Yousuf Al-Thunayan

Al-Thunayan played his entire club career for Al-Hilal, joining the first team in 1984 and retiring in 2005 after winning a total of 24 titles with the club. On 14 December 2005, Al-Hilal hosted Valencia in his farewell match.[2]

Asian Club Championship 1991 Winner , with Hilal Club Saudi Arabia
Asian Club Championship 1999-2000 Winner with Hilal Club Saudi Arabia

During his active career, Al-Thunayan played 95 international matches and scored 33 goals for the Saudi Arabian national team. At the age of 34 he was selected for his only Football World Cup, and appeared in two games, scoring from the penalty spot in the 2-2 draw with South Africa.[3]

Asian Continental Titles Achievement with Saudia Arabia

Yousuf is a Unique player in the sense he represented Saudia in 3 Continental Asian Cup finals in row 1988, 1992 and 1996. Of Course, winning 2 out of 3 No Other Asian player has matched that Unique accolade in whole Asia

Saudia won Runner's Up spot in 1992 Asian cup.

1988 Asian Cup Doha

Yousuf was one of the Prominent players of 1988 Asian cup especially from Saudi Arabia's side. Taking over the starting forward role mid way thru the tournament coached by the famous coach Carlos Alberto [4] Periera.

He played in game vs Bahrain , in Group stages which tied 1-1 [5]. He also played the important game vs China which Saudia won 1-0 [6]

He played the Semi Finals Game vs Arch nemesis Iran which Saudia won 1-0 [7]

He also played the Final Game vs South Korea which Saudia won on Penalties [8]

1992 Asian Cup Japan

This cup was renounced because the team went in without Majed Abdullah in Team , so it was chance for many new faces in Saudi Arabia to shine.

He played the group stage game vs China which Saudis tied 1-1, Yousuf scored the goal in the game [9]

He played the game vs Qater in group stages which Saudis again tied 1-1 [10]

Yousuf scored a goal in 4-0 Route of Thailand in last group stage game [11]. This match was vital to qualify for next stages of cup.

Yousuf lead the team , as they defeated UAE 2-0 in Semi Finals to reach the Finals of 1992 Asian cup. [12]

Saudia collected the Runner's Up medal in Final vs Japan. Yousuf played whole game in the Final. [13]

1993 Confederation Cup Appearance

The confederation cup was the last stop prior to Asian World Cup qualifiers for Saudi Arabia , and Yousuf played an instrumental role in it for Saudia. Saudia reached the finals of that first tournament which was than known as King Fahad Cup.

Saudia Beat USA 3-0 , and Yousuf scored a brilliant goal himself. [14]

1996 Asian Cup UAE

When the tournament started Yousuf was on bench but that changed quickly after the loss to Iran.

Saudi Team got shocked in group stage game vs Iran which they lost 3-0 , Yousuf played in that game as a Substitute [15]

Yousuf had a monumental game vs China in Quarter finals where Saudia were down 2-0, after China scored 2 early goals in minutes 6 and 16 . Yousuf scored a goal and made an assist and in end Saudia won the game 4-2 [16]

He played the game vs Iran in Semi Finals which was an epic rematch with their regional rivals considering that Saudia had lost to Iran 3-0. Saudia won the match on PK 4-3 [17]

Yousuf played the whole final and Saudia won the final beating UAE the host nation in final 4-2 , with Yousuf Scoring a critical first Penalty Shot [18]

This was the second continental Asian Cup for Yousuf and Third for Saudi Arabia

1998 Arab Nations Cup Winning Squad Member

Yousuf collected the Trophy after winning the Championship with Saudia National team in tournament featuring, Algeria, Egypt , Morocco

Yousuf scored in the Semi Finals win game Saudia won 2-1 vs Kuwait. In finals he made an assist vs Qater to clinch the title for Saudia Arabia [19]

1998 World Cup appearance with Saudi Arabia

Yousuf for being the great player he was strangely only had a chance to play on the biggest stage , the world cup at almost the end of his career during his peaks in 88 and 92 Saudia Arabia failed to qualify for the 1986 world cup after winning 1984 Asian Cup Title and then failed to Qualify for 1990 world cup.

Yousuf appeared as a Substitute in game vs Denmark which Saudia Lost 1-0 Yousuf heroically scored from Penalty kick to earn Saudia a 2-2 draw vs South Africa to earn Saudis a solitary point in 1998 world cup. He captained the team in the game

International goals

[20]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	25 February 1986	Khobar, Saudi Arabia	Wales	1–2	Lost	Friendly
2	3 October 1986	Seoul, South Korea	Kuwait	2–2	Drew	1986 Asian Games
3	15 March 1989	Jeddah Saudi Arabia	Syria	5–4	Won	1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
4	15 October 1992	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	United States	3–0	Won	FIFA Confederations Cup
5	29 October 1992	Hiroshima, Japan	China PR	1–1	Drew	1992 AFC Asian Cup
6	2 November 1992	Hiroshima, Japan	Thailand	4–0	Won	1992 AFC Asian Cup
7	29 December 1995	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	Kazakhstan	3–0	Won	Friendly
8	29 December 1995	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	Kazakhstan	3–0	Won	Friendly
9	24 January 1996	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Kyrgyzstan	3–0	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
10	24 January 1996	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Kyrgyzstan	3–0	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
11	28 January 1996	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Yemen	4–0	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
12	28 January 1996	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Yemen	4–0	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
13	31 January 1996	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Kyrgyzstan	2–0	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
14	21 October 1996	Muscat, Oman	Bahrain	3–1	Won	1996 Gulf Cup of Nations
15	16 December 1996	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	China PR	4–3	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup
16	16 December 1996	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	China PR	4–3	Won	1996 AFC Asian Cup
17	14 September 1997	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Kuwait	2–1	Won	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
18	24 June 1998	Bordeaux, France	South Africa	2–2	Drew	1998 FIFA World Cup
19	29 September 1998	Doha, Qatar	Kuwait	2–1	Won	1998 Arab Nations Cup
20	2 November 1998	Manama, Bahrain	Bahrain	1–1	Drew	1998 Gulf Cup of Nations

• Yousuf Al-Thunayan at National-Football-Teams.com
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