As part of coverage of the league championship that went by, the Qatar Stars League website analyses all 12 teams’ performance in the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League, which witnessed strong and exciting competition right till the final week.

AL DUHAIL

Al Duhail put up a great display and produced excellent results in both legs to finish as runners-up in the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League with 47 points.

The Red Knights registered 14 victories, five draws and three defeats, and had a goal difference of +35 (59 goals for and 24 against).

Al Duhail were in the same position at the end of the tournament’s first leg with 25 points (eight victories, one draw and two defeats).

It may be noted that Al Duhail had ended up as the runners-up in the 2020-2021 season as well with the same number of points and that shows their stability even though they fell behind Al Sadd on both occasions.

Coach

Al Duhail embarked on the season by appointing Portuguese coach Luis Castro to succeed Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi.

Castro, a coach with great technical abilities, was in the list of three nominees for being the best coach in the Qatar Football Association Awards.

Following the end of the league championship, Al Duhail announced the termination of his contract by mutual consent after he expressed his desire to take charge of Brazilian club Botafogo.

Castro managed to help Al Duhail win the Amir Cup 2022 in his final match with the side.

Season’s deals

Ahead of the season, Al Duhail had strengthened their ranks, with Ferjani Sassi coming from Zamalek, Belgian international defender Toby Alderweireld signing for them from Tottenham Hotspur and right-back Mohammed Alaaeldin switching from Al Rayyan.

Michael Olunga is the top scorer

A number of Al Duhail players excelled during the season, most notably Kenyan striker and the QNB Stars League’s top scorer Michael Olunga (24 goals).

Edmilson Junior continued to be one of the most influential players in the team, with high levels and great technical capabilities. Nam Tae-Hee had a good season and so were Almoez Ali, the top scorer and best player at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, left-back Sultan Al Breik and midfielder Assim Madibo, among others.