{{Short description|Iraqi association football club}} {{For|the basketball team|Duhok SC (basketball)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Duhok SC | image = Duhok SC logo (2023).png | image_size = 150px | fullname = Duhok Sports Club | founded = {{Start date and age|1970}} | ground = [[Duhok Stadium]] | capacity = 22,800 | nickname = [[Mountain Hawks]] [[صقور الجبال]] [[ئەلھۆیێن چیا]] | chairman = [[Abdullah Jalal Mustafa Duhoki]] | manager = [[Abdul-Ghani Shahad]] | league = [[Iraq Stars League]] | current = | season = [[2024–25 Iraq Stars League|2024–25]] | position = Iraq Stars League, 7th of 20 | website = {{URL|duhoksc.com}} | pattern_la1 = _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes | pattern_b1 = _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes | pattern_ra1 = _shoulder_stripes_blue_stripes | pattern_sh1 = _adidasyellow | pattern_so1 = _3_stripes_blue | leftarm1 = FFFF00 | body1 = FFFF00 | rightarm1 = FFFF00 | shorts1 = FFFF00 | socks1 = FFFF00 | pattern_la2 = _shoulder_stripes_yellow_stripes | pattern_b2 = _shoulder_stripes_yellow_stripes | pattern_ra2 = _shoulder_stripes_yellow_stripes | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = _3_stripes_yellow | leftarm2 = 3B61AD | body2 = 3B61AD | rightarm2 = 3B61AD | shorts2 = 3B61AD | socks2 = 3B61AD }}
'''Duhok Sports Club''' ({{langx|ku|Yana Dihok ya Werzişî}}, {{langx|ar|نادي دهوك الرياضي}}) is an [[Iraq|Iraqi]] professional [[sports club]] based in [[Duhok, Iraq|Duhok]], [[Kurdistan Region]]. Founded in 1970, its [[association football|football]] section competes in the [[Iraq Stars League]]. Duhok has won the Iraq Stars League and the [[Iraq FA Cup]] once each. Duhok became the first Iraqi club to participate in and win the [[AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League]], having been crowned champions in the [[2024–25 AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League|2024–25]] season.
== Club history == Duhok SC was founded by the youth of [[Duhok]] city when three teams joined together to establish the club on 14 December 1970. Duhok began its football journey in rural league competitions until the 1974–75 season, when the club decided to suspend its activities to support the post-nationalistic struggle to defend the rights of the [[Kurdish people]] in Iraq. In 1976, Duhok Football Team participated in the [[Iraqi Third Division]], and by 1978, the team had moved up to the [[Iraqi Second Division]]. During the 1990–91 season, the team did not participate in the league due to a major uprising. The club resumed participation in the 1992–93 season in the [[Iraqi Fourth Division]], earning promotion to the Third Division a year later. In the 1993–94 season, Duhok SC played in the Third Division and was once again promoted, this time to the Second Division.
During the 1980s, Duhok SC had several talented players, one of the most notable being [[Wahid Kovli]]. Around 1985, he emerged as a key striker for the team, known for his goal-scoring abilities and impact on the squad’s performance. His skills made him a feared forward in the league and a crucial player for Duhok SC.
The 1994–95 season was a defining moment for Duhok SC, as they claimed the Second Division title and secured a spot in the [[Iraqi First Division]] for the 1995–96 season. Duhok SC remained in the First Division throughout the 1996–97 season. In the 1997–98 season, Duhok SC secured promotion to the [[Iraqi Premier League]] by winning the First Division. Since then, the club spent many years in mid-table, occasionally challenging the top Iraqi teams. However, everything changed after the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], which brought new opportunities and freedom for Kurdish sports teams and athletes, allowing them to excel in both national and international competitions. During the 2009–10 season when they won their first-ever [[Iraqi Premier League]] championship, defeating [[Talaba SC]] 1–0 to claim the title. In the 2011–12 season, Duhok SC finished as runners-up, qualifying for the [[AFC Cup]] for the second time in its history. The last time Duhok SC played in the AFC Cup was in the 2010–11 season, where they reached the quarter-finals.
In 2026, A notable development in the club's history came with the signing of [[Arez Perjan Hashim]], a technically gifted and tactically disciplined Left Winger who added quality and depth to Duhok SC's squad. His arrival signaled the club's ongoing ambition to strengthen its ranks and remain competitive at the highest level of Iraqi football, earning immediate praise from supporters and staff alike.
== Stadium == [[Duhok Stadium]] originally held 10,000 people, but after reconstruction it holds 25,000. It was built in 1992.
== Rivalries == Duhok FC identifies [[Zakho SC]] and [[Erbil SC]] as rivals. The matches between Duhok and Zakho are referred to as the "Badinan Derby".
== Crest == Duhok SC logo features the club's primary colors, yellow and blue. It depicts a [[hawk]], symbolizing the club's nickname, "Mountains' Hawks" (صقور الجبال)(ئەلھۆیێن چیا). The logo also includes the letters "DSC" at the top, representing Duhok Sports Club, and displays the year of the club's founding at the bottom.
== Kit history == {{col begin|width=auto}} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = | pattern_b = _redrightsash | pattern_ra = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 000000 | body = 000000 | rightarm = 000000 | shorts = 000000 | socks = 000000 | title = Early kit worn during 1970s }} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = | pattern_b =_2maroonstripes | pattern_ra = | pattern_so = _hoops_white | leftarm = FFFFFF | body = FFFFFF | rightarm = FFFFFF | shorts = FFFFFF | socks = FFFFFF | title = Kit from 1979 }} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = _shoulder stripes_black stripes | pattern_b = _vneckblack | pattern_ra = _shoulder stripes_black stripes | pattern_sh = _adidasblack | pattern_so = _color_3_stripes_black | leftarm = FFD700 | body = FFD700 | rightarm = FFD700 | shorts = 000000 | socks = FFD700 | title = First use of yellow in 1980 }} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | pattern_so = | leftarm = 006600 | body = 006600 | rightarm = 006600 | shorts = FFFFFF | socks = 006600 | title = Green strip 1991 }} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = _whiteborder | pattern_b = _whitecollar | pattern_ra = _whiteborder | pattern_so = | leftarm = FFFF00 | body = FFFF00 | rightarm = FFFF00 | shorts = FFFF00 | socks = FFFF00 | title = Kit from 2000s }} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = _blueborder | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = _blueborder | pattern_so = | leftarm = FFFF00 | body = FFFF00 | rightarm = FFFF00 | shorts = 0000DD | socks = FFFF00 | title = First AFC Cup kit }} {{col break}} {{Football kit box | align = | pattern_la = _whiteborder | pattern_b = _whitecollar | pattern_ra = _whiteborder | pattern_so = | leftarm = 0000DD | body = FFFF00 | rightarm = 0000DD | shorts = FFFF00 | socks = FFFF00 | title = Kits from 2022 and 2023 }} {{col end}}
== Current squad == {{updated|17 May 2026}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;" |- ! No. ! Pos. ! Player ! Nationality ! Notes |- | 12 || GK || [[Ahmed Bashar]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 33 || GK || [[Zana Jawzal]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 3 || CB || [[Josef Al-Imam]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 4 || CB || [[Saad Natiq]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 14 || CB || [[Khadim Rassoul]] || {{flagicon|SEN}} || |- | 44 || CB || [[Hamoud Mashaan]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 6 || LB || [[Sadiq Jamal]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 70 || LB || [[Khaled Kourdoghli]] || {{flagicon|SYR}} || |- | 15 || RB || [[Rasol Fadl]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 27 || RB || [[Bayar Abubakir]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || {{small|Vice-captain / نائب القائد / جێگرێ کاپتن}} |- | 99 || RB || [[Siyaband Ageed]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || {{small|Vice-captain / نائب القائد / جێگرێ کاپتن}} |- | 35 || DM || [[Safaa Hadi]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | || CM || [[Zana Allée]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 10 || CM || [[Haron Ahmed]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || {{small|Captain / القائد / کاپتن}} |- | 18 || CM || [[Ahmad Allée]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 7 || RW || [[Peter Gwargis]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 19 || RW || [[André Al-Sanati]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 47 || RW || [[Yasin Ben El-Mhanni]] || {{flagicon|MAR}} {{flagicon|ENG}} || |- | 17 || LW || [[Hassan Emad]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 26 || LW || [[Mustafa Nawaf]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 45 || LW || [[Rabia Al-Alawi]] || {{flagicon|OMN}} || |- | 9 || LW || [[Arez Perjan]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 8 || CF || [[Karim Darwiche]] || {{flagicon|LBN}} || |- | 11 || CF || [[Pashang Abdulla]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 16 || CF || [[Zhiyar Govand]] || {{flagicon|IRQ}} || |- | 77 || CF || [[Youssef BenSouda]] || {{flagicon|TUN}} || |}
=== Technical staff === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;" |- ! Position ! Name ! Nationality |- | Head coach | [[Ahmed Khalaf]] | {{flagicon|IRQ}} |- | Assistant coach | [[Saad Abdulhamid]] | {{flagicon|IRQ}} Iraq |- | Analyst | [[Kaheen Fatah]] | {{flagicon|IRQ}} |}
== Club managers == {{div col|colwidth=25em|small=yes}} * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ahmed Khalaf]] (2026–present; 2023–2024) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Abdul-Ghani Shahad]] (2025–2026) * {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Sérgio Farias]] (2025) * {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Amir Azrafshan]] (2025) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Sulaiman Ramadhan]] (2025; 2020–2023) * {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Mesut Meral]] (2024–2025)
* {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Thair Jassam]] (2015–2016) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Basim Qasim Hamdan|Basim Qasim]] (2014–2015; 2007–2011) * {{flagicon|SYR}} [[Fajr Ibrahim]] (2013–2014) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Jamal Ali]] (2012–2013) * {{flagicon|SYR}} [[Ayman Hakeem]] (2011–2012) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Akram Ahmad Salman|Akram Salman]] (2010–2011) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Nadhim Shaker]] (2004–2005; 1996–1997) * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Namat Mahmoud]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Hamid Mahmoud]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Hussain Hassan (footballer)|Hussain Hassan]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ameer Abdul-Aziz]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Rasan Bunian]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Hadi Mutansh]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Mohammed Tabra]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Natiq Hashim]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Faisal Aziz]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Shaker Mahmoud Hamza|Shaker Mahmoud]] * {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Kadhim Mutashar]] {{div col end}}
== Recent history == {|class="wikitable" ! Season ! Pos. ! Pl. ! W ! D ! L ! GS ! GA ! P !colspan=1| [[AFC Champions League|AFCCL]] !colspan=1| [[AFC Cup|AFCC]] !colspan=1| [[Iraq FA Cup|FA Cup]] !Notes |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2000-01|2000–01]] |'''5'''||30||16|||7|||7|||44||24|||'''55''' | | | | |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2001-02|2001–02]] |'''7'''||38||19|||13|||6|||61||38|||'''70''' | | | Round 1 | |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2002-03|2002–03]] |—||27||9|||7|||11|||30||40|||34 | | | Round 3 | League abandoned |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2003-04|2003–04]] |—||7||4|||0|||3|||10||6||| | | | | League abandoned |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2004-05|2004–05]] | '''2nd round'''||20||9|||6|||5|||25||16||| | | | | |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2005-06|2005–06]] | '''2nd round'''||16||6|||6|||4|||13||10||| | | | | |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2006-07|2006–07]] | '''2nd round'''||17||6|||6|||5|||18||21||| | | | | |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2007-08|2007–08]] | '''4th place'''||24||14|||6|||4|||22||13||| | | | | |- | [[Iraqi Premier League 2008-09|2008–09]] | bgcolor=bronze| '''3rd place'''||27||19|||7|||1|||48||11||| | | | | |- | [[2009–10 Iraqi Premier League|2009–10]] | bgcolor=gold|'''1'''||42||26|||8|||8|||71||29||| | | | | |- | [[2010–11 Iraqi Premier League|2010–11]] | '''1st round'''||26||12|||4|||10|||36||28||| | | Quarter-finals | | |- | [[2011–12 Iraqi Premier League|2011–12]] | bgcolor=silver|'''2'''||38||21|||13|||4|||57||21|||'''76''' | | | | |- | [[2012–13 Iraqi Premier League|2012–13]] |'''5'''||34||16|||10|||8|||54||35|||'''58''' | | Round of 16 | Abandoned | |- | [[2013–14 Iraqi Premier League|2013–14]] |'''7'''||23||7|||10|||6|||30||32|||'''31''' | | | | |- | [[2014–15 Iraqi Premier League|2014–15]] | '''2nd round'''||22||6|||8|||8|||22||28||| | | | | |- | [[2015–16 Iraqi Premier League|2015–16]] | '''Relegated'''||9||2|||1|||6|||8||15||| | | |Semi-finals | |} * From 2004, the competition changed from league system to various rounds including table and knockout rounds. * From 2011, the competition went back to the single league system. * From 2014, the competition returned to a system with various rounds.
== Board positions == {| class="toccolours" !bgcolor=silver|Position !bgcolor=silver|Name !bgcolor=silver|Nationality |- bgcolor=#eeeeee | Chairman|| Abdullah Jalal|| {{flagicon|IRQ}} |- | Secretary|| [[Jassim Mohammed Haji]]|| {{flagicon|IRQ}} |- |- bgcolor=#eeeeee | Director || [[Khalid Mushir]] ||{{flagicon|IRQ}} |- |}
== Honours == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" ! Type ! Competition ! Titles ! Seasons |- |rowspan="4" | '''Domestic''' ! scope=row| [[Iraq Stars League]] |1 |align="left"| {{nowrap|[[2009–10 Iraqi Premier League|2009–10]]}} |- ! scope=row| [[Iraq FA Cup]] |1 |align="left"| [[2024–25 Iraq FA Cup|2024–25]] |- ! scope=row| [[Iraqi Premier Division League]] (second tier) |1 |align="left"| 1997–98 |- ! scope=row| [[Iraqi First Division League]] (third tier) |1 |align="left"| 1994–95 |- | '''Domestic'''<br />(regional) ! scope=row| [[Kurdistan Premier League]] |1 |align="left"| 2006–07 |- | '''International''' ! scope=row| [[AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League]] |1 | align="left"| [[2024–25 AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League|2024–25]] |}
== Performance in international competitions == * '''[[AFC Cup]]: 2 appearances''' ::[[AFC Cup 2011|2011]]: Quarter-finals ::[[AFC Cup 2013|2013]]: Round of 16 * '''[[AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League]]: 1 appearance''' ::[[2024–25 AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League|2024–25]]: Winners
{{Iraq Stars League}}
[[Category:Football clubs in Iraq]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1970]] [[Category:1970 establishments in Iraq]] [[Category:Football clubs in Dohuk]] [[Category:Duhok]]