Al-Shabab records the worst start in the history of the Saudi Professional League
Al-Shabab FC, one of the four major pillars of Saudi football, is experiencing a severe technical and administrative crisis, as the team continues to record unprecedented negative statistics in its history of participation in the Saudi Professional League. "The Lion" finished the first 12 rounds of the current season with its worst start ever since the competition's current format was introduced, in a season described by analysts as disastrous due to the sharp decline in results and performance.
Shocking numbers in Al-Laith's career
In the language of numbers, which don't lie, the capital team managed only a single victory in their first 12 matches of the competition, a record unworthy of the club's illustrious history. This solitary win was accompanied by a long series of disappointing draws and heavy defeats that cast a dark shadow over the team's position in the standings. Al-Shabab currently sits in 15th place, a very low position that places the team on the brink of relegation and is considered the worst the club has ever achieved at this stage of the league in its long history.
Poor points tally and attacking performance
In terms of points, this season is the poorest for Al-Shabab, with the team collecting only 8 points out of a possible 36. This figure clearly reflects the vast gap between the team's performance in previous seasons, when they were fierce competitors for titles and Asian championship qualification, and their current disappointing reality.
Al-Shabab's woes weren't limited to dropping points; their attack suffered an unprecedented goal drought. The team managed only 9 goals in 12 rounds, marking their worst scoring record in such a short period of matches in the history of the Saudi Professional League. This statistic highlights a lack of attacking options and the absence of a clinical striker capable of converting chances, further increasing the pressure on their defense.
Historical context and impact of the crisis
This crisis takes on deeper dimensions when considering the long history of Al-Shabab Club, nicknamed "The Sheikh of Clubs," which was the first to win the Professional League title in its first edition in the 2008-2009 season. Al-Shabab has always been a constant in the competition, and its exit from the elite to the struggle at the bottom represents a shock to the entire Saudi sports community, not just its fans.
These results come at a time when Saudi football is experiencing a tremendous boom and attracting global talent, intensifying competition and making the task of recovery more difficult than ever. The continuation of this overall decline places the club's management and coaching staff before a historic responsibility and a critical juncture requiring urgent intervention, whether through winter signings or a complete overhaul of the team's strategy, to correct the course before it's too late and avoid complex scenarios that could jeopardize the club's historical standing.
