Behind every Gulf Cup that enters the coffers of the Saudi national team, names appear that made part of the story. Some of them appeared on the technical line, and some of them worked away from the limelight in managing the team, but all of them were linked to the four coronation stations achieved by “Al-Akhdar” in the history of the Gulf Cup.
From Gulf 12 in 1994 to Gulf 27 in 2026, four coaches and four national team managers succeeded in achieving successes, in a record that combines Saudi and foreign schools, and summarizes various stages of the history of Saudi football.
In the Gulf 12 in 1994 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the date came with the first Gulf Cup in the history of the Saudi national team, after “Al-Akhdar” succeeded in reaching the summit for the first time.
Muhammad Al-Kharashi was the Saudi coach who led the team to this historic achievement, while Fahd Al-Dahmash was the team manager, making both names bear the first administrative and technical signature on the first Saudi Gulf championship.
That coronation was not just a title, but rather the beginning of the Saudi national team’s relationship with Gulf Gold, after years of attendance and competition in the tournament.
Eight years later, the Saudi team returned to the podium at the Gulf 15 in 2002, which was hosted by the Kingdom.
Nasser Al-Johar led the national team to the second title, adding a new achievement to his career with Al-Akhdar, while Faisal Abdel Hadi was the national team’s manager in that tournament.
Thus, Al-Jawhar became the second Saudi coach to lead the team to the Gulf Cup, while Abdul-Hadi entered the list of administrators associated with Saudi titles.
In the Gulf 16 in Kuwait in 2003, the Saudi team did not wait long to return to the top, as it succeeded in achieving its third title in the tournament.
The achievement this time came under the leadership of Dutch coach Van Derlem, who became the first foreign coach to lead the Saudi national team to the Gulf Cup, while Turki bin Khaled was the team manager.
The third title was a different milestone in Al-Akhdar’s record, as it confirmed the team’s ability to continue its presence in the competition circle, under the leadership of a foreign training school.
The last chapter of the story came on Gulf 27 in 2026, when the Saudi team returned to the podium after a long absence, achieving the fourth cup in its history in the Bride of the Red Sea (Jeddah).
Greek coach Giorgos Donis led the team to the title, becoming the fourth coach whose name is associated with Saudi Arabia's Gulf Cup victory, after Muhammad Al-Kharashi, Nasser Al-Johar and Van Derlem.
At the administrative level, Fahd Al-Mufarrej was the team manager in the tournament, becoming the fourth name on the list of administrators associated with the Gulf “Green” titles.
Nasser Al-Dosari, the Saudi national team player, confirmed that winning the “Gulf 27” title carries a different feeling from the championships he achieved with his club, noting that achieving an achievement in the national team’s jersey and for the sake of the nation gives the title special value.
Al-Dosari said in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat: “This championship has a different feeling, because you are achieving something for your country and homeland, and this is definitely a different matter, and God willing, this will be the beginning, and what is coming will be better.”
Regarding the moment when the “Green” players felt that the title would be Saudi, he said: “Before the tournament began, we said that the tournament was in Saudi Arabia, and it would remain in Saudi Arabia.”
Al-Dosari revealed that there was a covenant between the players to achieve the title, adding: “We made a promise between us and ourselves that we would achieve the championship, and thank God we lived up to this promise.”
Regarding his most beautiful moments in “Gulf 27,” he said: “All the moments were beautiful, but the coronation moment was the most beautiful.”
Behind every Gulf Cup in the coffers of the Saudi national team are names that made part of the story. Some of them appeared on the technical line, and some of them worked away from the limelight in the management of the team, but all of them were linked to the four coronation stations achieved by “Al-Akhdar” in the history of the Gulf Cup. From Gulf 12 in 1994 to Gulf 27 in 2026, four coaches and four managers of the team succeeded in achieving successes, in a record that combines the Saudi and foreign schools, and summarizes different stages of the history of football. Saudi Arabia. Al-Kharashi and Al-Dahmash...the first title in the Gulf 12 in 1994 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The date came with the first Gulf Cup in the history of the Saudi national team, after “Al-Akhdar” succeeded in reaching the summit for the first time. Muhammad Al-Kharashi was the Saudi coach who led the team to this historic achievement, while Fahd Al-Dahmash was the team’s manager, so that the two names bore the first administrative and technical signature on the first Saudi Gulf championship. That coronation was not merely A title. Rather, it was the beginning of the Saudi team’s relationship with Gulf Gold, after years of attendance and competition in the tournament. Nasser Al-Jawhar and Faisal Abdul Hadi...the second title. Eight years later, the Saudi team returned to the podium at the Gulf 15 in 2002, which was hosted by the Kingdom. Nasser Al-Jawhar led the team to the second title, adding a new achievement to his career with Al-Akhdar, while Faisal Abdul Hadi was the team’s manager in that tournament. Thus, Al-Jawhar became the second Saudi coach to lead the team. To the Gulf Cup, while Abdul Hadi entered the list of administrators associated with Saudi titles. Van Derlem and Turki bin Khaled... the third title. In the Gulf 16 in the State of Kuwait in 2003, the Saudi team did not wait long to return to the summit, as it succeeded in achieving its third title in the tournament. The achievement this time came under the leadership of the Dutch coach Van Derlem, who became the first foreign coach to lead the Saudi team to the Gulf Cup, while Turki bin Khaled was the team’s manager. The third title was a different station in Al-Akhdar’s record, It confirmed the team's ability to continue its presence in the competition circle, under the leadership of a foreign training school. Donis and Al-Mufarrej...a return after 23 years. As for the last chapter of the story, it came on Gulf 27 in 2026, when the Saudi team returned to the podium after a long absence, achieving the fourth cup in its history in the Bride of the Red Sea (Jeddah). Greek coach Giorgos Donis led the team to the title, becoming the fourth coach whose name is associated with crowning Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup, after Muhammad Al-Kharashi and Nasser. Al-Jawhar and Van Derlem. At the administrative level, Fahd Al-Mufarrej was the team manager in the tournament, becoming the fourth name on the list of administrators associated with the Gulf “Green” titles.
