The Saudi Professional First Division League is the second league championship in terms of strength and importance for Saudi football after the Saudi Pro League. This tournament has been held since 1976, and two or more clubs advance from this league every year to the Saudi Pro League - according to the league system. They are the two best clubs with the most points, and two or more clubs are relegated to the second division - according to the league system, a lower division.
For forty-seven years, the league has undergone major changes, with its name changed twice, first to RAKAA Professional League and then to Yelo League, for sponsorship reasons. The inflection point in the league's history was its official declaration of independence in 2021, becoming an independent professional association that manages its affairs separately from the Saudi Pro League.
Champions
For forty-seven years, twenty-six clubs held this league title, namely:
• Al-Wehda Club, Hajer Club (four times each)
• Al-Tai Club, al-Qadsiah Club, Ohod Club (three times each)
• Al-Riyadh Club, al-Nahdah Club, al-Najmah Club, al-Ansar Club, al-Raed Club, al-Ettifaq Club, al-Hazem Club, al-Khaleej Club (twice each)
• Al-Ahli Saudi Club, al-Shabab Club, al-Jabalain Club, al-Kawkab Club, al-Taawoun Club, Sdoos Club, al-Watani Club, al-Faisaly Club, al-Shoulla Club, al-Orobah Club, al-Fayha Club (once each)
Achievements
• The first club to win this tournament was al-Ettifaq Club in season 1976.
• The highest number of points achieved by a champion was by al-Hazem Club in 2021 at ninety-one points.
• The league has embraced big Saudi clubs with a long history in Saudi football (al-Ahli in season 2022/2023; al-Shabab Club in season 1978/1979; and al-Ettifaq Club twice in 1976 and 2015).
Rebrand of the league
The name of the league was changed several times for sponsorship reasons; the first time was during the 2012/2013 season, when it became the RAKAA League in recognition of the sponsoring company, for three years.
In the 2017 season, the name of the competition was changed to the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd First Division Clubs League.
In the 2018/2019 season, the football first division league was renamed in honor of the Crown Prince, becoming the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman League.
In the 2021/2022 season, the name of the league was changed to Yelo League to acknowledge the new sponsor.
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