Al Zawraa

Foundation and rise to prominence (1969–1979)

Al-Zawraa was founded on 29 June 1969 as Al-Muwasalat, which means 'Transportation'. Al-Muwasalat participated in the Iraq Central FA Fourth Division in the 1969–70 season. In the 1970–71 season, they won the fourth division and were promoted to the third division. The 1971–72 season saw the establishment of 'Al-Muwasalat B' (the club's B team), with the merger of Al-Bareed B and Al-Matar Al-Madani, which joined the fourth division. In their first season, Al-Muwasalat B won the fourth division under coach Rasheed Radhi and were promoted to the third division, beating Al-Shabab 2–1 on 1 June 1972 at Al-Kashafa Stadium.

On 16 November 1972, the club was renamed to Al-Zawraa. The 1972–73 season saw both Al-Zawraa and Al-Zawraa B competing in the third division, and in the 1973–74 season, Al-Zawraa B won the third division title after a 2–1 win over Indhibat Al-Shorta, securing promotion to the second division. As they were the club's B team, the A and B teams merged back together, and the club was also merged with another club called Saleem Sports Club, to compete in the newly founded Iraqi National Second Division in the 1974–75 season. Al-Zawraa won the second division title that season under Rasheed Radhi's leadership, being promoted into the Iraqi National League for the first time in their history for the 1975–76 season.

A club named Al-Naqil (meaning 'Transport'), who were attached to the Ministry of Transport, were the runners-up of the 1974–75 Iraqi National League, but the club was dissolved due to a lack of financial backing. Al-Naqil's players joined newly promoted side Al-Zawraa, who were founded by the Minister of Transport, Adnan Ayoub Sabri Al-Ezzi. This meant that Al-Zawraa became one of the strongest clubs in Iraq from their first season in the top-flight, which was the 1975–76 season, where they won both the league title and the Iraq FA Cup. In the 1976–77 season, Al-Zawraa retained their title, winning the league undefeated, and the 1978–79 season saw Al-Zawraa win the league undefeated again, also winning the Iraq FA Cup to secure their second double.

League decline but cup success (1980–1989)

The 1980s remain the only decade in which Al-Zawraa failed to secure a league title, marking a relative decline after their dominant emergence in the late 1970s. This period coincided with the gradual departure of several key players from the club's golden generation, leading to a phase of transition and rebuilding. Despite these challenges, Al-Zawraa maintained their status as one of Iraq's leading teams through consistent performances in cup competitions.

The club enjoyed notable success in the Iraq FA Cup, winning three titles during the decade. They defeated league champions Al-Talaba 1–0 in the 1981 final thanks to a goal from Thamer Yousif, securing their third FA Cup crown, before retaining the trophy in 1982 with a 2–1 victory over the same opponents in the final. Later in the decade, Al-Zawraa claimed their fifth FA Cup title in 1989, beating Al-Tayaran 3–0 in a dominant final performance.

Following a difficult first half of the decade in which the club even flirted with relegation, a rebuilding process led by former player Falah Hassan gradually restored competitiveness. By the late 1980s, Al-Zawraa had re-established themselves among the top teams in Iraq, finishing in the upper half of the league and returning to trophy-winning form. This resurgence also culminated in regional success, as Al-Zawraa won the inaugural Arab Cooperation Council Club Championship in 1989 in Amman, defeating teams from Egypt, Jordan and Yemen. They successfully defended the title in 1990, confirming their return as a major force ahead of what would become the most successful period in the club's history during the 1990s.

Golden era and domestic dominance (1990–2003)

They began the 1990s by winning the Iraq FA Cup again and qualifying to the 1990 Arab Club Champions Cup, which was eventually abandoned. The 1990s would go on to become the most successful in Al-Zawraa's history, as they were crowned champions of Iraq for the fourth time in 1990–91 and also won another Iraq FA Cup to secure another double. Al-Zawraa won the first ever edition of the Umm al-Ma'arik Championship (later known as the Baghdad Championship) in the 1991–92 season and they succeeded in winning another Iraq FA Cup in the 1992–93 season.

The next three seasons were three of the best in Al-Zawraa's history; they won three consecutive doubles in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. They also participated in their first ever AFC tournaments, being knocked out in the first round of the 1993–94 Asian Cup Winners' Cup and the second round of the 1995 Asian Club Championship. Al-Zawraa recorded their best participation in the Asian Club Championship in 1996–97 as they reached the semi-finals, eventually finishing fourth. Al-Zawraa won the 1997–98 Iraq FA Cup which saw manager Anwar Jassam win his record fifth FA Cup, and followed that up by winning their first Iraqi Super Cup with a 1–0 win over league champions Al-Shorta. In the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship, Al-Zawraa reached the second round before being knocked out.

Al-Zawraa continued to dominate Iraqi football by winning the double in 1998–99 and securing their first domestic quadruple in 1999–2000 by winning all four domestic trophies. They also reached the final of the 1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup, the furthest that they have ever reached in a major continental competition, but lost 1–0 to Shimizu S-Pulse of Japan.