, and a new election took place and a new administration headed by Mr. Mohammad Amin Daouk was elected.
- AFC Champions LeagueAFC Champions LeagueThe AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
: 1 appearance
-
- 2002–03AFC Champions League 2002-03The 2002–03 AFC Champions League was the 22nd edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 1st edition under the current AFC Champions League title...
: Qualifying West – 1st Round
- 2002–03
- Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance
-
- 1997: Second Round
- AFC CupAFC CupThe AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their...
: 5 appearances
-
- 2004AFC Cup 2004The 2004 AFC Cup was the 1st edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation.-Qualification:...
: Quarter-Finals - 2005AFC Cup 2005The 2005 AFC Cup was the 2nd edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation.-Qualification:...
: Finalist - 2006AFC Cup 2006The 2006 AFC Cup was the 3rd edition of the AFC Cup. Al-Faisaly from Jordan became the first side to win the competition two years in a row.-Qualification:...
: Semi-Finals - 2007AFC Cup 2007The 2007 AFC Cup was the 4th edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation.-Qualification:...
: Semi-Finals - 2010AFC Cup 2010The 2010 AFC Cup was the 7th edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation.With the Asian Football Confederation currently reviewing the format of the AFC Champions League between 2009 and 2010 season, significant changes were made in...
: Group Stage
- 2004
- Asian Cup Winners CupAsian Cup Winners CupThe Asian Cup Winners' Cup was an association football competition run by the Asian Football Confederation . The competition was started in 1991 as a tournament for all the domestic cup winners from countries affiliated to the AFC...
: 2 appearances
-
- 1990/91Asian Cup Winners Cup 1991The 1990–91 Asian Cup Winners' Cup was the first edition of the continental football competition for cup winners of member nations of the AFC. Persepolis of Iran were duly crowned champions after defeating Muharraq of Bahrian 1:0 over two legs in the final....
: First Round - 1997/98: First Round
- 1998/99: First Round
- 1990/91
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League
Lebanese Premier League is the top division of the Federation Libanaise de Football Association football league competitions. It was founded in 1900 and began in 1934 and their confederation is the AFC...
: 7
-
- 1973, 1975, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009 Lebanese FA CupLebanese FA CupThe Lebanese FA Cup is the top knockout tournament in Lebanese football. The most successful team is Al-Ansar, winning 12 titles.- Finals :*1938 : Al Nahda FC *1939 : Helmi Sport*1940 : Helmi Sport*1941 : Al Nahda FC...
: 5 - 1971, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998 Lebanese Super CupLebanese Super Cup-Winners:*1996 : Al-Ansar*1997 : Al-Ansar*1998 : Al-Ansar*1999 : Al-Ansar*2000 : Nejmeh*2002 : Nejmeh*2004 : Nejmeh*2008 : Al-Ahed*2009 : Nejmeh*2010 : Al-Ahed-External Links:...
: 4 - 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009 Lebanese Elite CupLebanese Elite CupThe Lebanese Elite Cup is a Lebanese cup competition played by the top-6 league finishers of the previous season.The competition was first played in 1996 and was contested by the top four of the league and the cup winners. It was known as the Super League Cup...
: 7 - 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Alimam Moussa Assader Tournament: 3s
- 1995, 1998, 1999
- Aladha Cup: 4
- 1974, 1980, 1987, 1991
- Habib Abishahla Cup: 6
- 1961, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1974
- Istiqlal Tournament (Independence): 2
- 1973, 1974
- Aalay City Cup: 2
- 1979, 1980
- Tripoli Arabian Tournament: 1
- 1989
- 1973, 1975, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009 Lebanese FA Cup
TOTAL ACHIEVEMENTS: 40
- AFC Best Team: 1
- 2000
Current squad
Retired number(s)
- 2 –
Hussein DokmakHussein DokmakHussein Dokmak was an association football player who died from the results of a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium in which Lebanese politician Walid Eido was killed...
† - 12 – Hussein NaeemHussein NaeemHussain Naeem was an association football player who died in a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium which killed Lebanese politician Walid Eido. He was always a Nejmeh player. He joined in 2001 and joined the youth team.- Football career :Naeem was a youth player with Nejmeh...
†
Expatriates
Nejmeh has had many great notable players, from native footballers to native talents. Mohammed GhaddarMohammed Ghaddar
Mohammed Mahmoud Ghaddar is a Lebanese footballer who currently plays for Kelantan FA in the Malaysian Super League and the Lebanon national football team.Ghaddar is the first ever Lebanese footballer to play for Kelantan FA.-Nejmeh:...
was a product of the Nejmeh Academy and has carried on to be a great international striker and an expatriate Lebanese footballer in Bahrain for Al-Shabab Manama
Al-Shabab (Bahrain)
Al-Shabab Club is a Bahraini football club based in Jidhafs. They play in the top division in Bahraini football. They share the Bahrain National Stadium with four other clubs.-Squad:...
and later in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
for Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly Sports Club , commonly known as simply Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian sporting club. Founded in April 1907, Al-Ahly was named in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football as the "African Club of the Century"...
. Errol McFarlane
Errol McFarlane
Errol McFarlane is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Rochester Rhinos in the USL First Division.-Youth and College:...
was part of the 23-man squad that travelled with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany whilst playing for Nejmeh. Several European talents have committed themselves to Nejmeh SC before. Among have come from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
(Boris Lučić), Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(Mirko Teodorovic
Mirko Teodorović
Mirko Teodorović is a Serbian football player currently playing in Hong Kong First Division club Tuen Mun.-External sources:* at Transfermarkt.* at Srbijafudbal....
; Dejan Lučić; Milan Bogunovic
Milan Bogunović
Milan Bogunović is a Serbian football defender currently playing with Zalaegerszegi TE in the Hungarian National Championship I....
) and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(Mario Ivanković
Mario Ivankovic
Mario Ivanković-Maka is a Croatian football player. He plays for HŠK Zrinjski Mostar in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Maka has been named the supporters club's Player of the Year for the 2007–08 season...
). Two of the five naturalised Brazil-born players that represented Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
at the 2000 Asian Cup played for Nejmeh (Gilberto dos Santos; Tomi Jarkmakani). Nejmeh has a history with African players. Currently, three Senegalese footballers are in the current squad (above). Emmanuel Duah, Daniel Nana Yeboah
Daniel Nana Yeboah
Daniel Nana Yeboah is a Ghanaian football defensive Midfielder who currently plays for Al-Masry in Egypt.-International career:...
and Daniel Addo
Daniel Addo
Daniel Addo is a retired Ghanaian footballer who last played for King Faisal Babes, as a midfielder.-Club career:...
are three notable Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian footballers who were in former squads. Nejmeh has had expatriate talent from all continents since the arrival of Mohamed Karanouh (current squad; see above) has sealed a player from every continent (North America and Central America being counted as separate continents in this case).
List of Selected Notable Players
Lebanon Tarek Al AliTarek Al Ali
Tarek Al Ali is a Lebanese footballer. He currently plays for Al-Mabarrah in Lebanon. He plays as a forward, yet some people see he is a midfielder who defends and attacks. He represents Lebanon.-International career:He wears the number 6 shirt for Lebanon....
Jamal Al Hajj Faisal Antar
Faisal Antar
Faisal Antar – is a Lebanese retired football defender. He played for Tadamon Sour, Tripoli SC, Nejmeh and Al-Mabarrah in the Lebanese Premier League during 12 year career....
Abbas Ahmed Atwi
Abbas Ahmed Atwi
Abbas Ahmed Atwi is Lebanese footballer. He currently plays in midfield for Nejmeh and serves as the team's captain, wearing the number 10 shirt. He is not related fellow Lebanese footballer and Al-Ahed player, Abbas Ali Atwi....
Ahmad Boura Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Dokmak was an association football player who died from the results of a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium in which Lebanese politician Walid Eido was killed...
Mohammed Ghaddar
Mohammed Ghaddar
Mohammed Mahmoud Ghaddar is a Lebanese footballer who currently plays for Kelantan FA in the Malaysian Super League and the Lebanon national football team.Ghaddar is the first ever Lebanese footballer to play for Kelantan FA.-Nejmeh:...
Mohammed Halaweh
Mohammed Halaweh
Mohammed Halaweh is a Lebanese footballer who plays as a defender for Shabab Al-Sahel.He spent nine seasons with Nejmeh SC before moving to Al-Ahed in 2007. Two years later, he joined Shabab Al-Sahel. Halaweh has been capped 22 times for the Lebanon national team, scoring one goal.-References:...
Mahmoud Hamoud Moussa Hojeij
Moussa Hojeij
Moussa Hojeij is a Lebanese football player, born on August 6, 1974. He is the player and manager with the Nejmeh football club. He was the best player in the Al-Manar TV football festival several times, and was captain of the national team...
Ali Hussein
Ali Hussein
Ali Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti , is the alleged third son of Saddam Hussein, whose mother is Samira Shahbandar, Saddam's second wife. However this has never been confirmed as Saddam Hussein's family claims that Ali is actually Saddam's grandson.The whereabouts of Samira Shahbander and Ali are unknown...
Abbas Jomaa Mohammad Kassas
Mohammad Kassas
Mohammad Kassas is a Lebanese international football forward.-Career:Kassas started his football career in Lebanon on the youth team of Al-Mabarrah. He then played for first division teams in Lebanon such as Safa Sporting Club, Shabab Al-Sahel, Hekmeh, Olympic Beirut, and Nejmeh...
Hussein Naeem
Hussein Naeem
Hussain Naeem was an association football player who died in a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium which killed Lebanese politician Walid Eido. He was always a Nejmeh player. He joined in 2001 and joined the youth team.- Football career :Naeem was a youth player with Nejmeh...
Abbas Shahrour Ali Yaacoub
Ali Yaacoub
Ali Yaacoub is a Lebanese international footballer. He currently plays for Lebanese club Al-Ahed who compete in the Lebanese Premier League. He is a midfielder. He recently wore the number 15 shirt in the game against the Singapore national football team.-External links:...
Haitham Zein
Haitham Zein
Haitham Zein is a Lebanese footballer who currently plays for Bahrain Club. He was formerly a Nejmeh player and represented Lebanon internationally. He started with Tadamon Sour and spent eight years. He moved to Nejmeh and spent only half a season, and later went to the Bahrain Club.Haitham...
Africa Alphonse Tchami
Alphonse Tchami
Alphonse Marie Tchami Djomaha is a retired Cameroonian football player.-Career:Tchami began his career in his homeland with Unisport Bafang before moving to Danish side Vejle BK. After a short spell which involved relegation, Tchami moved to Odense BK where his form won him a move to Argentine...
(Former Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, Hertha BSC and OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
Player) Othman Safani Daniel Addo
Daniel Addo
Daniel Addo is a retired Ghanaian footballer who last played for King Faisal Babes, as a midfielder.-Club career:...
(Former Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
Player) Emmanuel Duah (Former Torino FC and Real Mallorca Player) Daniel Nana Yeboah
Daniel Nana Yeboah
Daniel Nana Yeboah is a Ghanaian football defensive Midfielder who currently plays for Al-Masry in Egypt.-International career:...
Mohsen Saleh
Mohsen Saleh
Mohsen Saleh is an Egyptian football manager and former footballer. Until recently, he was the manager of the Libyan National football team but was dismissed due to bad results. -Football career:...
Sunday Oko Papa Cisse Makhete Diop
Makhete Diop
Makhete Diop is a Senegalese footballer. He currently plays for Al Dhafra, which competes in the UAE Division 1 Group A in United Arab Emirates. He plays as a striker.-Early career:...
Moussa Gueye
Moussa Khoume Gueye
Moussa Gueye is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for Bulgarian A PFG side Montana as a central defender.He is the younger brother of Ibrahima Gueye who currently plays for K.S.C. Lokeren in Belgium.-Career:...
Asia Buddy Farah
Buddy Farah
Buddy Farah is an Australian soccer agent and a former footballer of Lebanese descent. After beginning his career with Marconi Stallions in the Australian National Soccer League, he went on to play for Nejmeh in the Lebanese Premier League and Keflavík in the Iceland Úrvalsdeild before retiring in...
* Bassim Abbas
Bassim Abbas
Bassim Abbas Gatea Al-Ogaili simply known as Bassim Abbas, is an Iraqi professional footballer. He currently plays as a defender for Konyaspor football club in Turkey and the Iraq national football team.-Information:...
Khaled Saad
Khaled Saad
Khaled Saad is a Jordanian footballer who plays for Al-Faisaly and is a member of the Jordan national football team and has always played as player number 3 of Jordan and 12 of Al-Faisaly.-Career:...
Wael Nazha
Wael Nazha
Wael Nazha is a retired Lebanese footballer.-Career:Nazha began his playing career in Lebanon, eventually joining Beirut-based side Nejmeh. He spent one season playing for Kavala in the Greek Alpha Ethniki. He finished his career in the lower levels of English football, playing for A.F.C...
*
Americas Evandro Gilberto dos Santos* Tomi Jarmakani* Kendall Velox
Kendall Velox
Kendall Velox is a retired Vincentian footballer who represented St Vincent & Grenadines at international level.-Career:...
Errol McFarlane
Errol McFarlane
Errol McFarlane is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Rochester Rhinos in the USL First Division.-Youth and College:...
(Was part of Trinidad and Tobago squad at 2006 World Cup)
Europe Hagob Donabedian
Hagob Donabedian
Hagob Donabedian is Lebanese footballer of Armenian descent.-Career:Donabedian started his career in 2001 playing for Homenetmen Beirut. After five years, Belarusian club FC Vitebsk bought him...
* Boris Lučić Mario Ivanković
Mario Ivankovic
Mario Ivanković-Maka is a Croatian football player. He plays for HŠK Zrinjski Mostar in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Maka has been named the supporters club's Player of the Year for the 2007–08 season...
Youssef Saad Spiridon Daskalakis Milan Bogunović
Milan Bogunović
Milan Bogunović is a Serbian football defender currently playing with Zalaegerszegi TE in the Hungarian National Championship I....
Dejan Lučić Mirko Teodorović
Mirko Teodorović
Mirko Teodorović is a Serbian football player currently playing in Hong Kong First Division club Tuen Mun.-External sources:* at Transfermarkt.* at Srbijafudbal....
- Players with a star received/have Lebanese nationality.
- Players in bold are current squad members.
Notable Foreign Managers
| Otto Pfister Otto Pfister Otto Pfister is a German football manager, and one of Germany's most successful coaching exports, voted Africa's Manager of the Year in 1992. He has been to four African Cup of Nations competitions with Upper Volta , Zaire, Cameroon and Ghana) and reached the African Cup of Nations final twice,... Nenad Stavric Nenad Stavric Nenad Stavrić was a Serbian football player and manager.Stavrić played for several clubs in Serbia, including FK Radnički Niš, FK Rad and FK Partizan, before moving abroad and finishing his career with Olympiakos Nicosia.He managed several clubs in former Yugoslavia, including FK Zvezdara and FK... Jan Mak Omēr Mizian Wathiq Naji Wathiq Naji Wathiq Naji , is a former Iraqi national football player and Technical Manager for the Iraq national football team... Mahmoud Kandouz |
Deceased Members
Players:The following players mournfully died on Wednesday 13 June 2007 in the car bomb that killed Parliament member Walid Ido near the club stadium in Manara. Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Dokmak
Hussein Dokmak was an association football player who died from the results of a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium in which Lebanese politician Walid Eido was killed...
Hussein Naeem
Hussein Naeem
Hussain Naeem was an association football player who died in a car bomb outside the Al Manara Stadium which killed Lebanese politician Walid Eido. He was always a Nejmeh player. He joined in 2001 and joined the youth team.- Football career :Naeem was a youth player with Nejmeh...
Managers:
Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n manager Nenand Stavric mournfully died in a road accident in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
at 44 years of age. Nenad Stavric
Nenad Stavric
Nenad Stavrić was a Serbian football player and manager.Stavrić played for several clubs in Serbia, including FK Radnički Niš, FK Rad and FK Partizan, before moving abroad and finishing his career with Olympiakos Nicosia.He managed several clubs in former Yugoslavia, including FK Zvezdara and FK...