Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
How they qualified: Winners - Qatar Stars League 2011
Established 1938
Home stadium Tani Bin Jassim Stadium (25,000)
Website .www.lekhwiyaclub.com
Club Honours
Qatar league champions 1 - 2011
Previous ACL appearances
Nil
Originally founded in 1938 as Al Shorta (Police Club), the fortunes of the club changed dramatically in 2010 when they were renamed Lekhwiya and received heavy financial backing which enabled them to win promotion to the Qatar Stars League.
Playing amongst the elite of Qatari football, the club proceeded to strengthen their squad by signing several new players including Ivory Coast strikers Bakari Kone and Aruna Dindane, Algerian defender Karim Boudiaf, veteran goalkeeper Baba Malick and rising star Khaled Muftah.
As a result, they mounted a strong challenge in the top flight in the 2010-11 season and eventually claimed their maiden league championship in some style as they finished five points ahead of reigning three-time champions Al Gharafa.
Not ready to rest on the laurels, the club strengthened themselves further in 2011 by signing Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra and talented young Korean midfielder Nam Tae-hee. And those moves appear to have paid off with Lekhwiya once again leading the way in the Qatar Stars League as the season rapidly reaches its conclusion.
Expectations
While Lekhwiya have not previously played in an Asian continental club competition, their inexperience matters little as coach Djemal Belmadi has assembled a strong squad that should give their Group C rivals a real battle for the two knockout stage slots. Lekhwiya are a team in form at the moment with only two defeats in the Qatar Stars League all season but they are coming up against opponents in their group who have also been doing well in their domestic leagues recently.
Coach
Djamel Belmadi
A former Algeria international midfielder, Djemal Belmadi retired as a player in 2009 after spells at several clubs in Europe including Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Celta Vigo, and Manchester City. The 35-year-old enjoyed immediate success as a head coach when he was appointed by Lekhwiya the following year and led the top flight newcomers to the Qatar Stars League title in his first season in charge.
Did you know?
Lekhwiya's Korea Republic international midfielder Nam Tae-hee has represented his country at several different age levels but he has yet to play league football in his home country. The Busan native was a product of the football academy at English club Reading and he signed his first professional contract with French side Valenciennes in 2009 at the age of 18 before he joined the Qatari club last December.
Key Player
Madjid Boughera
Born in France, Algeria international defender Madjid Boughera made his professional debut for French side Gueugnon in 2002 before moving to England for spells at Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic. He enjoyed much success in Scotland at Rangers, where he won three consecutive Scottish league titles, and he also played for Algeria in all three of their games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.