Al-Hilal were founded in Riyadh in October 1957 and renamed on 3 December 1958 by King Saud. They have enjoyed grassroots and royal support since the start.
| Founded | October 1957 |
|---|---|
| Renamed | 3 December 1958, by King Saud |
| First King’s Cup | 1961 |
| First league title | 1976-77, the first Saudi Premier League season |
| First Asian title | 1991 Asian Club Championship |
| Club World Cup | Runners-up, 2022 edition |
The early years
Al-Hilal won the King’s Cup in 1961 and 1964, and the Crown Prince Cup in 1963-64. They were the inaugural winners of the Saudi Premier League in 1976-77. Brazilian legends Mario Zagallo and Rivellino joined in the 1970s.
The 1980s and 1990s
Saleh Al-Nu’eimeh, Yousuf Al-Thunayan and Sami Al-Jaber came through in the 1980s, when the club won four league titles. The first Asian title came in 1991, beating Esteghlal on penalties, and the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and Super Cup followed in 1997.
Rivalry with Al-Ittihad
The Riyadh against Jeddah rivalry with Al-Ittihad shaped the 2000s. The 2007-08 title was decided in a final-day meeting between the two in Jeddah.
Asian champions again
Al-Hilal won the AFC Champions League in 2019 and 2021. In February 2023 they became the first Asian club from outside the host nation to reach the Club World Cup final, losing 5-3 to Real Madrid.
The recent era
In August 2023 Al-Hilal signed Neymar for a Saudi Pro League record fee of 90 million euros plus add-ons, along with Kalidou Koulibaly, Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Malcom, Yassine Bounou and Aleksandar Mitrović. Simone Inzaghi became head coach in June 2025.
Sources
Al Hilal SFC (Wikipedia); Inzaghi stays at Al-Hilal until 2027 (4AllFootball, 7 October 2026).
