Al-Ittihad: Things to know about Karim Benzema’s new team
Karim Benzema will soon call time on his Real Madrid career and jet off to Saudi Arabia to join the country’s champions Al-Ittihad.
Benzema is one of the most decorated players in football history thanks to his trophy-laden spell with Los Blancos but has given himself the challenge of playing in the Middle East as the next step in his career.
Here’s what you need to know about the club Benzema is leaving Real for after 13 years in Spain’s capital.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s time in charge of Tottenham ended in pretty acrimonious fashion as fans pleaded for his exit. It’s since gone from worse to shambolic in north London, while Nuno is sitting pretty with the Saudi Pro League about to welcome a Ballon d’Or winner into his squad.
Before that ill-fated Spurs spell, Santo had garnered respect for leading Wolves back into the Premier League during a four-year stint.
The 49-year-old was previously in charge of Rio Ave, Valencia and Porto.
King Abdullah Sports City, also known as the Shining Jewel, is the biggest stadium in Jeddah, holding 62,241 spectators. It is also the second largest ground in Saudi Arabia, behind only the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
Al-Ittihad have shared the stadium with local rivals Al-Ahli since it was opened in 2014.
King Abdullah Sports City has hosted high-profile matches from other countries, including the 2020 Supercopa de Espana which saw Real Madrid win 4-1 on penalties after a goalless with Atletico Madrid.
Al-Ittihad has won 37 official honours, with 30 coming in domestic competitions. They are also one of just three Asian teams to have won the AFC Champions League twice in a row.
Their nine league titles is only half of Al-Hilal’s tally. The Blues waves are Asia’s most decorated club and boast a record 18 league titles.
Domestic trophies
|
Competition |
Titles |
Seasons |
|---|---|---|
|
Pro League |
9 |
1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2023 |
|
King Cup |
9 |
1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1988, 2010, 2013, 2018 |
|
Crown Prince Cup |
8 |
1958, 1959, 1963, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2017 |
|
Super Cup |
1 |
2022 |
|
Saudi Federation Cup |
3 |
1986, 1997, 1999 |
Continental trophies
|
Competition |
Titles |
Seasons |
|---|---|---|
|
AFC Champions League |
2 |
2004, 2005 |
|
Asian Cup Winners Cup |
1 |
1999 |
Regional trophies
|
Competition |
Titles |
Seasons |
|---|---|---|
|
Arab Champions League |
1 |
2005 |
|
GCC Champions League |
1 |
1999 |
|
Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup |
2 |
2001, 2003 |
Al-Ittihad have welcomed some hipster players to their ranks over the years. Former Mexico striker Jarde Borgetti spent time there in 2006, while Wilfried Bony and Sulley Muntari also turned out for the Tigers.
Their current squad includes former West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi, Leeds loanee Helder Costa and top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah, who netted 25 times in 2022/23.
After a few years in mid table from 2017 to 2020, Al-Ittihad’s resurgence started with a finish of third in 2020/21. Second place came in 2021/22 before Nuno arrived and led them to a first league title since 2009.
It was their defensive nous which proved critical – Al-Ittihad conceded just 13 goals and lost only two of their 30 league games to end the 2022/23 season five points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
Al-Ittihad needed penalty shootouts in two rounds of the King Cup against Al-Shadab and Al-Fayha before being beaten in the semi finals by Al-Hilal. They were, however, successful in the Saudi Super Cup thanks to victories over Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha.
Their league title success means Al-Ittihad have qualified for the group stages of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League.