Abdulrazzaq Abu Dawood (born August 22, 1948) is a retired Saudi Arabian footballer, former president of Al-Ahli Saudi FC, and a prominent sports figure in Saudi Arabia. He is widely regarded as one of Al-Ahli's legends for his contributions as both a player and an administrator.
Early life and education.
Abu Dawood was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1948. He hails from a sports-oriented family: his brother Ahmad Abu Dawood and nephews Basem and Hussam Abu Dawood also played for Al-Ahli. Abdulrazzaq pursued higher education and earned a Ph.D. in Political Geography. He later became a lecturer at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, supervising numerous academic theses and participating in many conferences domestically and internationally.
Club career.
Abu Dawood started his football journey at Al-Hilal Bahri in Jeddah, playing for their youth and senior teams. In 1966, he transferred to Al-Ahli Saudi FC, where he quickly earned the captaincy by 1967. His leadership and defensive skills led Al-Ahli to a golden era, achieving 5 Saudi League championships and 3 King Cup titles during his time, under the modern reclassification of historical championships.
International career.
Abu Dawood represented the Saudi Arabia national football team and captained the side during his tenure. Notably, he helped Saudi Arabia achieve the runner-up position in the 1972 Gulf Cup hosted in Riyadh.
Administrative career.
Following his retirement in 1978, Abu Dawood shifted to administration within Al-Ahli. He served as:
Director of Football (1982)
Vice President (1982)
Club President (1984–1986, and again in 2003–2004)
Honorary Member (since 2004)
He was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in 2013.
Contributions and honors.
As a player.
5x Saudi League Champion
3x King Cup Winner
1x Crown Prince Cup Winner
2x Masuaf Winner
Multiple regional and national championships with Al-Ahli
With the national team.
Runner-up, 2nd Gulf Cup, 1972
Silver medal, West Asia World Cup Qualifiers, Baghdad 1974
As an administrator with Al-Ahli.
King Cup Champion (1983)
Saudi Premier League Champion (1984)
GCC Champions League Winner (1985)
Multiple championships in volleyball, handball, water polo, and table tennis
Academic and media career.
Besides sports, Abu Dawood was a respected academic, supervising numerous master's and doctoral theses. He authored several books, including the "Encyclopedia of the History of Al-Ahli Sports Club in Jeddah."
As a media personality, he contributed as a columnist for several Saudi newspapers and magazines and served as a football analyst on Saudi Sports Channel.
Legacy.
Abdulrazzaq Abu Dawood is remembered as a complete sportsman, leader, and academic. His legacy at Al-Ahli and within Saudi football remains influential.