Hussein Abdulghani

Hussein Omar Abdulghani Sulaimani (Arabic: حسين عمر عبد الغني سليماني; born 21 January 1977) is a Saudi Arabian former professional footballer who played as a left-back in the Saudi Professional League.

Hussein Abdulghani
حسين عبدالغني
Hussein Abdel-Ghani in the Al-Ahli club shirt
Personal information
Full name Hussein Omar Abdulghani Sulaimani
Date of birth (1977-01-21) 21 January 1977
Place of birth Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
1992–1995 Al-Ahli
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2008 Al-Ahli 287 (30)
2007 → Al-Rayyan SC (loan) 1 (0)
2008–2009 Neuchâtel Xamax 21 (0)
2009–2017 Al-Nassr 205 (9)
2017–2018 Vereya 14 (0)
2018–2019 Ohod 11 (1)
2019–2020 Al-Ahli 29 (0)
Total 568 (40)
International career‡
1996–2018 Saudi Arabia 138[1] (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:13, 17 September 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:56, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Club career

Al-Ahli

Abdulghani began his career at Al-Ahli joining the youth team in 1992. He originally started his career as a forward but he was moved to full-back, the position he would mainly play, by Amin Dabo the youth team manager at the time.[2] Abdulghani made his Al-Ahli debut on 26 September 1995 in a Federation Cup tie with Al-Qadsiah. The match ended in a 2–1 loss.[3]

On 25 November 1995, Abdulghani made his league in the derby match against Al-Ittihad that ended in a 2–1 win.[4] He made 24 appearances in all competitions in his first season with the club as Al-Ahli finished runners-up in the league. In his second season, Abdulghani missed matches for Al-Ahli due to the national team's participation in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. On 25 December 1997, Abdulghani scored his first league goal for the club against Al-Wehda.[5] On 11 March 1998, Abdulghani started the Crown Prince Cup final against Al-Riyadh and provided the assist for Masaad's golden goal in the 97th minute, as Al-Ahli won their third Crown Prince Cup title.[6] This was Al-Ahli's first silverware since 1985. On 15 November 1999, Abdulghani made his continental debut for Al-Ahli against Syrian side Al-Jaish in the 1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.[7]

Abdulghani missed most of the 2001–02 season with Al-Ahli through injury after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty. He was substituted in the 84th minute in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Thailand on 21 October 2001.[8] He made his return on 15 March 2002 in the Gulf Club Champions Cup match against Emirati side Al-Shabab.[9] On 22 March 2002, Abdulghani started in the 2–0 win against Omani side Dhofar as Al-Ahli won their second Gulf Club Champions Cup.[10] On 27 December 2002, Abdulghani was suspended for six matches for comments he made towards the referee, Mamdouh Al-Mirdas, following the loss against Al-Hilal.[11] On 3 February 2003, Abdulghani started the Arab Unified Club Championship final against Tunisian side Club Africain as Al-Ahli won their first Arab title.[12]

Following the retirement of Mohammed Al-Jahani, Abdulghani was named as the club captain starting from the 2004–05 season.[13] His first final as club captain ended in a loss in the 2005 Federation Cup final against Al-Hilal.[14] Six months later, Abdulghani also captained the side in the 2006 Crown Prince Cup final loss against Al-Hilal as well.[15] On 9 February 2007, Abdulghani captained Al-Ahli as they won their third Federation Cup, defeating derby rivals Al-Ittihad in the final by 3–0 at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.[16] Two months later, on 27 April 2007, Abdulghani captained Al-Ahli as they won their fifth Crown Prince Cup title, defeating derby rivals Al-Ittihad in the final once again.[17]

In May 2007, Abdulghani was loaned to Qatari side Al-Rayyan on a short-term deal.[18] He made one appearance in the Emir of Qatar Cup quarter-finals. Abdulghani missed a penalty in the penalty shoot-outs as Al-Rayyan were eliminated by Al-Arabi. On 4 April 2008, Abdulghani was sent off in the league match against Najran, and was suspended for two matches. On 26 April 2008, his suspension was lifted.[19] On 27 April 2008, Abdulghani made his final appearance for Al-Ahli in the 3–1 loss against Al-Shabab in the 2nd leg of the King Cup quarter-finals.[20]

Later career

He then moved to Swiss based Neuchâtel Xamax staying for a year. He made 13 appearances without scoring.[21] His transfer to Europe had made him the third Saudi footballer to play in Europe, after Sami Al-Jaber and Fahad Al-Ghesheyan. In 2009, he returned to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Nassr. He is one of the longest-tenured and most experienced Saudi footballers.

On 13 September 2017, he signed a one-year contract with Bulgarian First League club Vereya.[22] He hoped to take a chance to play for the Saudi Arabia national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[23] In June 2018, he went back to Saudi Arabia to sign for the newly promoted Ohod.[24] In January 2019, he returned to his former club Al-Ahli.[25] On 15 October 2020, Abdulghani announced his retirement.[26]

International career

Abdulghani was a regular member of the Saudi Arabia national team. He was on the national team that won 1996 AFC Asian Cup at age 19. He was selected for the 1998, 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. Abdulghani announced his retirement from international football after failing to lead his national team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On 6 October 2018, he received a call-up for a friendly match against Brazil.[27]

Career statistics

Club

Updated 1 September 2022.[28][29]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Al-Ahli 1995–96 Saudi Premier League 140—10—9[lower-alpha 3]0240
1996–97 Saudi Premier League 40—20——60
1997–98 Saudi Premier League 101—30—3[lower-alpha 4]0161
1998–99 Saudi Premier League 212—10——222
1999–2000 Saudi Premier League 212—20304[lower-alpha 5]0302
2000–01 Saudi Premier League 141—20—3[lower-alpha 3]0191
2001–02 Saudi Premier League 30—00—4[lower-alpha 6]070
2002–03 Saudi Premier League 182—41209[lower-alpha 4]0333
2003–04 Saudi Premier League 182—40—14[lower-alpha 4]2364
2004–05 Saudi Premier League 120—10527[lower-alpha 4]1253
2005–06 Saudi Premier League 111—20—8[lower-alpha 3]2213
2006–07 Saudi Premier League 111—30—9[lower-alpha 7]0231
2007–08 Saudi Premier League 1211041613[lower-alpha 3]1233
Total 169131029216373628824
Neuchâtel Xamax 2008–09 Swiss Super League 19020———210
Al-Nassr 2009–10 Saudi Pro League 1730010—4[lower-alpha 8]0223
2010–11 Saudi Pro League 130102052—212
2011–12 Saudi Pro League 1705020——240
2012–13 Saudi Pro League 2412040—4[lower-alpha 4]0341
2013–14 Saudi Pro League 2301040——280
2014–15 Saudi Pro League 2224020601[lower-alpha 9]0352
2015–16 Saudi Pro League 18050105100291
2016–17 Saudi Pro League 801030——120
Total 1426190190163902059
Vereya 2017–18 Bulgarian First League 13010———140
Ohod 2018–19 Saudi Pro League 11100———111
Al-Ahli 2018–19 Saudi Pro League 3020—70—120
2019–20 Saudi Pro League 10000—70—170
Total 130200014000290
Al-Ahli Total 18203029230373631724
Career total 3672025048246682656834
  1. Includes King Cup, Swiss Cup and Bulgarian Cup
  2. Includes Crown Prince Cup
  3. Appearances in Federation Cup
  4. Appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup
  5. Appearances in Saudi Founder's Cup
  6. Appearances in GCC Champions League
  7. Eight appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup, one appearance in Federation Cup
  8. Three appearances in GCC Champions League, one appearance in Federation Cup
  9. Appearances in Saudi Super Cup

International
As of 20 November 2018[30][31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Saudi Arabia 1996180
1997210
1998220
1999142
200000
2001172
200250
200300
200441
200540
2006140
200730
200820
200980
201420
201840
Total1385

International goals

[32]

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
122 June 1999Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, Abha Jordan2–02–1Friendly
29 July 1999Titan Stadium, Fullerton Canada2–02–0Friendly
38 February 2001Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam Mongolia4–06–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
48 February 2001Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam Mongolia5–06–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
514 October 2004Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta Indonesia2–03–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

Honours

Al-Ahli

Neuchâtel Xamax FCS

  • Swiss Cup - 3rd place

Al-Nassr

OHOD

  • Gulf of Aqaba Cup: 2018
  • Jordan International Championship: 2018

Saudi Arabia

individual

  • The best promising Gulf player in 1996.
  • Best Arab player in 1997.
  • He won the best player award 3 times from 8 matches in the final qualifiers for the World Cup in France, as a record for a player in the defense line.
  • He was chosen to play in the Asian Stars team in Moscow in 1998.
  • He was chosen to play in the World Stars team in 1997 and 2000 in Marseille.
  • He won the SANYO award for the best Asian full back in 2000.
  • Best defender in the Arab Clubs Cup in 2003 in Jeddah.
  • The best Arab player in the World Cup twice, 1998 AD and 2006.
  • He was chosen as the best Saudi football player in 2006.
  • The US magazine Esquire chose him as the best international player for teams in the Middle East and North Africa in the first decade of the millennium (2000 - 2009).
  • The Best Asian Goal Award for the month of April 2011 from the Asian Confederation.
  • Best Saudi Defender of 2014 from Opta.
  • Best Professional in Bulgaria in 2018.

Other prizes
  • 1997: Saudi Arabia - Al-Ahli Club Golden Shield
  • 1998: Morocco - Arab Excellence Award from the Moroccan Arab Sports Magazine
  • 2002: Palestine - the shield of the Palestinian Football Association for its support for the Palestinian cause
  • 2014: France - Civilization and Excellence Award from the Encyclopedia of Excellence and World Civilization in Paris
  • 2017: Qatar - World Cup Ambassador for Orphans in Qatar

See also

References
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  21. Abdulghani moving to Neuchâtel Xamax - Okaz newspaper Archived 13 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine (AR)
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  23. "Звездата на Верея Хюсеин Сюлеймани пред БЛИЦ СПОРТ: Имам само една жена и пет деца, всички са от нея!" (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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  32. "( Hussein AL SULAIMANI ) Goals". Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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