Frustrating League campaign for Red Knights.

Lekhwiya understandably went into the 2015/2016 on a high after securing a domestic double. However management and player changes left the Red Knight’s slightly unstable ahead of the big kickoff.

Head coach Michael Laudrup moved on, and Lekhwiya brought in former coach Djamel Belmadi who had helped the side lift their first ever falcon shield. The Algerian tactician was charged with retaining the league title. Player wise, Sebastian Soria left the club to newly promoted Al Rayyan with Lekhwiya turning to Qatari international Mohammed Muntari of El Jaish as a replacement.

The Red Knights started the season well. Victories in the league against Qatar SC (3-1) and Al Sailiya along with one of Lekhwiya’s most impressive performances of the season in the 7-0 win over Al Kharitiyat. The Red Knights looked confident and capable of retaining their QSL crown.




A run of poor form followed, which saw Djamel Belmadi’s side only pick up one point from a possible fifteen. Defeats to the likes of Al Rayyan (3-1) Al Arabi (3-2) and local rivals El Jaish (2-0) put Lekhwiya way off the title pace. The expectations of the Lekhwiya management began to weigh heavy on Belmadi.



Thankfully an eight game winning streak stretching from November to January pulled Lekhwiya back into the top four places. Important wins against Al Wakrah (6-2) and a 4-2 win over rivals Al Sadd highlighted that Belmadi’s squad where slowly beginning to find their feet.

In January, Lekhwiya moved to secure the services of Alain Dioko from Gharafa with tricky winger Vladimir Weiss moving the other way. This fascinating move would ultimately curtail any title ambitions Lekhwiya had.

International midfielders Nam Tae Hee and Yusef Msakni were the Red Knights most consistent players over the course of the 2015/2016 season. Nam Tae Hee grabbed ten goals and assists for his side, with his pace and technique causing opponents plenty of problems.  Whilst Msakni’s return of fourteen goals made him the sides top scorer in the league, the duo where formidable on the break and eventually pushed Lekhwiya into the top four picture.

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Domestically, Lekhwiya looked shaky and only secured three victories in the final ten games of the season. A 5-0 humbling by Al Rayyan in late February essentially handed the title to the Lions, in what must go down as one of the poorest performances of the season. Djamel Belmadi’s side limped into the top four essentially by the virtue of winning one more game than draw specialists Umm Salal.

Having qualified for the Qatar Cup, expectations were high that Lekhwiya could retain the trophy they lifted last term. They certainly surprised many with their 3-1 semifinal defeat of league winners Al Rayyan and faced off against local rivals El Jaish in the final. It was Jaish who edged Lekhwiya 2-1 with a last gasp penalty to seal the win. Despite the heartache, Lekhwiya still had the Emir Cup to concentrate on.

Lekhwiya comfortably progressed to their maiden Emir Cup final, avenging the Qatar cup loss by defeating El Jaish 2-1. The Red Knights came from behind to reach their first ever Emir Cup final thanks to goals from Mohammed Mussa and Nam Tae Hee. In the final they took on Al Sadd who were looking to retain the trophy.

Lekhwiya showed plenty of fight to push the tie into penalties, coming from two goals down restoring parity with late goals from Nam Tae Hee and Chico Flores. In the penalty shootout Lekhwiya kept their cool slotting away all of their penalties eventually running out 4-2 winners to claim their first ever Emir Cup.

Club management will be disappointed in the way the side failed to regain the league title, however the club did reach minimum requirements by finishing in the top four and picking up the Emir Cup. An interesting summer waits for Lekhwiya who will be plotting how to get back into the QSL title mix.