Saad Natiq Naji (Arabic: سعد ناطق ناجي, born 19 March 1994),[2] sometimes referred as Suad Natiq Naji, is an Iraqi footballer who plays for Al-Talaba in the Iraqi Premier League and the Iraq national football team as a center back and defensive midfielder.[3]
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Saad Natiq Naji[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 March 1994[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Al-Najaf, Iraq | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Center back, Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Talaba | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Al-Najaf FC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Masafi Al-Wasat | (1) | |
| 2014–2017 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | (3) | |
| 2017–2018 | Al-Arabi | 21 | (3) |
| 2018–2019 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | (5) | |
| 2019–2022 | Al-Shorta | 64 | (8) |
| 2022 | Al-Batin | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Abha | 32 | (1) |
| 2024 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | ||
| 2024– | Al-Talaba | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011–2013 | Iraq U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Iraq U23 | 8 | (0) |
| 2024 | Iraq Olympic (O.P.) | 1 | (0) |
| 2015– | Iraq | 41 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 August 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 July 2024 | |||
Club career
editBorn in Najaf Saad went through the Al-Najaf FC youth system and made his senior debut with his home club under Hatif Shamran in 2009 and was part of the club's first team for two seasons.[4] However it was in the Iraqi capital that Saad made his name, when he joined Doura-based oil refinery club Al-Masafi in the south of Baghdad where he played for three seasons – earning his selection to the Iraqi U-19s.[4] It was under Hakim Shaker that Saad Natiq became one of the nation's recognised defenders, playing for the Iraqi Under 19s at the FIFA World U-20 Cup in Turkey.[4] It was his spell at Al-Masafi under the command of trainers Hassan Ahmed and Nadhim Shaker that he developed as a player and was transformed into a strong tackling centre half after used in several positions at the club including at right back having first started out as a midfield anchor in his early days at Al-Najaf.[4] In the summer of 2014, the defender was signed by his former Al-Masafi club coach Nadhim Shaker to play for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya after his club were relegated to the first division.[4]
Al Arabi
editSaad Natiq signed for Al Arabi for the 2017/18 season. He made his debut on 17 September against Al Sailiya which ended in a 3–1 defeat. He scored his first goal in the Qatar Stars League against Al Rayyan on 19 November, with his second coming in the same match.
International career
editOn 26 August 2015, Natiq made his first international appearance for Iraq against Lebanon in a friendly match.[citation needed]
International Goals
edit| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 29 January 2024 | Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar |  Jordan |
1–1 | 2–3 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
Honours
editAl-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Shorta
Iraq U-20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup 4th-place: 2013
Iraq U-23
- Asian Games bronze-medal: 2014
References
edit- ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Iraq" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 June 2013. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2013.
- ^ "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - SUAD NATIQ". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ "اللاعب: سعد ناطق ناجي". Kooora.com. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Mubarak, Hassanin. "Iraq Olympic Team Profile".
- ^ "The AFC". The-afc.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
External links
edit- Saad Natiq – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Saad Natiq at Soccerway
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