Yasser Al-Qahtani
Yasser Saeed Al-Qahtani (Arabic: ياسر سعيد القحطاني; born 10 October 1982) is a former footballer from Saudi Arabia who played as a striker for Al-Hilal FC in the Saudi Professional League. He was also captain of the Saudi Arabian national team. He's widely recognized as one of the greatest Saudi Arabian footballer in the 2000s. On February 8th, 2021, Yasser decided to come back to the world of football to join the legendary Jordanian club, Albaqa'a Club under the reign of new owners, Khaled Mustafa DzzzD, Abdulla Mustafa,and Husni Jallad.
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Yasser Saeed Al-Qahtani | |||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 10 October 1982 | |||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Khobar, Saudi Arabia | |||||||||||||||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Forward | |||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
2000–2005 | Al-Qadisiya | 39 | (24) | |||||||||||||
2005–2018 | Al-Hilal | 160 | (88) | |||||||||||||
2011–2012 | → Al Ain (loan) | 15 | (7) | |||||||||||||
Total | 214 | (119) | ||||||||||||||
National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||
2002–2013 | Saudi Arabia | 108[1] | (42) | |||||||||||||
Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:09, 12 April 2018 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2015 |
Club career
In 2005, Al-Qahtani moved to Al-Hilal from Al-Qadisiyah for a reported $5.31 transfer fee.[2]
After leading Saudi Arabia to the finals of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup as one of the tournament's top scorers, he won the Asian Footballer of the Year award.[3][4][5] He went on trial at Manchester City in December.[2]
In 2011, struggling for form following injuries and having lost his place in the Al-Hilal starting lineup, Al-Qahtani joined United Arab Emirates club Al Ain on a season-long loan.[6] There he contributed to the club's first league title since 2004 scoring 7 goals in 15 league appearances, and 12 goals in a total of 26 games across all competitions.[7] Having regained his form he returned to Al-Hilal after the loan spell ended.[8][9]
Coached by Sami Al-Jaber and Laurențiu Reghecampf, Al-Qahtani reached the finals of the 2014 AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal where his team finished runners up losing to Western Sydney Wanderers in the final 1–0 on aggregate.[10]
International career
2006 World Cup
Al-Qahtani played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany where he scored a goal against Tunisia.[11]
2007 Asian Cup
At the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia reached the final under new Brazilian coach dos Anjos with Al-Qahtani becoming the tournament's top scorer.[4][12][13]
2010 World Cup qualification campaign
In the final stages of the 2010 World Cup qualification, Al-Qahtani was injured in the game against Uzbekistan and upon his return from injury remained out form due to lack of playing time at Al-Hilal. Saudi Arabia missed qualification to the World Cup failing to beat North Korea at home in Riyadh in the decisive last game with the match ending goalless.[14]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 12 April 2018
Club | Season | League | Cup | ACL | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Al-Qadisiyah | 2000–01 | 9 | 5 | – | 9 | 5 | |||
2002–03 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 11 | 5 | ||
2003–04 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 9 | ||
2004–05 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | 15 | 9 | ||
Al-Hilal | 2005–06 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 9 |
2006–07 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 10 | |
2007–08 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 16 | |
2008–09 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 13 | |
2009–10 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 35 | 19 | |
2010–11 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 28 | 18 | |
Al-Ain (loan) | 2011-12 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 5 | — | 23 | 12 | |
Al-Hilal | 2012–13 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 16 |
2013–14 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 28 | 10 | |
2014–15 | 9 | 3 | — | 5 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||
2015–16 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 10 | |
2016–17 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 6 | |
2017–18 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 2 | |
Al-Hilal Total | 160 | 88 | 55 | 26 | 54 | 17 | 274 | 132 | |
Career Total | 214 | 119 | 71 | 35 | 54 | 17 | 354 | 172 |
International goals
- Scores and results list Saudi Arabia's goal tally first.[15]
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 26 December 2002 | Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City | ![]() | 2002 Arab Nations Cup | ||
2. | ||||||
3. | 8 October 2003 | Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah | ![]() | 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification | ||
4. | 6 January 2004 | Kazma SC Stadium, Kuwait City | ![]() | 16th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
5. | 8 January 2004 | Kazma SC Stadium, Kuwait City | ![]() | 16th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
6. | ||||||
7. | 18 February 2004 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ![]() | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
8. | 18 July 2004 | Sichuan Longquanyi Stadium, Chengdu | ![]() | 2004 AFC Asian Cup | ||
9. | ||||||
10. | 1 September 2004 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ![]() | Friendly | ||
11. | 8 September 2004 | Olympic Stadium, Ashgabat | ![]() | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
12. | 12 October 2004 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta | ![]() | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
13. | 11 December 2004 | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Doha | ![]() | 17th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
14. | 25 March 2005 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam | ![]() | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
15. | 14 February 2006 | Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah | ![]() | Friendly | ||
16. | 14 June 2006 | Allianz Arena, Munich | ![]() | 2006 FIFA World Cup | ||
17. | 9 August 2006 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam | ![]() | 1–0 | Friendly | |
18. | 16 August 2006 | Salt Lake Stadium, Calcutta | ![]() | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification | ||
19. | ||||||
20. | ||||||
21. | 11 October 2006 | Sapporo Dome, Sapporo | ![]() | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification | ||
22. | 8 January 2007 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam | ![]() | Friendly | ||
23. | ||||||
24. | 18 January 2007 | Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | ![]() | 18th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
25. | ||||||
26. | 24 January 2007 | Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi | ![]() | 18th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
27. | 11 July 2007 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta | ![]() | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | ||
28. | 14 July 2007 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta | ![]() | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | ||
29. | 22 July 2007 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta | ![]() | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | ||
30. | 25 July 2007 | My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi | ![]() | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | ||
31. | 11 September 2007 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ![]() | Friendly | ||
32. | ||||||
33. | 9 November 2007 | Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah | ![]() | Friendly | ||
34. | 25 November 2007 | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo | ![]() | 2007 Pan Arab Games | ||
35. | 30 January 2008 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ![]() | Friendly | ||
36. | 6 February 2008 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ![]() | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
37. | 2 June 2008 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh | ![]() | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
38. | ||||||
39. | 8 January 2009 | Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat | ![]() | 19th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
40. | 11 January 2009 | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat | ![]() | 19th Arabian Gulf Cup | ||
41. | 4 June 2009 | TEDA Football Stadium, Tianjin | ![]() | Friendly | ||
42. | 9 January 2013 | Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town | ![]() | 21st Arabian Gulf Cup |
Honours
Club
- Saudi Professional League (5): 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2016–17, 2017–18
- Crown Prince Cup (7): 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2015–16
- Saudi Super Cup (1): 2015
- King Cup (2): 2015, 2017
- Federation Cup (1): 2005–06
- AFC Champions League: Runner-up 2014, 2017
- UAE Arabian Gulf League (1): 2011–12
International
- AFC Asian Cup: Runner-up 2007
- Arabian Gulf Cup (1): 2003
- Arab Nations Cup (1): 2002
Individual
- AFC Asian Footballer of the Year: 2007
- AFC Asian Cup Top scorer: 2007
- AFC Asian Cup Fans' All Time Best XI: 2018[16]
References
- Al-Qahtani, Yasser at National-Football-Teams.com
- "Man City take Al Qahtani on trial". BBC Sport. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- "Soccer-Yasser Al Qahtani named Asian Player of the Year". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Asian footballer of the year announced - Sport - BrisbaneTimes". www.brisbanetimes.com.au. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qahtani Is Asian Player of the Year". www.arabnews.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Al Qahtani ready to lead Al Ain | The National". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- Khaled, Ali (15 September 2014). "Former Al Ain teammates consider Al Qahtani a brother, but 'Inside the pitch, we don't know Yasser'". The National. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- Jose, James. "'Decision on Qahtani, Gyan at end of season' - Khaleej Times". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Al Qahtani to return to Al Hilal - report - Goal.com". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- FIFA.com. "Wanderers, Al Hilal reach maiden final". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Tunisia, Saudi Arabia put on a show at World Cup". CBC Sports. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Saudi strikers earn praise | The World Game". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Saudi beat Japan to reach Asian Cup final". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "World Cup Blow For Saudi Arabia As Naif Hazazi Tears Cruciate Ligament - Goal.com". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- "Yasser Al-Qahtani – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- "Fans' Best XI Announced!". The-AFC.com. AFC. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Yasser Al-Qahtani at National-Football-Teams.com
- Yasser Al-Qahtani – FIFA competition record
- Yasser Al-Qahtani at Soccerway