Focused Robbie Fowler looks to lead ambitious Al-Qadsiah to a brighter future

Robbie Fowler would love nothing more than to join the big boys of the Roshn Saudi League next season. (Twitter: @Alqadsiah)
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Updated 13 August 2024
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Focused Robbie Fowler looks to lead ambitious Al-Qadsiah to a brighter future

  • Club remain unbeaten 4 games into new season, with promotion from the first division to the SPL a possibility for the former Liverpool star

Steven Gerrard is not the only former Liverpool legend making a splash as a coach in Saudi Arabia’s exciting new football world.

Robbie Fowler the player never bowed to a challenge and was one of the sharpest strikers in Europe. Now, more than a decade after hanging up his boots, the former England, Liverpool and Manchester City forward is showing he has taken that same mentality into management as the coach of First Division Al-Qadsiah.

The 48-year-old has led his new club to three wins and a draw in an undefeated start to the 2023-24 league campaign, and would love nothing more than to join the big boys of the Roshn Saudi League next season.

Fowler, however, is not getting carried away at such an early stage.

“There’s always going to be pressure on you, and you have to accept that,” he said. “The owners (Aramco) would like to get promoted and I also would like that. I want to be successful, of course. From a club point of view, there’s got to be some realism there though. Regardless of where you finished last season and how much money you’ve spent, there’s no guarantee or entitlement to say we’re going to get into the pro league.

“My primary example for that is Chelsea,” said Fowler. “They’ve spent almost a billion pounds on players and they’re probably further away from the top four than they’ve been for years. So, there’s no guarantee if you bring in lots of players that you’re going to be successful. It just doesn’t work like that. But if you have that club ethos in place and a group of players totally committed to the cause then, of course, anything is possible.”

During a playing career that saw him net 163 goals in 379 Premier League appearances between 1993 and 2009, Fowler racked up honors — an FA Cup, two League Cups, a UEFA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup, as well as two PFA Young Player of the Year Awards in 1995 and 1996. Now he is racking up every conceivable coaching qualification he can get his hands on — the most recent coming in the form of an LMA Diploma in Football Management.

Al-Qadsiah is the latest stop in a managerial career that has already taken him from Thailand to Saudi Arabia via Australia and India.

Fowler’s relationship with Al-Qadsiah started with a consultancy role before he was made head coach in June 2023, after going through the same interview process as every other candidate.

A now seven-game unbeaten run, including the opening four league matches, is exactly the start Fowler would have dreamed of — sitting joint top of the table alongside Al-Jabalain and Al-Arabi after picking up 10 points from a possible 12 in the league.

But that does not tell half the story. Fowler took a squad of 27 players to Turkiye on a pre-season tour, yet only two out of that initial group have started in the team’s league games thus far. It is evident Fowler’s team now have an identity, an impressive early-season feat considering the new nucleus of his first 11 only joined the squad two days prior to the start of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the training ground — which still consists of a single pitch and a new state-of-the-art gym — is a far cry from seasons past. Part of Fowler’s consultancy role was trying to produce an environment in which the players could thrive and, thankfully from his point of view, the owners are evidently very understanding of what the players’ needs are.

Fowler’s sole goal is to get the most out of every resource available to him, priding himself on instilling the theme of family culture at clubs he has managed.

“Pre-season is all about getting your squad together and getting your ethos across, but we couldn’t do that here,” Fowler told Arab News. “We had to just get on with it. We’ve effectively had a new team and a new squad, so to implement what we’ve wanted to do in that short space of time and remain unbeaten ... Without blowing my trumpet, I think it’s pretty remarkable to be honest.

“I’m all about creating that family environment. If you’ve got that synergy with the staff, then they do that little bit more. It’s not just about the man-management of players; it’s about the staff too and treating them like they’re the best people in the world.”

Al-Qadsiah is the fourth team Fowler has coached fulltime, following stints at Muangthong United, Brisbane Roar, and East Bengal respectively. Both personally and professionally, Fowler has learnt so much from those different cultural experiences.

“In terms of where I’ve been, every country has its different standards and ‘remit’ if you like,” he added. “It all boils down to you as a person, ultimately. If you can understand and respect the values of the country that you’re in, then that’s a huge move in the right direction already.

“From a cultural point of view, you’re learning new stuff every single day. Every player is different and you have to respect prayer times, certainly in Saudi Arabia. At the end of the day it’s all about bringing out the best in every player you have, both on and off the field. Better people translates to better players, and with that the results will follow.”

That has certainly been the case so far for Fowler, whose side’s most recent result was a hard-fought stalemate on the road at Al-Ain in Al-Baha. The early form of Al-Qadsiah, a team that finished 11th last season, has certainly increased expectations around the club.

His quest for success has coincided with him making the ultimate sacrifice — a difficult, but necessary decision — of leaving his family at home in the UK for extended periods of time. Thankfully for Fowler, they are fully supportive of his decisions and understand the journey he is on. What defines success for Fowler, however, is not necessarily simply titles and trophies.

“People think success is just winning trophies, but it’s not,” he said. “It’s making a team better — on and off the field — and getting them prepared for the next level. Me not winning trophies at a club doesn’t mean I haven’t been successful. If someone comes in after me and helps the club improve further, I’ve played my part in helping them on that journey.

“I know I’m on my own journey right now and I’ve had to come overseas to do it,” Fowler said. “But you know what, as much as I love my family and I miss them, this is what I want to do. If you want something that badly then you’ve got to make sacrifices at the end of the day; try different things and get out of your comfort zone. I’ve done that for years now and I’ve genuinely enjoyed it.”


Mahrez calls on Al-Ahli to embrace opportunity in Asian Champions League final

Updated 1 min 53 sec ago
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Mahrez calls on Al-Ahli to embrace opportunity in Asian Champions League final

  • “When you play in this type of competition you are ready to win, especially when you play at home,” said Mahrez
  • “We have a good opportunity to bring the first Champions League to Al-Ahli”

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez has called on his teammates to avoid complacency as the Saudi Pro League side look to win the Asian Champions League Elite title for the first time on Saturday with victory over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
The Jeddah-based club, who have the advantage of playing the final in front of their own fans at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, will be making a third attempt to lift the trophy after final defeats in 1986 and 2012.
But while a squad boasting high-profile signings such as Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Ivan Toney and Franck Kessie will go into the decider as favorites, the Algeria winger emphasized the need to embrace the opportunity provided by the occasion.


“When you play in this type of competition you are ready to win, especially when you play at home,” said Mahrez.
“We have a good opportunity to bring the first Champions League to Al-Ahli and we will give everything.
“Of course the opponent is not an opponent that we play every week, it’s from Japan and it’s a different team. We have seen them play and we know what approach we can have.
“The most important is to give everything and to enjoy it because maybe some people think finals are every season, but some people might only play one final in their career. So we have to give everything to win the trophy for Al-Ahli.”
Mahrez, 34, is no stranger to success, having been part of the Manchester City side that won the treble of UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 2023 as well as four other English league titles, including with Leicester City in 2016.
He was also a key part of Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations success in 2019 but is looking to claim his first silverware since switching to Al-Ahli from City last year.
“This is a trophy in another continent, in Asia,” said Mahrez, who has scored nine times in the competition so far.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in teams that have won a lot of trophies with big players. When you play, any trophy, any cup you play for is always exciting.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I really want to win a trophy with this team, this club and I’ll give everything tomorrow.”


AFC Champions League semifinal heartache for Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr

Updated 30 April 2025
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AFC Champions League semifinal heartache for Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr

  • Victory for the Riyadh side would have set up an all-Saudi final against Al-Ahli but they lose 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in Jeddah
  • Jhon Duran has chance to make it 3-3 from close range in the closing minutes but fails to make contact

JEDDAH: Despite the best efforts of Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates, Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the semifinal of the AFC Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Wednesday, denying them the chance to take on Al-Ahli in an all-Saudi final on Saturday.
The Japanese side took the lead after just 10 minutes in spectacular fashion after Marcinho gained possession on the left side of the area and scooped a cross into the six-yard box. The ball was headed clear by Mohammed Simakan but only as far as Tatsuya Ito, who volleyed a delicious shot into the top corner of the net.
The goal came against run of play but Al-Nassr kept pushing and probing, and they were rewarded just two minutes before the half-hour mark. Sadio Mane cut in from the left side of the area and the shot from the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star took a deflection as it bounced into the back of the net.
Al-Nassr continued to attack. Ronaldo headed against the woodwork and then, after 40 minutes, Jhon Duran’s fierce shot flew just wide of the post from a good position.
The Colombian was left to rue the miss when, four minutes before the break, Kawasaki restored their lead. A shot by Ito was saved by Bento but the ball bounced into the path of Yuto Ozeki, who fired home from just inside the area.
Kawasaki did not sit back in the second half and should have extended their lead but Brazilian forward Erison somehow failed to get on the end of a low cross with the goal at his mercy.
In the 76th minute he redeemed himself, however, as he skipped past Aymeric Laporte on the byline and squared the ball to Akihiro Ienaga, who tapped home from the closest of ranges to make it 3-1.
It seemed as if that would be that but with three minutes remaining Al-Nassr pulled a goal back when Ayman Yahya fired a shot into the top corner from outside the area.
Soon after, Duran had a chance to make it 3-3 from close range but failed to make contact at the crucial moment. There was still time after that for a Ronaldo free-kick to be saved by the legs of Louis Yamaguchi before the referee blew for full time.
Kawasaki will now face Al-Ahli in the final on Saturday, again at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.


Impressive Al-Ahli down Al-Hilal to move into Champions League Asian final

Updated 29 April 2025
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Impressive Al-Ahli down Al-Hilal to move into Champions League Asian final

  • Firmino, Toney, Al-Buraikan score in Greens’ 3-1 win
  • Jeddah club will face Al-Nassr or Kawasaki Frontale in Saturday’s final

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli beat Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday to move into the final of the AFC Champions League Elite.
After an incident-filled semifinal showdown, the Jeddah club will face either Al-Nassr, another Riyadh giant, or Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in Saturday’s final, where one thing is for sure — there will be a new continental champion.
It was a deserved win for Al-Ahli who were on top for most of the 90-plus minutes in Jeddah. Now they prepare for their third Champions League final and in this form few would bet against them landing a first title.


Beating four-time winners Al-Hilal means that there is nothing to fear for Al-Ahli and it took just nine minutes for the fans to start celebrating. Galeno broke down the left, racing on to a fine pass and just about reached the ball before it went out of play. The Brazilian, signed in January from Porto, sent over a first-time cross for compatriot Roberto Firmino to sweep home from close range.
There were calls for offside but to the dismay of the Riyadh giants they were not upheld. There were more chances, such as Ivan Toney’s shot that went just wide after 18 minutes, as Al-Ahli continued to look the more dangerous.
Then, just before the half-hour, it was 2-0. Riyad Mahrez picked up the ball in a central position and slipped a perfect pass to the left side of the area. It was picked up by Toney who feinted past Yassine Bounou in goal and rolled the ball into an empty net.
For a while, that seemed to be that. The Greens were on top and heading into the final but Al-Hilal are not the most successful team in Saudi Arabia and Asia for nothing. This is a team, especially in continental competitions, that never knows when it is beaten.
Three minutes before the break, Salem Al-Dawsari, one of the best players in Asia, halved the deficit. For anyone who has watched Saudi Arabian football in recent years, it was a familiar goal. The ball bounced off a white-shirted defender and there was the 2022 Asian Player of the Year to pick up possession and sweep a low shot home for his 10th of the tournament. Al-Hilal were looking dangerous and just minutes before the break Malcom should have fired home at the far post to equalize from close range.
At halftime, it was anyone’s game but early in the second period, Toney saw two goals ruled out for offside.
Then, on the hour, a tough situation for Al-Hilal became a major problem. They were reduced to 10 men as Kalidou Koulibaly was red-carded for a second booking. Despite the Blues’ continental pedigree it was always going to be tough and while they poured forward in desperate search of the all-important equalizer, it was not to be. Al-Ahli continued to look the more dangerous and were denied by the woodwork on more than one occasion.
With five minutes remaining it should have been all over. Hamid Al-Yami was judged to have brought down Mahrez in the area. Up stepped Franck Kessie to seal the win but it was a tame shot from the Ivorian and was well saved by Bounou.
For once, Al-Hilal did not punish such a mistake. Eight minutes into added time, the victory — one of the most important in Al-Ahli’s history — was sealed thanks to substitute Firas Al-Buraikan.
It led to huge celebrations for many of the 50,000 crowd and the biggest prize in the world’s biggest continent is now just 90 minutes away.


Coach Stefano Pioli confident as Al-Nassr prepare for AFC Champions League Elite semi showdown

Updated 29 April 2025
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Coach Stefano Pioli confident as Al-Nassr prepare for AFC Champions League Elite semi showdown

  • Riyadh giant Al-Nassr are one of three Saudi Pro League sides in the semifinals
  • Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli have also advanced to the last four and will meet on Tuesday

JEDDAH: Al-Nassr coach Stefano Pioli declared his side injury-free ahead of Wednesday’s Asian Champions League Elite semifinal against Kawasaki Frontale in Jeddah as the Saudi Pro League side look to reach the final for the first time in almost 30 years.
The Riyadh-based outfit last made the decider in 1995, but a brace from Jhon Duran and strikes by Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a 4-1 win over Yokohama F Marinos on Saturday to move the Saudi side to the cusp of a first title.
“We are ready for the match, but in training we will decide which group is going to play,” Pioli said. “The team is ready to play the game with great spirit, high performance.”
Al-Nassr are one of three Saudi Pro League sides in the semifinals, the first time a single nation has dominated the latter stages of the competition to such an extent.
The huge injection of cash into the country’s leading clubs by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in 2023 which prompted the signing of numerous high-profile players from around the world is having a major impact on this year’s competition.
Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli have also advanced to the last four and will meet on Tuesday.
Japan’s Kawasaki are the only team from their half of the confederation left in the competition after their win over Qatar’s Al-Sadd, and the J-League side have been further disadvantaged by having one day less to recover than Al-Nassr.
Frontale needed extra-time to defeat Felix Sanchez’s side and coach Shigetoshi Hasebe admitted he was concerned about his players’ lack of freshness ahead of the Al-Nassr clash.
“All the players are tired because they played for 120 minutes, which is very difficult for us,” he said. “But we’ll be playing in a different stadium, so we can have a new feeling and I can imagine the players will play very well tomorrow night.”
Kawasaki midfielder Kento Tachibanada stressed it was important not to obsess over the reputations of their opponents.
“The key point is not to be afraid of the famous players and their big names,” he said. “Many people think the teams from Saudi will win, but I want to break that type of image tomorrow night.”


AFC Champions League Elite trophy tours NEOM ahead of final in Jeddah

Updated 28 April 2025
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AFC Champions League Elite trophy tours NEOM ahead of final in Jeddah

  • NEOM has been showcasing the trophy at key locations across its 26,500-square-kilometer development

JEDDAH: The official AFC Champions League Elite trophy made a special journey across NEOM this week, as excitement builds for the tournament’s final in Jeddah on Saturday.

As a tournament partner for the last eight matches of this year’s competition, including the final, NEOM has been showcasing the trophy at key locations across its 26,500-square-kilometer development.

The tour took in some of NEOM’s most striking destinations, from the snow-covered slopes of Trojena to the shores of the Adventure Sports Hub and through the NEOM Nature Region.

Accompanied by Mohammed Al-Burayk, NEOM Sports Club ambassador, the tour shone a light on the wide range of sports that are becoming central to NEOM’s vision for the future, from football and skiing to kitesurfing and beyond.

Jan Paterson, managing director of NEOM Sport, said: “Hosting the trophy at NEOM is about much more than the game. It’s a moment that connects our people and our regions to one of Asia’s top sporting stages, reflecting how sport is an integral part of the fabric of NEOM.”

NEOM’s partnership with the Asian Football Confederation has also supported several grassroots initiatives, including the Shuhub Community Youth Football Program, which has engaged around 10,000 young people across Saudi Arabia so far.

Through the collaboration, local boys and girls from football community groups have enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including participating in AFC matches as player mascots, center circle children and the first-ever trophy handover by children at the AFC Champions League 2023/24 final.