Sporting Athletic Club (Arabic: نادي سبورتينغ الرياضي), known as AC Sporting or simply Sporting, is a football club based in Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Second Division. They first competed in the Lebanese Premier League in 2021, having won the 2020–21 Lebanese Second Division.
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Full name | Sporting Athletic Club[1] | ||
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Founded | 23 October 1963; 59 years ago (1963-10-23), as Al Jihad SC 2 September 2009; 13 years ago (2009-09-02), as Al Khoyol FC 24 April 2018; 4 years ago (2018-04-24), as AC Sporting | ||
Ground | Rafic Hariri Stadium | ||
Capacity | 5,000 | ||
Chairman | Ziad Chehade[2] | ||
Manager | Sami El Choum | ||
League | Lebanese Second Division | ||
2021–22 | Lebanese Premier League, 12th of 12 (relegated) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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On 23 October 1963, Al Jihad SC (Arabic: نادي الجهاد الرياضي), based in Hay El Sellom, a district in Beirut, was formally recognized as a non-profit sports and cultural organization.[3] They played their first official season in 1997, in the Lebanese Fifth Division,[3] which they won in 1999–2000.[4] In 2007–08 they won the Lebanese Third Division,[3] and were promoted to the Lebanese Second Division.[5]
On 2 September 2009, the club relocated to Ghobeiry, and changed their name to Al Khoyol FC (Arabic: نادي الخيول الرياضي).[6]
In 2009–10, Khoyol lost a decisive match for promotion to the Lebanese Premier League against Akhaa Ahli Aley.[7] The following season, in 2010–11, Khoyol lost to Ahli Saida in another decisive promotion match.[7] In both instances, Khoyol complained to the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) for supposed match fixing.[7]
In 2014, Khoyol were relegated to the Third Division.[3]
On 24 April 2018, the club changed their name to AC Sporting (Arabic: نادي سبورتينغ الرياضي) and moved to Beirut:[8] they promptly gained promotion to the Lebanese Second Division in 2019, coming first in the Lebanese Third Division.[9] Sporting won the 2020–21 Lebanese Second Division,[10] and gained promotion to the Lebanese Premier League for the first time in their history.[11] After finishing in last place, Sporting were relegated back to the Second Division.[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Lebanese Second Division | |
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Seasons |
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2022–23 clubs |
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