View source for Al-Talaba SC

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{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Al-Talaba
| image    = Al-Talaba SC logo.svg
| image_size = 175px
| fullname = Al-Talaba Sports Club
| nickname = ''Al-Aneeq'' (The Elegant)
| founded  = {{Start date and age|1969|12|17|df=yes}} (as ''Jami'at Baghdad'')
| ground   = [[Al-Madina Stadium]] (league)<br />[[Al-Talaba Stadium]] (cup)
| capacity = 32,000 (league)<br />10,000 (cup)
| chrtitle = President
| chairman = Salah Hadi Al-Fatlawi
| coach    = [[Basim Qasim]]
| league   = [[Iraq Stars League]]
| current  = 2024–25 Iraq Stars League
| season   = [[2023–24 Iraq Stars League|2023–24]] |
| position = Iraq Stars League, 8th of 20
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'''Al-Talaba Sports Club''' ({{langx|ar|نادي الطلبة الرياضي|lit='Students Sports Club'}}) is an Iraqi professional [[sports club]] based in [[Al-Rusafa, Iraq|Al-Rusafa]], [[Baghdad]]. Its [[Association football|football]] team competes in the [[Iraq Stars League]], the top flight of [[Football in Iraq|Iraqi football]]. Founded in 1969, the club was named Al-Jamiea but became known as Al-Talaba ahead of the [[1978–79 Iraqi National League|1978–79]] season after being merged with a new club of the same name. Their home stadium is [[Al Talaba Stadium|Al-Talaba Stadium]].

Al-Talaba are one of Iraq's most successful teams having won five league titles, most recently in the [[2001–02 Iraqi Elite League|2001–02]] season. They have also achieved two [[Iraq FA Cup|FA Cups]], one [[Iraqi Super Cup|Super Cup]] and a joint-record three [[Baghdad Championship]]s. The club's best achievements on the continental stage include finishing fourth at the [[1986 Asian Club Championship]] and finishing second and fourth at the [[1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup|1995]] and [[1998–99 Asian Cup Winners' Cup|1998–99]] editions of the [[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]] respectively.

The club was owned by the National Union of Iraqi Students until 1993, when the club was attached to the [[Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Iraq)|Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research]] with the minister being the honorary president of the club.<ref name="Ministry of Higher Education">{{cite web|title=التعليم العالي تضع حجر الأساس لمجمع نادي الطلبة وتؤكد: الشركة المصممة له اهلت ملعب برشلونه مؤخرا|url=http://www.almadapress.com/ar/news/26069/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%AC%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9|website=Al-Mada Press|language=ar|date=16 February 2014|access-date=12 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031903/http://www.almadapress.com/ar/news/26069/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%AC%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9|archive-date=16 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Origins (1961–1969) ===
In 1961, the [[University of Baghdad]] formed a football team made of the best football-playing students in the university, under the name of ''Montakhab Jami'at Baghdad'' (University of Baghdad Select XI),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/newspapers/iraq19610222-01.1.15|title=Second Division soccer Cup match in Baghdad today|publisher=The Iraq Times|date=22 February 1961|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=4 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404150934/https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/?a=d&d=iraq19610222-01.1.15|url-status=live}}</ref> to compete in the 1960–61 Iraq Central FA Second Division, the second-tier league in the Baghdad region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/newspapers/iraq19610219-01.1.15|title=Draw for soccer championships takes place in capital|publisher=The Iraq Times|date=19 February 1961|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=2 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502145055/https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/?a=d&d=iraq19610219-01.1.15|url-status=live}}</ref> The team was eliminated in the first round after losing 2–1 to the Railway Workers' Union on 22 February 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gpa.eastview.com/crl/mena/newspapers/iraq19610224-01.1.14|title=Assyrians play Railways this afternoon|publisher=The Iraq Times|date=24 February 1961}}</ref> The team participated in the 1964 Republic Championship and also entered the Universities of Iraq League. The first president of the team was Hassan Kanah and the first technical staff consisted of the manager, Ghani Askar, and his two assistants, Moayad Al-Badri and Sami Al-Saffar.<ref name="Montakhab Al-Jameaa (1964) - Kooora Forums">{{cite web|title=نادي الجامعة (الطلبة) تاريخ ، أنجازات ، مسيرة ناجحة - ذكرى التأسيس|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=33721280&pg=1|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Essam Al-Riyadhi|language=ar|date=28 December 2013|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215204732/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=33721280&pg=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Formation of Al-Jamiea (1969–1978) ===
On 17 December 1969, the Jami'at Baghdad team was formed as the University of Baghdad re-entered the official [[Iraq Football Association]] (IFA) league pyramid.<ref name="Al-Talaba History, From Jameaa to Talaba 1977 - Al-Mutamar">{{cite journal|title=كرة الطلبة تعسكر في المغرب بعد ختام المرحلة الاولى من الدوري|journal=Al-Mutamar|date=5 June 2014|issue=2983|url=http://www.almutmar.com/index.php?id=201022907|language=ar|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215220504/http://www.almutmar.com/index.php?id=201022907|archive-date=15 February 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> By a special resolution from the IFA, the team's first participation was in the regional second tier without needing to compete in either the third or fourth tiers. In their first season, 1970–71, the team under the management of Thamir Muhsin finished top of the second-tier league and were promoted to the [[Iraq Central FA League|Iraq Central FA First Division]]. However, in the [[1971–72 Iraq Central FA First Division|1971–72]] season, they finished in last place and were relegated back to the second-tier. In 1974, the team was banned from competing in the [[Iraq FA Baghdad Cup]] competition due to events that took place in, and their withdrawal from, their match against [[Al-Sinaa SC|Kahrabaa Al-Wusta]] B in a second-tier league game.<ref name="Al-Talaba History 1969-1974 - ShakwMakw">{{cite web|title=كرة الطلبة تراهن على اندفاع لاعبيها في مواجهات دوري النخبة|url=http://www.shakwmakw.com/vb/showthread.php?t=161277|website=ShakwMakw|publisher=Ahmed Al-Malik|language=ar|date=14 July 2010|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215214748/http://www.shakwmakw.com/vb/showthread.php?t=161277|archive-date=15 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After three seasons, Muhsin left the team and [[Jamal Salih]] became the new manager, and the Jami'at Baghdad team became known as Al-Jamiea Sports Club with the introduction of the national club system in Iraq. Jamal Salih led the team to promotion to the top division in the [[1974–75 Iraq Division One|1974–75]] season, after which the club acquired its own headquarters and elected an administrative body.<ref name="Montakhab Al-Jameaa (1964) - Kooora Forums" /><ref name="Iraq 1975/76 - RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1975/76|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq76.html|website=RSSSF|date=19 May 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq76.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After finishing eighth in their first [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi National League]] top-flight season in [[1975–76 Iraqi National League|1975–76]], Al-Jamiea were the runners-up in the [[1976–77 Iraqi National League|1976–77]] season, finishing five points behind the league leaders [[Al-Zawra'a SC|Al-Zawra'a]].<ref name="Iraq 1976/77 - RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1976/77|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq77.html|website=RSSSF|date=11 December 2009|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815070651/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq77.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Merger to become Al-Talaba (1978–1980) ===
On 27 December 1977, a new club named Al-Talaba Sports Club (which translates to ''The Students'') was formed under the same institution as Al-Jamiea Sports Club. Less than a year later, ahead of the 1978–79 season, the [[Ministry of Youth and Sports (Iraq)|Ministry of Youth and Sports]] decided to merge the two clubs in order to unify the institution's sporting activity, with the merger club taking the name of Al-Talaba and retaining Al-Jamiea's place in the top division. The club took the Volleyball Training Centre on Al-Maghrib Street in Baghdad as its headquarters. Mohammed Debdeb, the president of the National Union of Iraqi Students, was named president of the club and Hadib Majhoul was named as vice-president, while nine other board members were also named.<ref>{{cite web|title=دمج نادي الجامعية بنادي الطلبة الرياضي|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FXl7sneXoAY4E7Q.jpg|publisher=Shukri Mahmoud|access-date=14 July 2022|archive-date=14 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714023117/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FXl7sneXoAY4E7Q.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref>

The board decided to replace manager Jamal Salih with Abdul Wahab Abdul Qadir, who led the team through the [[1978–79 Iraqi National League|1978–79]] season. Al-Talaba finished in third place in the league, an improvement on Al-Jamiea's eighth-place finish the previous season.<ref name="Iraq 1977/78 - RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1977/78|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq78.html|website=RSSSF|date=11 December 2009|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq78.html|url-status=live}}</ref> For the first time, an Al-Talaba player was among the league's top three goalscorers with [[Hussein Saeed]] scoring six goals and [[Haris Mohammed]] scoring five.<ref name="Iraq 1978/79">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1978/79|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq79.html|website=RSSSF|date=7 November 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq79.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Talaba were disqualified from the [[1978–79 Iraq FA Cup]] due to participating in an Arab University tournament without the approval of the [[Iraq Football Association]]. In 1979, Al-Talaba represented Iraq at the [[Football at the 1979 Summer Universiade|1979 Summer Universiade]] in Mexico, finishing in 17th place out of 26 teams.<ref name="1979 results&nbsp;— Niiiis.com">{{cite web|title=نتائج العام 1979|url=http://niiiis.com/r1979.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|access-date=9 April 2016|language=ar|archive-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103042834/http://niiiis.com/r1979.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1979–80 Iraqi National League]], under the management of Khalaf Hassan, Al-Talaba finished in third place again with 27 points. Two of their most significant wins that season were beating the eventual league champions, Al-Shorta, 2–0 in the second round of matches on 26 September 1979 and beating [[Al-Tayaran]] 1–0 in the 20th round on 24 April 1980. In the [[1979–80 Iraq FA Cup]], Al-Talaba reached the final for the first time but they were defeated on 7 April 1980 by [[Al-Jaish FC (Iraq)|Al-Jaish]] 4–2 on [[Penalty shootouts (football)|penalties]] after drawing 1–1.<ref name="Iraq 1979/80">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1979/80|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq80.html|website=RSSSF|date=26 May 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=21 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321023456/https://rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq80.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Golden years (1980–1986) ===

Under the management of [[Ammo Baba]], known as the "Sheikh of Coaches", Al-Talaba won their first Premier League title in the [[1980–81 Iraqi National League|1980–81]] season (while it was known as the National League). Before the last round of matches, Al-Talaba had 17 points and Al-Shorta had 15. Al-Talaba avoiding defeat in the last round or Al-Shorta failing to win would secure the title for Al-Talaba but, in the last match, they lost 1–2 against Al-Tayaran and Al-Shorta won 3–0 against Al-Zawra'a to create a tie on points (17) and goal difference (+14), which was the first time such a phenomenon had happened in Iraqi football.<ref name="Al-Talaba win the 1980-81 season&nbsp;— Al-Watan Al-Riyadhi Journal">{{cite journal|title=تعادل الطلبة والشرطة نقاطا واصابات وفاز الطلبة بالبطولة ... بقرار|journal=Al-Watan Al-Riyadhi|date=May 1981|issue=31|url=http://www.qqq4.com/u/181707151437165705211.jpg|publisher=Emmanuel Anwiyah|location=Baghdad|language=ar|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308201552/http://www.qqq4.com/u/181707151437165705211.jpg|archive-date=8 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Al-Talaba were awarded the title on number of wins as they had eight wins and Al-Shorta had six. Hussein Saeed was the top goalscorer of the league with eleven goals.<ref name="Iraq 1980/81">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1980/81|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq81.html|website=RSSSF|date=4 January 2006|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq81.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After achieving their first league title, Al-Talaba succeeded in winning it again in the [[1981–82 Iraqi National League|1981–82]] season under Jamal Salih. They finished the season as the league leaders with 34 points, two points ahead of second-placed Al-Tayaran. Hussein Saeed was the second top goalscorer with eleven goals behind Al-Zawra'a's [[Thamir Yousif]], who scored fourteen.<ref name="Iraq 1981/82">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1981/82|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq82.html|website=RSSSF|date=7 November 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127115141/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq82.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1982–83 Iraqi National League|1982–83]] season, [[Akram Ahmad Salman|Akram Salman]] was appointed as the team's new manager. Al-Talaba started the season with confidence having won the league in the last two seasons, but finished in second place, only one point behind the league leaders, [[Salahaddin FC|Salahaddin]].<ref name="Iraq 1982/83">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1982/83|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq83.html|website=RSSSF|date=6 August 2015|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq83.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Salahaddin were undefeated in the league while Al-Talaba had a single loss, by 2–0 loss to [[Al-Sinaa SC|Al-Sinaa]] in the second round of matches. The championship was decided in the last match of the season when Al-Talaba met Salahaddin with only one point between them, so Salahaddin needed a win or a draw to secure the title. Al-Talaba scored first and dominated the match until, in the last thirty minutes, Salahaddin managed to equalise. The score remained 1–1, which won Salahaddin the championship for the first time in their history.<ref name="Iraqi League 1982-83 - Emmanuel Anwiyah 1">{{cite web|title=برنامج تعرف على بطل الدوري - صلاح الدين للموسم 1982 / 1983&nbsp;– Page 1|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35639050|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anwiyah|language=ar|date=25 July 2015|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215204738/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35639050|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Iraqi League 1982-83 - Emmanuel Anwiyah 2">{{cite web|title=برنامج تعرف على بطل الدوري - صلاح الدين للموسم 1982 / 1983&nbsp;– Page 2|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35639050&pg=2|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anwiyah|language=ar|date=25 July 2015|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215210412/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35639050&pg=2|url-status=live}}</ref> Hussein Saeed was the top goalscorer with 17 goals, eight goals ahead of another Al-Talaba player, [[Rahim Hameed]].<ref name="Iraq 1982/83" />

Al-Talaba again finished second in the [[1983–84 Iraqi National League|1983–84]], with 36 points, three behind league leaders, Al-Jaish.<ref name="Iraq 1983/84">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1983/84|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq84.html|website=RSSSF|date=6 August 2015|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq84.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1984, Al-Talaba won its first international club competition, the 1984 [[Stafford Challenge Cup]], winning four games and drawing one out of the five games they played in the tournament, which was hosted in [[Bangalore]], [[India]].<ref name="1984 results&nbsp;— Niiiis.com">{{cite web|title=1984 results|url=http://niiiis.com/r1984.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|access-date=9 April 2016|language=ar|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727212218/http://niiiis.com/r1984.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[1984–85 Iraqi National League]] was abandoned midway through due to a perceived decline in public interest, described as becoming "non-existent", after the performances of the [[Iraq national football team]] in the [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)]] and winning the [[1985 Arab Cup]] and the [[1985 Arab Games]].<ref name="Iraq 1984/85"/> Al-Talaba were in third place with 29 points before the stoppage.<ref name="Iraq 1984/85">{{cite web|last1=Stokkermans|first1=Karel|title=Iraq 1984/85|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq85.html|website=RSSSF|date=19 May 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq85.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They then participated in the Al-Rasheed Cup which was set up by [[Al-Rasheed SC|Al-Rasheed]] after the abandonment of the league. The Al-Rasheed Cup contained twelve of the fourteen top division clubs as well as four lower division clubs. Al-Talaba reached the quarterfinals of the tournament but were knocked out by the eventual winners Al-Rasheed.<ref name="The First Al-Rasheed Cup&nbsp;— Niiiis.com">{{cite web|title=بطولة الرشيد الاولى|url=http://www.niiiis.com/rasheed1.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|access-date=9 April 2016|language=ar|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201114701/http://www.niiiis.com/rasheed1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Al-Rasheed was promoted to the top division, most of Iraq's [[Iraq national football team|national team]] players signed for them, which made it difficult for the other teams to compete. Even so, in the [[1985–86 Iraqi National League]] and under the management of [[Yahya Alwan]], Al-Talaba won their third league title against all expectations. They finished the season with 25 points, two points ahead of the favourites Al-Rasheed.<ref name="Iraq 1985/86">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1985/86|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq86.html|website=RSSSF|date=7 November 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq86.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 December 1985, one of the most important matches of the season, which could have decided the championship, was played between Al-Talaba and Al-Rasheed in front of 50,000 spectators at the [[Al-Shaab Stadium]].<ref name="Al-Rasheed vs Al-Talaba 50,000 spectators&nbsp;— Issam Al-Riyadhi">{{cite web|title=مرور 45 عام على تأسيس نادي الطلبة / مباراة الطلبة والرشيد مع الصور|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35016217|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Issam Al-Riyadhi|language=ar|date=20 December 2014|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215210414/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35016217|url-status=live}}</ref> The match ended in a 1–0 win for Al-Talaba with the goal being from a penalty taken by Hussein Saeed in the 63rd minute.<ref name="Al-Rasheed vs Al-Talaba 50,000 spectators&nbsp;— Shukri Mahmoud">{{cite web|title=في ذكرى تاسيس نادي الطلبة : قبل 29 عام الطلبة يهزم الرشيد امام 50 الف متفرج|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35035060|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Shukri Mahmoud|language=ar|date=27 December 2014|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215210416/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35035060|url-status=live}}</ref> Saeed was the season's joint top goalscorer along with [[Ahmed Radhi]] and Rahim Hameed.<ref name="Iraq 1985/86" /> Al-Talaba participated in the [[1986 Asian Club Championship]] where they reached the final round but finished last in the table with a single point.<ref name="Asian Club Competitions 1986/87">{{cite web|last1=Gorgazzi|first1=Osvaldo|last2=Stokkermans|first2=Karel|title=Asian Club Competitions 1986/87|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup87.html|website=RSSSF|date=31 October 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131221824/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup87.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Talaba also participated in the Saddam International Tournament in 1986, hosted in Baghdad, but finished third in their group and failed to reach the semi-finals.<ref name="Saddam International Tournament (Baghdad) 1986">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Saddam International Tournament (Baghdad) 1986|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saddam86.html|website=RSSSF|date=21 May 2015|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404070157/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saddam86.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By winning the league, Al-Talaba qualified for the [[1986 Iraqi Perseverance Cup]] but were defeated 2–1 by Al-Rasheed.<ref name="Iraqi League 1985-86 - Emmanuel Anwiyah">{{cite web|title=برنامج تعرف على بطل الدوري - الطلبــة للموسم 1985 / 1986|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35674090|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anwiyah|language=ar|date=8 August 2015|access-date=1 June 2016|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822045946/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35674090|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Ups and downs (1986–1992) ===
Due to managerial changes and instability, the [[1986–87 Iraqi National League]] ended with Al-Talaba in sixth place, having totaled 49 points, under the consecutive management of Ahmed Subhi, Yahya Alwan and Jamal Salih.<ref name="Iraq 1986/87">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1986/87|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq87.html|website=RSSSF|date=1 December 2006|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq87.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The season after, Al-Talaba under the management of Yousif Abdul-Ameer finished in eighth place with only 30 points.<ref name="Iraq 1987/88">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1987/88|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq88.html|website=RSSSF|date=19 May 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq88.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After that season, they participated in the Saddam Qadisiya Championship (a tournament for the four Popular Teams of Baghdad) but failed to win the tournament.

Al-Talaba returned to form under the management of [[Jamal Ali]] in the [[1988–89 Iraqi National League|1988–89]] season, which was played in a different format to previous seasons. They finished fourth in the Baghdad Group, just ahead of Al-Shorta, to qualify for the final tournament, where they finished second in Group 1, behind Al-Zawraa, to qualify for the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Al-Talaba defeated Al-Tayaran 6–5 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.<ref name="Iraq 1988/89">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1988/89|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq89.html|website=RSSSF|date=19 May 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq89.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the final, Al-Talaba faced their rivals, [[Al-Rasheed]], at the Al-Shaab Stadium. The match ended 1–1 at full time with their goal scored by [[Ali Hussein Shihab|Ali Hussein]].<ref name="Al-Talaba vs Al-Rasheed Final 1988-89 - Ali Hussein's goal">{{cite web|title=هدف علي حسين في مرمى نادي الرشيد نهائي دوري 1988-1989|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-tG5t70P6s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/2-tG5t70P6s| archive-date=2021-11-15 | url-status=live|website=Youtube|publisher=Mofeed Awad|language=ar|date=3 May 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It went to penalties where Hussein Saeed missed his penalty and enabled Al-Rasheed to win 5–4.<ref name="Iraqi League 1988-89 - Emmanuel Anwiyah 1">{{cite web|title=برنامج تعرف على بطل الدوري - الرشــــيد للموسم 1988 / 1989|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35755825|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anwiyah|language=ar|date=11 September 2015|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215204734/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35755825|url-status=live}}</ref> That season, Al-Talaba also finished as runners-up in the Al-Intisar Cup, behind Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.<ref name="Third Al-Intisar Cup 1988 - niiiis.com">{{cite web|title=بطولة الانتصار الثالثة|url=http://www.niiiis.com/intisar3.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404035829/http://www.niiiis.com/intisar3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1989–90 Iraqi National League]], which returned to the normal league format, Al-Talaba finished in sixth place with 31 points, having won twelve matches, drawn seven and lost seven. In the cup, they reached the fifth round when they won at home to [[Al-Sulaikh SC|Al-Sulaikh]] 1–0 and lost 3–1 away.<ref name="Iraq 1989/90">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1989/90|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq90.html|website=RSSSF|date=3 March 2004|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq90.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was Hussein Saeed's final season with Al-Talaba before he retired. In the next season, under the management of the club's first foreign coach, [[Eddie Firmani]], and Yahya Alwan, they finished second with 41 points.<ref name="Iraq 1990/91">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1990/91|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq91.html|website=RSSSF|date=3 January 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq91.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1991–92 Iraqi National League|1991–92]] season, Al-Talaba finished in fourth place with 55 points.<ref name="Iraq 1991/92">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1991/92|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq92.html|website=RSSSF|date=2 April 2006|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq92.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The vice-president of Al-Talaba, Salim Rasheed, organised a competition called the [[Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], meaning Mother of all Battles Championship, in which only the top six teams in the league could participate with all the matches being played at the Al-Shaab Stadium. Al-Talaba won their first match against Al-Shorta 1–0 and lost their second match against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1–0, qualifying them for the semi-finals where they lost to Al-Zawra'a 1–0 after an early goal by Mohammed Jassim Mahdi. In the third-place match, Al-Talaba faced Al-Karkh whom they defeated 4–3 on penalties after a 2–2 draw. The [[1st Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]] ended with Al-Zawra'a as winners.<ref name="1991 Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup&nbsp;— Shukri Mahmoud">{{cite web|title=ملف بطولات ام المعارك - البطولة الاولى|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=21545844|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Shukri Mahmoud|language=ar|date=23 January 2010|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=6 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206180424/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=21545844|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Stability and Asian prominence (1992–2001) ===
{{football squad on pitch|align=right
|  GK = [[Suhail Sabir|'''Sabir''']]
|  RB = '''Mohammed'''
| RCB = [[Hisham Ali|'''Ali''']]
| LCB = [[Raheem Awdah|'''Awdah''']]
|  LB = [[Muthaffar Jabbar|'''Jabbar''']]
|  RM = [[Habib Jafar|'''Jafar''']]
| RCM = [[Ali Hussein Shihab|'''Hussein (C)''']]
| LCM = [[Mahdi Kadhim|'''Kadhim''']]
|  LM = [[Wali Karim|'''Karim''']]
|  RF = [[Alaa Kadhim|'''Kadhim''']]
|  LF = [[Muhannad Zaidan|'''Zaidan''']]
| caption = [[2nd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship#Final|2nd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship Final]] starting lineup
}}
During the longest season in Iraqi football, the [[1992–93 Iraqi National League|1992–93]] season, when every club played 69 matches, Al-Talaba had Yahya Alwan as their manager in the first stage of the league, in which they won 14 matches, drawn seven and lost two, 1–0 against [[Kirkuk FC|Kirkuk]] and the same score against [[Samarra FC|Samarra]]. They completed the stage in third place with 35 points.<ref name="Know the league winners&nbsp;— Al-Talaba 1992-1993 - Emmanuel Anoya">{{cite web|title=برنامج تعرف على بطل الدوري - الطلبـــــة للموسم 1992 / 1993|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35891480|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anoya|language=ar|date=4 November 2015|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215204601/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35891480|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the start of the second stage, Al-Talaba signed [[Ayoub Odisho]] as their new manager, and he led them through the second stage to have exactly the same statistics as the first one, finishing with 70 points and in second place. In the third stage, the team won 18 matches, drew four and lost only once against [[Al-Khutoot Al-Jawiya SC|Al-Khutoot]]. After 69 matches, Al-Talaba finished top of the league with 110 points, having scored 130 goals and conceded 34.<ref name="Know the league winners&nbsp;— Al-Talaba 1992-1993 - Emmanuel Anoya" /><ref name="Iraq 1992/93">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1992/93|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq93.html|website=RSSSF|date=25 May 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq93.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2nd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]] which was organised by the Iraq FA, Al-Talaba finished the group stage as the Group Two leaders with four points.<ref name="Iraq 1992/93" /> In the semi-finals, they had to face Al-Zawra'a in a match which was considered a replay of the 1991 semi-final which Al-Zawra'a won 1–0.<ref name="1991 Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup&nbsp;— Shukri Mahmoud" /> In this match, Al-Talaba won 3–2 with a winning goal in the 100th minute during extra time. In the final against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, the match ended in a 0–0 draw which led to extra time when [[Alaa Kadhim]] scored the winning goal in the 104th minute.<ref name="1992 Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup&nbsp;— Shukri Mahmoud">{{cite web|title=ملف بطولات ام المعارك الكروية - البطولة الثانية بمناسبة ذكرى التاسيس|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=25099728|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Shukri Mahmoud|language=ar|date=31 August 2010|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=7 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207052840/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=25099728|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1992–93 Iraq FA Cup]], Al-Talaba reached the final after defeating [[Haifa SC|Haifa]], Salahaddin, Al-Salam and Samarra. In the final, they lost to Al-Zawra'a 2–1.<ref name="Iraq 1992/93" />

After almost achieving a [[Treble (association football)|treble]] in the 1992–93 season, Al-Talaba were managed by Hussein Saeed in the first half of the [[1993–94 Iraqi National League|1993–94]] season and Ayoub Odisho in the second; they finished in third place with 75 points. In the [[3rd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], they came second in the Group One table behind Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. In the semi-finals, Al-Talaba met Al-Zawra'a for the third time in a row and won 3–1.<ref name="Iraq 1993/94">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1993/94|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq94.html|website=RSSSF|date=14 August 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129104305/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq94.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the final, they faced Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya for the second time and defeated them 2–1 at the Al-Shaab Stadium, winning their second successive Umm al-Ma'arik Championship under the management of Saeed.<ref name="Al-Talaba vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya - 1993 Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup Final">{{cite web|title=الطلبة يفوز على الجوية ويحمل كأس بطولة ام المعارك الثالثة 1993|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOGPXL9c0zM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/TOGPXL9c0zM| archive-date=2021-11-15 | url-status=live|website=Youtube|publisher=Mofeed Awadh|language=ar|date=14 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the [[1993–94 Iraq FA Cup]], Al-Talaba again faced Al-Zawra'a in the final but lost this time by a score of 1–0.<ref name="Iraq&nbsp;— List of Cup Winners">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Qayed|first2=Mohammed|last3=Mubarak|first3=Hassanin|title=Iraq&nbsp;– List of Cup Winners|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraqcuphist.html|website=RSSSF|date=28 January 2016|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=23 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023115329/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iraqcuphist.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1994–95 Iraqi National League]], Al-Talaba finished fourth with 106 points, one point behind Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in second place and [[Najaf FC|Najaf]] in third. In the last round, Al-Talaba faced Al-Zawra'a needing a win to finish second, but they lost 2–1. In the [[4th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship|fourth edition]] of the Umm al-Ma'arik Championship, Al-Talaba reached the final against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya but lost 4–3 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.<ref name="Iraq 1994/95">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1994/95|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq95.html|website=RSSSF|date=30 August 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=21 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321020234/https://rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq95.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1995–96 Iraqi Advanced League|1995–96]] season, Al-Talaba finished in sixth place with 31 points, having won eight matches, drawn seven and lost seven. They reached the final of the [[5th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], coming up against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya for the fourth time in a row in this competition, and Al-Talaba won with a single goal scored by [[Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail]], achieving their third Umm al-Ma'arik Championship success.<ref name="Iraq 1995/96">{{cite web|title=Iraq 1995/96|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq96.html|website=RSSSF|date=31 August 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq96.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After Al-Zawra'a achieved a double in the 1993–94 season, the Iraq FA chose the FA Cup runners-up, Al-Talaba, as Iraq's representative in the [[1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]]. Under the management of Ayoub Odisho, they defeated [[Al-Gharafa Sports Club|Al-Gharafa]] in the first leg in [[Doha]] 5–3 and lost in the second leg 1–0 at the Al-Shaab Stadium.<ref name="1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup&nbsp;— niiiis.com">{{cite web|title=نتائج العام 1995|url=http://niiiis.com/r1995.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215212416/http://niiiis.com/r1995.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second round, they came up against [[FK Yangiyer|Yangiyer]] and lost 2–1 in [[Tashkent]] before they turned it around to win 2–0 in Baghdad with goals from Muhannad Mohammed and [[Qahtan Chathir Drain|Qahtan Chathir]].<ref name="Asian Club Competitions 1995/96">{{cite web|last1=Fujioka|first1=Atsushi|last2=Lee|first2=Seungsoo|last3=Stokkermans|first3=Karel|last4=Visser|first4=Eric|title=Asian Club Competitions 1995/96|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup96.html|website=RSSSF|date=26 December 2000|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=11 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711033610/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup96.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the quarter-finals, Al-Talaba won their first leg against [[Bahman F.C.|Bahman]] in [[Tehran]] 1–0 with a goal by [[Sabah Jeayer]]. At the Al-Shaab Stadium, Bahman won 1–0 for a 1–1 draw on aggregate. The match went to a golden goal decider which was scored by Chathir. Al-Talaba had now qualified for the semi-finals where they were drawn to meet [[Kazma SC]] of Kuwait but Kazma withdrew from the tournament, refusing to play against Al-Talaba because of political tensions between Iraq and other [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf countries]], including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in the aftermath of the [[1991 Gulf War]]. The [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] directed Al-Talaba to play against [[Al-Riyadh SC|Al-Riyadh]] of Saudi Arabia but they too withdrew for the same reason, and that meant Al-Talaba had a [[walkover]] through the semi-finals.<ref name="Kazma and Riyadh withdrew in front of Al-Talaba&nbsp;— Emmanuel Anoya">{{cite web|title=نادي الطلبة أول فريق عراقي يصل الى نهائي بطولة كاس الكؤوس الاسيويه للاندية|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=21304588|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anoya|language=ar|date=10 January 2010|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215204737/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=21304588|url-status=live}}</ref> In the final, Al-Talaba faced [[Shonan Bellmare|Bellmare Hiratsuka]] in [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]] where they were beaten 2–1 after the winning goal was scored in the 81st minute by [[Hidetoshi Nakata]].<ref name="Asian Club Competitions 1995/96" />

In 1996, the league was renamed to the Iraqi Premier League, and Al-Talaba finished third in the [[1996–97 Iraqi Premier League]], winning 17 matches, drawing nine and losing four. In August 1996, they participated in the Al-Nasr Al-Adheem Cup, but they did not win the tournament, losing 3–1 to eventual winners Al-Shorta. They reached the round of 16 in the [[1996–97 Iraq FA Cup]] and didn't get past the group stage in the [[6th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]].<ref name="Iraq 1996/97">{{cite web|last1=Qayed|first1=Mohammed|title=Iraq 1996/97|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq97.html|website=RSSSF|date=19 June 2003|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=23 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323012453/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq97.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1997–98 Iraqi Premier League|1997–98]] season, Al-Talaba finished in fifth place with 61 points, one point behind fourth placed Najaf FC. In the [[7th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], they reached the semi-finals but were defeated by Najaf 3–1 on penalties. In the third place match against Al-Zawra'a, Al-Talaba were beaten 7–0 which is the most goals ever conceded in a match by Al-Talaba.<ref name="Iraq 1997/98">{{cite web|last1=Qayed|first1=Mohammed|title=Iraq 1997/98|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq98.html|website=RSSSF|date=30 August 2002|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq98.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1998–99 Iraqi Premier League|1998–99]] season, now under the management of Akram Salman, Al-Talaba finished in second place, only one point behind the league leaders, Al-Zawra'a, with 75 points. Had Al-Talaba won their final match of the league against [[Al-Naft]], they would have won the league, but they only managed a goalless draw.<ref name="Title races">{{cite web|title=Most exciting title races in Iraqi Premier League history|url=http://socceriraq.net/2016/08/15/most-exciting-title-races-in-iraqi-premier-league-history/|website=SoccerIraq|date=15 August 2016|access-date=16 August 2016|archive-date=10 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110124745/http://socceriraq.net/2016/08/15/most-exciting-title-races-in-iraqi-premier-league-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1998–99 Iraq FA Cup]], they reached the final after beating Al-Shorta in the semi-finals. They were defeated by Al-Zawra'a in the final 1–0. Because of Al-Zawra'a achieving the double, the [[1999 Perseverance Cup]] was played between Al-Zawra'a and the league and cup runners-up, Al-Talaba, where they were defeated for the third time that season by Al-Zawra'a, who won 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw. In the [[8th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], Al-Talaba reached the semi-finals where they were beaten by Al-Naft. In the third-place match, Al-Talaba defeated [[Al-Mina'a SC|Al-Mina'a]] 3–1.<ref name="Iraq 1998/99">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1998/99|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq99.html|website=RSSSF|date=24 September 2009|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq99.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1998–99 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]], they managed to reach the semi-finals where they lost to [[Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]] and they then lost the third-place play-off to [[Kashima Antlers]]. Al-Talaba finished fourth in the [[1999–2000 Iraqi First Division League|1999–2000]] season with 100 points.<ref name="Iraq 1999/2000">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Qayed|first2=Mohammed|last3=Hans|first3=Schöggl|last4=Mubarak|first4=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1999/2000|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq00.html|website=RSSSF|date=8 May 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They also finished in the same position in the [[2000–01 Iraqi Elite League|2000–01]] season with 60 points.<ref name="Iraq 2000/01">{{cite web|last1=Qayed|first1=Mohammed|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2000/01|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq01.html|website=RSSSF|date=18 December 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129120714/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They finished in fourth place in the [[9th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]] after a 3–0 loss against Al-Karkh in the third-place play-off.<ref name="Iraq 1999/2000" /> They qualified for the [[2000–01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup]] but were knocked out in the first round by [[Al-Sadd Sports Club|Al-Sadd]] on away goals. In addition, they lost the 2000 Baghdad Day Cup to Al-Shorta with a 2–1 defeat, and also reached the final of the 2000 Al-Quds International Championship but lost to Al-Zawra'a by 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.<ref name="Second Al-Quds International Championship 2000 - niiiis.com">{{cite web|title=بطولة القدس الثانية 2000|url=http://www.niiiis.com/quds2.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=24 March 2016|archive-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404152213/http://www.niiiis.com/quds2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Thair Ahmed era (2001–2007) ===

Al-Talaba participated in the 2001 Al-Wehdat Arabian Championship before the start of the 2001–02 season; they played four games, winning one, drawing two and losing one, finishing third in the tournament.<ref name="Al-Wehdat sixth Arabian Championship 2001 - Goalzz">{{cite web|title=Al-Wehdat sixth Arabian Championship 2001|url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=1251|website=Goalzz|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420191223/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=1251|url-status=live}}</ref> After eight years without winning the league and six years without any trophy, [[Thair Ahmed]] led Al-Talaba to the [[2001–02 Iraqi Elite League|2001–02]] championship with 91 points from 29 wins, four draws and five losses. They started the season by defeating Kirkuk FC 8–0 at [[Al Karkh Stadium]], which is one of the biggest wins by Al-Talaba, and ended it with a 6–0 win over [[Duhok SC|Duhok]] at Al-Shaab Stadium. They reached the final of the [[11th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], after defeating Al-Karkh 1–0 in the semi-finals, against Al-Shorta where they lost with a single goal after [[extra time]].<ref name="Iraq 2001/02">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2001/02|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq02.html|website=RSSSF|date=17 October 2006|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728193005/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq02.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Younis Mahmoud]] was the top goalscorer of the tournament.<ref name="The eleventh Edition of the Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup&nbsp;— Ammar Ali Al-Safi">{{cite web|title=بطولة أم المعارك الحادية عشر .. القيثارة تعزف أجمل الألحان|url=http://forum.kooora.com/?t=29351384|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Ammar Ali Al-Safi|language=ar|date=17 October 2011|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215204730/http://forum.kooora.com/?t=29351384|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Talaba also won their first-ever [[2001–02 Iraq FA Cup|Iraq FA Cup]] that season, after meeting Al-Shorta again in the final and defeating them with Qusay Hashim's late 85th-minute goal. Al-Talaba also won the 2001 Baghdad Day Cup by defeating Al-Zawra'a 2–1 and won the [[2002 Perseverance Cup]] against the league runners-up, [[Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya]], 2–1 after extra time.<ref name="Iraq 2001/02" />

Al-Talaba were contending for the [[2002–03 Iraqi First Division League|2002–03]] title before the league was cancelled due to war. In the [[12th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], they reached the final but were defeated 1–0 by Al-Shorta again. Al-Talaba's [[Ahmad Salah Alwan|Ahmad Salah]] was named the best player of the tournament. They retained the [[2002–03 Iraq FA Cup|Iraq FA Cup]] by defeating Al-Mina'a 1–0 with Alaa Kadhim's goal in the closing minutes and then defeating Al-Shorta in the final 1–0 at the [[Franso Hariri Stadium]] with Ahmad Salah's goal in the 26th minute.<ref name="Iraq 2002/03">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2002/03|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq03.html|website=RSSSF|date=29 December 2003|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=21 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321022720/https://rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq03.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the wake of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], all of Al-Talaba's matches in the [[2003–04 Iraqi Premier League|2003–04]] season were postponed and then cancelled, except two games which they won against Al-Sinaa before the league was abandoned for the season. Al-Talaba were the runners-up of the [[1st Baghdad Championship]] (the new name of the Umm al-Ma'arik Championship), defeating Al-Shorta 2–1 in the semi-finals and losing to Al-Zawra'a 5–4 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in the final, a match that saw three red cards in total.<ref name="Iraq 2003/04">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2003/04|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq04.html|website=RSSSF|date=25 September 2004|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=21 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321012219/https://rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq04.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2002–03 AFC Champions League]], Al-Talaba finished third in Group D with three points from three games after one win and two losses.<ref name="AFC Champions League 2002/03 - Group D&nbsp;— WildStat">{{cite web|title=AFC Champions League 2002/03&nbsp;– Group D|url=http://wildstat.com/p/5014/ch/ASI_CL_2002_2003/stg/5/group/D/tour/all|website=WildStat|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=16 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316132015/http://wildstat.com/p/5014/ch/ASI_CL_2002_2003/stg/5/group/D/tour/all|url-status=live}}</ref>

Al-Talaba participated in the [[2003–04 Arab Champions League]], reaching the proper group stage where they finished in third place with three points.<ref name="Arab Champions' League 2003/04">{{cite web|last1=Batalha|first1=José|last2=Chbaro|first2=Mohammed|last3=Hashim|first3=Refel|last4=Mubarak|first4=Hassanin|last5=Qayed|first5=Mohammed|last6=Said|first6=Tarek|last7=Zea|first7=Antonio|title=Arab Champions' League 2003/04|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp04.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=16 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216211819/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp04.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the start of the 2004–05 season, Al-Talaba participated in the [[Damascus International Championship|2004 Damascus International Championship]]. They played three games in the tournament, winning two and losing one, being knocked out in the group stage.<ref name="International Damascus Cup 2004 - Goalzz">{{cite web|title=International Damascus Cup 2004|url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=748|website=Goalzz|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420173411/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=748|url-status=live}}</ref> They also participated in the 2004 Tishreen Cup, one week after they were knocked out of the Damascus International Championship. In the Tishreen Cup, they finished top of their group to qualify for the semi-finals. They defeated [[Tishreen SC]] 1–0 to reach the final, which they lost by 3–2 to fellow Iraqi club Al-Zawra'a.<ref name="Tishreen Cup 2004 - Goalzz">{{cite web|title=Tishreen Cup 2004|url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=765|website=Goalzz|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420172603/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=765|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2004–05 Iraqi Premier League]], Al-Talaba finished the first phase as leaders of Group Three with 28 points, having won eight matches, drawn four and lost four. They also became leaders of Group Two in the second phase with eight points, ahead of Al-Naft who had seven points, after winning two matches and drawing two. In the semi-finals, Al-Talaba came up against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya; they were beaten in the first leg 1–0 and drew the second leg 2–2. Al-Talaba won the third-place play-off against Al-Zawra'a 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.<ref name="Iraq 2004/05">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2004/05|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq05.html|website=RSSSF|date=15 November 2005|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq05.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Al-Talaba maintained their performance in the [[2005–06 Iraqi Premier League]] by finishing the first phase as the leaders of Group Four with 24 points from seven wins, three draws and two losses. In the second phase, they finished in second place with seven points behind Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, who had the same number of points but a better goal difference of +4 against Al-Talaba's +1. In the last match of the second phase, Al-Talaba faced Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya with a chance to retain the league leadership, but they lost 3–1.<ref name="Iraq 2005/06">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2005/06|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq06.html|website=RSSSF|date=8 November 2006|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=28 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728204609/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq06.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2–9 September 2005, Al-Talaba participated in the [[Damascus International Championship|2005 Damascus International Championship]], reaching the final against fellow Iraqi club Al-Zawra'a. Al-Talaba won 5–4 on penalties.<ref name="International Damascus Cup 2005 Final&nbsp;— Goalzz">{{cite web|title=International Damascus Cup 2005 Final|url=http://www.goalzz.com/?c=1432&stage=3|website=Goalzz|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011034642/http://www.goalzz.com/?c=1432&stage=3|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2005–06 Arab Champions League]], Al-Talaba won their first round tie against [[Al-Shabab Club (Manama)|Al-Shabab]] by 3–1 in the first leg and 4–1 in the second leg. They faced [[Al-Qadisiyah FC|Al-Qadisiyah]] in the second round and were defeated 1–0 in the first leg and 2–1 in the second leg to be eliminated the competition.<ref name="Arab Champions' League 2005/06">{{cite web|last1=Benjamin|first1=Zaid|title=Arab Champions' League 2005/06|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp06.html|website=RSSSF|date=7 September 2007|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=17 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217001717/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arabchamp06.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 30 November 2006, the club's president, Hadeeb Majhoul, was kidnapped by an unknown terrorist group in Baghdad and, after three days, his body was found in the morgue.<ref name="Hadeeb Majhoul's body found&nbsp;— Buratha News Agency">{{cite web|title=العثور على جثة رئيس نادي الطلبة العراقي|url=http://burathanews.com/news/12096.html|website=Buratha News Agency|language=ar|date=3 December 2006|access-date=26 February 2016|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306073521/http://burathanews.com/news/12096.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The administrative board elected the team's striker at the time, Alaa Kadhim, as the new interim president until the club's elections in which he won with 93 votes out of 97 existing on 15 March 2007.<ref name="Alaa Kadhim Temporary President&nbsp;— Al-Jarida">{{cite web|last1=Al-Azzawi|first1=Qais|title=علاء كاظم رئيساً لنادي الطلبة الرياضي|url=http://www.aljaredah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=11679|website=Al-Jarida|language=ar|access-date=26 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303025139/http://www.aljaredah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=11679|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alaa Khadim was the club's player-president through 2006–07. Aged 35 at the end of the season, he retired from playing in order to focus on administering the club.<ref name="Alaa Kadhim retires in 2007 - Al-Ittihad">{{cite web|title=علاء كاظم يقرر الاعتزال|url=http://www.alitthad.com/paper.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18206|website=Al-Ittihad|language=ar|access-date=26 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304151439/http://www.alitthad.com/paper.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18206|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Before the start of the 2006–07 season, Al-Talaba participated in the 2006 Shabab Al-Ordon Arab Championship, a tournament organised by [[Shabab Al-Ordon Club]]. Al-Talaba played three matches in the tournament and drew all three of them, being knocked out in the group stage.<ref name="Jordan Youth Clubs Arab Champions 2006 - Goalzz">{{cite web|title=Jordan Youth Clubs Arab Champions 2006|url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=2490|website=Goalzz|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420181652/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=2490|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2006–07 Iraqi Premier League]], Al-Talaba finished the first phase in second place with 13 points, behind Al-Zawra'a with 14 points, with three wins, four draws, and one loss. Al-Talaba managed to finish second in the elite stage with eight points from two wins, two draws and one loss, just ahead of [[Karbalaa FC|Karbalaa]] with seven points. In the semi-finals, Al-Talaba lost to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2–0 and then lost 2–1 to Najaf FC in the third-place play-off.<ref name="Iraq 2006/07">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2006/07|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq07.html|website=RSSSF|date=29 November 2007|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq07.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Instability and crisis (2007–2013) ===
Before the start of the 2007–08 season, Al-Talaba participated in the 2007 Press Club Championship, hosted in [[Syria]]. Al-Talaba drew both of their group stage matches, finishing second in their group to qualify for the semi-finals. In the semi-final, they lost 3–1 against [[Nawair SC]] and were knocked out.<ref name="The Press Club Championship&nbsp;— Syria 2007 - Goalzz">{{cite web|title=The Press Club Championship&nbsp;– Syria 2007|url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=2950|website=Goalzz|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-date=12 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412160213/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=2950|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Talaba considered withdrawing from the [[2007–08 Iraqi Premier League]] due to a financial crisis that led to their players not being paid all their salaries on time,<ref name="Al-Talaba threaten to withdraw from league">{{cite web|title=الطلبة يهدد بالانسحاب من الدوري|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=7061322|website=Kooora Forums|language=ar|access-date=8 June 2016|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625070245/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=7061322|url-status=live}}</ref> but eventually decided not to withdraw. Under the management of [[Karim Saddam]], Nabil Zaki and Karim Salman, Al-Talaba finished in fifth place in the first phase of the league with 36 points, having won nine matches, drew nine, and lost four. They played poorly in the second phase, ending the phase in third place in their group with seven points with only one win, four draws, and three losses.<ref name="Iraq 2007/08">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2007/08|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq08.html|website=RSSSF|date=7 November 2008|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922000846/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq08.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They were knocked out in the round of 32 in the [[2007–08 Arab Champions League]], losing 4–0 on aggregate to [[USM Alger]]. In the [[2008–09 Iraqi Premier League]], with [[Abdul Ghani Shahad]] as Al-Talaba's manager, they finished in third place in their group with 47 points, only three points behind Najaf FC, with 14 wins, five draws, and five losses.<ref name="Iraq 2008/09">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2008/09|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq09.html|website=RSSSF|date=11 December 2009|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922043012/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq09.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2009–10 Iraqi Premier League]], under the management of [[Radhi Shenaishil]], Al-Talaba finished as the leaders of Group B in the first stage with 68 points, having won 19 matches, drew 11, and lost four. They withdrew in the twelfth round due to a ruling from the [[Iraqi Olympic Committee]] where they were set to face [[Baghdad FC|Baghdad]] that awarded the win. In the elite stage, Al-Talaba ended up in second place of Group One as the best runners-up of the three groups where they had ten points, the same number of points as the first place, Al-Zawra'a, but they had the goals difference of +2 and Al-Talaba the goals difference of +1. If either Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya had beaten [[Naft Al-Janoob]] or Al-Shorta had beaten Najaf FC, Al-Talaba would not have qualified for the semi-finals, but Jawiya drew 0–0 and Al-Shorta drew 2–2. In the semi-finals, Al-Talaba won 1–0 to [[Erbil SC|Erbil]] in the first leg and drew with no goals in the second leg. They lost in the final to Duhok SC with a late goal in the 82nd minute.<ref name="Iraq 2009/10">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2009/10|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2010.html|website=RSSSF|date=17 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2010.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

With Yahya Alwan as their manager, Al-Talaba had one of the worst seasons in their history in the [[2010–11 Iraqi Elite League]], finishing the season in eighth place of the Southern group with 38 points, only one point away from relegation, with nine wins, eleven draws, and six losses.<ref name="Iraq 2010/11">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Iraq 2010/11|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2011.html|website=RSSSF|date=19 September 2013|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922094857/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2011.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2011 AFC Cup]], Al-Talaba finished in third place in their group with five points, having won one match, drew two, and lost three, therefore they were knocked out at the group stage.<ref name="Asian Club Competitions 2011">{{cite web|last1=King|first1=Ian|last2=Stokkermans|first2=Karel|title=Asian Club Competitions 2011|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup2011.html|website=RSSSF|date=16 October 2014|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811013743/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup2011.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2011–12 Iraqi Elite League]], Al-Talaba with Jamal Ali, Khalaf Hassan, and Karim Salman as their consecutive managers, finished the season in fourth place with 68 points, winning in 19 matches, drawing in 11, and losing in eight.<ref name="Iraq 2011/12">{{cite web|last1=Stokkermans|first1=Karel|title=Iraq 2011/12|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2012.html|website=RSSSF|date=17 January 2013|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2012.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2012–13 Iraqi Elite League]], under the management of [[Nazar Ashraf]], Al-Talaba returned to their poor performance of the 2010–11 season, finishing in the 14th place with 35 points, only one point away from relegation, with only nine wins, eight draws, and 17 losses. They saved the club from being relegated in the 33rd round against Al-Naft where they won 2–1 and also because of [[Al-Kahraba]]'s loss to [[Zakho FC|Zakho]] in the last round. Al-Talaba passed the round of 32 of the [[2012–13 Iraq FA Cup]] where they were up against Al-Zawra'a, drawing 0–0 in the first leg and winning 3–1 in the second leg before the tournament was abandoned.<ref name="Iraq 2012/13">{{cite web|last1=Stokkermans|first1=Karel|title=Iraq 2012/13|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2013.html|website=RSSSF|date=28 January 2016|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2013.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Recent history (2013–) ===
Al-Talaba finished the [[2013–14 Iraqi Premier League]], under the management of Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail, in eighth place with 31 points from 22 matches.<ref name="Iraq 2013/14">{{cite web|last1=Stokkermans |first1=Karel |title=Iraq 2013/14 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2014.html |website=RSSSF |date=17 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727144740/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iraq2014.html |archive-date=27 July 2014 }}</ref> The season after, Al-Talaba finished in fifth place of Group Two with four wins, five draws, and seven losses before Abu Al-Hail was sacked.<ref name="Iraq 2014/15">{{cite web|last1=Stokkermans|first1=Karel|title=Iraq 2014/15|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2015.html|website=RSSSF|date=15 October 2015|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq2015.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In that season, they also participated in a friendly cup, the [[Tournament for the Armed Forces]], which was played between the big four clubs of Baghdad. The mini-tournament started at the semi-final stage and each match was only 30 minutes long. Al-Talaba were knocked out in the semi-final by Al-Zawra'a, 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.<ref name="2015 Friendly Baghdad Cup">{{cite web|title=الزوراء والطلبة ركلات الترجيح - بطولة ودية دعما للجيش العراقي|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k01RK97iXxg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/k01RK97iXxg| archive-date=2021-11-15 | url-status=live|website=Youtube|language=ar|date=21 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In June 2015, the board signed Ayoub Odisho as the team's new manager again after almost two decades.<ref name="Odisho, manager of Al-Talaba&nbsp;— Kooora">{{cite web|last1=Essa|first1=Sami|title=اوديشو مدربا لنادي الطلبة العراقي بشكل رسمي|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=410723&o=n3065398|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=7 June 2015|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228170907/http://www.kooora.com/?n=410723&o=n3065398|url-status=live}}</ref> The team also signed Younis Mahmoud, the captain of the [[Iraq national football team|Iraq national team]], twelve years after he left the club in 2003, with a free contract to get ready for the [[2015–16 Al-Talaba SC season|2015–16]] season.<ref name="Al-Talaba sign Younis Mahmoud&nbsp;— Al-Sumaria">{{cite web|last1=Hatam|first1=Uday|title=يونس محمود: وقعت للطلبة على بياض ولن أرشح لوزارة الشباب والرياضة|url=http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/146590/%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9%D8%AA-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD/ar|website=Al-Sumaria|language=ar|date=18 September 2015|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611040635/http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/146590/%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B9%D8%AA-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD/ar|url-status=live}}</ref> The team finished the group stage in fourth place of Group One with 27 points with seven wins, six draws and four losses, getting qualified to the final stage,<ref name="Group stage table&nbsp;— Group One&nbsp;— Iraqi Soccer Network">{{cite web|title=جدول الترتيب - المجموعة الاولى|url=http://iraqi-sn.com/?page_id=14130|website=Iraqi Soccer Network|language=ar|access-date=8 May 2016|archive-date=6 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506132728/http://iraqi-sn.com/?page_id=14130|url-status=live}}</ref> where they finished in third place with three wins, three draws and a loss.<ref name="Fuchs Premier League 2015/2016 Final stage&nbsp;— Goalzz">{{cite web|title=Fuchs Premier League 2015/2016 Final stage|url=http://www.goalzz.com/?c=11428&stage=2|website=Goalzz|access-date=21 May 2016|archive-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611145434/http://www.goalzz.com/?c=11428&stage=2|url-status=live}}</ref> The following season saw Al-Talaba finish in seventh place in the league with 54 points from 36 games.<ref name="Iraqi Premier League 2016/2017&nbsp;— Goalzz">{{cite web|title=Iraqi Premier League 2016/2017|url=http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=12547|website=Goalzz|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229052433/http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=12547|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2016–17 Iraq FA Cup]], Al-Talaba defeated [[Al-Kadhimiya SC|Al-Kadhimiya]] and [[Al-Najda SC|Al-Najda]] to reach the quarter-final, but they had to withdraw from the quarter-final game against [[Naft Al-Wasat SC|Naft Al-Wasat]] after their players went on strike in protest at their unpaid wages.<ref name="Iraq FA Cup 2016/2017&nbsp;— Soccer Iraq">{{cite web|title=Iraq FA Cup 2016/2017|url=https://twitter.com/SoccerIraq/status/898187421174513664|website=[[Soccer Iraq]]}}</ref>

== Stadiums ==
{{Main|Al-Talaba Stadium}}
In the 1980s, a stadium to hold 8,000 spectators was built at Hai Al-Qahira in Baghdad to host Al-Talaba's home matches.<ref name="Stadiums in Iraq&nbsp;— World Stadiums">{{cite web|title=Stadiums in Iraq|url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/middle_east/countries/iraq.shtml|website=World Stadiums|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628182343/http://www.worldstadiums.com/middle_east/countries/iraq.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Al-Talaba currently hold their training sessions at the [[University of Baghdad|University of Baghdad Stadium]] in [[Jadraya]], Baghdad, 15&nbsp;km away from their main stadium.<ref name="Al-Talaba SC Information&nbsp;— Kooora Forums">{{cite web|title=قاعدة بيانات صحيفة نادي الطلبة 2015-2016|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?mode=f&t=35804731|website=Kooora Forums|language=ar|date=1 October 2015|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011034324/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?mode=f&t=35804731|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 2014, the owner of the club, the [[Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Iraq)|Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research]], gave the project of building a new sports city to the Spanish company TriArena. They are constructing a main football stadium with a capacity of 16,000 spectators and an area of 71,150 m<sup>2</sup>. The project also includes two tennis courts, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a futsal pitch, a handball court, a hotel, restaurants, and a covered swimming pool. Al-Talaba is defined as a sports club, not just a football one, and it has supported other sports at minor level only in the past.<ref name="AL TALABA SPORTS CITY&nbsp;— TriArena">{{cite web|title=AL TALABA SPORTS CITY|url=http://www.triarena.com/project/consultancy/al-talaba-sports-city.html|website=TriArena|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216160724/http://www.triarena.com/project/consultancy/al-talaba-sports-city.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The foundation stone was laid by the former minister of higher education and scientific research, [[Ali al-Adeeb]], in February 2014. The cost of the project is estimated to be $84 million and the duration of construction was expected to be 30 months, meaning that by 2017 the Al-Talaba Sports City should have been open.<ref name="Ali Al-Adeeb outs the foundation stone&nbsp;— Youtube">{{cite web|title=برنامج اللاعب 12 - حلقة وضع حجر الاساس لملعب نادي الطلبة|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ewb0xh0lzw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/2ewb0xh0lzw| archive-date=2021-11-15 | url-status=live|website=Youtube|publisher=Al-Laaib 12|language=ar|date=19 February 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Due to the financial crisis in Iraq, the project was scratched after spending $4 million on designs.<ref name="Hiwar Spot / Al-Talaba Club and the story of an unsteady season&nbsp;— Youtube">{{cite web|title=حوار سبورت / نادي الطلبة وقصة موسم متقلب|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMt1em1PQI8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/gMt1em1PQI8| archive-date=2021-11-15 | url-status=live|website=Youtube|publisher=Alrasheed Channel|language=ar|date=31 May 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Rivalries ==
{{main|Baghdad derbies}}
Al-Talaba is one of the four "Popular Teams" in Baghdad, the others being [[Al-Zawra'a SC|Al-Zawra'a]], [[Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya]] and [[Al Shorta SC|Al-Shorta]].<ref name="The Popular Teams&nbsp;— Elaph">{{cite web|title=الفرق الجماهيرية تهدد بالانسحاب من الدوري العراقي|url=http://elaph.com/Web/Sports/2015/7/1027195.html|website=Elaph|language=ar|date=28 July 2015|access-date=12 February 2016|archive-date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809073050/http://elaph.com/Web/Sports/2015/7/1027195.html|url-status=live}}</ref> All the four Popular Teams have rivalries with each other. Al-Talaba's arch rivals are Al-Zawra'a and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya because of their constant battles to win the [[Iraqi Premier League]] over the years.<ref name="Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Baghdad Derby&nbsp;— Al-Sumaria">{{cite web|last1=Hatam|first1=Uday|title=القوة الجوية يلتقي الطلبة في ديربي بغداد واربيل يضيف الزوراء بدوري الكرة|url=http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/88454/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF/ar|website=Al-Sumaria|language=ar|date=17 December 2013|access-date=12 February 2016|archive-date=30 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630163408/http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/88454/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF/ar|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Al-Zawra'a Baghdad Derby&nbsp;— Al-Baghdadia">{{cite web|title=الطلبة يواجه الزوراء في ديربي بغداد غداً|url=http://www.albaghdadianews.com/sports/item/33791-AkZkB%D8%A9-nNAvm-AkeNEAs-Jn-DnEBn-BiDAD-iDA.html|website=Al-Baghdadia|language=ar|date=20 June 2013|access-date=12 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622024525/http://www.albaghdadianews.com/sports/item/33791-AkZkB%D8%A9-nNAvm-AkeNEAs-Jn-DnEBn-BiDAD-iDA.html|archive-date=22 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Statistics ==
=== Recent seasons ===
{{main|List of Al-Talaba SC seasons}}
The season-by-season performance of the club over the recent years:<ref name="Iraq&nbsp;— List of Champions">{{cite web|last1=Fujioka |first1=Atsushi |title=Iraq&nbsp;– List of Champions |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraqchamp.html |website=RSSSF |date=15 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316060359/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iraqchamp.html |archive-date=16 March 2016 |df=dmy }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:845px; text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:60px;"|Season
! style="width:250px;"|League
! style="width:170px;"|Rank
! style="width:25px;"| P
! style="width:25px;"| W
! style="width:25px;"| D
! style="width:25px;"| L
! style="width:25px;"| F
! style="width:25px;"| A
! style="width:30px;"| GD
! style="width:30px;"| Pts
! style="width:65px;"| Cup
|-
|[[2000–01 Iraqi Elite League|2000–01]] || [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi Elite League]] || 4 || 30 || 17 || 9 || 4 || 43 || 22 || 21 || 60 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2001–02 Iraqi Elite League|2001–02]] || [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi Elite League]] || style="background:gold;"| 1 || 38 || 29 || 4 || 5 || 89 || 18 || 71 || 91 || style="background:gold;"| {{sort|1|Won}}
|-
|[[2002–03 Iraqi First Division League|2002–03]]<sup>('''[[#1|1]]''')</sup> || [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi First Division League]] || — || 24 || 19 || 2 || 3 || 56 || 15 || 41 || 59 || style="background:gold;"| {{sort|1|Won}}
|-
|[[2003–04 Iraqi Premier League|2003–04]]<sup>('''[[#1|1]]''')</sup> || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || — || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 4 || 6 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2004–05 Iraqi Premier League|2004–05]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || style="background:#c96;"| Third place || 23 || 11 || 7 || 5 || 32 || 17 || 15 || 40 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2005–06 Iraqi Premier League|2005–06]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 2&nbsp;– Group 4 || 16 || 9 || 4 || 3 || 29 || 11 || 18 || 31 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2006–07 Iraqi Premier League|2006–07]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || style="background:#9acdff;"| Fourth place || 15 || 5 || 6 || 4 || 11 || 11 || 0 || 21 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2007–08 Iraqi Premier League|2007–08]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 3&nbsp;– Group 2 || 30 || 10 || 13 || 7 || 29 || 24 || 5 || 43 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2008–09 Iraqi Premier League|2008–09]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 3&nbsp;– Group 2 || 24 || 14 || 5 || 5 || 32 || 15 || 17 || 47 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2009–10 Iraqi Premier League|2009–10]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || style="background:silver;"| Runners-up || 43 || 23 || 13 || 7 || 53 || 25 || 28 || 82 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2010–11 Iraqi Premier League|2010–11]] || [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi Elite League]] || 8&nbsp;– Group B || 26 || 9 || 11 || 6 || 33 || 25 || 8 || 38 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2011–12 Iraqi Premier League|2011–12]] || [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi Elite League]] || 4 || 38 || 19 || 11 || 8 || 45 || 29 || 16 || 68 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2012–13 Iraqi Premier League|2012–13]] || [[Iraqi Premier League|Iraqi Elite League]] || 14 || 34 || 9 || 8 || 17 || 35 || 47 || −12 || 35 || ''{{sort|4|R16}}''<sup>('''[[#2|2]]''')</sup>
|-
|[[2013–14 Iraqi Premier League|2013–14]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 8 || 22 || 9 || 4 || 9 || 28 || 30 || −2 || 31 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2014–15 Iraqi Premier League|2014–15]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 5&nbsp;– Group 2 || 16 || 4 || 5 || 7 || 18 || 18 || 0 || 17 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2015–16 Iraqi Premier League|2015–16]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || style="background:#c96;"|3 || 24 || 10 || 9 || 5 || 28 || 20 || 8 || 39 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2016–17 Iraqi Premier League|2016–17]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 7 || 36 || 14 || 12 || 10 || 51 || 38 || 13 || 54 || {{sort|3|QF}}
|-
|[[2017–18 Iraqi Premier League|2017–18]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 14 || 38 || 11 || 10 || 17 || 43 || 59 || –16 || 43 || {{sort|6|—}}
|-
|[[2018–19 Iraqi Premier League|2018–19]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 13 || 38 || 10 || 14 || 14 || 47 || 52 || –5 || 44 || {{sort|2|SF}}
|-
|[[2019–20 Iraqi Premier League|2019–20]]<sup>('''[[#1|1]]''')</sup> || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || — || 6 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 11 || 10 || — || — || ''{{sort|5|R32}}''<sup>('''[[#2|2]]''')</sup>
|-
|[[2020–21 Iraqi Premier League|2020–21]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 17 || 38 || 8 || 15 || 15 || 36 || 47 || –11 || 39 || {{sort|5|R32}}
|-
|[[2021–22 Iraqi Premier League|2021–22]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || style="background:#c96;"|3 || 38 || 20 || 9 || 9 || 54 || 33 || +21 || 69 || {{sort|5|R32}}
|-
|[[2022–23 Iraqi Premier League|2022–23]] || [[Iraqi Premier League]] || 4 || 38 || 19 || 9 || 10 || 52 || 39 || +13 || 66 || {{sort|3|QF}}
|-
|[[2023–24 Iraq Stars League|2023–24]] || [[Iraq Stars League]] || 8 || 38 || 13 || 14 || 11 || 40 || 38 || +2 || 53 || {{sort|4|R16}}
|-
|}
<small>
{{As of|2024|7|14}}.
Rank = Rank in the league; P = Played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; Cup = [[Iraq FA Cup]].<br />
''in'' = Still in competition;&nbsp;— = Not attended; 1R = 1st round; 2R = 2nd round; 3R = 3rd round; R16 = Round of sixteen; QF = Quarterfinals; SF = Semifinals.
</small>

<small><span id="1"></span><sup>'''1'''</sup> The league was not completed and was cancelled.</small><br />
<small><span id="2"></span><sup>'''2'''</sup> Al-Talaba had not yet been eliminated from the cup but it was abandoned midway through.</small>

=== In international competitions ===
{{As of|2011|5|10}}:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Competition
!colspan="5"| Record
|-
!G
!W
!D
!L
!Win %
|-
| align=left| [[AFC Champions League]]
{{WDL|9|4|1|4}}
|-
| align=left| [[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]]
{{WDL|18|8|5|5}}
|-
| align=left| [[AFC Cup]]
{{WDL|6|1|2|3}}
|-
| align=left| [[Arab Champions League]]
{{WDL|18|7|4|7}}
|-
! Total
{{WDLtot|51|20|12|19}}
|}

==Current squad==
===First-team squad===
{{updated|20 September 2024}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=IRQ|name=[[Fahad Talib]]|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=TUN|name=Ghaith Maaroufi|pos=DF}}<sup>'''FGN'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=IRQ|name=[[Karrar Amer]]|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=IRQ|name=[[Saad Natiq]]|pos=DF|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=CMR|name=[[Ngweni Ndassi]]|pos=DF}}<sup>'''FGN'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=IRQ|name=Zaid Ismail|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=IRQ|name=[[Shareef Abdul-Kadhim]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=IRQ|name=[[Nihad Mohammed]]|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=IRQ|name=[[Louaï El Ani|Louai Al-Ani]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=IRQ|name=Karrar Saad|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=IRQ|name=Mohammed Hassan|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=IRQ|name=Karrar Mohammed|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=IRQ|name=Hussein Ammar|pos=DF}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=NGR|name=[[Austin Amutu]]|pos=FW}}<sup>'''FGN'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=CMR|name=[[Ronald Ngah]]|pos=FW}}<sup>'''FGN'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=IRQ|name=[[Mahdi Kamel]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=IRQ|name=Yassin Karim|pos=GK}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=TAN|name=[[Simon Msuva]]|pos=FW}}<sup>'''FGN'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=IRQ|name=Ahmed Suhail|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=IRQ|name=Hassan Ashour|pos=DF}}
{{Fs player|no=35|nat=IRQ|name=Ali Mahdi|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=44|nat=YEM|name=Hamza Al-Rimi|pos=DF}}<sup>'''ARB'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=77|nat=TUN|name=[[Habib Oueslati]]|pos=MF}}<sup>'''FGN'''</sup>
{{Fs player|no=88|nat=IRQ|name=[[Humam Tariq]]|pos=MF}}
{{Fs player|no=95|nat=IRQ|name=Hussein Abdullah|pos=FW}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=IRQ|name=Sajjad Mohammed|pos=GK}}
{{Fs end}}

=== Captains ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Years
!Position
!Captain
|-
|−1976
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Abdul-Wahab Abdul-Qadir
|-
|1976–1977
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Jalal Salih
|-
|1977–1981
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Muthanna Hameed
|-
|1981–1987
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Jamal Ali]]
|-
|1987–1990
|[[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Hussein Saeed]]
|-
|1990–1995
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ali Hussein Shihab]]
|-
|1995–1997
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Karim Salman]]
|-
|1997–2000
|[[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Alaa Kadhim]]
|-
|2000–2003
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Habib Jafar]]
|-
|2003–2007
|[[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|2004}} [[Alaa Kadhim]]
|-
|2007–2008
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Abdul-Majeed
|-
|2008–2009
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Bassim Abbas]]
|-
|2009–2010
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Gaith Abdul-Ghani
|-
|2010–2011
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail]]
|-
|2011–2012
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Majeed Hameed
|-
|2012–2014
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ali Mutashar]]
|-
|2014–2015
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Osama Ali]]
|-
|2015
|[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Salih Sadir]]
|-
|2015–2016
|[[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Younis Mahmoud]]
|-
|2016–2017
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Mahdi Kareem]]
|-
|2017
|[[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Yassir Abdul-Mohsen]]
|-
|2017–2018
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Noor Sabri]]
|-
|2018
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Ali Abdul-Hasan
|-
|2018–
|[[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Salam Shaker]]
|}

== Personnel ==
=== Current technical staff ===
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head coach |s=[[Basim Qasim]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant coach |s=Haidar Mohammad}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant coach |s=Ahmed Basim Qasim}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Goalkeeping coach |s=Hisham Khamis}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Fitness coach |s=Nusair Abdul-Amir}}
|}


==== Managerial history ====
{|
|-
|width="10"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
!Dates
!Name<ref name="Al-Talaba Coaches&nbsp;— RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Al-Talaba&nbsp;– Coaches|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/talaba-coach.html|website=RSSSF|date=February 26, 2009|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129110336/https://www.rsssf.org/players/talaba-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1969–1974
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Thamir Muhsin
|-
|1974–1978
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Jamal Salih]]
|-
|1978–1979
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Abdul-Wahab Abdul-Qadir
|-
|1979–1980
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Khalaf Hassan
|-
|1980–1981
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Ammo Baba]]
|-
|1981–1982
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Jamal Salih]]
|-
|1982–1984
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Akram Ahmad Salman|Akram Salman]]
|-
|1984–1986
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Yahya Alwan]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|1986
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Ahmed Subhi]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Yahya Alwan]]
|-
|1986–1987
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Jamal Salih]]
|-
|1987–1988
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} Yousif Abdul-Ameer
|-
|1988–1990
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1963}} [[Jamal Ali]]
|-
|1990
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Eddie Firmani]]
|-
|1990–1992
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Yahya Alwan]]
|-
|1992–1993
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ayoub Odisho]]
|-
|1993
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Hussein Saeed]]
|-
|1993–1995
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ayoub Odisho]]
|-
|1995
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Nazar Ashraf]]
|-
|1995–1996
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Jamal Ali]]
|-
|1996
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ayoub Odisho]]
|-
|1996–1997
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Nazar Ashraf]]
|-
|1997–1998
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Nazar Ashraf]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ammo Baba]]
|-
|1998–1999
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ammo Baba]]
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Akram Ahmed Salman|Akram Salman]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|1999
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Abdelilah Mohammed Hassan|Abdelilah Mohammed]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Ammo Baba]]
|}
|width="30"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
!|Dates
!|Name
!|Ref
|-
|1999–2000
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Amer Jameel]]
|rowspan="6"|<ref name="Al-Talaba Coaches&nbsp;— RSSSF" />
|-
|rowspan="2"|2000
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Nazar Ashraf]]
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Mohammed Tabra]]
|-
|2000–2001
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Anwar Jassim]]
|-
|2001
|{{flagicon|IRQ|1991}} [[Nazar Ashraf]]
|-
|2001–2007
|{{flagicon|IRQ|2004}} [[Thair Ahmed]]
|-
|2007
|{{flagicon|IRQ|2004}} [[Habib Jafar]]
|<ref name="2007 - Habib Jafar - Managers">{{cite web|title=حبيب جعفر فضل التدريب على الادارة..علاء كاظم: ثائر احمد هو من طلب الاستغناء|url=http://www.inciraq.com/pages/view_paper.php?id=200712955|website=Al Mutamar Newspaper|language=ar|date=12 August 2007|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920034025/http://www.inciraq.com/pages/view_paper.php?id=200712955|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2007–2008
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Karim Saddam]]
|<ref name="Al-Talaba Coaches&nbsp;— RSSSF" />
|-
|rowspan="2"|2008
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Nabil Zaki
|<ref name="2008 - Nabil Zaki - Managers">{{cite web|title=نبيل زكي مدرب للطلبة|url=http://www.inciraq.com/pages/view_paper.php?id=200813669|website=Al Mutamar Newspaper|language=ar|date=7 July 2008|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920033647/http://www.inciraq.com/pages/view_paper.php?id=200813669|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Karim Salman
|<ref name="Al-Talaba Coaches&nbsp;— RSSSF" />
|-
|2008–2009
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Abdul Ghani Shahad]]
|<ref name="2008-2009 - Abdul-Ghani Shahad - Managers">{{cite web|title=تسمية عبد الغني شهد مدرباً لنادي الطلبة بكرة القدم|url=http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php?topic=232624.0|website=Ankawa.com|language=ar|date=24 October 2008|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821192519/http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php?topic=232624.0|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2009–2010
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Radhi Shenaishil]]
|<ref name="2009-2010 - Radhi Shenaishil - Managers">{{cite web|title=العراق: شنيشل مدرباً لفريق الطلبة|url=http://www.goal.com/ar/news/2037/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A/2009/07/15/1383579/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B4%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9|website=Goal.com|language=ar|date=15 July 2009|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920170122/http://www.goal.com/ar/news/2037/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A/2009/07/15/1383579/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B4%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2010–2011
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Yahya Alwan]]
|<ref name="2010-2011 - Yahya Alwan - Managers">{{cite web|title=تسمية يحيى علوان مدرباً لفريق الطلبة العراقي لكرة القدم|url=http://www.sotaliraq.com/sport.php?id=18128#axzz4DNbeIAtF|website=Voice of Iraq|language=ar|date=11 August 2010|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813041315/http://www.sotaliraq.com/sport.php?id=18128#axzz4DNbeIAtF|archive-date=13 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Thair Ahmed]]
|<ref name="2011 - Thair Ahmed - Managers">{{cite web|title=أدارة الطلبة تدير بصولتها وتتعاقد مع ثائر احمد لقيادة فريقها|url=http://www.ikhnews.com/index.php?page=article&id=7872|website=Ikh News|language=ar|date=2 February 2011|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818054427/http://www.ikhnews.com/index.php?page=article&id=7872|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2011–2012
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Jamal Ali]]
|<ref name="2011-2012 - Jamal Ali - Managers">{{cite web|title=حصرياً .. نادي الطلبة يتعاقد رسمياً مع المدرب جمال علي|url=http://www.iraqfpg.com/Docs.ArabicViewer/e0253585-c51d-4f52-8c80-d8b3e8ea921a/default.aspx|website=IraqFPG|language=ar|date=26 August 2011}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Khalaf Hassan
|<ref name="2012 - Khalaf Hassan - Managers">{{cite web|title=الطلبة يقدم مدربه الكروي الجديد خلف كريم كامل للإعلام|url=http://www.iraqfpg.com/Docs.ArabicViewer/17814477-aea6-4078-80b7-9aa6a8962141/default.aspx|website=IraqFPG|language=ar|date=29 August 2012}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Karim Salman
|<ref name="2012 - Karim Salman - Managers">{{cite web|title=ادارة الطلبة تسمي عبد الكريم سلمان مدربا لفريقها الكروي وتمنح المدرب السابق اجازة مفتوحة|url=http://www.iraqfpg.com/Docs.ArabicViewer/c0a43d77-ea5f-4387-89d0-711a824dd5a5/default.aspx|website=IraqFPG|language=ar|date=4 November 2012}}</ref>
|-
|2012–2013
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Nazar Ashraf]]
|<ref name="2012-2013 - Nazar Ashraf - Managers">{{cite web|title=مدرب لكل ثلاث مباريات .. إدارة الطلبة تسمي اشرف مدربا لفريقها الكروي خلفا للمستقيل سلمان|url=http://www.iraqfpg.com/Docs.ArabicViewer/f0a4abe1-ca77-4d63-8c94-5ba8f1453be1/default.aspx|website=IraqFPG|language=ar|date=10 December 2012|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212175205/http://www.iraqfpg.com/Docs.ArabicViewer/f0a4abe1-ca77-4d63-8c94-5ba8f1453be1/default.aspx|archive-date=12 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Nabil Zaki
|<ref name="2013 - Nabil Zaki - Managers">{{cite web|title=نبيل زكي مدربا لفريق الطلبة الكروي خلفا لاشرف|url=http://almasalah.com/ar/PrintNewspage.aspx?newsid=9649|website=Almasalah|language=ar|date=2 April 2013|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228165914/http://almasalah.com/ar/PrintNewspage.aspx?newsid=9649|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2013–2015
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail]]
|<ref name="2013-2015 - Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail - Managers">{{cite web|title=ابو الهيل يقود كرة الطلبة والأخير يعرب عن ثقته بتحقيق النجاح|url=http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/82544/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%86/ar|website=Alsumaria|language=ar|date=12 September 2013|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819225554/http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/82544/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%86/ar|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2015
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Salih Radhi
|<ref name="2015 - Salih Radhi - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Essa|first1=Sami|title=راضي مدربا لنادي الطلبة الرياضي|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=389530|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=7 March 2015|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228170724/http://www.kooora.com/?n=389530|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2015–2017
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ayoub Odisho]]
|<ref name="Odisho, manager of Al-Talaba&nbsp;— Kooora" />
|}
|width="30"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
!|Dates
!|Name
!|Ref
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Mudhafar Jabbar]]
|<ref name="2017 - Mudhaffar Jabbar - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=جبار لكووورة: الطلبة فريق شاب ويجب الصبر على نتائجه|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=569568|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=12 March 2017|access-date=24 June 2017|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228171254/http://www.kooora.com/?n=569568|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Habib Jafar]]
|<ref name="2017 - Habib Jafar - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=حبيب جعفر مدربًا للطلبة بعد استقالة مظفر جبار|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=587870|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=12 May 2017|access-date=24 June 2017|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228171603/http://www.kooora.com/?n=587870|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2017–2018
|{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Tita Valeriu]]
|<ref name="2017-2018 - Tita Valeriu - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=فاليريو يكشف عن طموحه مع الطلبة|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=625372&window.pg=1&o=n3038580|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=23 September 2017|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023811/http://www.kooora.com/?n=625372&window.pg=1&o=n3038580|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Essam Hamad]]
|<ref name="2018 - Essam Hamad - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=عصام حمد مدربًا للطلبة بعد اعتذار عماد محمد|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=662168&o=n3007475|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=14 January 2018|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215024040/http://www.kooora.com/?n=662168&o=n3007475|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2018–2019
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Yahya Alwan]]
|<ref name="2018 - Yahya Alwan - Managers">{{cite news|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=يحيى علوان مدربًا للطلبة|url=http://www.kooora.com/?n=724026|newspaper=كووورة|language=ar|date=29 July 2018|access-date=15 September 2018|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228161313/http://www.kooora.com/?n=724026|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Thair Ahmed]]
|<ref name="2019 - Thair Ahmed - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=ثائر أحمد مدربا جديدا للطلبة|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=792618&pg=1&o=n3017357|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=2 March 2019|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=24 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624222033/https://www.kooora.com/?n=792618&pg=1&o=n3017357|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Fawzi Abdul-Sada/Mahdi Kadhim
|<ref name="2019 - Ali Hadi - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=علي هادي يتولى قيادة الطلبة العراقي|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=823821&pg=1&o=n3046077|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=16 June 2019|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=24 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624232802/https://www.kooora.com/?n=823821&pg=1&o=n3046077|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ali Hadi Mohsin|Ali Hadi]]
|<ref name="2019 - Ali Hadi - Managers" />
|-
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Thair Jassam]]
|<ref name="2019 - Thair Jassam - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=جسام مدربا للطلبة|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=835940&pg=3&o=n1000279|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=30 July 2019|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=24 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624215729/https://www.kooora.com/?n=835940&pg=3&o=n1000279|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2019–2021
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Khalef
|<ref name="2019 - Ahmed Khalaf - Managers">{{cite web|last1=Al-Hassani|first1=Maytham|title=أحمد خلف مدربًا للطلبة|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=860841&o=n1000279|website=Kooora|language=ar|date=15 October 2019|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=24 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624231031/https://www.kooora.com/?n=860841&o=n1000279|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Fareed Majeed]], Ibrahim Abd Nader
|
|-
|2021
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Hasan Ahmad]]
|
|-
|2021
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Thair Jassam]]
|
|-
|2021–2022
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Qahtan Chathir]]
|
|-
|}
|}

=== Current board ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Office
!Name
|-
| President
| [[Alaa Kadhim]]
|-
| Vice-president
| Mohammed Al-Hashimi
|-
| Secretary
| Khalid Hadi
|-
| rowspan="4"|Members of the administrative board
| Mahdi Kadhim
|-
| Abdul Ghafour Abd al-Hafith
|-
| Khuloud Abdul Wahab
|-
| Abdul Jaleel Salih
|}

==== Recent presidents ====
{{incomplete list|date=July 2016}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Years !! Name !! Elections !! Notes
|-
| 1990s–2000s || Omar Sabaawi || ||
|-
| –2004 || Abdul-Salam Al-Guood ||  || 
|-
| 2004–2006 || Hadeeb Majhoul || style="text-align: center"|2004 || style="text-align: center"|{{#tag:ref|He was kidnapped and assassinated.|name=Hadeeb Majhoul|group=n}}
|-
| 2006–2008 || [[Alaa Kadhim]] || style="text-align: center"|– || style="text-align: center"|{{#tag:ref|Acting president until the elections.|name=Kadhim (2006–08)|group=n}}
|-
| 2008– || [[Alaa Kadhim]] || style="text-align: center"|2008, 2012, 2018 ||
|}
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==Honours==
=== National ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
!Competition
!Titles
!Seasons
|-
! scope=row|[[Iraq Stars League]]
|5
| align="left"|{{nowrap|[[1980–81 Iraqi National League|1980–81]]}}, [[1981–82 Iraqi National League|1981–82]], [[1985–86 Iraqi National League|1985–86]], [[1992–93 Iraqi National League|1992–93]], [[2001–02 Iraqi Elite League|2001–02]]
|-
! scope=row|[[Iraq FA Cup]]
|2
| align="left"|[[2001–02 Iraq FA Cup|2001–02]], [[2002–03 Iraq FA Cup|2002–03]]
|-
! scope=row|[[Iraqi Super Cup]]
|1
| align="left"|[[2002 Iraqi Perseverance Cup|2002]]
|-
! scope=row|[[Baghdad Championship]]
|bgcolor="gold"|3{{smallsup|s}}
| align="left"|[[2nd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship|1992–93]], [[3rd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship|1993–94]], [[5th Umm al-Ma'arik Championship|1995–96]]
|}

* {{legend|gold|record}}
* {{smallsup|S}} shared record

===Regional===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
!Competition
!Titles
!Seasons
|-
! scope=row|Iraq Central FA Second Division
|1
|align="left"|{{nowrap|1970–71}}
|}

=== Friendly ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
!Competition
!Titles
!Seasons
|-
! scope=row|Baghdad Day Cup
|2
| align="left"|2001, 2002
|-
! scope=row|[[Damascus International Championship]]
|1
| align="left"|2005
|-
! scope=row|[[Stafford Challenge Cup]]
|1
| align="left"|1984<ref name="dch">{{Cite web |title=Stafford Challenge Cup: One cup, many emotions |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/stafford-challenge-cup-one-cup-many-emotions-1193866.html |website=Deccan Herald |date=22 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223183502/https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/stafford-challenge-cup-one-cup-many-emotions-1193866.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of football clubs in Iraq]]
{{Portal bar|Association football|Iraq}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Al-Talaba SC}}
{{Al-Talaba SC seasons}}
{{Iraqi Premier League}}
{{Al-Talaba SC squad}}

[[Category:Al-Talaba SC| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Iraq]]
[[Category:Sport in Baghdad]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in Iraq]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Baghdad]]
[[Category:University and college association football clubs]]