Wikipedia

Aymen Hussein

Ayman Hussein Ghadhban Al-Mafreaji (Arabic: أيمن حسين; born 22 March 1996) is an Iraqi professional footballer who plays as a striker for Iraqi Premier League side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and the Iraqi national team.

Ayman Hussein
Hussein playing for Iraq at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup
Personal information
Full name Ayman Hussein Ghadhban Al-Mafreaji
Date of birth (1996-03-22) 22 March 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Hawija, Kirkuk, Iraq
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Number 9
Youth career
2009–2011 Al-Alam[2]
2011–2012 Tuz FC
2012–2013 Gas Al-Shamal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Duhok (1)
2015–2017 Al-Naft 37 (21)
2017–2018 Al-Shorta 5 (5)
2018 Al-Naft 22 (11)
2018–2019 CS Sfaxien 6 (0)
2019–2021 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 33 (26)
2021–2022 Umm Salal 22 (11)
2022–2023 Al-Markhiya 10 (6)
2023 Al-Jazira 10 (1)
2023 Raja CA 5 (0)
2023– Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 18 (17)
International career‡
2014–2015 Iraq U20 3 (1)
2015–2018 Iraq U23 14 (11)
2015– Iraq 75 (25)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Club career edit

In 2009, Hussein was spotted as a gifted teenager with his local team and it was because of a local resident who was also a board member at the Al-Alam SC who recommended the player to his club. He played for youth Al-Alam in the provincial league, and for the first team and then moved to Tuz FC, and with no club from Kirkuk in the top divisions in the Iraqi league, Aymen took the unorthodox route in his attempts into getting into a top flight of the Iraqi Premier League by signing for Gas Al-Shamal a club [3] which was then in the second tier of the Kurdistan League, a division formed of primarily reserve players from the top Kurdish clubs.

Duhok edit

At the end of the season 2012–13, Hussein was offered the opportunity to play in the Iraqi Premier League for the first time when he was contacted by the assistant coach of Duhok, Khalid Mohammed Sabbar and was offered a lucrative contract to play for the club which Hussein said he agreed to immediately amid “great joy” working under the former Iraq captain and the two renowned coaches Syrian Fajr Ibrahim and Thair Ahmed during his spell with Duhok.

He appeared only a few times for Duhok scoring one goals in the first stage of the season, however with salaries going unpaid for months at the cash-strapped club feeling the full ramifications of the financial crisis which had hit the Kurdistan region, Hussein made the decision to try his luck in Baghdad. He had been one of six players at Duhok released due to their financial troubles during the latter part of the 2014.[4]

Al Naft edit

Hussein transferred to Al-Naft in winter 2015.[5] His breakthrough season came in the 2016–17 season for Al Naft, where he scored 12 goals in 10 games launching Al Naft to the top of the league, before an injury prevented him sidelined all the way from February[6] till May.[7] Al Naft continued on their impressive set of results and ended up finishing as the league runners up, which is their best ever result.[8]

Al Shorta edit

On 22 August 2017, Hussein signed for Iraqi giants Al Shorta,[9] to replace Marwan Hussein. He made his debut on 21 November, scoring in the matchday one fixture against Karbalaa FC.[10] He scored twice in his second game, a 4–1 win over Al-Bahri,[11][12] he then scored in two more games, to extend his scoring record to four games in a row.[13] On the fifth game,[14][15] Hussein missed a last-minute penalty to end his goal-scoring streak.[16] Aymen would then leave the Al-Shorta camp to join the Iraqi U-23 side in the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship in China. After his return he leave the Al Shorta.

Return to Al Naft edit

On 2 February 2018, Hussein returned to his former club Al-Naft[17] with his favorite coach Hassan Ahmed.[18] Hussein started his first match with Al Naft against Al-Hudood FC, he missed a penalty[19] and another against Naft Al-Wasat.[20] After five games he scored goal against Al-Talaba in the 1–0 victory in April and continued to score.[21] He finished his season with Al Naft with 11 goals in 22 matches in the league.[22] The team finished in 3rd position. He was released from Al-Naft after the game against CS Sfaxien 1–1,[23] because of disagreements.[24][25][26]

CS Sfaxien, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Umm Salal edit

On 15 September 2018, Tunisian club Sfaxien announced on the last day of the summer transfer window the signing of Hussein.[27] He made his first appearances in the Tunisian league in February 2019, followed by his return to Iraq to join Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, where he played for the next two seasons.

In the summer 2021, Hussein joined Umm Salal in Qatar.[28] He later played for Al-Markhiya also in Qatar and Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.

Raja CA and return to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya edit

On 23 August 2023, Hussein signed a renewable one-year contract with Moroccan side Raja CA.[29] In October 2023, Hussein returned to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya after ending his contract with Raja due to the lack of playing time.[30]

International career edit

Hussein first represented Iraq in 2015, also playing for the U23 Iraqi team. He was called up to the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar.[31] He scored the winning goal in the third-place playoff match against Qatar, which won Iraq the bronze medal and sent them to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games,[32][33] Hussein was injured in a friendly match with the senior team against Syria on 18 March 2016, preventing him from going to the Olympics.

The following year, Hussein was present at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification, he scored 5 goals in the first match against Afghanistan.[34] He also scored another goal against Saudi Arabia, to ensure that Iraq won all three games and qualified for the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship.[35] Hussein scored twice in three games in the tournament, as Iraq went out in the quarter-finals.

On 26 August 2015, Hussein earned his first international cap,[36] playing against Lebanon in a friendly match. He scored his first goal against the United Arab Emirates on September 5, 2017, in a 1–0 victory in a World Cup qualifying match.[37] He was called up to the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup, where Iraq ended up reaching the semi-finals.

In December 2023, he was named in the Iraqi squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar.[38] On 19 January 2024, he scored a brace in a 2–1 victory over Japan which qualified his country to the knockout stages of the Asian tournament. That match also recorded the first win for Iraq against Japan since the 1982 Asian Games.[39][40] In the round of 16 match against Jordan, he scored a goal to grant his team a 2–1 lead, before receiving a controversial second yellow card for his celebration, in a match ended in a shock 3–2 defeat for Iraq with Jordan scoring two goals in the stoppage time.[41]

Style of play edit

Hussein is seen as the typical complete forward who can play up front. Not seen as the most versatile, but he is a natural goalscorer. While other strikers such as Mohanad Ali score many goals, they are a different type of striker to Aymen, who is good in and around the box in the air and on the ground. He has a powerful right foot. He is also known for his large stature, physical strength and diligence. Since 2015, he has been seen as the best heir to former international striker Younis Mahmoud.

Personal life edit

Hussein was born[42][33] in the rural village of Al-Safra in the Hawija district of Kirkuk, which had been controlled by ISIS and has been the scene of coalition air-strikes from 2014 to 2017. Insurgents have frequently targeted oil pipelines in the village since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, with car bombs, suicide bombings and improvised explosive device (IED) blasts becoming a normal part of life for Hussein. His father, an officer in the Iraqi Army, was killed on duty by an al-Qaeda attack in 2008.[33] His brother was kidnapped by ISIS and his whereabouts are still unknown,[33] while he and his family became internally displaced within Iraq since 2014.[43][4]

Career statistics edit

International edit

As of 26 March 2024[44]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Iraq 2015 1 0
2016 3 0
2017 11 1
2018 8 0
2019 7 1
2020 2 0
2021 14 4
2022 9 5
2023 13 6
2024 7 8
Total 75 25
Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hussein goal.
List of international goals scored by Aymen Hussein
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 September 2017 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan   United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 26 March 2019 Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq   Jordan 1–1 3–2 2019 International Friendship Championship
3 27 January 2021 Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq   Kuwait 2–1 2–1 Friendly
4 29 May 2021 Al Fayhaa Stadium, Basra, Iraq     Nepal 3–2 6–2 Friendly
5 4–2
6 12 October 2021 Zabeel Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates   United Arab Emirates 2–1 2–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 1 February 2022 Saida Municipal Stadium, Sidon, Lebanon   Lebanon 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 18 March 2022 Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq   Zambia 3–1 3–1 Friendly
9 29 March 2022 Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates   Syria 1–1 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 23 September 2022 King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan   Oman 1–1 1–1
(3–4 p)		 2022 Jordan International Tournament
11 26 September 2022 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan   Syria 1–0 1–0 2022 Jordan International Tournament
12 12 January 2023 Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq   Yemen 3–0 5–0 25th Arabian Gulf Cup
13 4–0
14 16 January 2023 Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq   Qatar 2–1 2–1 25th Arabian Gulf Cup
15 7 September 2023 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand   India 2–2 2–2
(5–4 p)		 2023 King's Cup
16 10 September 2023 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand   Thailand 1–0 2–2
(5–4 p)		 2023 King's Cup
17 17 October 2023 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan   Jordan 1–1 2–2
(5–3 p)		 2023 Jordan International Tournament
18 15 January 2024 Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Indonesia 3–1 3–1 2023 AFC Asian Cup
19 19 January 2024 Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Japan 1–0 2–1 2023 AFC Asian Cup
20 2–0
21 24 January 2024 Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Vietnam 2–1 3–2 2023 AFC Asian Cup
22 3–2
23 29 January 2024 Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar   Jordan 2–1 2–3 2023 AFC Asian Cup
24 26 March 2024 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines   Philippines 1–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
25 3–0

Honours edit

CS Sfaxien

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

Iraq

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "AFC Asian Cup Squad list" (PDF). p. 14. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Iraqi Professional Players". Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2018 – via Facebook.
  3. ^ "With Gas Al Shamal". Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b Mubarak, Hassanin. "Ayman Hussein: Iraq's Olympic Superhero". Ahdaafme. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Aymen joined Al Naft". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  6. ^ "أيمن حسين يغيب عن مواجهة نفط الوسط" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  7. ^ "أيمن حسين يبدأ تدريباته التأهيلية قبل العودة للملاعب" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  8. ^ Alfakhri, Ali (10 August 2017). "Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya win the 2016/17 Iraqi Premier League title". SoccerIraq. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  9. ^ "| Aymen Huessin joins Al Shorta". Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Aymen Hussein volleys in a goal after just 61 seconds as Al-Shorta return from Karbala with all three points on #IPL Matchday One!".
  11. ^ Goal against Al-Bahri 2. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  12. ^ Goal against Al-Bahri 1. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  13. ^ Goal against Al-Hudood. 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  14. ^ Goal against Zaxo. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  15. ^ Wasted goals. 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  16. ^ missed penalty. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Returned to Al Naft". 2 February 2018.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ Aymen: Hassan Ahmed is a global coach. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  19. ^ missed a penalty Al-Hudood. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  20. ^ missed a penalty Naft Al-Wasat. 3 March 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  21. ^ Goal against Al-Talaba. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  22. ^ "Al-Naft". Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2018 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Al-Naft vs Sfaxien". 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ "أيمن حسين يكشف عن السبب الرئيسي وراء غيابه عن الوحدات التدريبية لنادي النفط". 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "حسن أحمد : هذه شروطنا لعودة أيمن حسين لفريق النفط". 2 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2018 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "الفرصة المهدرة التي دفعت المدرب لعدم اشراك أيمن منذ البداية في مباراة الصناعات". 3 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "النادي الصفاقسي ينتدب العراقي أيمن حسين" (in Arabic). 16 September 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  28. ^ "تأكيداً لانفراد "العرب" العراقي أيمن حسين يصل الدوحة للانتقال لصقور برزان" (in Arabic). العرب القطرية. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  29. ^ ayoub0007 (23 August 2023). "الرجاء يقدم أيمن حسين". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  30. ^ "أيمن حسين ينضم رسمياً للقوة الجوية العراقي". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Final Registration Player List" (PDF). AFC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  32. ^ "match summary". Archived from the original on 1 March 2016.
  33. ^ a b c d "Displaced by IS, Iraqi soccer star now off to the Olympics". AP News. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  34. ^ "AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS: GROUP B - IRAQ 8-0 AFGHANISTAN". Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  35. ^ "2018 AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP: STAGE SET FOR ENTICING FINALS". Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  36. ^ "was called up for an international friendly" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Iraq 1–0 United Arab Emirates". ESPN. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  38. ^ "شاهد: بطريقةٍ جديدةٍ.. مدربُ المنتخب الوطنيّ كاساس يعلنُ القائمةَ النهائية لكأسِ آسيا 2023 والمُؤلفة من 26 لاعباً" [Watch: National team coach Casas announces the final list for the 2023 Asian Cup, consisting of 26 players]. Twitter (in Arabic). Iraq Football Association. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Hussein scores twice as Iraq upsets Japan to reach Asian Cup knockout stage". AP News. 19 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Iraq stun Japan to seal Asian Cup last-16 spot". Reuters. 19 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Controversy hits Asian Cup as red card from mimicking celebration leads to dramatic Jordan fightback and Iraq's elimination". ESPN. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  42. ^ "Hassanin Mubarak on Twitter". Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  43. ^ Burkat, Mohammed. "ايمن حسين في سطور، بين ماضيه المثقل بالالم وطموحه الكروي". المربد. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  44. ^ "Hussein, Ayman". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  45. ^ "Team of the Tournament". Instagram.com. AFC Asian Cup. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

External links edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aymen_Hussein&oldid=1219222306"