The year 1937 marked the genesis of a football institution we now recognise as Al-Ahli, hailing from the sandy expanses of Saudi Arabia. Their kicks and goals find architectural confines within the vast expanse of King Abdullah Sports City. A tangible testament to their frivolous past and ambitious future, the stadium bears the mark of many victories and losses experienced by Al-Ahli.
Though football, like any sport, is an unpredictable beast, one endeavouring to gauge the comparative value of Al-Ahli need look no further than the financial market. A quick trip to Transfermarkt reveals a total player market value nearing, but not transcending the £114 million mark for Al-Ahli's sprightly squad. The figure itself feels abstract, as if mocking the very idea of quantifying the passion and skill of such a keen collection of individuals via the cold, indifferent scale of finance. Nevertheless, there it is, in no uncertain terms, for those eager to bracket and file away the team in a convenient, affordable drawer of understanding.
