2012–13 Qatar Stars League


The 2012–13 Qatari League, also known as Qatari Stars League was the 40th edition of top level football championship in Qatar. The season started on 15 September 2012 and took a monthlong break from 21 December to 21 January 2013 due to the Gulf Cup of Nations. Lekhwiya were the defending champions. Al-Sadd won the league for the 13th time in their history, making them the most successful team in the Qatar Stars League.

Teams

were relegated to the second level league after finishing bottom in the 2011–12 Qatar Stars League campaign.
Al-Sailiya were promoted as the 2nd level champions and are back after one season away from the top flight.

Stadia and locations

ClubCity/TownStadiumCapacity
Al-ArabiDohaGrand Hamad Stadium13,000
Al-GharrafaAl GharafaAl-Gharafa Stadium22,000
Al KharitiyathAl-RayyanAl-Khawr Stadium12,000
Al-KhorAl KhorAl-Khawr Stadium12,000
Al-RayyanAl RayyanAhmed bin Ali Stadium22,000
Al-SaddDohaJassim Bin Hamad Stadium10,000
Al-SailiyaDohaAhmed bin Ali Stadium 122,000
Al-WakrahAl WakrahAl-Wakrah Stadium12,000
El JaishDohaQatar SC Stadium12,000
LekhwiyaDohaLekhwiya Sports Stadium10,000
Qatar SCDohaQatar SC Stadium12,000
Umm-SalalUmm SalalGrand Hamad Stadium13,000

1 Al Sailiya do not have a stadium of their own so will share with Al Rayyan.

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Al-Arabi Abdelaziz Bennij Masoud ZeraeiAdidas
Al-Gharafa Habib Sadek AlexErreaVodafone
Al Kharitiyath Bernard Simondi Nabeel AnwarBURRDA
Al-Khor László Bölöni Mostafa JalalAdidasQatar Airlines
Al-Rayyan Diego Aguirre Fábio CésarAdidas
Al-Sadd Hussein Amotta Abdulla KoniBURRDAVodafone
Al-Sailiya Abdullah Mubarak Abdulla DarwishNike
Al-Wakrah Mehmed Baždarević Ali RehemaNikeOpel
El Jaish Razvan Lucescu Karim ZianiNike
Lekhwiya Eric Gerets Dame TraoréBURRDA
Qatar SC Sebastiao Lazaroni Hussain Al RomaihiAdidasQatar Petroleum
Umm-Salal Bertrand Marchand Saša OgnenovskiNike

Managerial changes

League Expansion

At the end of the season it was announced that the 2013–14 season would feature 14 teams. The decision to increase the numbers of teams means Al Sailiya – who finished bottom of the league – will avoid relegation. Meanwhile, Muaither – who lost to Al Arabi in the play-offs – will join as the 14th team.
The Second Division and the reserve league will also merge to create a stronger second tier.

League table

Relegation Playoff

Fixtures and results

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Sebastián SoriaLekhwiya19
2 NilmarAl-Rayyan14
3 Moumouni DaganoAl-Sailiya13
4 Younis MahmoudAl-Sadd10
4 Júlio CésarAl-Khor10
4 Khalfan IbrahimAl-Sadd10
4 Rodrigo TabataAl-Rayyan10
5 Diego TardelliAl-Gharafa9
5 Mohammed RazakQatar SC9
5 RaúlAl-Sadd9