The magic of the FA Cup was on full display at Vale Park on Sunday as League One strugglers Port Vale pulled off a monumental giant-killing. Despite sitting at the very bottom of the third tier, the Valiants defied a gap of 57 places in the football pyramid to eliminate Premier League side Sunderland with a gritty 1-0 victory.
Tottenham Hotspur’s nightmare season has reached a new low after the north London club became the target of ridicule from fans in League One over the weekend. Spurs currently find themselves languishing in 16th place in the Premier League table, sitting a precarious single point above the relegation zone. This dismal form has turned the club into a laughing stock for rival fanbases across the English football pyramid.
Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere has admitted that his "dream scenario" for next season would be leading the Hatters into the Championship, potentially facing his former rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The former Arsenal midfielder, who has transitioned into a promising managerial career, found himself addressing the surreal possibility of facing Spurs next season, should they be relegated from England's top flight.
Lionesses midfielder Missy Bo Kearns has revealed that she is pregnant with her first child, due in September. Kearns was not included in Sarina Wiegman's squad for England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, described as being unavailable for selection, and the reasons for that have now become clear, after the Aston Villa star and her boyfriend, also a professional footballer, announced the news on social media.
Ex-Arsenal star Jack Wilshere had to be dragged away from a confrontation with agitated Luton fans by his own players following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burton Albion at Kenilworth Road. The Hatters allowed two points to slip through their grasp late on in that contest, leading to some supporters venting their frustration in Wilshere’s direction as he made his way down the tunnel.
Wrexham icon Elliot Lee has seemingly taken a parting dig at manager Phil Parkinson following his deadline day loan move to Doncaster Rovers. The midfielder, who was instrumental in the club's rise, admitted he felt undervalued at the Racecourse Ground after being frozen out of the Championship squad this season, sparking intense debate among the fanbase.
Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi Pro League side ever, having won an astonishing 19 league titles. Their first-ever league title came at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. Currently, they are also the defending champions, having gone all the way in the 2023-24 season.
How many teams are in the Saudi Pro League?
Currently, there are 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League. In the first season ever, which took place in 1976-77, there were just eight teams. The number increased to 10 in the following season. Ahead of the 1981-82, Saudi Premier League and Saudi First Division merged to form one single league for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. However, from the 1984-85 season, the number teams reverted to 12.
Who has made the most Saudi Pro League appearances ever?
Legendary Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea holds the record for most appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Deayea played for Al-Taee and Al-Hilal and managed 406 appearances inthe league.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Saudi Pro League?
Majed Abdullah, also known as the Arabian Pele, is the league's all-time leading topscorer with 189 goals in 194 league games, all of them coming with Al-Nassr in a 21-year span. He is Al-Nassr's record goalscorer, with 259 goals in just 266 games.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Former Syrian midfielder Jehad Al-Hussain has registered the most assists in Saudi Pro League history, setting up 50 goals for his teammates in 208 games.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to ever feature in Saudi Pro League. El Hadary was 45 years and 81 days old when he featured for Al-Taawoun in April 2018.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Saudi Pro League and how old was he?
Teenage sensation Talal Haji, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is the youngest player to ever play in Saudi Pro League. Haji achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and five days when he came on as a substitute for Romarinho in Al-Ittihad's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh in September 2023.
Which famous players have played in the Saudi Pro League?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, and Fabinho are among the most famous players to have played in the Saudi Pro League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Saudi Pro League?
Steven Gerrard, Laurent Blanc, and Stefano Pioli are some of Saudi Pro League's most prominent managers in history.
What is the biggest stadium in the Saudi Pro League?
The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which is home to Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh, is the biggest stadium in Saudi Pro League. It has a capacity of 68,752.
Who is the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League?
Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, costing a whopping £77.6 million when Al-Hilal bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.