Retro Al Ahli Saudi Shirts – The King of Jeddah

Established in 1937 as Al-Thaghr Club before adopting its enduring 'Al Ahli' identity, the club quickly became a pioneer of organised football on the Arabian Peninsula. Al Ahli claimed its first Saudi Premier League title in 1977-78 and added a second the following season, ushering in a golden era under coach Mário Zagallo, the Brazilian World Cup winner who briefly worked his magic in Jeddah. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Royal Greens battled fiercely with Al-Ittihad in the Jeddah derby – one of the most heated fixtures in Asian football – and added multiple King's Cups and Crown Prince Cups to their trophy cabinet. Continental glory came in 2002 when Al Ahli lifted the Asian Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Iran's Esteghlal in a memorable two-legged final, and again in 2008 when they conquered the GCC Champions League. The club's third league title arrived in 2015-16 under Christian Gross, sealed by a thrilling unbeaten run that reignited the green half of Jeddah. Then came the unthinkable: relegation in 2022 sent Al Ahli into the second tier for the first time in its history, a wound felt deeply across the kingdom. Yet the comeback was instant – they returned to the top flight in 2023, soon joined by global superstars Riyad Mahrez, Édouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino, and crowned the resurrection with the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite trophy, beating Kawasaki Frontale in the final.

Few clubs boast a player roster as evocative as Al Ahli's. Majed Abdullah may be more associated with rivals Al-Nassr, but Al Ahli's own pantheon is rich with legends. Mohamed Noor – 'The Maestro of Asia' – orchestrated the midfield for nearly two decades, becoming the club's most beloved son and a Saudi national-team icon. Hussein Abdulghani, the rugged defender, captained the side through countless derbies. Goalkeeper Mabrouk Zaid kept the green-and-white goal between 2002 and 2017, his shot-stopping heroics decisive in the 2002 Asian Cup Winners' Cup triumph. Taisir Al-Jassim arrived as a young midfielder and grew into an Al Ahli great, his vision and free-kicks defining the 2010s. The club's flair has always attracted overseas stars too: Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan, Brazilian forward Victor Simões, and more recently Omar Al Somah, the Syrian goal machine who terrorised AFC defences. The 2023 transfer revolution brought Édouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Allan Saint-Maximin and Franck Kessié to Jeddah, transforming Al Ahli into a global brand. Coaches have been pivotal too – from Zagallo's brief Brazilian touch, to Christian Gross's title-winning side, and Matthias Jaissle's Asian conquest in 2025.

Al Ahli's kits have always centred on the iconic green-and-white vertical stripes, but each era brings distinct character that collectors adore. The 1970s shirts were plain green cotton with white collars, simple and devastatingly elegant. The 1980s introduced bolder striping and the first chest crests featuring the club's eagle. By the 1990s, manufacturers Adidas and Umbro produced sharper striped designs with shadow patterns and early sponsorships from local Saudi banks. The 2002 Asian Cup Winners' Cup-winning shirt, made by Lotto with thick green and white stripes and a gold-trimmed crest, remains a holy grail for collectors. The mid-2000s Diadora and Puma kits experimented with hooped shoulders and modern fits. The 2015-16 title-winning Adidas shirt, sponsored by Mobily and featuring three white stripes on the sleeves, is hugely sought-after, as is the gold-tinged 2008 GCC Champions League jersey. Goalkeeper kits in fluorescent yellow and orange from the Mabrouk Zaid era are increasingly collectable. Authentic match-worn shirts featuring legends like Mohamed Noor or Taisir Al-Jassim command premium prices.