2008–09 Syrian Premier League


The 2008–09 Syrian Premier League is the 38th season of the Syrian Premier League, Syria's premier football league. The season began on 10 October 2008 and finished on 12 June 2009.
Afrin and Al-Horriya were relegated from the previous season.
Al-Wathba and Omyyah moved up from the Syrian League 1st Division.
At the end of the campaign, defending champions Al-Karamah were level on 52 points with Al-Ittihad and therefore were required to have a one off playoff match to determine the league champions.
Al-Futowa and Hutteen were relegated and would be replaced by Afrin and Al-Jazeera for the 2009–10 Syrian Premier League campaign.
Syrian international Mohamed Al Zeno finished the campaign as leading goalscorer with 17 goals.

Continental Cups

AFC Cup

and Al-Majd entered the AFC Cup 2009 tournament. A tournament for second ranked Asian nations.
During the domestic Syrian league season, only the group phases of this prestigious tournament is played until the knockout rounds which will take place in the next Syrian season.
Al-Majd comfortably qualified with one game to spare to reach the knockout rounds whilst Al-Karamah had somewhat of a shaky start and after 5 games find themselves in 3rd position.

Arab Champions League

and Al-Taliya entered the Arab Champions League but Al-Taliya found the going tough, being thumped by Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the first round.
Al-Ittihad went one round better but got beat by Wydad Casablanca, also of Morocco.

Premier League teams (2008–2009)

ClubCityStadium2007–2008 seasonNotes
Al-KaramahHomsKhaled bin Walid StadiumSyrian Premier League ChampionsAFC Cup 2009 representative
Al-MajdDamascusAbbasiyyin Stadium2nd in Syrian Premier LeagueAFC Cup 2009 representative
Al-IttihadAleppoAleppo International Stadium3rd in Syrian Premier League2008–09 Arab Champions League representative
Al-TaliyaHamahAl Baladi Stadium Hama4th in Syrian Premier League2008–09 Arab Champions League representative
Al-JaishDamascusAbbasiyyin Stadium5th in Syrian Premier League-
Al-FutowaDeir ez-ZorAl Baladi Stadium Deir ez-Zor6th in Syrian Premier League-
TeshrinLatakiaAl Basil Stadium7th in Syrian Premier League-
HutteenLatakiaAl Basil Stadium8th in Syrian Premier League-
Al-WahdaDamascusAbbasiyyin Stadium9th in Syrian Premier League-
JablehJablehAl-Baath Stadium10th in Syrian Premier League-
Al-ShortaDamascusAbbasiyyin Stadium11th in Syrian Premier League-
Al-NawairHamahAl Baladi Stadium Hama12th in Syrian Premier League-
Al-WathbaHomsKhaled bin Walid Stadium1st Division / North Champions-
OmayyaIdlibAl Baladi Stadium Idlib1st Division / South Champions-

Final league standings

Playoffs

5th and 6th placed teams Al-Wathba and Al-Majd had a one match playoff at the end of the season due to both clubs finishing the regular season on 37 points. Al-Wathba won the tie 3–2 to claim 5th position in the final standings.

Championship match

MATCH OFFICIALS
MATCH RULES

Top goalscorers

;17 goals
;14 goals
;12 goals
;11 goals
;10 goals