{{pp|small=yes}} {{About|the men's football club from Beirut, Lebanon|other uses|Safa (disambiguation){{!}}Safa}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Short description|Lebanese association football club}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Safa | image = Al-Safa' SC.png | upright = 0.9 | fullname = Safa Sporting Club | nickname = {{lang|ar|النسور}} (The Eagles)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arab-sports.net/%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%b2%d9%8a%d9%85%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%b5%d9%8a%d8%af%d8%a7-%d8%a8%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%a8/|title=بعزيمة النسور {{!}} الصفاء يعود من صيدا بثوب البطل|last=Arab-Sport.net {{!}}|date=13 October 2017|website=عرب سبورتس|language=en-US|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=19 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319143813/http://arab-sports.net/%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%b2%d9%8a%d9%85%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%86%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%81%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%b5%d9%8a%d8%af%d8%a7-%d8%a8%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%a8/|url-status=live}}</ref> | short name = Safa | founded = {{Start date and age|31 March 1939}} | ground = Safa Stadium | capacity = 4,000 | chairman = Riad Atallah | manager = Hussein Tahan | league = {{Lebanese football updater|Safa}} | season = {{Lebanese football updater|Safa2}} | position = {{Lebanese football updater|Safa3}} | website = {{URL|https://safasc.com/}} | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = _jakoporto1819yb | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1 = | leftarm1 = FFF000 | body1 = FFF000 | rightarm1 = FFF000 | shorts1 = 0000FF | socks1 = FFF000 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _hartberg1819h | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | leftarm2 = 0000FF | body2 = 0000FF | rightarm2 = 0000FF | shorts2 = FFF000 | socks2 = 0000FF | current = 2025–26 Lebanese Premier League }} {{Squads sidebar |main=Safa |team1=Safa SC |league1=Men's |team2=Safa WFC |league2=Women's<br>(''defunct'') }} '''Safa Sporting Club''' ({{Langx|ar|نادي الصفاء الرياضي|lit=The Purity Sporting Club}}) is a football club based in Wata El Msaytbeh, a district of Beirut, Lebanon. Competing in the {{Lebanese football updater|Safa}}, the club was founded in 1939 and have since won three league titles, three domestic cups, one Super Cup, and two Elite Cups. Safa also finished runners-up in the 2008 AFC Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/afc-cup-2017-match-day-one-playoff-and-group-stage-preview/76qiccpxvxv31o3rx1t2o22vp|title=AFC Cup 2017: Match day one - Playoff and group stage preview {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=31 March 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331160421/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/afc-cup-2017-match-day-one-playoff-and-group-stage-preview/76qiccpxvxv31o3rx1t2o22vp|url-status=live}}</ref>
Safa is primarily supported by the Druze 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 news |last=Montague |first=James |date=24 October 2007 |title=In Lebanon, even soccer is tainted by sectarian strife |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/sports/24iht-CUP.1.8030583.html |url-status=live |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 |access-date=15 October 2010 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alami |first=Mona |date=1 September 2009 |title=Religious about football |url=http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=111940 |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 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and maintains a strong fanbase throughout Mount Lebanon. As Akhaa Ahli Aley is also based in the Mount Lebanon region, specifically in Aley, matches between the two clubs are referred to as the "Mountain derby" due to their shared regional support.
==History==
=== Early history (1933–1961) === Founded in 1933 at an amateur level in the Wata El-Museitbeh of Beirut, Safa Sporting Club was officially established in 1939 by seven people: Maher Wahab, Anis Naaim, Hasib Al-Jerdi, Amin Haidar, Chafik Nader, Toufik Al-Zouhairy and Adib Haidar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kooora.com/?team=1273|title=فريق: الصفاء بيروت|website=www.kooora.com|access-date=2019-07-20|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405052734/http://www.kooora.com/?team=1273|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 23 December 1948, Safa obtained the official membership and license from the government as a private association.<ref name=":0" /> In the same year, the club was affiliated to the Lebanese Football Association and was ranked within the Second Division.<ref>{{Cite web|title=منتديات كووورة|url=https://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=25817126|access-date=2020-12-27|website=forum.kooora.com|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902173133/https://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=25817126|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1961, Safa was promoted to the First Division.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
=== Recent history (2021–present) === On 4 May 2012, after defeating Nejmeh, Safa were crowned Lebanese Premier League champions for the first time in 2011–12.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=198448344224374784 |user=annahar |title=نادي "الصفاء" بطل لبنان في كرة القدم بعد فوزه على نادي "النجمة" |date=4 May 2012}}</ref> They were crowned league champions for the second consecutive time in 2012–13, after defeating Ahed 3–1 on 19 May 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=الصفاء بطلا لدوري لبنان للمرة الثانية |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/sport/2013/5/19/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=الجزيرة نت |language=ar}}</ref> Safa also won the 2012–13 Lebanese FA Cup, following a 2–1 win against Shabab Sahel in the final, achieving a domestic double for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-10 |title=الصفاء يقهر شباب الساحل ويتوج بكأس لبنان ويحرز الثنائية للمرة الأولى في تاريخه |url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=252998 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=كووورة |language=ar}}</ref>
After finishing the 2021–22 Lebanese Premier League in 11th place, Safa were due to be relegated to the Second Division for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=بالصور: الصفاء اللبناني يهبط لأول مرة في تاريخه |url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1139850 |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=كووورة |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517164516/https://www.kooora.com/?n=1139850 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, following Shabab Bourj's withdrawal from the league, they were relegated in place of Safa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=شطب كافة نتائج شباب البرج وإسقاطه إلى الدرجة الثانية |url=https://www.elsport.com/news/show/650578/%D8%B4%D8%B7%D8%A8-%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9-%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AC-%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%87-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=2022-06-03 |website=Elsport News |language=ar |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717105418/https://www.elsport.com/news/show/650578/%D8%B4%D8%B7%D8%A8-%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9-%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AC-%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%87-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86 |url-status=live }}</ref> Safa also narrowly avoided relegation the following season, finishing 10th above Salam Zgharta on account of their positive head-to-head record.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=اتحاد كرة القدم اللبناني يصدر قرارات حاسمة |url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1225628 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=كووورة |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529133117/https://www.kooora.com/?n=1225628 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Kit manufacturers== The following is a list of kit manufacturers worn by Safa. {| class="wikitable" |+ !Period !Kit manufacturer |- |1999–2008 |Puma |- |2008–2010 |Adidas |- |2010–2011 |Lotto |- |2011–2015 |Joma |- |2016–2017 |Sportika SA |- |2017–2018 |Jako |- |2018–2024 |Joma |- |2024- |Kelme |}
==Stadium== {{Infobox venue | name = Safa Stadium | native_name = ملعب نادي الصفاء الرياضي | native_name_lang = ar | coordinates = {{Coord|33|52|29|N|35|29|31|E}} | location = Wata El-Museitbeh | opened = 1948 | seating_capacity = 4,000 }} {{Main|Safa Stadium}} The Safa Stadium opened in 1948, and has a capacity of 4,000 spectators. Located in the Wata El-Museitbeh district of Beirut, the stadium is five minutes from the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. While the stadium is of Safa's property, the club plays in various other stadiums around the country.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
== Club rivalries == Safa has important rivalries with Ansar and Nejmeh, both being based in Beirut. Safa also plays the Mountain derby with Akhaa Ahli,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aljoumhouria.com/news/index/460751|title=جولة دربي الجبل... وملامسة اللقب|website=Al-Joumhouria|access-date=2019-05-24|archive-date=19 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619192650/http://www.aljoumhouria.com/news/index/460751|url-status=dead}}</ref> as Akhaa is based in Aley, a city in Mount Lebanon, and Safa's support comes from the Druze community in Lebanon, who mainly live in Chouf and Aley districts.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
== Players == ===Current squad=== {{updated|13 January 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Safa SC|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/safa-sc/16377/|access-date=8 October 2022|website=Global Sports Archive|archive-date=28 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928002136/https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/safa-sc/16377/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|pos=GK|nat=LBN|name=Ali Hallal}} {{Fs player|no=2|pos=DF|nat=CIV|name=Kouass Eugene Dje}} {{Fs player|no=3|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Hussein Saleh|other=on loan from Ahed}} {{Fs player|no=5|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Hussein Mortada|other=on loan from Nejmeh}} {{Fs player|no=6 |pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Kassem Hayek}} {{Fs player|no=7|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Hussein Haydar}} {{Fs player|no=8|pos=FW|nat=NGA|name=David Ekejiuba}} {{Fs player|no=9|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Hassan Mehanna}} {{Fs player|no=10|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Habib Shweikh}} {{Fs player|no=11|pos=FW|nat=SEN|name=Moctar Koita}} {{Fs player|no=13|pos=GK|nat=LBN|name=Abdulkarim Saleh}} {{Fs player|no=16|pos=MF|nat=PLE|name=Adnan Saloom}} {{Fs player|no=17|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Mohamad Zein Tahan}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=19|pos=FW|nat=SEN|name=Tidiane Camara}} {{Fs player|no=20|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Abbas Assi}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=LBN|pos=MF|name=Ali Shaitou|other=on loan from Nejmeh}} {{Fs player|no=23|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Mohammad Baalbaki}} {{Fs player|no=24|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Maher Sabra|other=on loan from Nejmeh}} {{Fs player|no=26|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Hussein Dbouk}} {{Fs player|no=30|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name= Hussein Sharafeddine}} {{Fs player|no=33|pos=DF|nat=LBN|name=Andrew Sawaya}} {{Fs player|no=40|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Mohamad Kassas}} {{Fs player|no=50|pos=MF|nat=LBN|name=Abdallah Doueik}} {{Fs player|no=88|pos=FW|nat=LBN|name=Mohamad Kdouh|other=on loan from Jwaya}} {{Fs player|no=99|pos=GK|nat=LBN|name=Hassan Ayoub}} {{Fs end}}
===Players on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=MF|name=Ali Manaa|other=at Riyadi Abbasiyah until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=MF|name=Ali Markabawi|other=at Racing until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=DF|name=Saad Chweiki|other=at Racing until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|nat=LBN|pos=MF|name=Abdulrazzak Dakramanji|other=at Tripoli SC until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs end}}
=== Notable players === {{see also|Category:Safa SC players}} {| class="wikitable" |+ '''Players in international competitions''' !Competition !Player !National team |- |1996 AFC Asian Cup |Yasser Sibai |{{Fb|SYR|1980}} |- | rowspan="2" |2000 AFC Asian Cup |Youssef Mohamad |{{Fb|LIB}} |- |Ahmad Naamani |{{Fb|LIB}} |- | rowspan="2" |2019 AFC Asian Cup |Ahmad Taktouk |{{Fb|LIB}} |- |Mohamed Zein Tahan |{{Fb|LIB}} |- | rowspan="1" |2023 AFC Asian Cup |Hassan Chaitou |{{Fb|LBN}} |}
== Honours ==
=== Domestic === * '''Lebanese Premier League''' ** '''Winners (3):''' 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16 * '''Lebanese FA Cup''' **'''Winners (3):''' 1964–65, 1986–87, 2012–13 **''Runners-up (8):'' 1970–71, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2016–17 * '''Lebanese Elite Cup''' (''defunct'') **'''Winners (2):''' 2009, 2012 **''Runners-up (3):'' 2011, 2014, 2015 * '''Lebanese Super Cup''' **'''Winners (1):''' 2013 **''Runners-up (3):'' 2011, 2012, 2016 * '''Lebanese Second Division''' **'''Winners (1):''' 1960–61 <small>(Beirut)</small>
=== Continental === * '''AFC Cup''' ** ''Runners-up (1):'' 2008
=== Other achievements === * '''Lebanese Challenge Cup''' (''defunct'') **''Runners-up (1):'' 2022
==Performance in AFC competitions== *'''AFC Cup: 5 appearances''' ::'''2008: Final''' ::2009: Round of 16 ::2012: Group stage ::2013: Group stage ::2014: Round of 16
*'''AFC Challenge League: 1 appearance''' ::2025–26: Group stage
*'''Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances''' ::1992–93: Withdrew in first round ::2000–01: Withdrew in first round
==Managerial history== {{Expand list|date=March 2019}}
*{{flagicon|LBN}} Walid Zeineddine *{{flagicon|EGY}} Mahmoud Saad *{{flagicon|IRQ}} Akram Salman *{{flagicon|LBN}} Ghassan Abou Diab *{{flagicon|LBN}} Samir Saad *{{flagicon|LBN}} Emile Rustom *{{flagicon|ROM}} Valeriu Tița (2013–2014) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Emile Rustom (2015–2018) *{{flagicon|ROM}} Valeriu Tița (2018–2019) *{{flagicon|TUN}} Tarek Jarraya (2019) *{{flagicon|GER}} Robert Jaspert (2019–2020) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Emile Rustom (2020) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Mohammad Dakka (2020–2021)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Diab|first=Rami Abou|date=2020-11-09|title=Safa SC appoint new coach|url=https://www.falebanon.com/safa-sc-appoint-new-coach/|access-date=2020-11-09|website=FA Lebanon|language=en-GB|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109164702/https://www.falebanon.com/safa-sc-appoint-new-coach/|url-status=live}}</ref> *{{flagicon|LBN}} Fadi Oumari (2021–22) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Malek Hassoun (2022) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Youssef Jawhari (2022–2023) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Moussa Hojeij (2023) *{{flagicon|NED}} Johnny Jansen (2023) *{{flagicon|NED}} Jan de Jonge (2023) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Bassem Marmar (2023–2025) *{{flagicon|LBN}} Hussein Tahan (2025-)
== See also == * Safa WFC, defunct women's team * List of football clubs in Lebanon
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} <!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> * {{Official website|https://safasc.com/}} * [http://stats.the-afc.com/tournament/153/teams/603/profile Safa SC] at the AFC * [http://www.falebanon.com/team/safa/ Safa SC] at FA Lebanon
{{Lebanese Premier League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Safa Beirut Sc}} Category:Safa SC Category:Football clubs in Lebanon Category:Football clubs in Beirut Category:1939 establishments in Lebanon Category:Association football clubs established in 1939 Category:Druze in Lebanon