Kenny Saief Explained

Kenny Saief
Full Name:Kenneth Hasan Saief
Birth Date:17 December 1993
Birth Place:Panama City, Florida, U.S.[1]
Height:1.76m (05.77feet)[2]
Position:Left midfielder
Currentclub:Maccabi Haifa
Clubnumber:15
Youthyears1:2005–2006
Youthyears2:2006–2008
Youthyears3:2008
Youthyears4:2008–2010
Youthyears5:2010–2011
Youthyears6:2011
Youthclubs1:Maccabi Haifa
Youthclubs2:Hapoel Haifa
Youthclubs3:Maccabi Netanya
Youthclubs4:Beitar Nes Tubruk
Youthclubs5:TSV 1860 München
Youthclubs6:Bnei Sakhnin
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:Bnei Sakhnin
Caps1:6
Goals1:1
Years2:2011–2012
Clubs2:Hapoel Haifa
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2012–2013
Clubs3:Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2013–2014
Clubs4:Hapoel Ramat HaSharon
Caps4:28
Goals4:9
Years5:2014–2018
Clubs5:Gent
Caps5:81
Goals5:13
Years6:2018
Clubs6:Anderlecht (loan)
Caps6:17
Goals6:1
Years7:2018–2022
Clubs7:Anderlecht
Caps7:12
Goals7:0
Years8:2019
Clubs8:FC Cincinnati (loan)
Caps8:9
Goals8:1
Years9:2020–2021
Clubs9:Lechia Gdańsk (loan)
Caps9:33
Goals9:1
Years10:2021–2022
Clubs10:Ashdod (loan)
Caps10:30
Goals10:4
Years11:2022–2023
Clubs11:Neftçi
Caps11:46
Goals11:5
Years12:2023–
Clubs12:Maccabi Haifa
Caps12:14
Goals12:0
Nationalyears1:2008–2009
Nationalteam1:Israel U16
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2011
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2011
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2013–2015
Nationalteam4:Israel U21
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2016
Nationalteam5:Israel
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2017–2018
Nationalteam6:United States
Nationalcaps6:4
Nationalgoals6:0
Pcupdate:April 15, 2024
Ntupdate:November 15, 2018

Kenneth Hasan "Kenny" Saief (Arabic: كينيث حسن "كيني" سيف, Hebrew: קנת' חסן "קני" סייף; born 17 December 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left midfielder for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Haifa. He played for Israel internationally at both youth and senior levels, before switching allegiance.

Early life

Saief was born in Panama City, Florida, U.S., to Druze-Israeli parents; The family returned to Israel when he was three.[3]

Club career

Saief began his professional career with Bnei Sakhnin in 2011, before he was transferred to Hapoel Haifa one season later. The next year, he moved to Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona and reached the final of the Israel State Cup. Saief made only two appearances however, which resulted in a transfer to Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon. There he gained more playing opportunities.

Saief attracted the attention of Belgian Pro League team K.A.A. Gent, who signed him for a three-year deal on August 8, 2014.[4] Saief's first season at the club saw him with the Belgian Pro League title. After four seasons at Gent, Saief officially signed to Anderlecht in May 2018.

On March 6, 2019, Saief was loaned to FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer. On March 24, 2019, Saief scored his first MLS goal against the New England Revolution.[5] On June 11, 2019, Saief's loan was terminated due to injury complications.[6]

On February 12, 2020, he was loaned to Polish Ekstraklasa's Lechia Gdańsk until the end of 2019–20 season.

On 1 July 2022, Saief signed a two-year contract with Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftçi.[7] On 14 December 2023, Saief left Neftçi.[8]

On 19 December 2023 signed for Maccabi Haifa.[9]

International career

Saief has represented the Israel national team at various youth levels. He reportedly stated that he expected to play for the United States national team,[10] although he was called up to the Israel national team and made his debut in a friendly 2–1 loss to Croatia.[11]

On June 3, 2017, Saief was called up by the United States as part of their 40-man preliminary roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[12] As part of his callup, Saief filed a one-time switch with FIFA, tying him permanently to the US program.[13]

On June 22, 2017, U.S. Soccer confirmed that Saief had been approved by FIFA for a change of association.[14]

He was chosen to make his first start for the United States against Paraguay on March 27, 2018.[15]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bnei Sakhnin2010–11Israeli Premier League60000060
Hapoel Haifa2012–13Israeli Premier League30001040
Ironi Kiryat Shmona2012–13Israeli Premier League20000020
Ramat HaSharon2013–14Israeli Premier League28931003110
Gent2014–15Pro League20241243
2015–162841080374
2016–17First Division A31730131478
2017–1830200050
Total821310121111315
Anderlecht (loan)2017–18First Division A171171
Anderlecht2018–191200050170
2020–2100000000
Total2910050341
FC Cincinnati (loan)Major League Soccer9100000090
Lechia Gdańsk (loan)2019–20Ekstraklasa111000000111
2020–21220100000230
Total3311000341
F.C. Ashdod (loan)2021–22Israeli Premier League304100000314
Neftçi2022–23Azerbaijan Premier League324500042416
2023–24141000041182
Total4655083598
Career total248321921034430437

Honors

Gent

2014–15

2015

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kenny Saief was born in Panama City Florida . August 21, 2014 . August 21, 2014 . nl.
  2. Web site: Kenny Saief Football Statistics - WhoScored.com. www.whoscored.com.
  3. Web site: Five Things to Know About U.S. MNT Midfielder Kenny Saief. www.ussoccer.com. May 10, 2016 .
  4. Web site: Kenny Saief signs 3-season deal . August 8, 2014 . nl . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809035609/http://www.kaagent.be/buffalo/nieuws/08-08-2014/kenny-saief-tekent-voor-3-seizoenen/ . August 9, 2014 .
  5. Web site: Kenny Saief Joins Orange And Blue From RSC Anderlecht . FCCincinnati.com . 6 March 2019.
  6. News: FC Cincinnati to terminate Kenny Saief loan weeks early. The New York Times . June 11, 2019 . Stejskal . Sam .
  7. Web site: "Neftçi"dən növbəti transfer . neftchi.az/ . Neftçi PFK . 1 July 2022 . Azerbaijani . 1 July 2022.
  8. Web site: "Neftçi" PFK-nın məlumatı . neftchi.az . Neftçi PFK . 14 December 2023 . Azerbaijani . 14 December 2023.
  9. Web site: קני סייף חתם לשנתיים במכבי חיפה: "זה היה החלום של אבא ז"ל". Shlomo. Weiss. 19 December 2023. 19 December 2023. Walla. Hebrew.
  10. Web site: Gent midfielder Saief says it's 'matter of time' before USMNT call-up. SBI Soccer. Ryan. Tomlich. December 10, 2015.
  11. Web site: CROATIA VS. ISRAEL 2 – 0. Soccer Way. June 25, 2017.
  12. Web site: USA Submits 40-Player Preliminary Roster for 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup =3 June 2017. ussoccer.com.
  13. Web site: FIFA APPROVES CHANGE OF ASSOCIATION REQUEST FOR MIDFIELDER KENNY SAIEF. US Soccer. June 25, 2017.
  14. Web site: Kenny Saief seals national team switch from Israel to United States. ESPN FC. June 22, 2017. June 22, 2017.
  15. Web site: Delgado makes US debut in exhibition vs Paraguay. USA TODAY.