Saudi players have started to
make their mark in Europe as two European clubs signed three names this season.
Saudi Arabia has just been
named the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, albeit with controversy. Naturally,
they begin speeding up their football development, on and off the pitch. The
football infrastructure and facilities might be easier to build, but not its
sporting side. The KSA national team’s campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers has not been satisfactory. They have even been winless against the
minnow, Indonesia. Recently, they were well beaten on the road after being held
in a stalemate at home.
However, their talents have
been recognised at the top level and flourished. This season, three Saudi
internationals joined two European sides. The right back, Saud Abdulhamid,
signed for Italian Serie A, AS Roma, while the midfielder Faisal Al Ghamdi and
forward, Marwan Al Sahafi, moved to the Belgian side, Beerschot VA. They are
currently sitting 16th on the table.
Unlike the past talents in
Europe, who barely hit the pitch, they slowly start to get a nod in the lineup
and play regularly. Roma’s Abdulhamid, for example, has featured six times in
all competitions and contributed one goal and one assist, whereas Al Ghamdi and
Al Sahafi have been playing regularly for their team. Both have made 14
appearances. The latter has even netted five times, including a winning brace
while thumping Anderlecht 2-1, plus provided one assist.
So, why are Saudi talents so
late to make their mark in Europe compared to the other Asian football
powerhouses? It was none but the Saudi football authority themselves who still imposed the rule of banning their players from moving abroad until 1998.
The former Saudi international star of the 1990s and 2000s, Sami Al Jaber, was
one of the few who lamented such policy. Despite the fact that he had a chance
to join Wolverhampton in 2000, the ex-forward could not thrive there. In
addition, such a rule also costs the slow progress of Saudi football
development in comparison to Iran, Japan, and South Korea. As a result, they
even failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014, while at the
same time, Australia and Qatar emerge as the new elite in the continent.
Nevertheless, there has
always been an anomaly. Here are the prominent Saudi talents before Saud
Abdulhamid and Co., who still managed to put on a good display during their
brief spells in Europe.
Saleh Al Shehri
(Beira-Mar 2012/13)
His name was all over news and some headlines when he contributed heavily to Saudi’s unlikely 2-1 win over the eventual
champion, Argentina, in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He scored the equaliser at the
World Cup opener and featured in his country’s all three games. Such is no
surprise, as Al Shehri made his European debut at the age of 21. The product of
Al Ahli’s academy was already loaned out to Portuguese second-tier side
Deportivo de Mafra in 2012, where he made two appearances.
He then joined the top-flight
side, SC Beira-Mar, on loan in the following season. The current Al Ittihad man
became the first Saudi to find the back of the net in Europe as he bagged one
against Moreirense to salvage one point for his team. He also netted another
one while holding Vitoria Guimares in a 2-2 draw. Overall, Al Shehri was able
to play 11 times and score twice. Unfortunately, SC Beira-Mar had to go down to
the second tier as they sat at the bottom of the table. That was his last stint
in Europe. The 31-year-old forward has earned 39 international caps and notched
up 16 goals so far.
Fahd Al Ghesheyan (AZ
Alkmaar 1998/99)
He is one of the earliest Saudi players who moved to Europe. The right winger joined AZ Alkmaar on loan
in 1998. He managed to display his quality in the Dutch Eredivisie in nine
games. Al Ghesheyan was able to contribute two assists, one of them leading to
a match winner versus Vitesse. His technical ability was highly praised by his
boss in AZ Alkmaar, Willem Van Hanegem, who also led his previous team, Al
Hilal. Unfortunately, he lacked consistency and professionalism, which are
necessary to shine at the top level.
The winger who netted once
against Sweden in the 1994 FIFA World Cup round of 16 was often overlooked in
his club and national team. Despite thriving in the 1993 U20 FIFA World Cup,
especially when Saudi held Brazil in a goalless draw in the group stage, he did
not become the first choice in the senior team. Al Ghesheyan already quit the national
team in 1995 with only 33 caps and four goals. He even already retired at the
age of 30 due to lack of playing game time in Al Nassr, his last club, and
being unable to be the star in his boyhood team, Al Hilal. His frustration and
falling out with the management had led to his exit from there.
Houssein Abdulghani
(Neuchatel Xamax 2008/09 and Vereya 2017/18)
He is the only Saudi Arabian
footballer with two spells in two different countries in Europe. The former
left back was playing for the Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax in the 2008/09 season
and for the Bulgarian side Vereya nine years later.
Abdulghani plied his trade
for the first time in Europe at the age of 31 years old. He was a regular
member of Xamax, as he featured in 21 games in all competitions and provided
one assist in his last game against FC Aarau. The player who was also part of
the Saudi Arabia World Cup squad in 1998, 2002, and 2006 editions helped them finish
seventh to avoid relegation.
His second stint in Europe
came when he was already 40 years old. The versatile fullback joined Vereya in
2017 and played 14 times in all competitions. He also contributed well as his
team finished sixth on the table and qualified for the Championship round
instead of the relegation round.
He was hoping to make the cut
in Juan Pizzi’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with his stunning display in
Bulgaria but failed to get a national call-up for one last major tournament.
Abdulghani eventually retired from international play not long after to focus
on his club performance. He hung up his boots in 2020 after returning to his
home soil and playing for Ohod and Al Ahli.
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