Al-Zawraa SC

==History==

==History==

===Foundation===

===Foundation===

Al-Zawraa was founded on 29 June 1969 as ''Al-Muwasalat'', which means 'Transportation'. Al-Muwasalat participated in the Iraq Central FA Fourth Division in the 1969–70 season. In the 1970–71 season, they won the fourth division and were promoted to the third division. The 1971–72 season saw the establishment of 'Al-Muwasalat B' (the club's B team), with the merger of Al-Bareed B and Al-Matar Al-Madani, which joined the fourth division. In their first season, Al-Muwasalat B won the fourth division under coach Rasheed Radhi and were promoted to the third division, beating [[Al-Shabab SC (Baghdad)|Al-Shabab]] 2–1 on 1 June 1972 at Al-Kashafa Stadium.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Al-Zawraa was founded on 29 June 1969 as ''Al-Muwasalat'', which means 'Transportation'. Al-Muwasalat participated in the Iraq Central FA Fourth Division in the 1969–70 season. In the 1970–71 season, they won the fourth division and were promoted to the third division. The 1971–72 season saw the establishment of 'Al-Muwasalat B' (the club's B team), with the merger of Al-Bareed B and Al-Matar Al-Madani, which joined the fourth division. In their first season, Al-Muwasalat B won the fourth division under coach Rasheed Radhi and were promoted to the third division, beating [[Al-Shabab SC (Baghdad)|Al-Shabab]] 2–1 on 1 June 1972 at Al-Kashafa Stadium.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

A club named [[Al-Naqil FC|Al-Naqil]] (meaning 'Transport'), who were attached to the Ministry of Transport, were the runners-up of the [[1974–75 Iraqi National League]], but the club was dissolved due to a lack of financial backing. Al-Naqil's players joined newly promoted side Al-Zawraa, who were founded by the Minister of Transport, Adnan Ayoub Sabri Al-Ezzi. This meant that Al-Zawraa became one of the strongest clubs in Iraq from their first season in the top-flight, which was the 1975–76 season, where they won both the [[1975–76 Iraqi National League|league title]] and the [[1975–76 Iraq FA Cup|Iraq FA Cup]]. In the [[1976–77 Iraqi National League|1976–77]] season, Al-Zawraa retained their title, winning the league undefeated, and the [[1978–79 Iraqi National League|1978–79]] season saw Al-Zawraa win the league undefeated again, also winning the [[1978–79 Iraq FA Cup|Iraq FA Cup]] to secure their second double.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

A club named [[Al-Naqil FC|Al-Naqil]] (meaning 'Transport'), who were attached to the Ministry of Transport, were the runners-up of the [[1974–75 Iraqi National League]], but the club was dissolved due to a lack of financial backing. Al-Naqil's players joined newly promoted side Al-Zawraa, who were founded by the Minister of Transport, Adnan Ayoub Sabri Al-Ezzi. This meant that Al-Zawraa became one of the strongest clubs in Iraq from their first season in the top-flight, which was the 1975–76 season, where they won both the [[1975–76 Iraqi National League|league title]] and the [[1975–76 Iraq FA Cup|Iraq FA Cup]]. In the [[1976–77 Iraqi National League|1976–77]] season, Al-Zawraa retained their title, winning the league undefeated, and the [[1978–79 Iraqi National League|1978–79]] season saw Al-Zawraa win the league undefeated again, also winning the [[1978–79 Iraq FA Cup|Iraq FA Cup]] to secure their second double.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

=== 1980s ===

===1980s===

The 1980s is the only decade in which Al-Zawraa failed to win a league title. However, they did win three Iraq FA Cup titles that decade, with victories in the [[1980–81 Iraq FA Cup|1980–81]], [[1981–82 Iraq FA Cup|1981–82]] and [[1988–89 Iraq FA Cup|1988–89]] seasons. Al-Zawraa also won the first ever Arab Cooperation Council Club Championship in 1989,{{Cite web|url=http://niiiis.com/r1989.html|title=نتائج العام 1989|website=niiiis.com|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418071718/http://niiiis.com/r1989.html|url-status=live}} and retained their title in 1990.{{Cite web|url=http://niiiis.com/r1990.html|title=نتائج العام 1990|website=niiiis.com|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=17 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417231312/http://niiiis.com/r1990.html|url-status=live}}

The 1980s is the only decade in which Al-Zawraa failed to win a league title. However, they did win three Iraq FA Cup titles that decade, with victories in the [[1980–81 Iraq FA Cup|1980–81]], [[1981–82 Iraq FA Cup|1981–82]] and [[1988–89 Iraq FA Cup|1988–89]] seasons. Al-Zawraa also won the first ever Arab Cooperation Council Club Championship in 1989,{{Cite web|url=http://niiiis.com/r1989.html|title=نتائج العام 1989|website=niiiis.com|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418071718/http://niiiis.com/r1989.html|url-status=live}} and retained their title in 1990.{{Cite web|url=http://niiiis.com/r1990.html|title=نتائج العام 1990|website=niiiis.com|access-date=20 March 2017|archive-date=17 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417231312/http://niiiis.com/r1990.html|url-status=live}}

Al-Zawraa continued to dominate Iraqi football by winning the double in [[1998–99 Iraqi Premier League|1998–99]] and securing their first domestic quadruple in [[1999–2000 Iraqi First Division League|1999–2000]] by winning all four domestic trophies. They also reached the final of the [[1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]], the furthest that they have ever reached in a major continental competition, but lost 1–0 to [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] of Japan.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Al-Zawraa continued to dominate Iraqi football by winning the double in [[1998–99 Iraqi Premier League|1998–99]] and securing their first domestic quadruple in [[1999–2000 Iraqi First Division League|1999–2000]] by winning all four domestic trophies. They also reached the final of the [[1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]], the furthest that they have ever reached in a major continental competition, but lost 1–0 to [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] of Japan.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

=== 2000s ===

===2000s===

As champions, Al-Zawraa qualified for the [[2000–01 Asian Club Championship]] but were knocked out in the first round. Al-Zawraa won their third consecutive league title in [[2000–01 Iraqi Elite League|2000–01]] and also won the [[2000 Iraqi Super Cup|Iraqi Super Cup]], while they reached the second round of the [[2001–02 Asian Club Championship]] and lost to [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]] in [[2002–03 AFC Champions League qualification]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

As champions, Al-Zawraa qualified for the [[2000–01 Asian Club Championship]] but were knocked out in the first round. Al-Zawraa won their third consecutive league title in [[2000–01 Iraqi Elite League|2000–01]] and also won the [[2000 Iraqi Super Cup|Iraqi Super Cup]], while they reached the second round of the [[2001–02 Asian Club Championship]] and lost to [[Al Sadd SC|Al-Sadd]] in [[2002–03 AFC Champions League qualification]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Al-Zawraa won the Baghdad Championship in the [[1st Baghdad Championship|2003–04]] season, becoming joint-record winners of the competition. In the [[2003–04 Arab Champions League]], Al-Zawraa were knocked out at the round of 16, while they were knocked out at the group stage of the [[2005 AFC Champions League]]. In the [[2005–06 Iraqi Premier League|2005–06]] season, Al-Zawraa secured their 11th league title by defeating [[Najaf FC|Al-Najaf]] via a penalty shootout after a goalless draw, while in the [[2005–06 Arab Champions League]], they were defeated over two legs by [[MC Alger|MC Algiers]] in the round of 16. Al-Zawraa also participated in the [[2007 AFC Champions League]] (knocked out in the group stage) and the [[2009 AFC Cup]] (knocked out in the round of 16 by [[Erbil SC|Erbil]]).{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Al-Zawraa won the Baghdad Championship in the [[1st Baghdad Championship|2003–04]] season, becoming joint-record winners of the competition. In the [[2003–04 Arab Champions League]], Al-Zawraa were knocked out at the round of 16, while they were knocked out at the group stage of the [[2005 AFC Champions League]]. In the [[2005–06 Iraqi Premier League|2005–06]] season, Al-Zawraa secured their 11th league title by defeating [[Najaf FC|Al-Najaf]] via a penalty shootout after a goalless draw, while in the [[2005–06 Arab Champions League]], they were defeated over two legs by [[MC Alger|MC Algiers]] in the round of 16. Al-Zawraa also participated in the [[2007 AFC Champions League]] (knocked out in the group stage) and the [[2009 AFC Cup]] (knocked out in the round of 16 by [[Erbil SC|Erbil]]).{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

=== 2010s ===

===2010s===

In [[2010–11 Iraqi Premier League|2010–11]], they returned to the top of Iraqi football by winning their 12th league title after a penalty shootout win over [[Erbil SC|Erbil]]. This qualified them to the [[2012 AFC Cup]] but they were knocked out in the round of 16. Al-Zawraa won the [[2015–16 Iraqi Premier League|2015–16]] league title without losing a game in what was their 13th league title. They then won the [[2016–17 Iraq FA Cup]] and [[2017 Iraqi Super Cup]] titles, coupling the latter with the [[2017–18 Iraqi Premier League]] title which saw them extend their national record to 14 league triumphs. After knockout stage and group stage exits in the [[AFC Cup]] in [[2017 AFC Cup|2017]] and [[2018 AFC Cup|2018]] respectively, Al-Zawraa returned to the [[AFC Champions League]] in [[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]],{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1465146/sport|title=Iraq hosts AFC Champions League for the first time as Al-Zawraa thrash Al-Wasl on historic night|date=11 March 2019|website=Arab News|access-date=29 January 2022|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129164844/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1465146/sport|url-status=live}} collecting eight points but failing to advance to the next round. The team had two impressive games against [[Al-Wasl F.C.|Al-Wasl]], beating them 5–0 in [[Karbala Sports City|Karbala]] and 5–1 at [[Zabeel Stadium]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In [[2010–11 Iraqi Premier League|2010–11]], they returned to the top of Iraqi football by winning their 12th league title after a penalty shootout win over [[Erbil SC|Erbil]]. This qualified them to the [[2012 AFC Cup]] but they were knocked out in the round of 16. Al-Zawraa won the [[2015–16 Iraqi Premier League|2015–16]] league title without losing a game in what was their 13th league title. They then won the [[2016–17 Iraq FA Cup]] and [[2017 Iraqi Super Cup]] titles, coupling the latter with the [[2017–18 Iraqi Premier League]] title which saw them extend their national record to 14 league triumphs. After knockout stage and group stage exits in the [[AFC Cup]] in [[2017 AFC Cup|2017]] and [[2018 AFC Cup|2018]] respectively, Al-Zawraa returned to the [[AFC Champions League]] in [[2019 AFC Champions League|2019]],{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1465146/sport|title=Iraq hosts AFC Champions League for the first time as Al-Zawraa thrash Al-Wasl on historic night|date=11 March 2019|website=Arab News|access-date=29 January 2022|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129164844/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1465146/sport|url-status=live}} collecting eight points but failing to advance to the next round. The team had two impressive games against [[Al-Wasl F.C.|Al-Wasl]], beating them 5–0 in [[Karbala Sports City|Karbala]] and 5–1 at [[Zabeel Stadium]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

=== 2020s ===

===2020s===

Al-Zawraa won the [[2018–19 Iraq FA Cup]], thus qualifying to the qualifying rounds of the AFC Champions League in [[2020 AFC Champions League|2020]] and [[2021 AFC Champions League|2021]] where they were eliminated both times. Al-Zawraa won their fifth Iraqi Super Cup title in [[2021 Iraqi Super Cup|2021]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}. In the 2020–21 Iraqi Premier League they finished as runners‑up behind Al‑Quwa Al‑Jawiya. The following season saw a drop in form as they finished sixth in 2021–22, before improving to third place in both 2022–23 and 2023–24. In the 2020–21 Iraq FA Cup they reached the final but lost on penalties to Al‑Quwa Al‑Jawiya after a goalless draw.

Al-Zawraa won the [[2018–19 Iraq FA Cup]], thus qualifying to the qualifying rounds of the AFC Champions League in [[2020 AFC Champions League|2020]] and [[2021 AFC Champions League|2021]] where they were eliminated both times. Al-Zawraa won their fifth Iraqi Super Cup title in [[2021 Iraqi Super Cup|2021]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}. In the 2020–21 Iraqi Premier League they finished as runners‑up behind Al‑Quwa Al‑Jawiya. The following season saw a drop in form as they finished sixth in 2021–22, before improving to third place in both 2022–23 and 2023–24. In the 2020–21 Iraq FA Cup they reached the final but lost on penalties to Al‑Quwa Al‑Jawiya after a goalless draw.