Nejmeh Sporting Club () is a football club based in Manara, a neighbourhood in Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the .
The club was established in Beirut in 1945, and received its license in 1947. Nejmeh have won nine Lebanese Premier League titles, nine Lebanese FA Cups, 12 Lebanese Elite Cups, and eight Lebanese Super Cups. In Asia, Nejmeh were runners-up in the 2005 AFC Cup, where they lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan.
Nejmeh is primarily supported by the Sunni Muslim community with a minority of Shiites and Druzes, and shares a historic rivalry with fellow Beirut-based club Ansar, known as the Beirut derby. The club's board is affiliated with the Future Movement political party and the Hariri family.
History
Nejmeh was founded in 1945 by the Druze and Sunni communities from Ras Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, as an association football club, with Anis Radwan as their first president. This committee applied for a license at the Lebanese Government on 4 March 1947, which was issued on 28 April. The choice of club's name is said to have came on 11 October 1945, when a meeting was held at Radwan's house at night to discuss the affairs of the team. Looking at the sky's stars, Radwan decided to call the team Nejmeh (The Star). The five-pointed star is the Druze's religious symbol.
On 25 July 1950, Nejmeh won the Lebanese Second Division, but were only officially promoted in 1951, during which Papken Poyajian was appointed president of the club. They first competed in the Lebanese Premier League during the 1953–54 season. Nejmeh finished runners-up in the Lebanese FA Cup twice: in 1951 and 1964, losing in the finals to Shabiba Mazraa and Safa respectively.
Nejmeh lifted their first trophy, the Lebanese FA Cup, on 31 October 1971, when they won 3–1 against Safa. Nejmeh's goals were scored by Jamal Al-Khatib, Hassan Chatila, and Mahmoud Chatila. During the 1970s, Brazilian international players Peléhttp://forum.kooora.com/?t=5801520 pictures of the visit and details about Pelé's Nejmeh experience in Arabic.http://pelethebest.blogspot.com/2014/11/pele-em-hebraico-significa.html?m=1 Set of pictures of Pelé with Nejmeh SC in Lebanonhttp://blogbaladi.com/brazilian-football-legend-pele-played-for-lebanese-nejmeh-sc-in-1975/ Picture of Pelé with Nejmeh Club prior to the friendly game where he played for the team. and Bebetohttp://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/former-brazilian-world-cup-winner-bebeto-wearing-a-t-shirt-news-photo/2554235 Bebeto in the Nejmeh Club kit during the game.http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/famous-brazilian-soccer-player-bebeto-gives-the-thumbs-up-news-photo/2548910 Picture of Bebeto in Beirut with details about the visit. played matches with Nejmeh as honorary guests.
Colours and badge Ever since the club's foundation, the traditional and primary color of Nejmeh has been burgundy red. The club's badge was composed of a star in the center, in reference to the club's name which, in Arabic, means "Star". The two cedars on the side of the logo recalled Lebanon's national symbol.
In 2019 the logo underwent various changes: the star changed from white to gold, the cedars from green to burgundy and the text from burgundy to black. Other minor changes have also been made such as the enlargement of the width of the white border, and the shift of the text "BEIRUT 1945", which moved from the center of the star to underneath it.
In 2023 the logo was drastically changed, with a more simplistic style being adopted. It became a pictogram of a burgundy "N" (for Nejmeh) and a "C" (for Club) fused together, with a gold star in the center. The text "1945" above and "BEIRUT" below are written in burgundy.
Stadium
The Rafic Hariri Stadium is located in Manara area of Beirut, Lebanon. The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate around 5,000 spectators, together with a VIP seats area that accommodates around 100 guests, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.
The old club stadium first consisted of a sand training field over the land number 704 in Ras Beirut area with no facilities or fences. The stadium went through a rehabilitation process, with improvements including implanting the field with grass, increasing the seats spaces to allow more spectators, and enhancing the stadium facilities, walls, and fences. The first phase of the process started in June 2003 and was completed in late March 2004.
On 21 February 2005, the stadium was named "The Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium" in honour of the late Prime Minister.
Supporters Founded on 9 February 2018, Nejmeh's "Ultras Supernova" was the first ultras group to be introduced in Lebanon. The name "Supernova" is a reference to the etymology of Nejmeh which, in Arabic, means "Star".
Prior to the Arab Club Champions Cup game against Al-Ahly of Egypt, played on 13 August 2018, seven "Ultras Supernova" fans were arrested by the Egyptian national security because of the negative connotations the word "Ultras" has in Egypt. The fans were returned to Lebanon by request of the Lebanese Ambassador to Cairo.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Nejmeh ultras were employed by the Qatari government to act as Qatar national team fans during their games. The 1,500 "adopted" ultras wore maroon t-shirts with "Qatar" stamped on front, sang the Qatari national anthem and beat drums while singing chants.
Club rivalries
The Beirut derby with Ansar has historically been the most anticipated game in Lebanon: both located in Beirut, Nejmeh and Ansar have shared the majority of titles. While Nejmeh has been more successful in Asia, Ansar holds the most league titles and FA Cups.
In recent years another fierce rivalry has developed, between Nejmeh and Ahed. Also based in Beirut, Ahed have won the majority of league titles since the 2014–15 season. Tensions between the two teams have also forced the federation to change venues multiple times. Most noticeably, in the 2016–17 season, Nejmeh refused to play against Ahed in the league title decider and were sanctioned six points by the federation.
Another rivalry that has developed in recent years is with Salam Zgharta. Since the 2016–17 season, Salam Zgharta and Nejmeh have played various intense games between each other, with some escalating in offensive chants.
Other important matches are with Safa and Racing, both located in the same city as Nejmeh.
Other teams On 2 September 2025, Nejmeh announced that acquisition of Lebanese Futsal League side Tawfeer Futsal Club, and changed its name to Nejmeh Sporting Club Futsal Team.
On 13 September 2025, Nejmeh established an esports team.
On 22 October 2025, Nejmeh announced the acquisition of Lebanese Women's Football League side ÓBerytus, and changed its name to Nejmeh Sporting Club.
Kit manufacturers The following is a list of kit manufacturers worn by Nejmeh. +PeriodKit manufacturer1996–2005 Adidas2006–2012 A-Line2012–2013 Joma2013–2014 Lotto2014–2016 Jako2016–2018 P42018–2021 14Fourteen2021–2023 Jako2023–2025 Kelme2025– Capelli Sport
Players Current squad
Coaching staff Position StaffSporting director Bassem MohamadTeam manager Aqil WizaniHead coach Lassaad DridiAssistant head coach Walid Ben ThabetAssistant coach Mahmoud FarhatFitness coach Socrate YerkatiHead of goalkeeping Omar AkilPerformance analyst Mohamad HaidarPhysio therapist Mohamad AbboudPhysio assistant Omar BakriEquipment manager Mohamad ChoukeirEquipment staff Mohamad LoubaniPhotographer Mostafa TakiYouth director Ibrahim Fakih Notable players
+ Players in international competitionsCompetitionPlayerNational team2000 AFC Asian CupAbbas ChahrourWahid El FattalMohamed HalawiMoussa Hojeij2007 AFC Asian CupBassim Abbas2012 Africa Cup of NationsOsama Chtiba2017 Africa Cup of NationsHassan Wasswa2019 AFC Asian CupKassem El ZeinAli HamamHassan MaatoukNader Matar2023 AFC Asian CupAli SabehMaher SabraKassem El Zein
Honours Domestic League Lebanese Premier League Winners (9): 1972–73, 1974–75, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2023–24 Lebanese Second Division Winners (1): 1950–51
Cup Lebanese FA Cup Winners (9): 1970–71, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2025–26 Runners-up (9): 1950–51, 1963–64, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2020–21 Lebanese Elite Cup (defunct) Winners (12; record): 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 Runners-up (2): 1997, 2013 Lebanese Super Cup Winners (8; joint record): 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2023, 2024 Runners-up (5): 1996, 1997, 2005, 2018, 2021 National Solidarity Tournament Runners-up (1): 2026
Continental AFC Cup Runners-up (1): 2005 Arab Club Champions Cup Runners-up (1): 1981–82
Awards Best Team in Asia Winners (1): March 2000
Performance in AFC competitions In 1982, Nejmeh reached the Arab Club Champions Cup final but lost to Iraqi club Al-Shorta. In 2005, Nejmeh reached the final of the AFC Cup and lost to Al-Faisaly of Jordan: this was the first time a Lebanese football team had reached the final of any Asian competition.
AFC Champions League: 2 appearances 1996–97: Second round 2002–03: First round
AFC Cup: 11 appearances 2004: Quarter-finals 2005: Final 2006: Semi-finals 2007: Semi-finals 2010: Group stage 2014: Round of 16 2015: Group stage 2017: Group stage 2019: Group stage 2022: Group stage 2023–24: Group stage
AFC Challenge League: 1 appearance 2024–25: Group stage
Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances 1990–91: First round 1997–98: First round 1998–99: First round
See also List of football clubs in Lebanon
References
External links
Nejmeh SC at the AFC Nejmeh SC at LebanonFG