Majed Abdullah

Majed Ahmed Abdullah
Majed in 1984
Personal information
Full name Majed Ahmed Abdullah Al-Mohammed
Date of birth (1959-01-11) 11 January 1959
Place of birth Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Centre forward
Youth career
1975–1977 Al Nassr
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1997 Al Nassr 240 (260)
Total 240 (260)
National team
1975–1977 Saudi U17 4 (7)
1977–1994 Saudi Arabia 116 (71)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Majed Ahmed Abdullah (Arabic: ماجد احمد عبد الله)‎ (born 11 January 1959)[1] is a former striker for Al Nassr FC and Saudi national team. He was one of the top international scorers in the world (115 goals). He won Asian Footballer of the Year three times in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He won the AFC Asian Cup twice in 1984 and 1988. He has been the league's top scorer 6 times and was nicknamed the "Arabian Jewel".

Childhood

Abdullah was born in the Al-Baghdadia District in Jeddah, close to Al-Ittihad Club. Majed is the second son of Ahmed Abdullah. Being a neighbor to a sports club alongside with being the son of a football manager made the child Majed live in a football environment. All the pictures in the house were on the walls and all the conversations between Majed's father and his guests were about football and that made the young Majed a football lover from the beginning.

In the mid-1960s, Majed and his family moved to Riyadh where his father got a job as the manager of Al-Nassr youth team. Majed joined "Al-Jazaeria Elementary School" and the 3 year old kid was passionately watching the older kids playing football. Couple of years later, Majed started participating in the school team and the neighborhood team as a goalkeeper. One day, the team striker was absent and Majed replaced him to guide his team to a 3-1 victory. Majed's Family moved to Hotat Khaled District and the young Majed joined "Al-Motawasta Al-Thania" high school. Majed and his young neighbors formed a team they called "Al-Ittifaq". They tried to participate in one of the most famous tournaments but their request was rejected due to their young age. The kids didn't give up and challenged one of Riyadh's best teams for a place in that tournament and surprisingly they won 3-1 with 2 goals from the young talent "Majed Abdullah". "Al-Ittifaq" was accepted to compete regardless of its members young age, and the team went on to win the championship.

Club career

Mohammed Al-Hudayan, a teammate at Al-Ittifaq, recommended Abdullah to Al-Nassr president Prince Abdulrahman Bin Saud, as did Al-Ittifaq's trainer Nasseb Awad to Khaled Al-Turki and Al-Nassr coach Brocic Ljubisa (Broshtch). Brocic went to see Abudullah unannounced at Al-Ittifaq's training field in Al-Batha, and requested that the club sign him. Abdullah joined Al-Nassr in November 1975.

Abdullah spent 2 years playing for the youth teams before joining the senior team., making his senior debut in a friendly against the Moroccan team Al-Fath in January 1977. His competitive debut came against Al-Shabab later the same month, followed by his first goal for the club against Al-Wehda in March 1977.Majed spent that season as a substitute but the injury of Al-Nassr number 1 striker Mohammed Saad Al-Abdali gave the young talent the chance where he started the last 4 matches of the season scoring 4 goals which was a huge achievement for a 17 year old player. Majed started his career with the shirt number 14 before switching to his legendary number 9. Majed went on to represent Al-Nassr for more than 20 years scoring 320 goals making him Al-Nassr greatest player ever.

National team

Under 17 team

In August 1977, Majed was chosen to represent the Saudi Arabia under 17 soccer team in Tabriz Championship in Iran. Majed's beginning was stunning. He amazed everyone in the tournament including his own trainer "Jeff Faundon" and went on to score 7 goals in 3 matches (2 against Iran – 2 against Bulgaria – 3 against Russia) to become the tournament's top scorer.

The senior team

Majed made his senior team debut in 1978 in a friendly against Portuguese club Benfica where he scored 2 goals in his first ever international match when he was only 18. His official debut was against Kenya in the same year. Majed represented Saudi national team continuously for 16 years where injury was the only reason to keep him out the National Team.

Goals

Majed goals with club

From 1977 to 1998, Majed scored for the club Al Nassr FC 321 goals* (260 goals Class A in 240 matches).

Season League Cup* Gulf Asia* Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1976–19775445----99
1977–1978121222----1414
1978–1979131836----1624
1979–19801317------1317
1980–1981152144----1925
1981–19826911----710
1982–198311143343--1820
1983–1984*----------
1984–198541------41
1985–1986121521----1416
1986–1987111545----1520
1987–19886532----97
1988–1989151945----1924
1989–1990121335----1518
1990–199111104545--1920
1991–199223----2144
1992–19935410----64
1993–1994*----------
1994–19958811----99
1995–199630224560157
1996–1997421/20/433311310
1997–1998------2121
Total16819044511516133240260
  • Majed scored 61 goals in friendly matches with Al Nassr club + 260 goals (Official matches) = 321 goals.
  • The Cup: King's Cup 1977-1990 (33m/39g), Crown Cup 1991-1997 (9m/8g), SF Cup in 1997 (2m/4g).
  • Asia: Champions League 1996 and 1997 (9m/1g), Cup Winners Cup 1991 and 1998 (4m/2g).
  • 1984 and 1994: Did not play in the season because of joining with the national team.

Majed goals with the national team

From 1978 to 1994, Majed scored for National Team 229 goals* (115 goals Class A in 185 matches "79 official - 36 Friendly").

GoalsDateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
1. 3 May 1978Riyadh Pakistan6/0International Friendship Cup
2.
3.6 May 1978Riyadh Kenya2/0International Friendship Cup
4. 28 September 1978Jeddah Morocco4/1Friendly Match
5.
6.12 December 1978Bangkok Qatar*2/2Asian Games
7.24 March 1979Baghdad United Arab Emirates2/1Gulf Cup of Nations
8.24 March 1979Baghdad Oman4/0Gulf Cup of Nations
9. 4 April 1979Baghdad Qatar7/0Gulf Cup of Nations
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.30 January 1980Riyadh South Korea1/3Friendly Match
15.29 September 1980Izmir Malaysia3/0Islamic Games
16.30 September 1980Izmir Cyprus*2/0Islamic Games
17. 12 December 1980Riyadh Indonesia8/0Friendly Match
18.
19.
20.
21.
22. 14 December 1980Jeddah Indonesia3/0Friendly Match
23.
24.17 October 1981Riyadh South Korea2/0Friendly Match
25. 20 October 1981Riyadh Venezuela3/1Friendly Match
26.
27.12 November 1981Kuala Lumpur China PR2/41982 World Cup qualification
28. 20 October 1981Auckland New Zealand2/21982 World Cup qualification
29.
30.29 March 1982Abu Dhabi Qatar1/0Gulf Cup of Nations
31. 2 April 1982Abu Dhabi Bahrain2/2Gulf Cup of Nations
32.
33. 19 October 1982Riyadh Kuwait3/1World Military Cup qualifying*
34.
35.12 November 1982Singapore Singapore1/1Friendly Match
36.28 February 1983Abu Dhabi Kuwait1/2World Military Cup qualifying
37.1 October 1983New Delhi India2/11984 Olympiad Los Angeles qualifying*
38. 6 November 1983Riyadh India5/01984 Olympiad Los Angeles qualifying
39.
40.
41.
42. 11 November 1983Riyadh Malaysia2/01984 Olympiad Los Angeles qualifying
43.
44.2 December 1983Riyadh Somalia1/0Arab Nations Cup qualifying
45. 9 December 1983Riyadh Sudan3/0Arab Nations Cup qualifying
46.
47. 21 February 1984Riyadh Algeria4/2Friendly Match
48.
49.10 March 1984Muscat Qatar1/2Gulf Cup of Nations
50. 15 April 1984Singapore New Zealand3/11984 Olympiad Los Angeles qualifying
51.
52. 22 April 1984Singapore Kuwait4/11984 Olympiad Los Angeles qualifying
53.
54. 24 April 1984Singapore South Korea5/41984 Olympiad Los Angeles qualifying
55.
56.30 July 1984Los Angeles Brazil1/31984 Olympiad Los Angeles Finals
57.25 September 1984Khobar Iceland1/2Friendly Match
58.8 October 1984Jeddah Thailand2/1Friendly Match
59.19 October 1984Jeddah   Nepal7/0Asian Cup qualification
60.22 October 1984Jeddah United Arab Emirates1/0Asian Cup qualification
61. 24 October 1984Jeddah Sri Lanka5/0Asian Cup qualification
62.
63.
64. 26 October 1984Jeddah Oman6/0Asian Cup qualification
65.
66.
67.2 December 1984Singapore South Korea1/1Asian Cup
68.13 December 1984Singapore Iran*1/1 5–4 (pen.)Asian Cup
69.16 December 1984Singapore China PR2/0Asian Cup
70.5 August 1985Rabat Yemen2/0Arab Games
71.8 August 1985Rabat United Arab Emirates1/0Arab Games
72.14 August 1985Rabat Iraq1/2Arab Games
73. 8 September 1985Taif Iraq3/1Friendly Match
74.
75.23 March 1986Manama Kuwait1/3Gulf Cup of Nations
76.25 March 1986Manama Bahrain1/2Gulf Cup of Nations
77. 28 March 1986Manama Oman3/1Gulf Cup of Nations
78.
79.29 August 1986Singapore Ireland1/1Friendly Match
80. 21 September 1986Seoul Malaysia3/1Asian Games
81.
82. 25 September 1986Seoul Indonesia2/0Asian Games
83.
84.18 April 1987Riyadh Oman1/01988 Olympiad Seoul qualifying
85. 20 April 1987Riyadh Bahrain2/01988 Olympiad Seoul qualifying
86.
87.1 January 1988Muscat Iraq1/11988 Olympiad Seoul qualifying
88.17 February 1988Riyadh Scotland2/2Friendly Match
89.9 March 1988Riyadh Bahrain1/0Gulf Cup of Nations
90.13 March 1988Riyadh United Arab Emirates2/2Gulf Cup of Nations
91. 23 June 1988Melbourne New Zealand2/3Friendly Match
92.
93.29 June 1988Melbourne Hong Kong3/0Friendly Match
94.6 July 1988Adelaide Argentina2/2Gold Cup
95.13 July 1988Melbourne Brazil1/4Gold Cup
96. 13 November 1988Riyadh Malaysia6/0Friendly Match
97.
98.
99.16 November 1988Riyadh England1/1Friendly Match
100.23 November 1988Khobar Tunisia1/0Friendly Match
101.15 December 1988Doha Iran1/0Asian Cup
102.15 March 1989Jeddah Syria5/41990 World Cup qualification
103.5 April 1989Jeddah Yemen1/01990 World Cup qualification
104. 19 September 1990Beijing Singapore3/0Friendly Match
105.
106. 24 September 1990Beijing Bangladesh3/0Asian Games
107.
108.11 September 1992Halab Syria1/1Arab Nations Cup
109.18 April 1993Singapore New Zealand3/1Friendly Match
110.22 April 1993Singapore Singapore3/0Friendly Match
111. 16 May 1993Riyadh Malaysia3/01994 World Cup qualification
112.
113.18 May 1993Riyadh Kuwait2/01994 World Cup qualification
114.27 September 1993Dammam Costa Rica3/2Friendly Match
115.4 June 1994Pomona Trinidad and Tobago3/1Friendly Match
  • Majed scored 114 goals in friendly matches against clubs + 115 goals = 229 goals.
  • Goals (No. 6,16,68) There is a dispute in the record Matches and goals.
  • World Military Cup in 1983 was at the level of the first team "Class A".
  • Olympiad 1984 and 1988 was at the level of the first team "Class A".

Majed Career Statistics

Majed Abdullah has 50 Achievements in 22 years.

From 1977 to 1998, Majed scored 550 goals (375 goals Class A in 425 matches), achieved 50 achievement in every year even retiring.

Season Goals Scorer Champions Awards Total
ClubNationalClubNationalClubNationalClubNationalGoalsAchieve.
1976 197797*-Top Scorer cycle Tabriz U17----91
1977 19781462nd Scorer league-----201
1978 1979247Top Scorer league & Cub-----312
1979 19801710Top Scorer league-League---272
1980 1981256Top Scorer league-League & Cup-Arabian Golden Boot-314
1981 1982106-Top Scorer Gulf Cup----161
1982 19832011Top Scorer leagueTop Scorer Arab Cup qualifying----312
1983 1984-23-Top Scorer Asia Cup & Olympic qualifying-Asia Cup & Qualify to Olympics-Asian Player of the Year235
1984 198515-Top Scorer Arab Games---Asian Player of the Year62
1985 1986169Top Scorer league-Cup--Asian Player of the Year253
1986 1987203Top Scorer Cup & 2nd Scorer league-Cup-Arabian Silver Boot-234
1987 1988715Top Scorer Cup--Asia Cup-3rd-Best Asian Player223
1988 1989242Top Scorer league & Cup-League-Arabian Golden Boot2nd-Best Asian Player265
1989 19901842nd Scorer league-Cup---222
1990 199120-Top Scorer Cup-----201
1991 199241Top Scorer Gulf Cup clubs-----51
1992 199346---Qualify to World cup--101
1993 1994-1---Second round in World Cup--11
1994 19959---League-AFC Player of the Month JuneRecord holder in the Century Club93
1995 19967-Top Scorer Gulf Cup clubs-Gulf Cup clubs-AFC Player of the Month January-73
1996 199710-2nd Scorer Gulf Cup clubs-Gulf Cup clubs---102
1997 19981---Asian Cup Winners---11
Total2601151761155637550
  • 7 goals with the national team U17 has not calculated in total.

Majed Scoring Statistics

Statistics all goals official and friendly for the club and the national team.

Scoring forClassificationGoals
Al Nassr FCSaudi Premier League190
Al Nassr FCKing Cup39
Al Nassr FCCrown Cup8
Al Nassr FCSaudi Federation Cup4
Al Nassr FCRegional and Continental Matches19
Al Nassr FCFriendly Matches61
National TeamOfficial Matches79
National TeamFriendly Matches (Against National teams)36
National TeamFriendly Matches (Against Clubs)114
Total550

Majed "Icon of hat-trick"

Majed scored a hat-trick* goals 28 times (a record).

Scoring for Hat-trick Super hat-trick Mister hat-trick Total
Al Nassr FC 14 2 1 17
National Team 7 2 2 11
Total 21 4 3 28
  • Hat-trick 3 goals, Super hat-trick 4 goals, Mister hat-trick 5 goals.
  • Majed scored Super hat-trick in meantime 15 minute against India in 6 November 1983.

Majed Goals Top 10 by Teams

The Clubs and national teams That received the most goals by teams.

No.Arab and Asian clubsTotalEuropean and Latin clubsTotalNational TeamsTotal
1.Saudi Arabia Al Ittifaq29Belgium Standard Liege5 Malaysia10
2.Saudi Arabia Al Ahli24Spain Atletico Marbella4 Indonesia9
3.Saudi Arabia Al Hilal21Portugal Setubal4 Qatar8
4.Saudi Arabia Al Ittihad19Brazil Vasco da Gama3 Kuwait7
5.Saudi Arabia Al Wehda19Brazil Botafogo3 New Zealand7
6.Saudi Arabia Al Qadsia18Brazil Bonsucesso3 Oman7
7.Saudi Arabia Al Nahda18Brazil Portuguesa3 Bahrain6
8.Saudi Arabia Al Shabab15Brazil Americano3 South Korea5
9.Saudi Arabia Al Riyadh15Argentina Boca Juniors2 Singapore4
10.Saudi Arabia Ohod13Brazil São Paulo2 Iraq4

Majed Goals Top 10 by Countries

The Clubs and national teams That received the most goals by country.

No.CountryClubsNational TeamsTotal
1. Saudi Arabia241-241
2. Brazil35237
3. Singapore13417
4. Qatar6814
5. Portugal14014
6. Oman6713
7. Malaysia01010
8. Kuwait3710
9. Indonesia099
10. England819

Majed All Goals by Continents

All goals of Majed against clubs and national teams by continent.

No.CountryClubsNational TeamsTotal
1.Asian33387360
2.Europe63568
3.South America38543
4.Africa1910
5.Oceania077
6.North America022
Total435115550

Firsts in Majed life

From the Left Majed Abdullah, Tawfiq Al-Muqrin and Abdullah Abed Rabbo in Iraq 1978.
  • First training camp with Al-Nasr was in London in 1976.
  • First training camp with the National Team (under 17) was also in London in 1977.
  • First coach with Al-Nasr was Ljubiša Broćić
  • First coach with the National Team (under 17) was Jeff Faundon.
  • First shirt number with Al-Nasr was 14.
  • First shirt number with the National Team was 17.
  • First match with Al-Nasr was against Al-Fath from Morocco in a friendly in 15 January 1977.
  • First official match with Al-Nasr was against Al-Shabab in 22 January 1977.
  • First goal with Al-Nasr was against Al-Wehda in 18 March 1977.
  • First international goal was against Iran under 17 in 15 August 1977.
  • First goal with the Saudi Senior Team was in a friendly against Benfica in January 1978.
  • First official goal with the Saudi Senior Team was against Kenya in January 1978.
  • First official Globally goal with the Saudi Senior Team was against Brazil in Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984.
  • First "League Top Scorer" Trophy was in 1978-1979 season.

Lasts in Majed life

Honours

Majed Abdullah with the Asia Cup 1984

Club

International

Individual

  • Saudi Premier League: Top Scorer 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1989
  • Saudi King Cup: Top Scorer 1979, 1987, 1989, 1990
  • Saudi Crown Cup: Top Scorer 1991
  • Gulf Club Champions Cup: Top Scorer 1991, 1996
  • Gulf Cup of Nations: Top Scorer 1982
  • Arab Nations Cup qualifying: Top Scorer 1983
  • Arab Games: Top Scorer 1985
  • International Friendship Cup: Top Scorer 1978
  • Asian Cup qualification: Top Scorer 1984
  • Los Angeles Olympics qualifying: Top Scorer 1984
  • Arabian Golden Boot: Winner 1981, 1989
  • Asian Player of the Year: Winner 1984, 1985, 1986 - 3rd 1988 - 2nd 1989
  • Asian Player of the Month: Winner 1 June 1995, January 1997 (AFC)
  • Asia Players of the Century: 1st Intra-Asia, 3rd With Asian players in Europe (AFC)
  • Record holder in the Century Club: with 147 caps from 1995 up to 1998 (FIFA)
  • Arabian Player of the Century: 1st Py Al-Jazeera Channel (beIN Sports)
  • Best football player in the history of Saudi Arabia: 1st Py Zogby International (IBOPE)
  • Saudi Arabia Athlete of the Century: 1st Py (AFP)
  • Saudi Arabia Player of the Century: 1st Py (IFFHS)
  • FIFA Player of the Century: Ranking 64 Py (FIFA)
  • Best league scorers in the century: 6 Py (IFFHS)
  • IFFHS Legends[2]

Farewell match

Majed Abdullah in 2012

On 20 May 2008— after 10 years from Majed's last match— a big farewell match was organised between Al-Nasr and Real Madrid who were just crowned with their 31st La Liga title. 70,000 people packed in King Fahd Stadium and additional 30,000 went back home because there were no more space. The match ended 4-1 in favour of Al-Nasr with 2 goals from Malek Mouath and a goal from Saud Kariri and Nashat Akram. Arjen Robben scored Real Madrid's only goal.

Match details

Al Nassr Saudi Arabia4–1Spain Real Madrid
Malek  54, 90+1'
Akram  55'
Kariri  61'		 Robben  50'
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Mutrif Al-Qahtani

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mohammed Majed Abdullah". Eurosport. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players". IFFHS. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.

Sources

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