Ali Al Saadi Explained

Ali Al Saadi
Fullname:Ali Mahmoud Al Saadi
Height:1.85 m
Birth Date:20 April 1986
Birth Place:Beirut, Lebanon
Currentclub:Irshad Chehim
Position:Centre-back
Years1:2005–2017
Clubs1:Safa
Goals1:42
Years2:2014
Clubs2:Naft Maysan (loan)
Goals2:1
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Ahed
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:Safa
Caps4:19
Goals4:1
Years5:2019–2022
Clubs5:Nejmeh
Caps5:24
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Safa
Caps6:18
Goals6:1
Years7:2023–2024
Clubs7:Sagesse SC
Caps7:3
Goals7:0
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Irshad Chehim
Nationalyears1:2007
Nationalteam1:Lebanon U23
Nationalyears2:2006–2013
Nationalteam2:Lebanon
Nationalcaps2:46
Nationalgoals2:6
Club-Update:17 January 2024

Ali Mahmoud Al Saadi (Arabic: علي محمود السعدي; born 20 April 1986) is a Lebanese footballer who plays as a centre-back for Lebanese Second Division club Irshad Chehim.

Starting his career at Safa in 2005, Al Saadi remained there until 2017—albeit being sent on a six-month loan to Naft Maysan in Iraq. In 2017 he moved to Ahed for one season, before returning to Safa the following year. In 2019 Al Saadi moved to Nejmeh, then returned to Safa a second time in 2022.

Making his international debut for Lebanon in 2006, Al Saadi represented his nation in 46 games, scoring six goals in the process. As he was involved in the 2013 match-fixing scandal, Al Saadi was permanently excluded from the national team.

Club career

Al Saadi began his senior career at Lebanese Premier League side Safa, during the 2005–06 season. He was part of the team that reached the 2008 AFC Cup Final where, despite Al Saadi scored in the second leg,[1] Safa lost 10–5 on aggregate against Al-Muharraq.[2] He helped his side win two league titles in a row, in 2011–12 and 2012–13,[3] a Lebanese FA Cup, in 2012–13, two Lebanese Elite Cups, in 2009 and 2012, and a Lebanese Super Cup, in 2013.[4]

In 2014 Al Saadi moved on a six-month loan to Iraqi Premier League side Naft Maysan, scoring one goal. Upon his return on loan, Al Saadi helped Safa win the 2015–16 Lebanese Premier League. On 7 July 2017, Al Saadi joined Ahed after 18 years at Safa.[5] In his only season at Ahed (2017–18), Al Saadi won the league, FA Cup, and Super Cup.

In 2018 Al Saadi moved back to Safa,[6] where he stayed for one season (2018–19). On 9 August 2019, the centre-back moved to Nejmeh, in a swap deal that included Hussein Sharafeddine and Ahmed Jalloul.[7] Al Saadi returned to Safa once again in August 2022.[8] He signed for Sagesse in 2023, and Irshad Chehim in 2024.[9]

International career

In 2007, Al Saadi played for the Lebanon national under-23 team at the 2008 Olympics qualifiers.[10]

He participated in the Nehru Cup as part of the Lebanon national team and scored the winning goal in the opening match against India, defeating India 1–0.[11] Additionally, he is known for giving Lebanon the early lead against South Korea in the 4th minute, in order to help his team earn their first victory against them in a FIFA-sanctioned competition.[12]

He is one of 24 players involved to the 2013 match-fixing scandal, and suffered one season ban from club football, and a lifetime suspension from the national team.

Career statistics

International

List of international goals scored by Ali Al Saadi! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1 19 August 2009 New Delhi1–0 Win 2009 Nehru Cup
2 22 August 2009 New Delhi3–4 Loss 2009 Nehru Cup
3 23 July 2011 Beirut4–0 Win 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 15 November 2011 Beirut2–1 Win 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 18 May 2012 Beirut1–2 Loss Friendly
6 8 June 2012 Beirut1–1 Draw 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Safa

Nejmeh

Individual

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 7 November 2008. Safa SC v Muharraq. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120517223001/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/competitions/fixtures/228-1912.pdf. 17 May 2012. 18 October 2020. The AFC.
  2. Web site: AFC Cup Final Flashback: AL Muharraq V SAFA (2008). GhanaSoccernet. en. 2020-05-04.
  3. Web site: Ali Al-Saadi. Strack-Zimmermann. Benjamin. www.national-football-teams.com. en. 2020-05-04.
  4. Web site: Lebanon - List of Cup Winners. RSSSF. 2020-05-04.
  5. Web site: العهد يفوز بقلب دفاع الصفاء. 7 July 2017. newlebanon.info. 5 May 2020.
  6. Web site: العهد يواصل تعزيزاته وعين النجمة على كسر هيمنته. للإعلام. الوكالة الوطنية. الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام. ar. 2020-05-04.
  7. Web site: النجمة يرمم دفاعاته بعلي السعدي. 2019-08-09. كووورة. 2020-05-04.
  8. Web site: 2022-08-22 . علي السعدي يعود إلى الصفاء . 2022-10-07 . كووورة.
  9. https://elmaestrosport.com/%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b9%d8%af%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d9%88%d9%82%d8%b9-%d9%84%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b1%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%b4%d8%ad%d9%8a%d9%85/
  10. Web site: 28 February 2007. Vietnam v Lebanon. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120616205156/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/competitions/fixtures/1889.pdf. 16 June 2012. 18 October 2020. The AFC.
  11. Web site: Nehru Cup: India go down fighting to Lebanon.
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20120101060551/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/asia/matches/round=257791/match=300172533/report.html FIFA.com
  13. Web site: 17 May 2006. ar:تقرير مفصل مع الصورعباس عطوي أفضل لاعب في الدوري اللبناني. 10 February 2022. alqabas.com. ar.
  14. Web site: Al Sahili. Mohamed. 4 July 2007. ar:تقرير مفصل مع الصور الحصرية لكوورة لبنانية عن مهرجان المنار 2006–2007. 10 February 2022. Kooora. ar.
  15. Web site: 10 July 2008. ar:العراقي سدير أفضل لاعب في استفتاء "المنار". 13 February 2022. alkhaleej.ae. ar.
  16. Web site: 13 May 2009. ar:مهرجان المنار... والكأس بين العهد والساحل. 13 February 2022. al-akhbar. ar.
  17. Web site: 18 May 2011. ar:معتوق أفضل لاعب لبناني وحيدر يطالب بإصلاحات. 14 May 2019. al-akhbar. ar.
  18. Web site: 15 May 2012. ar:بلال نجارين أفضل لاعب في مهرجان "كرة المنار". 13 May 2019. malaeeb.com. ar.
  19. Web site: محمد حيدر والنيجيري كابيروموسى الافضل في مهرجان كرة المنار الـ20. 6 June 2016. An-Nahar. 26 February 2019. 24 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424104115/https://www.annahar.com/article/400091-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%8420. dead.