Bourj FC
Bourj Football Club, sometimes called Bourj Sports Club and sometimes spelled Al-Bourj, Boroj, Al Borj or Burj (in Arabic: البرج), is a football club founded in 1967 and based in Bourj el-Barajneh, a southern suburb of Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, which competes in the Lebanese Premier League, the top tier of Lebanese football system, after becoming champions of the Lebanese Second Division at the end of the 2018-2019 season. They were also crowned champions of the 2016-2017 Lebanese Third Division, when they promoted to the Second Division. Their greatest achievement so far is winning the Lebanese FA Cup in 1993. They also won the Challenge Cup in 2019 and 2021. Their home ground is Bourj el-Barajneh Stadium, finalized in 2018, but used only as a training ground. For league matches, they use mainly Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun (Aley), which is shared with other football teams in Beirut area, as well as Al Ahed Stadium in Ouzai area of Bourj el-Barajneh. The team is generally supported by the Shia Muslim communities of the southern suburbs of Beirut and is well-known for the high number of loyal and passionate fans. The traditional colours are yellow and black.
Bourj FC starting line-up and staff in March 2025. Source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
History
The team existed even since the 1940s in Al-Ghadeer area of Bourj el-Barajneh and played unofficially before obtaining an official club license (no. 377) in 1967 under the name Al Bourj Sports Club. Headed by Rafiq Salem Al-Darsa Abboud, the club took its name from the town of Bourj el-Barajneh where it was based and included a group of loyal players such as Suhail Rahal (future president and main figure of the club), Darsa Abboud, Mohamed Hassan Idris, Mohammed Hussein Naboh, Ramiz Mohamed Ammar, Yousuf Ali Yasin and Ali Mahmoud Issa. They played mainly in the lower Lebanon leagues and started to rise in the 1970s when the Civil War broke out and interrupted all competitions. After 1985, the club competed again, succeeding in promoting for the first time to the Lebanon Premier League in 1991.
The greatest achievement of Bourj FC was winning the Lebanese FA Cup in 1993, 4-1 in the cup final against Homenmen Beirut, after several replays, as initial games between the two teams ended with a draw and regulations at that time stipulated that a replay was compulsory if the match ends with a draw.
Bourj FC in the 1990s. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
During the 1990s, Bourj FC played consistently in the Premier League, reaching the third place in the 1995-1996 season (their best result in the league). Relegated in 1999, they succeeded to promote to the Premier League in 2001, but survived only for two years and in 2003 they were relegated again to the Second Division, where they remained until 2009.
Bourj FC in their alternative orange kits celebrating the promotion to the Third Division (2015)
After a period of downfall to the lower leagues, the club enjoyed relative success in the second half of the 2010s, as they earned promotion to the Third Division in 2015, to the Second Division in 2017 and to the Premier League in 2019.
Bourj FC in September 2017, prepared to start in the Second Division. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
The team had the same manager, Hassan Mashor Mekdad “Mido”, who led the team from the Fourth Division to the Second Divison. However, he resigned at the end of the 2017-2018 season in Second Division, when Bourj FC was very close to a much-expected promotion to the Premier League, but finished third, after a disappointing 1-1 draw in the last round, when they needed to win against Mabarrah. The new head coach was Mohamad Dakka, former Safa SC head coach, who succeeded to bring the team to the Premier League in 2019. Bourj FC also won the Challenge Cup for the first time in summer 2019.
Bourj FC started perfectly their first season in the Premier League after so many years, with two consecutive wins, but then the 2019-2020 season was interrupted due to the economic and political crisis in Lebanon (starting with October 2019) and then because of the COVID-19 pandemic (starting with March 2020) and was eventually cancelled.
Bourj FC starting line-up in a match in Premier League in September 2019
The 2020-2021 season eventually began in October 2020 and Bourj FC had the same staff and mainly the same players as before. However, after five rounds and only one win, manager Mohamad Dakka was sacked at the beginning of November 2020 and replaced by his assistant manager, Fouad Hijazi, who became full manager. After six rounds, the league was interrupted for the matches of the national teams and afterwards because of a new lockdown in Lebanon. The league eventually resumed in December, but Bourj failed to qualify for the play-off (first six) and instead played in the play-out, finishing first of the bottom six. At the same time, they reached the semifinals of the Lebanese FA Cup. In summer 2021, Bourj FC won the Challenge Cup for the second time in a row.
Bourj FC players and staff celebrating their 1-0 win over defending champions Ansar at Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun on 12 September 2021. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
The 2021-2022 season was very successful, as Bourj managed to qualify for the play-off in second position, and had a winning streak of eight consecutive matches, which even made them contenders for the championship title at a certain moment. However, in the second half of the play-off their results became poorer and, after losing all chances for the title, they also lost the second position to Ansar in the final rounds. Even so, the third place they obtained at the end of the season equals their best ever, as they were in the same position only in 1995-1996.
Bourj FC players and staff before the start of the 2022-2023 season. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
In June 2022, Osama Al Sakr became manager, replacing Fouad Hijazi, in view of the 2022-2023 season. Bourj FC played in the Elite Cup in summer 2022, but were eliminated after the first stage. However, they had a strong start in the 2022-2023 league season, winning the first six matches. Then, results started to become poorer and Bourj eventually finished fifth at the end of the regular season. In the championship play-off, Bourj gained only one point in the first three matches, and manager Osama Al Sakr was sacked in January 2023 to be replaced by his former assistant manager, Hussein Tahan. Bourj eventually finished fifth and were eliminated once again in the semifinals of the Lebanese FA Cup. In 2023, Bourj FC participated for the first time after almost 30 years in an official international competition, as they represented Lebanon in the Arab Club Champions Cup. However, they were eliminated in the first qualifying round by Al Wahda (of the United Arab Emirates), losing both legs, 3-0 and 1-0, but both matches were played away in Abu Dhabi.
Bourj FC players and staff at the start of the 2023-2024 season. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
In 2023-2024, Bourj FC had good results, finishing the regular season in third place and qualifying once again for the play-offs. However, the results in play-off were not as good as intended, and manager Hussein Tahan was sacked in February 2024. Results improved under new manager Malek Hassoun. However, he left after the contract ended in May 2024, although there were still matches to be played. Bourj finished the season in fourth place with Ahmed Atwi as interim manager, but the main problem was the fact that the owner and main financial backer of the club, Fadi Nasser, decided to resign from his position in mid-2024.
This situation almost led to the club disappearance in summer 2024. Most players left. However, a few people who remained loyal to the club succeeded to bring enough sponsors to maintain the club alive for 2024-2025. Fouad Hijazi was brought back as manager, and players started to be contracted. Only one round was disputed in September 2024, and then the season was interrupted due to Israeli attacks. It resumed in January 2025. Bourj FC had poor results and manager Fouad Hijazi was sacked at the end of February 2025, with Bourj bottom of the table. In March 2025, Ahmed Atwi was brought back as manager, and owner Fadi Nasser returned, so the results improved.
Results season by season
2024-2025: Premier League:
Regular season: 10th (out of 12). Results: 11 2 1 8 7-21 7 points.
Play-out:
2023-2024: Premier League: 4th (out of 12). Overall results: 26 9 8 9 26-32 25 points[1].
Regular season: 3rd (out of 12). Results: 11 6 3 2 17-11 21 points.
Play-off: 5th (out of 6). Results: 15 3 5 7 9-21 14 points.
2022-2023: Premier League: 5th (out of 12). Overall results: 21 9 5 7 25-26 21 points[1].
Regular season: 5th (out of 12). Results: 11 7 2 2 17-11 23 points.
Play-off: 5th (out of 6). Results: 10 2 3 5 8-15 9 points.
2021-2022: Premier League: 3rd (out of 12). Results: 19 9 7 3 22-16 34 points.
2020-2021: Premier League: 7th (out of 12). Results: 16 5 8 3 18-13 23 points.
2019-2020: Premier League: cancelled. Partial results: 2 2 0 0 3-0 6 points.
2018-2019: Second Division: 1st (out of 12) - promoted. Results: 22 17 4 1 42-9 55 points.
2017-2018: Second Division: 3rd (out of 12). Results: 22 14 6 2 42-19 48 points.
2016-2017: Third Division, Group A: 2nd – qualified for the Final Round: 1st – promoted
Results in the first round: 14 8 4 2 31-6 28 points
Results in the final round: 5 3 1 1 10-6 10 points
2015-2016: Third Division, Group C: 4th (out of 7). Results: 12 3 4 5 13-17 13 points.
2014-2015: Fourth Division: 1st, promoted to the Third Division.
…
2012-2013: Third Division, Group A: 4th (out of ?)
…
2010-2011: Third Division, position and results unknown.
2009-2010: Third Division, position and results unknown.
2008-2009: Second Division, Group 1: 7th (last) – relegated. Part results: 7 0 1 6 2-12 1 p.
2007-2008: Second Division, Group 1: 4th (out of 7). Results: 12 4 3 5 16-17 15 points
2006-2007: Second Division, Group 1: 6th (out of 7). Partial results: 7 0 3 4 3-8 3 points
2005-2006: Second Division, 9th (out of 12). Results: 22 5 4 13 24-40 19 points
2004-2005: Second Division, position and results unknown
2003-2004: Second Division, position and results unknown
2002-2003: Premier League, 12th (last) – relegated. Results: 22 5 2 15 21-47 11 points.
6 points were deducted for abandoning the match in round 14 (RSSSF).
2001-2002: Premier League, 7th (out of 14). Results: 26 10 5 11 42-42 35 points.
2000-2001: Second Division, Group A: 1st – qualified for the play-off: 1st - promoted
Results in the first round: 12 9 1 2 29-7 28 points
Results in the play-off: 3 2 1 0 7-2 7 points
1999-2000: Second Division, Group 1: 1st – qualified for the promotion play-off: 3rd.
Results in the first round: 12 7 4 1 21-7 25 points
Results in the play-off: 3 0 3 0 4-4 3 points, then 3 1 0 2 2-3 3 points.
1998-1999: Premier League, 12th (last) – relegated. Results: 22 4 6 12 15-39 12 points.
6 points were deducted for violent conduct of the players in round 21 (RSSSF).
1997-1998: Premier League, 10th (out of 14). Results: 26 6 12 8 29-31 30 points.
1996-1997: Premier League, 10th (out of 14). Results: 26 7 7 12 19-31 28 points.
1995-1996: Premier League, 3rd (out of 14). Partial results: 25 11 9 5 28-23 42 points[2].
1994-1995: Premier League, 9th (out of 14). Results: 26 6 11 9 21-26 29 points.
1993-1994: Premier League, 12th (out of 14). Results: 26 8 7 11 21-26 23 points.
1992-1993: Premier League, 7th (out of 17). Results: 32 9 16 7 38-30 34 points.
1991-1992: Premier League, Group A: 5th (out of 10). Results: 18 4 10 4 20-20 18 points.
1990-1991: Second Division – position and results unknown. Promoted.
During the second half of the 1970s and most of the 1980s, football leagues in Lebanon were largely affected by the Civil War and competitions were not usually held.
The four Rahal brothers (Hassan, Ali, Hussein and Joud), players at Bourj FC for their entire career, mainly during the successful 1990s. Source: Al-Akhbar.
Honours
Lebanese FA Cup: Winners – 1 (1992-1993)
Lebanese Challenge Cup: Winners – 2 (2019, 2021)
Lebanese Premier League: 3rd place – 2 (1995-1996, 2021-2022)
Lebanese Second Division: Winners – 2 (2000-2001, 2018-2019)
Lebanese Third Division: Winners – 1 (2016-2017)
Lebanese Fourth Division: Winners – 1 (2014-2015)
Bourj FC, Challenge Cup winners (August 2019). Photo: Abdallah Mahfouz
International competitions
1994-1995 Asian AFC Cup Winners’ Cup
Bourj FC received a bye to the Second Round of the competition.
Second Round
Bourj FC (LIB) – Al Shaab (UAE) 0-1 and 1-4.
2023 Arab Club Champions Cup (King Salman Cup)
First qualifying round
Bourj FC (LIB) – Al Wahda (UAE) 0-3 and 0-1. Both matches were played in Abu Dhabi.
Stadium
A stadium for the clubs in the area, including Bourj FC, has been built in Bourj el-Barajneh suburb of Beirut. Plans for the stadium were published in 2017 and Bourj el-Barajneh Stadium was finished and officially opened in September 2018, having a capacity for 1500 spectators. However, it apparently does not meet the requirements to host official league matches, and therefore is used only as a training ground. In summer 2023, players and officials complained about the poor state of the artificial pitch, and even some of the training sessions were moved to other stadiums.
Bourj el-Barajneh Stadium. Source: malaeeb.com
Since 2018, Bourj FC have mainly used Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun (Aley) as their home ground for official matches. This stadium has a capacity of 3,500, is also the main ground for Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley, and is shared with other teams in and around Beirut. The stadium was used both in the Second Division and in the Premier League.
Bourj FC players and staff when they achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2019, encouraged by their fans in the stand of Amin Abdelnour Stadium. Source: elmaestrosport.com.
Before 2016, Bourj FC also played at Al Ahed Stadium in Ouzai area of Bourj el-Barajneh, which has a capacity of only 2,000. In 2020, Bourj FC used again Al Ahed Stadium as their home ground for some of their matches in the Premier League and cup competitions, because the low capacity was no longer an issue, as matches were played without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024-2025, Bourj FC used again Al Ahed Stadium as their main home ground in the regular season.
Al Ahed Stadium in the southern suburbs of Beirut (Ouzai neighbourhood). Source: europlan-online.de
While in the Third and then Second Division, mainly between 2016 and 2018, Bourj FC played most of their home matches at Safa Stadium in Beirut, sharing the ground with other teams in Beirut area, including the owners Safa SC of the Lebanese Premier League. During the 1990s, they had also used Safa Stadium as their home ground in the Premier League. The stadium has a capacity of 4,000 seats. Bourj FC resumed playing some of their home games at Safa Stadium after its renovation in 2023.
The main stand of Safa Stadium, before renovation works. Source: Frank Jasperneite
Once promoted to the Premier League, in 2019, Bourj FC started to use Saida International Stadium, also known as Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium, in Sidon, as their main home ground. The 2019-2020 season was interrupted shortly after its start and then cancelled, but Bourj FC maintained this stadium as one of their choices for the 2020-2021 season, despite its location at a larger distance from Beirut. The multi-purpose stadium has a capacity for 22,600 spectators, all seated, and was built in 1999 for matches of the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, held in Lebanon. It was also used by other Premier League football clubs in Beirut and by the local Second Division side Al Ahly Saida (Sidon). However, this stadium has no longer been available for Bourj FC or other Premier League clubs since 2021.
Rafic Hariri / Saida International Stadium in Sidon. Source: sportbuddha.site
Crest
The crest has been changed (or rather upgraded) in May 2018. Because the word bourj means “tower”, the former crest featured a yellow tower rising from a yellow-and-black coloured ball. The new crest involves a black ring surrounding the previous crest and several identifying features are added. In the center, the year of foundation (1967) is written with yellow letters on a black part of the ball. On the black ring, the name of the club (Bourj Football Club) is written in yellow Latin letters in the upper half and in yellow Arabic letters in the lower half. Two yellow laurel wreaths are uniting the upper and lower halves on the left and on the right of the black ring. The whole crest is designed on a yellow background and the only colours used are yellow and black. This new crest was voted by a majority of Bourj FC fans according to a poll on the Facebook club page.
The former crest involved only the yellow tower rising from a yellow-and-black coloured football (below). A more sophisticated dark-coloured (sometimes yellow-coloured) badge was also in use, including the original crest in the center and the name of the club in Arabic above and in Latin letters below, as well as the year of foundation, 1967 (below the first one).
Kit colours
Traditionally, the main kit involved a combination of yellow and black, the club colours. In 2024-2025, Bourj FC returned to the more traditional yellow shirts, black shorts and yellow socks, which were used most of the times throughout history.
Bourj FC starting line-up in April 2025, using the traditional main kit involving yellow shirts, black shorts, and yellow socks. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
In 2023-2024, Bourj FC used yellow and black vertical stripes for the front of the shirts (also used in 2017-2018 in the Second Division), black on the back of the shirts (with yellow numbers), black shorts and yellow socks.
Bourj FC starting line-up in August 2023, using the yellow and black vertical stripes on shirts, black shorts and yellow socks. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
However, between 2018 and 2023, as well as most years before 2017, yellow shirts, black shorts and yellow socks were used.
Bourj FC in the 2019 Challenge Cup final, using their traditional kits, with yellow shirts, black shorts and yellow socks. Fans visible in the stand behind were also predominantly wearing either yellow or black shirts. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
For the 2017-2018 season of the Second Division, they also used yellow and black vertical stripes for shirts, and black shorts, but black socks. This was changed to more traditional yellow shirts, black shorts and yellow socks in 2018-2019, which have remained standard until 2023.
The alternative kits varied. Full black kits were usually used as an alternative. Full red kits have been introduced as an alternative in 2023-2024.
Bourj FC in one of the very few occasions that they used the alternative full red kits, in their match against Al Ahed in February 2024. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page.
Full dark grey kits were used rarely in 2022-2023. Before, black shirts and black or yellow shorts and socks were used between 2018 and 2023.
Bourj FC starting line-up in their match against Safa at Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun, using the alternative black kits (October 2020). Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
Orange shirts, white shorts and orange socks were used during the 2017-2018 season. Full orange kits were also used before 2017, as well as pink shirts with white or black shorts.
The current kit sponsor is Kelme, which replaced the former kit sponsor, Jako, in 2024. Jako had replaced Adidas back in 2016. The current shirt sponsor is One Royal, starting from summer 2024, while Metropolitan Security is an additional sponsor on the back of the shirt. The previous shirt sponsor was Zayla for 2022-2023, while before, the shirt sponsor had been Home Depot of Lebanon between 2017 and 2021, with Metropolitan Security as an additional sponsor.
Current squad (as of April 2025)
|
No. |
Nat. |
Position |
Name |
Date of birth |
Transferred from |
Since |
|
1 |
LIB |
Goalkeeper |
Ahmad Diab |
1995 |
Shabab Al Sahel |
2024 |
|
3 |
GHA |
Centre Back |
Abdulai Ibrahim |
03.03.1999 |
Shabab Al Ghazieh |
2024 |
|
4 |
LIB |
Centre Back |
Ali Abboud |
29.09.1997 |
Shabab Al Sahel |
2024 |
|
5 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Ali Mannaa |
23.06.2003 |
Al Ahed (loan) |
2025 |
|
6 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Ibrahim Hammoudi |
2004 |
Youth team |
2023 |
|
7 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Haidar Khriess |
1996 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
2023 |
|
8 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Mohamad Al Sibaii “Wartan” |
10.01.1994 |
Shabab El Bourj |
2022 |
|
9 |
LIB |
Forward |
Hassan Mehanna |
29.01.1997 |
Nejmeh |
2024 |
|
10 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Hassan Chaito “Moni” |
20.03.1989 |
Nejmeh |
2023 |
|
11 |
SEN |
Forward |
Ibrahima Sene |
|
|
2025 |
|
14 |
LIB |
Centre Back |
Hassan Hazime |
1995 |
Shabab Baalbeck |
2024 |
|
15 |
LIB |
Forward |
Hassan Koteich |
2004 |
Youth team |
2024 |
|
16 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Hussein Jradi |
2003 |
Al Ahly Nabatieh |
2025 |
|
|
LIB |
Forward |
Mohamad El Ali |
2005 |
Youth team |
2024 |
|
17 |
SEN |
Midfielder |
Abdoulaye Fall |
24.10.1994 |
Diambars FC |
2025 |
|
19 |
LIB |
Centre Back |
Mohamad Choumer |
2005 |
Sh. Majdal Anjar |
2024 |
|
20 |
LIB |
Forward |
Ali El Haddad |
2006 |
Youth team |
2024 |
|
21 |
LIB |
Left Back |
Mohamad Hammoud |
01.05.1987 |
Al Abbassieh FC |
2024 |
|
22 |
LIB |
Goalkeeper |
Hassan Hazimeh |
1996 |
Al Akhaa Al Ahly |
2023 |
|
23 |
GHA |
Forward |
Francis Yaghr |
09.03.2001 |
Sloboda Novi Grad |
2025 |
|
|
LIB |
Midfielder |
Ali Reslan |
2005 |
Youth team |
2024 |
|
27 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Omar El Kurdi |
19.10.1992 |
Nejmeh |
2025 |
|
30 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Youssef Atriss |
10.11.1997 |
Al-Kadhimiya FC |
2025 |
|
33 |
LIB |
Goalkeeper |
Mahdi Mzanar |
05.07.2000 |
Sporting Beirut |
2024 |
|
|
LIB |
Goalkeeper |
Hassan Moghnieh |
07.02.1986 |
Shabab Al Ghazieh |
2025 |
|
70 |
LIB |
Left Winger |
Shadi Jouni |
31.01.2003 |
Al Ahly Nabatieh |
2024 |
|
71 |
SYR |
Forward |
Abbas Chahine |
2005 |
Youth team |
2024 |
|
77 |
LIB |
Wing Back |
Youssef Anbar |
16.11.1990 |
Ansar |
2021 |
|
80 |
LIB |
Midfielder |
Hassan El Mokdad |
2004 |
Youth team |
2024 |
|
|
PLE |
Left Back |
Qusai Al Battat |
26.08.2002 |
Anwar Al Abyar |
2025 |
Bourj FC players and staff celebrating a 2-1 win over Abbasieh FC in April 2025. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
#1 Ahmad Diab – goalkeeper, transferred in 2024 from Shabab Al Sahel
#22 Hassan Hazimeh – goalkeeper, transferred in 2023 from Al-Akhaa Al-Ahly Aley
#33 Mahdi Mzanar – goalkeeper, transferred in 2024 from AC Sporting Beirut
# Hassan Moghnieh – goalkeeper, transferred back in 2025 from Shabab Al Ghazieh
#4 Ali Abboud – centre back, transferred in 2024 from Shabab Al Sahel
#3 Abdulai Ibrahim – Ghanaian centre back, transferred in 2024 from Shabab Al Ghazieh
#14 Hassan Abdallah Hazime – centre back, transferred in 2024 from Shabab Baalbeck
#19 Mohamad Choumer – centre back, transferred in 2024 from Shabab Majdal Anjar
#77 Youssef Anbar – wing back, transferred in 2021 from Ansar
#21 Mohamad Hammoud – left back, transferred back in 2024 from Al Abbassieh FC
# Qusai Al Battat – Palestinian left back, transferred in 2025 from Al Anwar Al Abyar
#17 Abdoulaye Fall – Senegalese box-to-box midfielder, transferred in 2025
#5 Ali Mannaa – midfielder, transferred from Al Ahed in 2025
#6 Ibrahim Hammoudi – midfielder, promoted from the youth team in 2023
#16 Hussein Jradi – midfielder, transferred from Al Ahly Nabatieh in 2025
#23 Ali Reslan – midfielder, promoted from the youth team in 2024
#80 Hassan El Mokdad – midfielder, promoted from the youth team in 2024
#10 Hassan Chaito ”Moni” – attacking midfielder, transferred in 2023 from Nejmeh
#8 Mohammad Al Sibaii ”Wartan” – midfielder, transferred in 2022 from Shabab El Bourj
#27 Omar El Kurdi – midfielder, transferred in 2025 from Nejmeh
#30 Youssef Atriss – midfielder, transferred back from Al Kadhimiya in 2025
#7 Haidar Khriess – midfielder, transferred back from Hikma/Sagesse in 2023
#70 Shadi Jouni – left winger, transferred in 2024 from Al Ahly Nabatieh
#9 Hassan Mehanna – forward, transferred back in 2024 from Nejmeh
#11 Ibrahim Sane – Ghanaian forward, transferred in 2025
#23 Francis Yaghr – Ghanaian forward, transferred in 2025 from Sloboda Novi Grad
#15 Hassan Koteich – forward, promoted from the youth team in 2024
#16 Mohamad El Ali – forward, promoted from the youth team in 2024
#20 Ali El Haddad – forward, promoted from the youth team in 2024
#71 Abbas Chahine – Syrian forward, promoted from the youth team in 2024
Technical staff members
Manager: Ahmed Atwi (since March 2025)
Assistant manager: Ibrahim Khair El-Din (since March 2025)
Goalkeepers’ coach: Nazih Tai (since June 2022)
Sporting director: Abbas Ali Atwi “Onika” (since June 2022)
Physiotherapist (physical coach): Bilal Alawiyya (since May 2023)
Psychologist: Danny Othman (since November 2020)
Ahmed Atwi (left), manager of Bourj FC, and Ibrahim Khair El-Din, assistant manager of Bourj FC. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
Youth teams
Youth team supervisor: Mohamad Ibrahim (since July 2020)
Administrative staff members
Honorary President: Al-Rayes Atef Mansour (mayor of Bourj el-Barajneh)
Spiritual Leader: Hassan Khan Qassem Al-Sabaa
Owner: Fadi Nasser (since May 2019)
President: Nabih Fadi Nasser (since May 2019)
Vice-President: Samir Shamkha
Club director: Hamad Rahal (since August 2024)
Club secretary: Ali Abbas Rahal (since August 2024)
Team manager: Mousa Mohamed Ali Al-Sibaei
Administrative manager: Ahmed Nasser
Ali Kazma
Zuhair Hatoum, member of Bourj el-Barajneh Municipality
Fadi Yassin
Ashraf Sibai
Nadil Najdi
Jaafar Hasan Rahal
Nader Nawaf Ammar
Jalal Neboh
Bourj FC team before an FA Cup game at Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun in October 2018. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
Notable former players
Hassan Rahal
Ali Rahal
Hussein Rahal
Joud Rahal
Ali Mtairik (who passed away in the 2010s)
Brahim Abo Jabal
Zein Tahan
Mohammed Al-Sayyed
Mahmoud Gamlouche (Gamloush)
Ali Hattit – goalkeeper
Jihad Kanaan
Mohamed Ismail
Fouad Hijazi
Bilal Zarkat
Amer Farhat
Abdel Amir Siblini
Elie Berjo
Osama Idris Faraj Allah Al Sakr (Sudanese player)
Ali Ghnoum
Hassan Hamdan
Hussein Hadeer
Darlington Chigoze
Fadl Al-Sayyed
Mohamad Dakka
Khalil Watfa
Toray Toronka
Mustapha Za’ayter (Zoayter)
Hussein Tahhan
Youssef Diaa
Bilal Hammoud
Rami Qaddoura
Kenneth Oliseh
Tanko Saleh
Hassan Abdullah
Bassel Hadid
Mohamed Galayyini
Hassan Meqdad
Madio Konati
Ahmed Jradi
Mazen Jradi
Ghassan Showaikh
Abdulrahman Shawmar (Shoumari)
Hassan Al-Sek
Tony Amado
Abdulqader Al-Rifayi
Lamine Bob
Malam Boubakar
Magdi Morgan Kassala (Sudanese player)
Sanousi
Rachidi
Mohammed Babayaro
Suhail Rahal
Abbas Rahal
Fadel Rahal
Darsa Abboud
Mohamed Hassan Idris
Mohammed Hussein Naboh
Ramiz Mohamed Ammar
Yousuf Ali Yasin
Ali Mahmoud Issa
Ibrahim Miqdad – goalkeeper
Samir Shamkha - goalkeeper
#3 Ali Wassef Mohamed – defender / centre back (former team captain)
#4 Abdul Sondos – defender / centre back
#14 Ali Rida Nayef Kallout – defender / centre back
#99 Bika Hareb – midfield
#5 Hassan Darwish – midfield
#6 Mohammad Rammal – defensive midfield
#11 Hamlet Qassem Shamkha Ibrahim – midfield
#9 Eto’o Forlan Fode – central forward / striker (from Guinea)
#30 Mori Keita – secondary striker / attacking midfield (from Guinea)
#15 Hassan Fawaz - striker
#33 Daniel Hareb
#17 Mohammed Mousa
Mohammed Moudi
Abelas Sweidan
Hamza Fahda
#41 Ibrahima Camara “Angloma” – secondary striker (from Guinea)
#7 Ali Jawad – defender / left back
#70 Nasrat Al Jamal – midfielder
#3 Hisham Shheme – defender
#4 Bilal Nasrallah – defender
#5 Mustafa Al Khateeb – defender
#8 Hassan Hammoud – left winger
#10 Ali Fakih – right winger / attacking midfield / right midfield
#10 Yannis Bessaa – French/Algerian right midfield / winger
#11 Hassan Mallah – left back / winger
#13 Mohammed Abdul Karim – defensive midfield
#14 Wassem Abdel Hadi – forward
#20 Hassan Fardous – central midfield
#21 Ali Harb – defender / right back
#23 Mohamed Hammoud – defender
#30 Amir El Haf – midfielder
Ali Harouni – left midfield / winger
#98 Papy Thinaldum – Senegalese playmaker
#99 Abdullah Kanoute – forward (Senegalese striker)
#33 Mohammed Santina – goalkeeper
#11 Abdulfattah Achour – defender
#13 Malik Ismaila Intiri – Ghanaian defender
#4 Amin Halal – defender
#19 Ali Karaki – left midfielder
#30 Thiago do Amaral – Brazilian forward
#70 Mohamed Al-Mirkabaoui “Aiker” – midfielder
#17 Mohamed Jawad Abou Khalil – forward
#90 Mohamad Hammoud – goalkeeper
#3 Walid Ismail – left back
#19 Hassan Al Annan – midfielder
#10 Mohamad Jaafar – forward
#21 Mohamad Nasser – forward
#9 Fadel Antar – forward
#71 Zain Al Abidin Farran – left winger
Mohammad Roda El Dor – defender
#15 Ali Kiki – defender
#11 Ibrahim Abou Hamdan – left midfielder
#13 Akram Moghrabi – forward
#10 Abbas Ali Atwi “Onika” – playmaker
#14 Mohamad Kassem – Palestinian playmaker
#19 Eid Jeshi – midfielder
#21 Ali Kharoubi – midfielder
#23 Hamza Abboud – right back
#29 Hussein Ghanem
#30 Hassan Abdallah Bitar – centre back
#40 Ghassan Farran – midfielder
#44 Ahmad Al Khatib – centre back
#70 Samih Damaj – right midfielder
#90 Bersyl Obassi – Congolese striker
#14 Zaher Al Samahi – Palestinian midfielder
#20 Ali Hammoud – midfielder
#90 Richard Baffour – Ghanaian centre back
#16 Mohamad Safwan – midfielder
#17 Dennis Tetteh – Ghanaian midfielder
#10 Khaled Takaji – playmaker
#18 Youssef Barakat – playmaker
#14 Mohammad Nassereddine – winger
#7 Hussein Al-Outa – winger
#70 Mahmoud Kawar – winger
#8 Mohammad Omar Sadek – winger
#88 Stephen Sarfo – Ghanaian striker
#1 Abdelkarim Saleh “Aboudi” – goalkeeper
#90 Ali Hallal – goalkeeper
#2 Mohamad El Dor – right back
#3 Shadi Skaf – centre back or left back
#4 Khodor Hallak – centre back
#7 Mohamad Zein Tahan – wing back
#16 Mohamad Al Hayek – left back
#19 Saad Al Shawiki – defender
#25 Ahmad Al Saleh – Syrian centre back
#55 Mohamad Al Husseini – centre back
#5 Mohamad Al Faour – defensive midfielder
#6 Hussein Ibrahim “Al Saaouk” – central midfielder
#8 Bilal Sabbagh – attacking midfielder
#11 Ali Chaito – midfielder
#18 Ali Siblini – midfielder
#15 Prosper Donkor – Ghanaian midfielder
#24 Houssem Louati – Tunisian playmaker or winger
#9 Ali Markabawi – forward
#20 Ali Kassas – forward
#30 Mohammad El Saleh – forward
#77 Abou Baker Al-Mel ”Bako” – winger
#88 Tidiane Camara – Senegalese striker
#99 Hilal El Helwe – forward
#12 Abdallah Aich – left back
#11 Ali Rahal – forward
#99 Ahmad Hijazi – forward
Hassan Rahal, Bourj FC leading goalscorer in the 1990s. Source: Al-Akhbar.
Former managers (coaching history)
Hassan Mashor Mekdad “Mido” (2014 – March 2018)
Mohammad Dakka (April 2018 – November 2020)
Fouad Hijazi (November 2020 – June 2022)
Osama Idris Faraj Al Sakr (June 2022 – January 2023)
Hussein Tahan (January 2023 – February 2024)
Malek Hassoun (February 2024 – May 2024)
Ahmed Atwi (May 2024 – July 2024)
Fouad Hijazi (2nd time, August 2024 – February 2025)
Former staff members
Adnan Yassine – former president (April 2018 – May 2019)
Abou Ali Dawood – former president (in the 2010s, until April 2018)
Ramez Ammar – club secretary until November 2021 (when he passed away)
Mohamed Al Merkabaoui “Aiker” – assistant coach between November 2020 and June 2022
Fayez Rahal – former board member, resigned in October 2018
Ahmed Mukhtar Abdul Aziz – former club doctor (passed away in 2023)
Suhail Rahal – involved since the early days of the club, he was president during the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. He was suspended by the Lebanese FA for one year in 2003 for some of his comments in mass-media.
Ahmed Rahal – president of the club in the 2000s.
Farid Al-Jundi – manager (coach) from Egypt in the 1990s.
Shouki Ammar – vicepresident during the 2000s
Nabil
Khalil Ismail – secretary of the Board
Riad Alama – treasurer
Nawaf Ammar – accountant
Adel Jalloul
Saba Salim
Bassam al-Sibai
Bassam Farhat
Rafiq Salem Al-Darsa Abboud – club founder and president in the 1960s and 1970s
Rafiq Salem Al-Darsa Abboud, founder and first president of the club. Source: Bourj FC official Facebook page
Supporters, fans and attendance
Bourj FC has always enjoyed a high number of loyal and passionate fans, mainly from the Shia Muslim communities of the southern Beirut suburbs, and especially from Bourj el-Barajneh, their home town. While official attendance numbers are not provided for football matches in Lebanon, it is well-known and easily noticeable that Bourj FC matches have an attendance that is clearly above the average. This is equally true for the home and the away matches, because many fans are accompanying the team for the away games too, and sometimes their number is higher than the number of fans supporting the host teams.
Fans create a specific atmosphere during Bourj FC matches and sometimes their behaviour has crossed the approved limits and has led to sanctions for the club from the Lebanese FA.
They are also very active on social media. Before the Bourj FC official page was even created, several fan-led pages provided information about the team on Facebook, for instance. Bourj Fans Tube and Ultras Borjawi have also broadcasted live on Facebook or You Tube some of Bourj FC matches in the Second Division, in addition to broadcasts provided by the official Bourj FC page and related.
Ultras Borjawi has been created in 2018 as an “ultras” section of the Bourj FC fans.
Rivalries
The most important rivalry is with Shabab Sahel, the other prominent football club based in the Southern Suburbs (Dahieh) of Beirut. Bourj FC and Shabab Sahel were both involved in the fight for promotion in the Premier League in 2017-2018 and have met again in the Premier League since 2019, where they play the so-called Dahieh derby.
Another rivalry was with Shabab El Bourj, because this was another football club from Bourj el-Barajneh, which fought along Bourj FC for promotion to the Premier League in 2018-2019. They had also met again in the Premier League, before Shabab El Bourj disbanded in summer 2022.
There are less important rivalries with the “giant” football clubs in or around Beirut, such as Al Ahed, Nejmeh, Al Ansar or Safa SC, or even with smaller Beirut teams, like Mabarrah, Racing, Hikma (La Sagesse), Shabab Al Arabi and Homenetmen.
Data sources
Facebook official page (mainly in Arabic)
Facebook fans page (mainly in Arabic)
Facebook former club page (mainly in Arabic) (outdated)
Facebook Ultras Borjawi page (mainly in Arabic)
Al-Akhbar (in Arabic)
Al-Mada (in Arabic)
El Maestro Sports (in Arabic)
Frank Jasperneite
RSSSF - Lebanon - Historical Domestic Results
Wikipedia
Goalzz
[1] Points from the regular season were halved and rounded up before the championship play-off.
[2] One match of Bourj FC is missing from the results published by the RSSSF, where the team is classified fourth, having the same number of points with the third classified. However, Al Akhbar notes that the team finished third that year, which is quite possible if Bourj FC did not lose that game missing from the published archives.
No comments:
Post a Comment