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.
