Adnan Dirjal

Adnan Dirjal (Arabic: عدنان درجال مطر‎; born 26 January 1960 in Baghdad) is an Iraqi former footballer, national team coach, and as of May 2020 heads the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports.[2] He was one of Iraq's most prominent national team captains, who played as a defender.

Adnan Dirjal
Personal information
Full name Adnan Dirjal Mutar Jasim
Date of birth (1960-01-26) 26 January 1960
Place of birth Baghdad, Iraq
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1976–1977 Assyrian Sports Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1980 Al-Zawraa
1980–1984 Al-Talaba
1984–1990 Al-Rasheed
National team
1978–1990 Iraq 121[1] (8)
Teams managed
1991–1992 Al-Karkh
1992–1993 Iraq
1993–1994 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
1995–1998 Al Wakrah
1999 Al Sadd
1999 Al Shamal
1999–2000 Al Wakrah
2000–2001 Al Arabi
2004 Al Sailiya
2004–2005 Al Wakrah
2007 Al Wakrah
2010–2012 Al Wakrah
2013–2014 Al Wakrah
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Adnan, a defender, started his career with Al-Zawraa, where he won the Iraqi league and cup double in 1978/1979. He went on to join Al-Talaba, where he was one of the stars of a team that included Haris Mohammed, Jamal Ali and the great Hussein Saeed. At Al-Talaba Adnan won the Iraqi league two times and reached two cup finals.

His most successful club spell came at Al-Rasheed, the club owned by Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday, where he captained the club to three Iraqi league titles, two cups and a record three Arab Club Championships during the mid to late 80s.[3]

Political career

He secured a position in Iraqi PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi's cabinet in May 2020 when he was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports.[2]

International career

Adnan made the step into international football early, helping Iraq win both the CISM World Military Championship and the Gulf Cup in 1979. He later played at three Olympic Games, in 1980, 1984 and 1988,[4] three Gulf Cup victories, and the Asian Games win over Kuwait in 1982. The biggest disappointment in a glittering career was missing the World Cup finals in Mexico in 1986 through injury.

International goals

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.25 March 1981Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh Bahrain2–02–01982 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.28 March 1984Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat Qatar1–01–17th Arabian Gulf Cup
3.27 September 1986Daegu Stadium, Daegu Thailand1–02–11986 Asian Games

Personal life

He has three sons and one daughter. One of them is Muhannad Darjal, who plays professionally for Al Wakrah as a defender.

References
  1. Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals
  2. "Iraq parliament approves PM Mustafa Kadhemi's new cabinet". New Strait Times. Agence France-Presse. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. "Player Database". Hassanin Mubarak/IraqSport.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014.
  4. "Adnan Dirjal Motar Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Hussein Saeed		 Iraq captain
2003–2004		 Succeeded by
Ahmed Radhi
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