Nejmeh SC

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This article is about the Lebanese football club. For other similarly named clubs, see Al-Nejmeh.

Nejmeh
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Full nameNejmeh Sporting Club
Nicknameالقلعة النبيذية (The Burgundy Castle)[1]
Short nameNejmeh
Founded10 March 1945; 81 years ago (1945-03-10)
GroundRafic Hariri Stadium
Capacity5,000
ChairmanSaeed Serbeh
ManagerRadhi Jaïdi
LeagueLebanese Premier League
2024–25Lebanese Premier League, 4th of 12
Websitenejmehsc.com
File:Soccerball current event.svg Current season
Active teams of Nejmeh

Nejmeh Sporting Club (Arabic: نادي النجمة الرياضي, lit. 'The Star Sporting Club') is a football club based in Manara, a neighbourhood in Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Premier League.

The club was established in Beirut in 1945, and received its license in 1947. Nejmeh have won nine Lebanese Premier League titles, eight Lebanese FA Cups, 12 Lebanese Elite Cups, and seven Lebanese Super Cups. In Asia, Nejmeh were runners-up in the 2005 AFC Cup, where they lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan.

Nejmeh is primarily supported by the Sunni Muslim community with a minority of Shiites and Druzes,[2] and shares a historic rivalry with fellow Beirut-based club Ansar, known as the Beirut derby. The club's board is affiliated with the Future Movement political party and the Hariri family.[3][4]

History

File:Nejmeh 1945.jpg
Nejmeh's lineup in 1945

Nejmeh was founded in 1945 by the Druze and Sunni communities from Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon,[5] as an association football club, with Anis Radwan as their first president.[6] This committee applied for a license at the Lebanese Government on 4 March 1947,[7] which was issued on 28 April.[6] The choice of club's name is said to have came on 11 October 1945, when a meeting was held at Radwan's house at night to discuss the affairs of the team.[6] Looking at the sky's stars, Radwan decided to call the team Nejmeh (The Star).[6] The five-pointed star is the Druze's religious symbol.[5]

On 25 July 1950, Nejmeh won the Lebanese Second Division, but were only officially promoted in 1951,[7] during which Papken Poyajian was appointed president of the club. They first competed in the Lebanese Premier League during the 1953–54 season.[7] Nejmeh finished runners-up in the Lebanese FA Cup twice: in 1951 and 1964, losing in the finals to Shabiba Mazraa and Safa respectively.[8]

Nejmeh lifted their first trophy, the Lebanese FA Cup, on 31 October 1971, when they won 3–1 against Safa.[9] Nejmeh's goals were scored by Jamal Al-Khatib, Hassan Chatila, and Mahmoud Chatila.[9] During the 1970s, Brazilian international players Pelé[10][11][12][13] and Bebeto[14][15][16] played matches with Nejmeh as honorary guests.

Colours and badge

Ever since the club's foundation, the traditional and primary color of Nejmeh has been burgundy red.[17] The club's badge was composed of a star in the center, in reference to the club's name which, in Arabic, means "Star".[6] The two cedars on the side of the logo recalled Lebanon's national symbol.

In 2019 the logo underwent various changes: the star changed from white to gold, the cedars from green to burgundy and the text from burgundy to black. Other minor changes have also been made such as the enlargement of the width of the white border, and the shift of the text "BEIRUT 1945", which moved from the center of the star to underneath it.[18]

In 2023 the logo was drastically changed, with a more simplistic style being adopted. It became a pictogram of a burgundy "N" (for Nejmeh) and a "C" (for Club) fused together, with a gold star in the center. The text "1945" above and "BEIRUT" below are written in burgundy.[19]

Stadium

Main article: Rafic Hariri Stadium
File:Nejmeh Stadium, 2022.jpg
The entrance of the Rafic Hariri Stadium in 2022

The Rafic Hariri Stadium is located in Manara area of Beirut, Lebanon.[20] The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate around 5,000 spectators, together with a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.[21]

The old club stadium first consisted of a sand training field over the land number 704 in Ras Beirut area with no facilities or fences.[21] The stadium went through a rehabilitation process, with improvements including implanting the field with grass, increasing the seats spaces to allow more spectators, and enhancing the stadium facilities, walls, and fences. The first phase of the process started in June 2003 and was completed in late March 2004.[21]

On 21 February 2005, the stadium was named "The Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium" in honour of the late Prime Minister.[21]

Supporters

Founded on 9 February 2018,[22] Nejmeh's "Ultras Supernova" was the first ultras group to be introduced in Lebanon.[23][24][25] The name "Supernova" is a reference to the etymology of Nejmeh which, in Arabic, means "Star".

Prior to the Arab Club Champions Cup game against Al-Ahly of Egypt, played on 13 August 2018, seven "Ultras Supernova" fans were arrested by the Egyptian national security because of the negative connotations the word "Ultras" has in Egypt.[26] The fans were returned to Lebanon by request of the Lebanese Ambassador to Cairo.[27]

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Nejmeh ultras were employed by the Qatari government to act as Qatar national team fans during their games. The 1,500 "adopted" ultras wore maroon t-shirts with "Qatar" stamped on front, sang the Qatari national anthem and beat drums while singing chants.[28]

Club rivalries

File:Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium 2018 - Beirut derby (Nejmeh fans).png
Nejmeh fans during the Beirut derby at the Camille Chamoun Stadium in 2018.

The Beirut derby with Ansar has historically been the most anticipated game in Lebanon: both located in Beirut, Nejmeh and Ansar have shared the majority of titles. While Nejmeh has been more successful in Asia, Ansar holds the most league titles and FA Cups.[17]

In recent years another fierce rivalry has developed, between Nejmeh and Ahed. Also based in Beirut, Ahed have won the majority of league titles since the 2014–15 season. Tensions between the two teams have also forced the federation to change venues multiple times.[29] Most noticeably, in the 2016–17 season, Nejmeh refused to play against Ahed in the league title decider and were sanctioned six points by the federation.[30]

Another rivalry that has developed in recent years is with Salam Zgharta. Since the 2016–17 season, Salam Zgharta and Nejmeh have played various intense games between each other, with some escalating in offensive chants.[31]

Other important matches are with Safa and Racing, both located in the same city as Nejmeh.

Other teams

On 2 September 2025, Nejmeh announced that acquisition of Lebanese Futsal League side Tawfeer Futsal Club, and changed its name to Nejmeh Sporting Club Futsal Team.[32]

On 13 September 2025, Nejmeh established an esports team.[33]

On 22 October 2025, Nejmeh announced the acquisition of Lebanese Women's Football League side ÓBerytus, and changed its name to Nejmeh Sporting Club.[34][35]

Kit manufacturers

The following is a list of kit manufacturers worn by Nejmeh.

Period Kit manufacturer
1996–2005 Adidas
2006–2012 A-Line
2012–2013 Joma
2013–2014 Lotto
2014–2016 Jako
2016–2018 P4
2018–2021 14Fourteen
2021–2023 Jako
2023–2025 Kelme
2025– Capelli Sport

Players

Current squad

As of 21 September 2025[36]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  LBN Hasan Haidar
2 DF  LBN Ali Alrida Ismail
3 DF  LBN Houssein Mortada
4 MF  LBN Mohamad Safwan
5 DF  LBN Khalil Khamis
6 DF  LBN Hussein Zein
7 MF  LBN Khalil Bader
8 FW  LBN Mohamad Omar Sadek
9 FW File:Flag of Greece.svg GRE Marios Ogkmpoe
10 MF  LBN Mahdi Zein
11 FW  LBN Ali Kassas
12 DF  LBN Felix Michel Melki
15 DF  LBN Wadih Bewaridi
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF  LBN Hassan Chaitou
17 FW File:Flag of Sierra Leone.svg SLE Rodney Michael
18 DF  LBN Kassem El Zein (captain)
19 MF  LBN Hasan Jaafar
20 MF  LBN Hassan Kourani
21 MF  LBN Ali El Fadl
23 FW File:Flag of Kenya.svg KEN Masoud Juma
27 MF File:Flag of Ghana.svg GHA Benjamin Bernard Boateng
31 GK  LBN Emilio Rizk
66 MF File:Flag of Kenya.svg KEN Teddy Akumu
71 MF  LBN Hussein Siblini
90 GK  LBN Antoine Al Douaihy
95 GK  LBN Mostafa Matar

Players on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  LBN Maher Sabra (at Safa SC until 30 June 2026)
— FW  LBN Mohammad Al-Jammal (at Shabab Al Sahel until 30 June 2026)
— MF  LBN Ali Shaitou (at Safa SC until 30 June 2026)

Notable players

See also: Category:Nejmeh SC players
File:Ali Hamam 20191201.jpg
Nejmeh's captain Ali Hamam with Lebanon at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Players in international competitions
Competition Player National team
2000 AFC Asian Cup Abbas Chahrour  Lebanon
Wahid El Fattal  Lebanon
Mohamed Halawi  Lebanon
Moussa Hojeij  Lebanon
2007 AFC Asian Cup Bassim Abbas File:Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq
2012 Africa Cup of Nations Osama Chtiba File:Flag of Libya.svg Libya
2017 Africa Cup of Nations Hassan Wasswa File:Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda
2019 AFC Asian Cup Kassem El Zein  Lebanon
Ali Hamam  Lebanon
Hassan Maatouk  Lebanon
Nader Matar  Lebanon
2023 AFC Asian Cup Ali Sabeh  Lebanon
Maher Sabra  Lebanon
Kassem El Zein  Lebanon

Honours

Domestic

League

Cup

Continental

Awards

  • Best Team in Asia
    • Winners (1): March 2000[38]

Performance in AFC competitions

In 1982, Nejmeh reached the Arab Club Champions Cup final but lost to Iraqi club Al-Shorta.[39] In 2005, Nejmeh reached the final of the AFC Cup and lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan: this was the first time a Lebanese football team had reached the final of any Asian competition.[17]

1996–97: Second round
2002–03: First round
2004: Quarter-finals
2005: Final
2006: Semi-finals
2007: Semi-finals
2010: Group stage
2014: Round of 16
2015: Group stage
2017: Group stage
2019: Group stage
2022: Group stage
2023–24: Group stage
2024–25: Group stage
1990–91: First round
1997–98: First round
1998–99: First round

See also

References

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  9. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ http://forum.kooora.com/?t=5801520 Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine pictures of the visit and details about Pelé's Nejmeh experience in Arabic.
  11. ^ http://pelethebest.blogspot.com/2014/11/pele-em-hebraico-significa.html?m=1 Archived 12 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Set of pictures of Pelé with Nejmeh SC in Lebanon
  12. ^ http://blogbaladi.com/brazilian-football-legend-pele-played-for-lebanese-nejmeh-sc-in-1975/ Archived 12 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Picture of Pelé with Nejmeh Club prior to the friendly game where he played for the team.
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/former-brazilian-world-cup-winner-bebeto-wearing-a-t-shirt-news-photo/2554235 Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Bebeto in the Nejmeh Club kit during the game.
  15. ^ http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/famous-brazilian-soccer-player-bebeto-gives-the-thumbs-up-news-photo/2548910 Archived 12 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Picture of Bebeto in Beirut with details about the visit.
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  32. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DOGymZxgnJ8/
  33. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DOiolrGgkU9/
  34. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1245551417600841
  35. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHa2nvgsw0/
  36. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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