Yasser Al-Qahtani

Yasser Saeed Al-Qahtani (Arabic: ياسر سعيد القحطاني‎; born 10 October 1982) is a former footballer from Saudi Arabia who played as a striker for Al-Hilal FC in the Saudi Professional League. He was also captain of the Saudi Arabian national team.

Yasser Al-Qahtani
Personal information
Full name Yasser Saeed Al-Qahtani
Date of birth (1982-10-10) 10 October 1982
Place of birth Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2005 Al-Qadisiya 39 (24)
2005–2018 Al-Hilal 160 (88)
2011–2012 → Al Ain (loan) 15 (7)
Total 214 (119)
National team‡
2002–2013 Saudi Arabia 108[1] (42)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:09, 12 April 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2015

Club career

In 2005, Al-Qahtani moved to Al-Hilal from Al-Qadisiyah for a reported £5.31 million transfer fee.[2]

After leading Saudi Arabia to the finals of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup as one of the tournament's top scorers, he won the Asian Footballer of the Year award.[3][4][5] He went on trial at Manchester City in December.[2]

In 2011, struggling for form following injuries and having lost his place in the Al-Hilal starting lineup, Al-Qahtani joined United Arab Emirates club Al Ain on a season-long loan.[6] There he contributed to the club's first league title since 2004 scoring 7 goals in 15 league appearances, and 12 goals in a total of 26 games across all competitions.[7] Having regained his form he returned to Al-Hilal after the loan spell ended.[8][9]

Coached by Sami Al-Jaber and Laurențiu Reghecampf, Al-Qahtani reached the finals of the 2014 AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal where his team finished runners up losing to Western Sydney Wanderers in the final 1–0 on aggregate.[10]

International career

2006 World Cup

Al-Qahtani played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany where he scored a goal against Tunisia.[11]

2007 Asian Cup

At the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia reached the final under new Brazilian coach dos Anjos with Al-Qahtani becoming the tournament's top scorer.[4][12][13]

2010 World Cup qualification campaign

In the final stages of the 2010 World Cup qualification, Al-Qahtani was injured in the game against Uzbekistan and upon his return from injury remained out form due to lack of playing time at Al-Hilal. Saudi Arabia missed qualification to the World Cup failing to beat North Korea at home in Riyadh in the decisive last game with the match ending goalless.[14]

Career statistics

Club
As of 12 April 2018
Club Season League Cup ACL Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Al-Qadisiyah 2000–01 9 5 – 9 5
2002–03 10510—115
2003–04 10920—129
2004–05 10554—159
Al-Hilal 2005–06 1176131209
2006–07 151040302210
2007–08 131086202316
2008–09 121071522413
2009–10 20996643519
2010–11 161132952818
Al-Ain (loan) 2011-12 15785—2312
Al-Hilal 2012–13 201331622916
2013–14 16553722810
2014–15 93—50143
2015–16 12643512110
2016–17 1245220196
2017–18 402151102
Al-Hilal Total 1608855265417274132
Career Total 21411971355417354172

International

International goals
Scores and results list Saudi Arabia's goal tally first.[15]

Honours

[1]

Club
Al-Hilal
Al Ain
  • UAE Arabian Gulf League (1): 2011–12

International

Individual

References
  1. "Al-Qahtani, Yasser". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
  2. "Man City take Al Qahtani on trial". BBC Sport. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  3. "Soccer-Yasser Al Qahtani named Asian Player of the Year". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  4. "Asian footballer of the year announced - Sport - BrisbaneTimes". www.brisbanetimes.com.au. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  5. "Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qahtani Is Asian Player of the Year". www.arabnews.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  6. "Al Qahtani ready to lead Al Ain | The National". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  7. Khaled, Ali (15 September 2014). "Former Al Ain teammates consider Al Qahtani a brother, but 'Inside the pitch, we don't know Yasser'". The National. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  8. Jose, James. "'Decision on Qahtani, Gyan at end of season' - Khaleej Times". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  9. "Al Qahtani to return to Al Hilal - report - Goal.com". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  10. FIFA.com. "Wanderers, Al Hilal reach maiden final". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  11. "Tunisia, Saudi Arabia put on a show at World Cup". CBC Sports. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  12. "Saudi strikers earn praise | The World Game". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  13. "Saudi beat Japan to reach Asian Cup final". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  14. "World Cup Blow For Saudi Arabia As Naif Hazazi Tears Cruciate Ligament - Goal.com". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  15. "Yasser Al-Qahtani – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  16. "Fans' Best XI Announced!". The-AFC.com. AFC. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
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