{{pp|small=yes}} {{About|the men's football club from Beirut, Lebanon|other uses|Ahed (disambiguation){{!}}Ahed}} {{good article}} {{short description|Association football club in Beirut, Lebanon}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Ahed | image = Al Ahed FC logo (2023).svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | upright = 0.6 | fullname = Al Ahed Football Club | nickname = {{lang|ar|القلعة الصفراء}} (''The Yellow Castle'') | short name = Ahed | founded = {{ubl|{{Start date and age|df=yes|1964}} (as Al Ahed Al Jadeed)|{{Start date and age|df=yes|1985}} (as Nejmet Al Ahed Al Jadeed)}} | ground = Al Ahed Stadium | capacity = 2,000 | chairman = Zein Khaife | manager = Bassem Marmar | league = {{Lebanese football updater|Ahed}} | season = {{Lebanese football updater|Ahed2}} | position = {{Lebanese football updater|Ahed3}} | website = {{URL|https://www.alahedfc.com/|alahedfc.com}} | pattern_la1 = _watford2324h | pattern_b1 = _watford2324h | pattern_ra1 = _watford2324h | pattern_sh1 = _watford2324h | pattern_so1 = _watford2324hl | leftarm1 = 000000 | body1 = fdf200 | rightarm1 = 000000 | shorts1 = 000000 | socks1 = fdf200 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _ahed2324a | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = _kelme white | pattern_so2 = _kelme black | leftarm2 = 134069 | body2 = 134069 | rightarm2 = 134069 | shorts2 = 134069 | socks2 = FFFFFF | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = _hoiking2122a | pattern_ra3 = | pattern_sh3 = _kelme white | pattern_so3 = _kelme white | leftarm3 = FFFFFF | body3 = FFFFFF | rightarm3 = FFFFFF | shorts3 = 134069 | socks3 = 134069 | current = 2025–26 Lebanese Premier League }} '''Al Ahed Football Club''' ({{langx|ar|نادي العهد الرياضي|lit=The Covenant Sporting Club}}) is a football club based in Ouzai, a district in Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Premier League, the top flight of Lebanese football. The club was founded in 1964 as Al Ahed Al Jadeed, initially starting in the Third Division before reaching the Premier League for the first time in 1996.
Nicknamed "the Yellow Castle" ({{Langx|ar|القلعة الصفراء|links=no}}), Ahed have won one AFC Cup title, nine Premier League titles, six FA Cup titles, two Federation Cup titles, eight Super Cup titles, and six Elite Cup titles. They secured their first league title in 2008 and have achieved three unbeaten seasons (in 2010, 2018 and 2022). In 2011, Ahed made history by becoming the first team in Lebanon to accomplish both a domestic treble and quadruple, winning the league, the FA Cup, the Elite Cup, and the Super Cup in the same season. In 2019, Ahed defeated North Korean side April 25 in the final of the AFC Cup, becoming the first Lebanese side to win the competition. They reached the final once more in 2024, losing to Australian side Central Coast Mariners.
The club is primarily supported by the Shia community and is affiliated with Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia political party and militant group. Ahed's rivals include fellow Beirut clubs Nejmeh and Ansar. Their ultras group, formed in 2018, is called "Ultras Yellow Inferno". Ahed's stadium, the Al Ahed Stadium, can accommodate 2,000 spectators.
==History==
===Early history (1964–1989)=== Ahed were founded in 1964 as Al Ahed Al Jadeed ({{Langx|ar|العهد الجديد|lit=The New Covenant}}) in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut. Under the presidency of Muhieddine Anouti, the club initially competed in the Lebanese Third Division.<ref name="hezb">{{Cite web|url=https://www.babagol.net/blog/2018/9/30/the-hezbollah-club|title=The Hezbollah Club|last=Levy|first=Uri|date=4 October 2018|website=BabaGol|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142256/https://www.babagol.net/blog/2018/9/30/the-hezbollah-club|archive-date=17 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="assi">{{Cite web |last=Gedeon |first=Abdo |title=Mohammad Assi |url=https://www.abdogedeon.com/volleyball/NOUJOUM/mohammad_assi.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726154757/http://www.abdogedeon.com/volleyball/NOUJOUM/mohammad_assi.html |archive-date=26 July 2011 |access-date=9 November 2019 |website=abdogedeon.com |language=ar}}</ref> During the 1970s, Ahed played in Msaytbeh, an area of Beirut, under the name Al Huda Islamic Club ({{langx|ar|نادي الهدى الإسلامي|links=no}}). However, the club ceased activities as a consequence of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.<ref name="assi" /><ref name="kooora">{{Cite web |title= |script-title=ar:نادي: العهد |trans-title=Club: Ahed |url=http://www.kooora.com/default.Aspx?c=16719&cm=t%7C1277 |access-date=10 March 2019 |website=kooora.com |language=ar |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005181711/https://www.kooora.com/default.Aspx?c=16719&cm=t%7C1277/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1984, Anouti acquired a license under the name Nejmet Al Ahed Al Jadeed ({{langx|ar|نجمة العهد الجديد|links=no|lit=The Star of the New Covenant}}) but did not establish a club.<ref name="assi" /><ref name="kooora" /> On 2 May 1985, the Lebanese Football Association granted membership to the club to resume playing football, with Mohammad Assi assuming the presidency.<ref name="assi" /><ref name="kooora" /> During the 1988–89 season in the Lebanese Second Division, the team qualified for a playoff match against Al-Majdi. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, preventing Ahed from securing promotion to the Lebanese Premier League.<ref name="kooora" />
===Lebanese Premier League and first titles (1992–2011)=== In 1992, Abdo Saad became the new president and changed the name of the club to Al Ahed ({{langx|ar|العهد|links=no|lit=The Covenant}}) because its leaders wanted a name with a Quranic meaning.<ref name="assi" /> In 1996, Amin Sherri succeeded Saad as president after his resignation, despite Ahed reaching the Second Division promotion play-offs.<ref name="assi" /> On 20 December 1996, Ahed were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history.<ref name="assi" /> They won their first Premier League game on 18 October 1997, defeating Riada Wal Adab 1–0 at the Bourj Hammoud Stadium; Moussa Bedyan scored the lone goal in the 20th minute.<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 October 1997|title=|script-title=ar:رياضة والعاب|trans-title=Sports and games|page=14|work=An-Nahar}}</ref>
After two seasons in the Premier League, Ahed were relegated to the Second Division, before they earned promotion back to the Premier League.<ref name="assi" /><ref name="kooora" /> Following the club's second promotion to the Premier League, Sherri resigned as club president and was replaced by Osama Al-Halabawi.<ref name="assi" /> Under Al-Halabawi's tenure, Ahed reached the finals of the 2001–02 FA Cup and the 2002 Elite Cup, in addition to securing third place in the league during the 2002–03 season.<ref name="assi" /> Between 2004 and 2005, Ahed won two FA Cups, one Federation Cup, and one Super Cup.<ref name="assi" /><ref name="kooora" /><ref name="leb cup">{{Cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |title=Lebanon – List of Cup Winners |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/lebcuphist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604133924/http://rsssf.com/tablesl/lebcuphist.html |archive-date=4 June 2019 |access-date=9 November 2019 |website=RSSSF}}</ref>
Having won the 2004 FA Cup, Ahed first qualified for an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competition, the 2005 AFC Cup. They made their continental debut on 9 May 2009, defeating Indian club Dempo 1–0 at home. Ahed finished second in their group of three, which also included Al-Hussein of Iraq, and qualified for the quarter-finals. Despite a 1–0 home victory against Hong Kong club Sun Hei in the first leg, Ahed lost the second leg 3–1 and were eliminated.<ref name="2005AFC">{{Cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |title=Asian Club Competitions 2005 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup05.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926162025/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup05.html |archive-date=26 September 2020 |access-date=13 November 2019 |website=RSSSF}}</ref>
Ahed won their first league title in 2007–08.<ref name="leb champ">{{Cite web |last=Fujioka |first=Atsushi |title=Lebanon – List of Champions |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/lebchamp.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604133921/http://rsssf.com/tablesl/lebchamp.html |archive-date=4 June 2019 |access-date=9 November 2019 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> They went on a 44-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League from 2 November 2008 to 30 October 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |title=Al-Ahed's series of 44 matches unbeaten in the Lebanese League |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/unb-ahed-run.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309212613/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/unb-ahed-run.html |archive-date=9 March 2016 |access-date=22 October 2018 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> winning the 2009–10 league without defeats as a consequence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abboud |first=John |title=Lebanon 2009/10 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/leb2010.html |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=RSSSF |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730080337/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/leb2010.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2010–11 season, Ahed won the league, the FA Cup, the Super Cup and the Elite Cup, becoming the first team in Lebanon to accomplish both a domestic treble and quadruple.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Al Ahed SC |url=https://us.soccerway.com/teams/lebanon/al-ahed-beirut/3574/trophies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710155840/https://us.soccerway.com/teams/lebanon/al-ahed-beirut/3574/trophies/ |archive-date=10 July 2019 |access-date=25 May 2019 |website=Soccerway}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/leb2011.html|title=Lebanon 2010/11|last=Schöggl|first=Hans|website=RSSSF|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115102218/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesl/leb2011.html#facup|archive-date=15 January 2019|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref>
=== Tamim Sleiman presidency and domestic dominance (2014–2024) === {{football squad on pitch|align=right |GK_nat=Lebanon|GK='''Khalil''' |RB_nat=Lebanon|RB='''Zein''' |RCB_nat=Lebanon|RCB='''Mansour''' |LCB_nat=Syria|LCB='''Al Saleh''' |LB_nat=Lebanon|LB='''Dakik''' |RCM_nat=Ghana|RCM='''Yakubu''' |LCM_nat=Lebanon|LCM='''Faour (C)''' |RW_nat=Lebanon|RW='''Ataya''' |SS_nat=Lebanon|SS='''Haidar''' |LW_nat=Lebanon|LW='''Zreik''' |CF_nat=Tunisia|CF='''Akaïchi''' |caption=2019 AFC Cup final starting lineup }} In 2014, Tamim Sleiman was appointed president of the club by unanimous decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 June 2014 |title= |script-title=ar:تميم سليمان رئيساً لنادي العهد الرياضي |trans-title=Tamim Sleiman, president of Al Ahed FC |url=https://archive.alahednews.com.lb/details.php?id=145073 |access-date=13 February 2020 |website=alahednews.com.lb |language=ar |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005181727/https://archive.alahednews.com.lb/details.php?id=145073/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In his first year as president, Ahed secured the 2014–15 Premier League, the club's fourth in total.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2015 |title= |script-title=ar:العهد يحتفل بالدوري اللبناني بعد تعادله مع الأنصار |trans-title=Ahed celebrates the Lebanese League after its draw with Ansar |url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=403962 |access-date=13 February 2020 |website=Kooora |language=ar |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005181741/https://www.kooora.com/?n=403962/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Their 2016–17 league victory marked the beginning of a historic streak for Ahed, as they went on to win the league in 2017–18 (their second unbeaten)<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2018 |title= |script-title=ar:العهد توج أمام النجمة بسجل نظيف من الخسارة |trans-title=Ahed were crowned in front of Nejmeh with an unbeaten record |url=https://www.alanba.com.kw/ar/sport-news/arabic-sports/826476/17-04-2018-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AC-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AC%D9%84-%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602154517/https://www.alanba.com.kw/ar/sport-news/arabic-sports/826476/17-04-2018-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AC-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AC%D9%84-%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9/ |archive-date=2 June 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=Al-Anbaa |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stokkermans |first=Karel |title=Unbeaten |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216212124/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html |archive-date=16 December 2015 |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> and 2018–19, securing their seventh title overall and establishing themselves as three-time defending champions, a position previously held only by Ansar in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2019 |title= |script-title=ar:العهد بطل لبنان |trans-title=Ahed champions of Lebanon |url=https://al-akhbar.com/Sport/269581 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Al Akhbar |language=ar}}</ref>
Ahed reached the final of the AFC Cup – the AFC's second-tier club competition – for the first time in 2019, joining Nejmeh in 2005 and Safa in 2008 as the only Lebanese teams to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1 October 2019 |title= |script-title=ar:العهد الى نهائي كأس الإتحاد الآسيوي لأول مرة في تاريخه |trans-title=Ahed to the AFC Cup Final for the first time in its history |url=http://football-lebanon.com/details.php?id=7303 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411230256/http://football-lebanon.com/details.php?id=7303 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |access-date=2 October 2019 |website=Football Lebanon |language=ar}}</ref> On 4 November 2019, Ahed beat North Korean side 25 April with a 1–0 win in the final, from a header by Issah Yakubu, thus becoming the first Lebanese team to win the competition.<ref name="2019AFC">{{Cite web |date=4 November 2019 |title=Al Ahed clinch historic title |url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/al-ahed-clinch-historic-title |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105062534/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/al-ahed-clinch-historic-title |archive-date=5 November 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019 |website=AFC}}</ref> Throughout the tournament, Ahed conceded only three goals in 11 matches and achieved nine clean sheets, including five consecutive ones in all five knockout matches, as they maintained an unbeaten record.<ref name="MVP">{{Cite web |date=4 November 2019 |title=Al Ahed's Khalil named MVP |url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/al-ahed-s-khalil-named-mvp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105105907/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/al-ahed-s-khalil-named-mvp |archive-date=5 November 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019 |website=AFC}}</ref>
In the 2021–22 season, Ahed cleaimed their third league title unbeaten, securing their eighth title overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |script-title=ar:العهد توج بلقبه الثامن بطلا للبنان في كرة القدم بسجل نظيف من الخسارة |trans-title=Ahed won their eighth Lebanese football championship with an unbeaten record |url=https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9/542710 |website=NNA Lebanon |language=ar |access-date=20 May 2022 |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521192553/https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%A9/542710 |url-status=live }}</ref> They continued their dominance by winning their ninth league title in 2022–23.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2023 |title= |script-title=ar:العهد يرفع الكأس التاسعة تحت شعار نحو العاشرة |trans-title=Ahed raises the ninth league title under the slogan "Towards the Tenth" |url=https://al-akhbar.com/Sport_Lebanon/360037 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Al Akhbar |language=ar}}</ref> The match between Ahed and Racing Beirut on 6 August 2023, the first matchday of the 2023–24 league season, marked the inaugural use of video assistant referee (VAR) technology in Lebanese football.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khaled |first=Nasser |date=26 July 2023 |title= |script-title=ar:تقنية الفيديو حاضرة في لقاء العهد والراسينغ |trans-title=Video technology will be present in the match between Ahed and Racing |url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1257135 |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=Kooora |language=ar |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727194407/https://www.kooora.com/?n=1257135 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 May 2024, Ahed made it to the final of the 2023–24 AFC Cup for the second time, finishing runners-up after losing 1–0 to Australian side Central Coast Mariners. The game marked the conclusion of the AFC Cup, following changes made to the AFC's competition system.<ref name="2024AFC">{{Cite web |date=5 May 2024 |title=AFC Cup: Alou Kuol strike secures Central Coast Mariners historic title |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/news/alou_kuol_strike_secures_central_coast_mariners_historic_title.html |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=AFC}}</ref>
=== Recent years (2024–present) === Following Tamim Sleiman's 10-year presidency term at Ahed, lawyer Zein Khalife was elected as Ahed's president on 5 August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 August 2024 |title= |script-title=ar:زين خليفة رئيساً لنادي العَهد |trans-title=Zein Khalife is the president of Al Ahed FC |url=https://www.al-akhbar.com/Sport/385257/%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9-%D9%87 |access-date=6 August 2024 |website=Al-Akhbar |language=ar}}</ref>
==Crest and colours== Ahed's primary colour is yellow,<ref name="hezb" /> a characteristic reflected in their nickname, "the Yellow Castle" ({{lang|ar|القلعة الصفراء}}).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Al Zawi |first=Amin Mustafa |title= |script-title=ar:مجموعة الزمالك.. العهد اللبناني "القلعة الصفراء" |trans-title=Zamalek's group.. Lebanese club Ahed "the Yellow Castle" |url=https://www.albawabhnews.com/2627808 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424144357/https://www.albawabhnews.com/2627808 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |access-date=24 April 2019 |website=Al Bawaba |date=23 July 2017 |language=ar}}</ref> On 20 May 2022, Ahed unveiled a revamped badge, adopting a minimalist design to commemorate their 2021–22 league triumph. The new emblem features a pictogram representing the three Arabic letters composing the word "Ahed" ({{Lang|ar|عهد}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 May 2022 |title= |script-title=ar:شعار جديد |trans-title=New logo |url=https://www.elsport.com/news/show/649376/%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF |access-date=21 May 2022 |website=Elsport |language=ar |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602045822/https://www.elsport.com/news/show/649376/%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF |url-status=live }}</ref>
<gallery class="center"> File:Al-Ahed SC (logo).png|Logo until 2022 File:Al Ahed FC logo (2022).svg|Logo between 2022 and 2023 File:Al Ahed FC logo (2023).svg|Logo since 2023 </gallery>
==Stadium== Ahed owns the Al Ahed Stadium in Beirut. Located near Rafic Hariri Airport, the venue can hold 2,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europlan-online.de/al-ahed-stadium/verein/6591|title=Al Ahed Stadium|last=Klaiber|first=Timo|website=klaiber-it.de|language=de|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150149/https://www.europlan-online.de/al-ahed-stadium/verein/6591|archive-date=29 March 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref> The club only uses the stadium for training purposes. For their home matches in club competitions, Ahed opts to utilize various other stadiums across Lebanon, such as the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium and the Saida Municipal Stadium, due to their larger seating capacities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanese League 2018/2019 |url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=15940&stage=1&sch=true |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150349/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=15940&stage=1&sch=true |archive-date=29 March 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019 |website=Goalzz}}</ref>
In 2018, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, alleged in a speech that Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia political party and militant group, was using the Al Ahed Stadium as a site for storing missile clusters.<ref name="hezb" /> Gebran Bassil, the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, denied these accusations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2019 |title= |script-title=ar:زاسبيكين من ملعب العهد: ما تدعيه إسرائيل غير صحيح ويجب أن نكون حذرين |trans-title=Zasypkin from the Al Ahed Stadium: "What Israel is claiming is incorrect and we must be careful" |url=http://www.elnashra.com/news/show/1246566/%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A5%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AB-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A:%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A8-%D9%86%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86- |access-date=9 November 2019 |website=Elnashra News |language=ar |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005181807/https://www.elnashra.com/news/show/1246566/%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A5%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AB-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A:%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A8-%D9%86%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86-/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2018 |title= |script-title=ar:باسيل يجول في ملعب العهد ويدحض مزاعم إسرائيل |trans-title=Bassil tours Al Ahed Stadium and refutes Israel's allegations |url=https://www.elsport.com/news/show/452062/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%AD%D8%B6-%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84 |access-date=9 November 2019 |website=Elsport News |language=ar |archive-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005181817/https://www.elsport.com/news/show/452062/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%AD%D8%B6-%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Supporters== [[File:Sepahan and Ahed, 2009.jpg|alt=Two smiling men holding a golden plaque together|thumb|The general secretary of Ahed (''left'') and the president of Sepahan (''right'') in 2009]] Ahed's fan base primarily comprises Lebanon's Shia community,<ref name="Maugendre">{{Citation |last=Maugendre |first=Axel |title=Ethnography of the Lebanese Football Clubs |date=31 August 2018 |journal=Athens Journal of Sports |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=213–226 |url=https://www.athensjournals.gr/sports/2018-5-3-3-Maugendre.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718023450/https://www.athensjournals.gr/sports/2018-5-3-3-Maugendre.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2019 |language=English |doi=10.30958/AJSPO.5-3-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=111940|title=Religious about football|last=Alami|first=Mona|date=1 September 2009|website=NOW Lebanon|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419190012/http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=111940|archive-date=19 April 2011|access-date=15 October 2010}}</ref> and the team has strong affiliations with Hezbollah, sharing the same yellow colour.<ref name="hezb" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Montague |first=James |date=24 October 2007 |title=In Lebanon, even football is tainted by sectarian strife |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/sports/24iht-CUP.1.8030583.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217182627/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/sports/24iht-CUP.1.8030583.html |archive-date=17 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/blog/2016/10/3/derbies-and-defining-history-middle-east-football-this-week|title=Derbies and defining history: Middle East football this week|last=Levy|first=Uri|date=3 October 2016|website=alaraby|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217084853/https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/blog/2016/10/3/derbies-and-defining-history-middle-east-football-this-week|archive-date=17 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref> With the emergence of ultras groups in Lebanon in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2018 |title=Ultras Supernova: Lebanon's First Ultras Group |url=https://www.facebook.com/COPA90/videos/1672583962826738/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005181820/https://www.facebook.com/COPA90/videos/1672583962826738// |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=23 February 2019 |publisher=COPA90 |via=Facebook}}</ref> Ahed established "Ultras Yellow Inferno".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeineddine |first=Ali |date=7 December 2018 |title= |script-title=ar:مباريات قويّة في الجولة العاشرة |trans-title=Strong matches in the tenth round |url=https://al-akhbar.com/Sport_Lebanon/262782 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224002154/https://al-akhbar.com/Sport_Lebanon/262782 |archive-date=24 February 2019 |access-date=23 February 2019 |website=Al Akhbar |language=ar}}</ref>
On 28 January 2009, Ahed initiated an informal partnership with Iranian club Sepahan,<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2009 |title= |script-title=fa:مراسم خواهر خواندگی تیمهای فوتبال سپاهان و العهد لبنان |trans-title=Ceremony of partnership of Sepahan and Lebanese football team Ahed |url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/825171/%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210529034800/https://www.mehrnews.com/news/825171/%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86 |archive-date=29 May 2021 |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=Mehr News Agency |language=fa}}</ref> which was later formalized on 8 March 2021. This partnership involves collaborative activities such as training camps and friendly matches between the two clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abou Diab |first=Rami |date=8 March 2021 |title=Ahed partners up with a foreign club |url=https://www.falebanon.com/ahed-partners-up-with-a-foreign-club/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308180738/https://www.falebanon.com/ahed-partners-up-with-a-foreign-club/ |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=8 March 2021 |website=FA Lebanon |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Club rivalries== [[File:2020-21 Ahed vs Ansar 19.jpg|thumb|Match between Ahed (''left'') and Ansar (''right'') during the 2020–21 Lebanese Premier League]] Ahed shares a rivalry with Ansar, another Beirut-based team. Ansar's affiliation with the Hariri family and their representation of a nationalist stream add depth to this rivalry.<ref name="hezb" /> In recent years, Nejmeh, also based in Beirut, has emerged as a fierce rival for Ahed.<ref name="hezb" /> As the most-supported team in Lebanon, Nejmeh's clashes with Ahed have escalated tensions to the extent that the Lebanese Football Association has had to change venues multiple timess.<ref name="hezb" /> ==Kit manufacturers== The following is a list of kit manufacturers worn by Ahed. {| class="wikitable" |+ !Period !Kit manufacturer |- |2003–2006 |A-Line |- |2006–2008 |Adidas |- |2008–2009 |Nike |- |2009–2014 |Lotto |- |2014–2016 |Joma |- |2016–2018 |Jako |- |2018–2021 |14Fourteen |- |2021–present |Kelme |}
==Players== ===Current squad=== {{updated|12 January 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Al Ahed SC|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/al-ahed-sc/16378/|access-date=2 October 2022|website=Global Sports Archive|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007161925/https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/al-ahed-sc/16378/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1 |pos=GK|nat=LBN|name=Mehdi Khalil|other=vice-captain}} {{Fs player|no=2 |pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Badreddine Kawam}} {{Fs player|no=3 |pos=DF|nat=ANG|name=Ito}} {{Fs player|no=4 |pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Nour Mansour}} {{Fs player|no=5 |pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Mahmoud Zbib}} {{Fs player|no=6 |pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Hsein Reda}} {{Fs player|no=7 |pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Mohammad Al Massri|other=on loan from Ansar}} {{Fs player|no=8 |pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Hussein Dakik|other=captain}} {{Fs player|no=9 |pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Fadel Antar}} {{Fs player|no=10|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Mohamad Haidar|other=vice-captain}} {{Fs player|no=11|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Hussein Ezeddine}} {{Fs player|no=13|pos=GK|nat=LBN|name=Shaker Wehbe}} {{Fs player|no=15|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Ali Atwi}} {{Fs player|no=17|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Shadi Jouni}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=18|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Bilal Al-Sabbagh}} {{Fs player|no=19|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Ali Siblini}} {{Fs player|no=20|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Mohammad Nasser}} {{Fs player|no=21|pos=MF|nat=PLE|name=Hamza Hussein}} {{Fs player|no=22|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Saiid Saad}} {{Fs player|no=23|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Ali Hadid||other=vice-captain}} {{Fs player|no=24|pos=GK|nat=LBN|name=Mahdi Mzannar}} {{Fs player|no=26|pos=DF|nat=FRA|name=Marc Nicolas}} {{Fs player|no=29|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Karim Fadel}} {{Fs player|no=30|pos=FW|nat=SLE|name=Hussein El-Zein}} {{Fs player|no=70|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Ali El Hajj}} {{Fs player|no=88|pos=MF|nat=GUI|name=Aboubacar Toure}} {{Fs player|no=90|pos=FW|nat=SEN|name=Ibrahima Sene}} {{Fs player|no=92|pos=DF|nat=SEN|name=Idrissa Niang}} {{Fs end}}
===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=FW|name=Hussein Hawi|other=at Salam Zgharta until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=FW|name=Karim Darwich|other=at Duhok SC until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=FW|name=Karim Slim|other=at Al Mabarra Club until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=DF|name=Hussein Saleh|other=at Safa until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=MF|name=Adam Koubeissi|other=at Al Ahly SC Nabatieh until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=GK|name=Shareef Azaki|other=at Shabab Al Sahel FC until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=MF|name=Yazan Fadel|other=at Hilal Nasr until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs end}}
===Notable players=== {{see also|Category:Al Ahed FC players}} [[File:Haitham Faour 20191201 (Haytham Faour).jpg|thumb|upright|Ahed's captain Haytham Faour with Lebanon at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup]] {| class="wikitable" |+ '''Players in international competitions''' !Competition !Player !National team |- | rowspan="7" |2019 AFC Asian Cup |Rabih Ataya |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Samir Ayass |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Haytham Faour |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Mohamad Haidar |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Mehdi Khalil |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Nour Mansour |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Ahmad Al Saleh |{{Fb|SYR|variant=1980}} |- | rowspan="11" |2023 AFC Asian Cup |Mohammad Abu Hasheesh |{{Fb|JOR}} |- |Mohamad Haidar |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Ali Al Haj |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Mehdi Khalil |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Khalil Khamis |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Nour Mansour |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Mostafa Matar |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Walid Shour |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Hasan Srour |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Hussein Zein |{{Fb|LBN}} |- |Mohammad Al Marmour |{{Fb|SYR|variant=1980}} |}
==Coaching staff== <ref>https://www.alahedfc.com/teams</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Position !! Staff |- |Sporting director |{{flagicon|LBN}} Mohamad Assi |- |Team manager |{{flagicon|LBN}} Mohamad Sherri |- |Head coach |{{flagicon|LBN}} Bassem Marmar |- |Assistant head coach |{{flagicon|LBN}} Mohamad Ibrahim |- |Assistant coach |{{flagicon|LBN}} Khalil Karaki |- |Assistant coach |{{flagicon|LBN}} Ali Ossayli |- |Fitness coach |{{flagicon|SYR}} Abed Karout |- |Head of goalkeeping |{{flagicon|LBN}} Mohamad Hammoud |- |Head of medical staff |{{flagicon|LBN}} Melhem Chamas |- |Physio assistant |{{flagicon|LBN}} Moussa Charafeddine |- |Equipment manager |{{flagicon|LBN}} Hussein Ayash |- |Equipment staff |{{flagicon|SUD}} Yehya Othman |- |Photographer |{{flagicon|LBN}} Hussein Bahsoun |- |- |Under-18 head coach |{{flagicon|LBN}} Abbas Kenaan |}
==Honours==
===Domestic=== * '''Lebanese Premier League'''<ref name="leb champ"/> ** '''Winners (9):''' 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 * '''Lebanese FA Cup'''<ref name="leb cup"/> **'''Winners (6):''' 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2018–19 **''Runners-up (5):'' 2001–02, 2006–07, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2023–24 * '''Lebanese Federation Cup'''<ref name="leb cup"/> ** '''Winners (2; joint record):''' 2004, 2023 * '''Lebanese Elite Cup'''<ref name="leb cup"/> (''defunct'') **'''Winners (6):''' 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2022 **''Runners-up (7):'' 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2021 * '''Lebanese Super Cup'''<ref name="leb cup"/> **'''Winners (8; record):''' 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 **''Runners-up (2):'' 2004, 2009, 2023
===Continental=== * '''AFC Cup''' ** '''Winners (1; Lebanese record):''' 2019<ref name="MVP"/> ** ''Runners-up (1):'' 2023–24<ref name="2024AFC" />
==Performance in AFC competitions== {{Main|Al Ahed FC in Asian football}} Ahed first participated in an Asian competition in the 2005 AFC Cup, where they were drawn in the group stage with Indian club Dempo and Jordanian club Al-Hussein. After finishing second in the group, Ahed faced Hong Kong club Sun Hei in the quarter-finals, to whom they lost 3–2 on aggregate.<ref name="2005AFC" />
Before they won the competition, their best performance was in 2016, when they reached the semi-finals before Iraqi club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya eliminated them 4–3 on aggregate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2016 |title=2016 AFC Cup: Iraqi club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya makes the final, set to play either of Bengaluru FC or Johor Darul Ta'zim |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/2016-afc-cup-iraqi-club-151130393.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021112016/https://www.yahoo.com/news/2016-afc-cup-iraqi-club-151130393.html |archive-date=21 October 2016 |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Yahoo! News}}</ref> In 2019, Ahed defeated North Korean club April 25 to win the AFC Cup, becoming the first Lebanese side to do so. Previous finalists Nejmeh and Safa were defeated in the 2005 and the 2008 finals, respectively.<ref name="2019AFC" /> They reached the AFC Cup final once more in 2024, losing 1–0 to Australian club Central Coast Mariners.<ref name="2024AFC" />
*'''AFC Cup: 12 appearances''' ::2005: Quarter-finals ::2006: Group stage ::2009: Group stage ::2010: Group stage ::2011: Round of 16 ::2012: Group stage ::2016: Semi-finals ::2018: Zonal semi-finals ::'''2019: Champions''' ::2020: ''Cancelled'' ::2021: Zonal semi-finals ::2023–24: Runners-up
==See also== * List of football clubs in Lebanon
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://stats.the-afc.com/tournament/254/teams/175/profile Al Ahed FC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118055651/http://stats.the-afc.com/tournament/254/teams/175/profile |date=18 January 2020 }} at the AFC *[https://www.falebanon.com/team/ahed/ Al Ahed FC] at FA Lebanon *[http://lebanonfg.com/clubs/5 Al Ahed FC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030103742/http://lebanonfg.com/clubs/5 |date=30 October 2023 }} at LebanonFG
{{Al Ahed FC}} {{Lebanese Premier League}} {{Football in Lebanon}} {{AFC Cup winners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahed FC}} Category:Al Ahed FC Category:Football clubs in Lebanon Category:Football clubs in Beirut Category:1966 establishments in Lebanon Category:1985 establishments in Lebanon Category:Association football clubs established in 1966 Category:Association football clubs established in 1985 Category:AFC Champions League Two winning clubs Category:Shia Islam in Lebanon Category:Hezbollah