Al-Ittihad SC Aleppo

The club was founded on 20 January 1949 under the name Halab Al-Ahli Club, by the merge of three smaller football teams in Aleppo: Al-Janah (The Wing), Osud Al-Shahba (Lions of Shahba) and Al-Nejmeh (The Star), before getting recognized officially by the ministry of internal affairs on 24 September 1953. In 1972, the name of the club was changed to Al-Ittihad Aleppo by the decision of the Syrian government.[1]

Prior to the foundation of the Syrian official football league, the club have competed in various regional competitions in the Aleppo Governorate such as the regional league of Aleppo and the Aleppo Municipality Shield (Arabic: درع بلدية حلب‎).

The club have participated in the first ever Syrian football league in 1966–67 when they became champions. Since then, they have never relegated to the bottom level.

Al-Ittihad fans crowded in the Aleppo International Stadium

Al-Ittihad's original home ground since the early 1950s was the Aleppo Municipal Stadium which is considered one of the most historic stadiums in Syria. At the beginning of the 1990s the club moved to the newly built Al-Hamadaniah Stadium. After the inauguration of the Aleppo International Stadium in 2008, the club decided to play their home games at the Syrian league and AFC competitions in the modern stadium which can host around 75,000 spectators. Al-Hamadaniah Stadium is still used as an alternative venue.

Training facilities

Al-Ittihad Stadium

The training grounds of al-Ittihad are located in the al-Shahbaa district of Aleppo. The complex is home to the al-Ittihad Stadium with a capacity of 10,000 spectators, a nearby indoor training pitch and many other small pitches. There are also two basketball courts, an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, conference rooms and offices.

Since its foundation, the traditional colour of Al-Ittihad's home kit is red with various designs over the years. Therefore, the club is nicknamed The Red Castle by the fans as a reference to the city's main landmark; the Citadel of Aleppo. The away kit may vary between a full white kit and a white kit with red stripes on the shirt.

• Syrian League: 6

Winners: 1967, 1968, 1977, 1993, 1995, 2005

• Syrian Cup: 9

Winners: 1965, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2011

• AFC Cup: 1

Winners: 2010

• Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance

1985: 4th place

• AFC Champions League: 5 appearances

2002–03: Qualifying West – 3rd Round

2006: Group Stage

2007: Group Stage

2008: Group Stage

2011: Qualifying Play-off – West Semi-final

• AFC Cup: 3 appearances

2010: Champions

2011: Group Stage

2012: Group Stage

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  SYR Zakaria Dehneh — GK  SYR Khaled Ibrahim — GK  SYR Mohamad Mardini — DF  SYR Zakaria Boudaqa — DF  SYR Ahmad Bastanli — DF  SYR Omar Hemidi — DF  SYR Zakaria Hasan Beik — DF  SYR Omar Samman — DF  SYR Ahmad Al Ali — DF  SYR Firas Misho — MF  SYR Hussain Haj Ali — MF  SYR Hazem Jabara — MF  SYR Ayman Salal

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SYR Fares Hindawi — MF  SYR Mohamad Mido — MF  SYR Mohamad Ghabbash — MF  SYR Abdulhadi Sawas — MF  SYR Zakaria Al Omari — MF  SYR Mohamed Al Youssef — MF  SYR Radwan Kalaji — MF  SYR Ibrahim Sawas — MF  SYR Mohamad Al Ahmad — FW  SYR Saleh Al Raei — FW  SYR Hussam Omar — FW  SYR Abdullah Najjar

Administrative Board of Al-Ittihad Aleppo Club:

For all former Al-Ittihad players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Al-Ittihad Aleppo players.

• (in Arabic) Al Ittihad Fans society website