Early history

The first unofficial season of the Qatar Stars League was the 1963–64 season, 3 years after the formation of the QFA. Similarly, a second division was also created during this time. For many years, there was no promotion or relegation system.^[7] Al-Maref, a club representing the Ministry of Education, was dissolved in 1966-67 by decision of the QFA and its players distributed to other clubs.^[8]

First official season

In 1972–73, the first official season was played.^[9] Al Esteqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.^[10]

The first time there was a playoff for the championship was in 1980, between Al Sadd and Al Arabi. Al Sadd won the match 1–0.^[7]

Although a second division had been in place for some time, there was no relegation or promotion system. However, in 1981, such a system was put in place for the first time. Five clubs participated in the second division that year.^[7]

In 1984–85, there was no relegation or promotion due to a lack of players as members of the Qatar national football team were preparing for the qualification rounds of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.^[7]

In 1994, for one season, the QFA launched a new system where matches ending in draws would end in a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This was put in place in an effort to improve attendance.^[7]

Three second division clubs were dissolved in the 1990 season: Al Nasr, Al Tadamon, and Al Nahda. Many of their players were distributed to first division clubs and became prominent players in Qatari football history, such as Fahad Al Kuwari, Ahmed Al Kuwari and Hamad Al Khalifa. After the dissolution of these clubs, there was no longer any relegation or promotion for five years. In 1995/96, the second division was brought back with five clubs, while there were ten clubs participating in the first division.^[7]

The 2003 money influx from QFA

A successful method the QFA used to develop the league was allocating each Q-League club with a sum of $10,000,000 to buy big-name foreign players in order to increase popularity, in the summer of 2003. The attempt brought in players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia, and Gabriel Batistuta who soon appeared and shone in the league.^[11][12]

In addition, in 2004, the Aspire Academy was formed, which provides training facilities to young people in order to improve the footballing standard not only in Qatar, but internationally. Many notable players have graduated from the academy, including Abdelkarim Hassan, Saad Al Sheeb, and Ibrahim Majid.^[13]

2009: Changing name to Qatar Stars League

In 2009, no clubs were relegated from the top division. Due to the recent formation of Lekhwiya and El Jaish, this meant that the second division would lose two clubs while two more clubs would enter the first division, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 12, and the second division to 6.^[3] As part of the expansion campaign, the "Q-League" changed its name to what it is currently known as, "Qatar Stars League",^[14] and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the "Qatari Stars Cup".^[15]

Champions

2022–23 season

Total titles won by region

Qatar

In 2012, Alkass Sports signed a deal to have the rights to broadcast Stars League in English.^[17] beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast Stars League.

International

More information Seasons, Countries ...

Seasons	Countries	Channel
2023–present	Brazil	ESPN
	South Korea	SPOTV
	ASEAN

Close

By player

More information Rank, Player ...

Rank	Player	Country	Titles	Seasons
1	Mansoor Muftah	Qatar	8	1973–74,1976-1977, 1977–78,1979–80 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
2	Baghdad Bounedjah	Algeria	4	2016-17, 2018–19, 2019-20, 2020–21
3	Mubarak Mustafa	Qatar	3	1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97
3	Younis Mahmoud	Iraq	3	2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11
5	Hassan Sabela	Qatar	2	1986–87, 1990–91
5	Alboury Lah	Senegal	2	1996–97, 1997–98
5	Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi	Qatar	2	1994–95, 1999–2000
5	Mahmoud Soufi	Qatar	2	1990–91, 1993–1994
5	Dioko Kaluyituka	Democratic Republic of the Congo	2	2013–14, 2014–15
5	Youssef El-Arabi	Morocco	2	2016–17, 2017–18
5	Michael Olunga	Kenya	2	2021–22, 2022–23

Close