The Qatari Second Division (Arabic: دوري الدرجة الثانية القطري), QSD or Second Division League, also was known as Qatargas League due to sponsorship reasons, is the second tier of football league competition in Qatar. Contested by 8 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Qatar Stars League (QSL), the top-tier football league in the country. The QSD seasons run from September to April.
 | |
| Founded | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Country | Qatar |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Qatar Stars League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Sheikh Jassem Cup Qatari Second Division Cup |
| Current champions | Al-Khor SC (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Al-Markhiya (6 titles) |
| Current: 2024-25 Qatari Second Division | |
The league's first season was played in 1979 which was won by Al-Ittihad. The club with the most QSD wins is Al-Markhiya which has won 6 QSD titles. According to the league's development strategy, starting with the 2022–23 season, the first-placed club of this league will play a relegation match against the tenth-placed club of the first league to decide which club will participate in the first league next season.[1] There is no relegation from the second division.[2]
History
editIn 1990, the Qatar Football Association dissolved three second division clubs: Al Nasr, Al Tadamon, and Al Nahda. The clubs' players and staff were distributed to first division clubs. As a result, the Qatari Second Division was unofficially dissolved on a temporary basis.[3] The competition resumed operations in the 1996–97 season.[4] The first promotion play-off took place in the 1999–00 season, between Second Division champions Muaither SC and the bottom-ranked team of the Qatar Stars League, Al Shamal. Muaither lost the match.[5]
It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight in the 2008–09 season, due to expansion reasons, however the announcement was made with only one game remaining.[6] This meant that the Qatari Second Division would remain with the same number of teams despite the recent formation of Lekhwiya SC and El Jaish SC, while the top flight would expand to 12 teams.
On 6 October 2013 it was announced Qatari Second Division had a sponsorship with Qatargas.[7]
An annual competition known as the Qatari Second Division Cup is played by all second division clubs.[8]
Clubs
editChampions
editSource:[9]
| Club | Champions | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Markhiya | 6 | 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2016–17, 2021–22 |
| Al-Sailiya | 4 | 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2011–12 |
| Al-Gharafa | 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1986–87 | |
| Al-Shamal | 1985–86, 2002–03, 2014–15, 2020–21 | |
| El-Jaish | 3 | 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11 |
| Umm-Salal | 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2005–06 | |
| Al-Kharaitiyat | 2 | 2003–04, 2019–20 |
| Al-Khor | 1982–83, 2023–24 | |
| Al-Wakrah | 1984–85, 2018–19 | |
| Al-Rayyan | 1988–89, 2014–15 | |
| Muaither | 2015–16, 2022–23 | |
| Al-Shahania | 1 | 2017–18 |
| Al-Mesaimeer | 2000–01 | |
| Al-Ahli | 2012–13 | |
| Al-Duhail | 2009–10 | |
| Al-Nahda | 1980–81 |
2022–23 season
edit| Qatari Second Division | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Location | Stadium | Year Formed |
| Al Bidda SC | Doha | 2015 | |
| Al Kharaitiyat | Al Kharaitiyat | Al Khor SC Stadium | 1996 |
| Al-Khor | Al Khor | Al-Khor SC Stadium | 1961 |
| Al-Mesaimeer | Al-Rayyan, | Al-Sailiya SC Stadium | 1996 |
| Al-Shahania | Al-Rayyan, | Grand Hamad Stadium | 1998 |
| Al-Waab | Al Waab, Doha | 2019 | |
| Lusail | Lusail, Al Daayen | 2014 | |
| Muaither SC | Muaither, Al-Rayyan | Thani bin Jassim Stadium | 1996 |
Championship history
editTotal titles won by town or city
edit| Town or city | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Al Rayyan | 14
|
Al-Sailiya SC (4), Al-Gharafa SC (4), Al-Rayyan SC (2), Muaither SC (2), Mesaimeer (1), Al-Shahania (1) |
| Doha | 12
|
Al-Markhiya (6), Al-Jaish (3), Lekhwiya SC (1), Al Ahli (1), Al-Nahda (1) |
| Umm Salal | 5
|
Umm Salal SC (3), Al Kharaitiyat (2) |
| Al Shamal | 4
|
Al-Shamal (4) |
| Al Wakrah | 2
|
Al-Wakrah SC (2) |
| Al Khor | 1
|
Al-Taawun (Al Khor) (1) |
Top scorers
edit| Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals | |||
| 1998–99 |  |
Osama Adam | ? | 13[10] | ||
| 2007–08 |  |
Gonzalo Gutiérrez | Al Markhiya | 15 | ||
| 2008–09 | |
Gonzalo Gutiérrez | Muaither | 14 | ||
| 2010–11 |  |
Abdulqadir Ilyas | El Jaish | 12 | ||
| 2011–12 |  |
Michaël N'dri | Al Sailiya | 16 | ||
| 2012–13 |  |
Jean-Paul Eale Lutula | Muaither | 13 | ||
| 2013–14 |  |
Ali Ferydoon | Al Shamal | 19 | ||
| 2014–15 | |
Rodrigo Tabata | Al Rayyan | 20 | ||
| 2015–16 |  |
Mahmoud Za'tara | Muaither | 20 | ||
| 2016–17 |  |
Selemani Ndikumana | Mesaimeer | 19 | ||
| 2017–18 |  |
Luciano Vázquez | Al Shahaniya | 15 | ||
| 2018–19 |  |
Mamadou Diawara Omar Ali Nana Poku |
Muaither Al Wakrah Al Wakrah |
10 | ||
| 2019–20 |  |
Rachid Tiberkanine | Al Kharaitiyat | 18 | ||
| 2020–21 |  |
Baha' Faisal Birahim Gaye |
Al Shamal Al Shahaniya |
17 | ||
| 2021–22 | |
Rachid Tiberkanine | Al Kharaitiyat | 8 | ||
| 2022–23 | |
Alaeddine Ajaraie | Muaither | 11 | ||
| 2023–24 |   |
Idrissa Thiam Tiago Reis |
Mesaimeer | 10 | ||
References
edit- ^ "Second Division League". Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "Second Division League". Qatar Football Association. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ دوري نجوم قطر. mail.asiancup2011.qa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ "Diliberto wants more teams in Second Division League". Qatar Tribune. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ نادي معيذر يدخل معسكر مغلق استعدادا لام صلال في الفاصله (in Arabic). Muaither SC. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Q-League expands to 12 Archived May 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Qatargas and QFA Sign 3 Year Sponsorship Agreement". QFA. 6 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "Qatar Cup 2nd Division". Goalzz. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ List of Champions – 2nd Division – QFA Archived May 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic)
- ^ "حصاد الموسم الكروي القطري 98 – 99 : رقم قياسي جديد في تسجيل الاهداف والوكرة الاكثر حصولاً على الألقاب". daharchives.alhayat.com (in Arabic). 7 January 1999. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.