Many Iraqis were forced to leave their homeland after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and had started their lives elsewhere. A number of young Iraqi talents appeared in Europe , North America and Australia with their teams for the age groups, and after their distinction, the technical staff of their clubs decided to transfer them to the first team in the club. They are now known inside Iraq as expatriate players or Iraqi professionals at times, and Iraqi football has many talents in the diaspora, especially those born in Europe, or of Iraqi origin, on the father’s or mother’s side. Some of them represented the national team and the age group teams. Some of them are like the age group teams of those countries.
The players marked in bold represented the Iraqi national teams. The level of the leagues in which the players play has been classified as 1, 2, 3, 4....etc, regardless of the designations in those countries. These are the players that play in Iraq currently but started their careers elsewhere.
Mario Shabow during his time at Western Sydney Wanderers . Raised in Australia, Shabow was born in Baghdad to Assyrian parents and is yet to represent the national team. Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Mario Shabow (1998-05-05 ) 5 May 1998 (age 26) Blacktown City FC (#10) Attacking midfielder 167 cm (5 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 16] Charbel Shamoon (2004-02-10 ) 10 February 2004 (age 20) Western United (#29) Right-back 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Right [ 17] Aisen Ishak (2002-02-13 ) 13 February 2002 (age 22) Preston Lions FC Left-back 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Left [ 18] [ 19] Jason Qariaqus 2006 Western United youth Left-back Frans Deli (2005-06-08 ) 8 June 2005 (age 19) Macarthur youth Defensive midfielder 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) Right Daniel Sawa 2009 Melbourne City FC youth Centre-forward Ahmed Algarawi (1998-10-30 ) 30 October 1998 (age 25) Mount Druitt Town Rangers Goalkeeper 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Left [ 20]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Hazim Hussein Qadheeb 2007 Toronto FC youth Right-back
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Merchas Doski (1999-12-07 ) 7 December 1999 (age 24) FC Slovácko (#14) Left-back 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) Left [ 21] Ibrahim Aldin (2002-04-25 ) 25 April 2002 (age 22) SK Líšeň (#14) Central midfielder 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Right [ 22] Jakub Yunis (1996-03-25 ) 25 March 1996 (age 28) Unattached Forward 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) Right [ 23]
Kevin Yakob pictured in a IFK Göteborg kit. Born in Sweden, Yakob is of Assyrian ehtnicity from the city of Mosul and is now in line to represent the national team. Zidane Iqbal coming on as an 89th minute substitute for Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League . The central midfielder has maternal roots from the Iraqi city of Samawah and started off representing the Iraqi Olympic team , and has represented the national team thrice. Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Dario Naamo (2005-05-14 ) 14 May 2005 (age 19) SJK Seinäjoki (#26) Right-back 174 cm (5 ft 8+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right Arjan Goljahanpoor (1995-07-06 ) 6 July 1995 (age 29) JJK Jyväskylä (#9) Left winger 181 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Mustafa Abdulmuttaleb (2006-06-08 ) 8 June 2006 (age 18) HJK Helsinki youth Left-back Arez Ghoshnaw (2005-02-10 ) 10 February 2005 (age 19) FC Honka youth (#75) Central midfielder Ibrahim Mohammed Abdullah FC Honka youth Defender Mahmoud Aeisar Mohammed 2008 Grankulla IFK youth Forward 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) Qassur Ali 2007 Käpylän Pallo Centre-forward Malec Mahdi 2008 Espoon Palloseura Central Midfielder 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Ahmad Allée (1996-04-29 ) 29 April 1996 (age 28) FC Rouen (#17) Central midfielder 172 cm (5 ft 7+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 38]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Jiloan Hamad (1990-11-06 ) 6 November 1990 (age 33) Lee Man FC (#14) Central midfielder 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) Right [ 43]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Sami Kamel (1993-12-16 ) 16 December 1993 (age 30) Knattspyrnudeild Keflavík (#23) Attacking midfielder 184 cm (6 ft 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 44]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Yohan Zetuna (2000-05-31 ) 31 May 2000 (age 24) Tlaxcala (#22) Centre-back 184 cm (6 ft 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 45] Yousuf Zetuna (1999-03-10 ) 10 March 1999 (age 25) Unattached Centre-forward 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Right [ 46]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Danilo Al-Saed (1999-02-24 ) 24 February 1999 (age 25) SC Heerenveen (#24) Left-winger 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) Right [ 47] Zidane Iqbal (2003-04-27 ) 27 April 2003 (age 21) FC Utrecht (#14) Central midfielder 181 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 48] Hussein Ali (2002-03-01 ) 1 March 2002 (age 22) SC Heerenveen (#15) Right-back 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Right [ 49] Blnd Hassan (2003-08-12 ) 12 August 2003 (age 21) De Graafschap (#26) Left-winger 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Right [ 50] Roman Doulashi (2005-08-07 ) 7 August 2005 (age 19) Roda U21 Centre-back 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) Left [ 51] Arian Sevok (1998-03-25 ) 25 March 1998 (age 26) NSC Nijkerk (#25) Goalkeeper 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) Right [ 52] Manuel Iylia (2004-05-05 ) 5 May 2004 (age 20) Unattached Central midfielder 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) Right
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Mohanad Jeahze (1997-04-10 ) 10 April 1997 (age 27) Lillestrøm SK Left-back 179 cm (5 ft 10+ 1 ⁄2 in) Left [ 54] [ 55] Marko Farji (2004-03-16 ) 16 March 2004 (age 20) Strømsgodset IF (#21) Left-winger 184 cm (6 ft 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 56] Aimar Sher (2002-12-20 ) 20 December 2002 (age 21) Sarpsborg 08 FF (#6) Central midfielder 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Right [ 57] Mohammed Abbas (2000-02-18 ) 18 February 2000 (age 24) KFUM Oslo (#22) Centre-Back Right Hayder Altai (1998-07-08 ) 8 July 1998 (age 26) Unattached Centre-back 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) Right [ 58]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Amir Al-Ammari (1997-07-27 ) 27 July 1997 (age 27) KS Cracovia Central midfielder 182 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Left [ 59]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Ali Al-Mosawe (2002-01-28 ) 28 January 2002 (age 22) Estrela da Amadora (#) Right-winger 167 cm (5 ft 5+ 1 ⁄2 in) Left [ 60]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Hussein Shehait (2006-01-21 ) 21 January 2006 (age 18) CSA Steaua București youth Centre-back
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Youssef Amyn (2003-08-21 ) 21 August 2003 (age 21) Al Wehda FC Left-winger 172 cm (5 ft 7+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 61]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Adam Rasheed (2006-07-10 ) 10 July 2006 (age 18) NK Maribor Centre-back 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Right [ 62]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred Foot Refs Noah Darvich (2006-09-25 ) 25 September 2006 (age 17) FC Barcelona Atlètic (#21) Attacking midfielder 184 cm (6 ft 1 ⁄2 in) Left [ 63] Ali Mohammad Hatem (2002-11-08 ) 8 November 2002 (age 21) Las Rozas B Left-winger 182 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right Kaleem Shabout (2001-01-18 ) 18 January 2001 (age 23) RSD Alcalá Centre-back 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) Right [ 64] Maill Lundgren (2001-06-01 ) 1 June 2001 (age 23) Real Murcia Midfielder 177 cm (5 ft 9+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 65]
Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Montader Madjed (2005-04-07 ) 7 April 2005 (age 19) Hammarby IF (Allsvenskan) (#38) Right-winger 182 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Left [ 66] Ahmed Qasem (2003-07-12 ) 12 July 2003 (age 21) IF Elfsborg (Allsvenskan) (#18) Right-winger 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Left [ 67] Allan Mohideen (1993-11-11 ) 11 November 1993 (age 30) Utsiktens BK (Superettan ) (#4) Right-back 176 cm (5 ft 9+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 68] Amar Muhsin (1997-12-27 ) 27 December 1997 (age 26) IK Brage (Superettan) Centre-forward 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) Left [ 69] Amin Al-Hamawi (2003-12-17 ) 17 December 2003 (age 20) Sandvikens IF (Superettan) Centre-forward 181 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 70] Ahmed Yasin (1991-04-22 ) 22 April 1991 (age 33) Örebro SK (Superettan) Right-winger 184 cm (6 ft 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 71] Lucas Shlimon (2003-02-15 ) 15 February 2003 (age 21) Örebro SK (Superettan) (#22) Central midfielder Right [ 72] Hady Saleh Karim (1997-09-11 ) 11 September 1997 (age 26) Trelleborgs FF (Superettan) (#) Central midfielder [ 73] Josef Al-Imam (2004-07-27 ) 27 July 2004 (age 20) BK Olympic (Ettan) (#3) Centre-back 184 cm (6 ft 1 ⁄2 in) Left [ 74] Lass Hamawand (2004-07-26 ) 26 July 2004 (age 20) Torns IF (Ettan) (#22) Central midfielder [ 75] Mustafa Saleh (2004-04-27 ) 27 April 2004 (age 20) Örebro Syrianska IF (Ettan) Centre-back 192 cm (6 ft 3+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 76] Marwan Baze (1998-02-03 ) 3 February 1998 (age 26) IF Sylvia Central midfielder 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) Right [ 77] Al-Hussain Shaker Östers IF youth Central midfielder Right Ahmed Saeed Djurgårdens IF youth Right-winger Martin Haddad (1999-09-08 ) 8 September 1999 (age 24) Huddinge Centre-back 182 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 78] Hani Nesajer (2005-01-10 ) 10 January 2005 (age 19) Österlen FF Goalkeeper [ 79] Nadeem Omar (2001-08-20 ) 20 August 2001 (age 23) Unattached Goalkeeper 187 cm (6 ft 1+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 80] Rebin Sulaka (1992-04-12 ) 12 April 1992 (age 32) Unattached Centre-back 192 cm (6 ft 3+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 81]
Player Date of birth Club Position Refs Ali Ali (2005-01-04 ) 4 January 2005 (age 19) Esenler Erokspor youth Goalkeeper [ 83]
Mohanad Jeahze playing for Hammarby . The left-back has roots from the Iraqi city of Samawah and has represented the national team 4 times. Player Date of birth Club Position Height Preferred foot Refs Justin Meram (1988-12-04 ) 4 December 1988 (age 35) Michigan Stars FC (NISA ) (#19) Left-winger 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) Right [ 84] Jayddin Nassir 2009 Slammers FC
These are expatriate Iraqi players formerly selected and now retired.
Player Date of birth Int. caps Int. goals Position Height Preferred foot Refs Anmar Almubaraki (1991-07-01 ) 1 July 1991 (age 33) 1 0 Attacking midfielder 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) Right [ 85] Brwa Nouri (1987-01-23 ) 23 January 1987 (age 37) 9 1 Defensive midfielder 177 cm (5 ft 9+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 86] David Haidar (1992-06-05 ) 5 June 1992 (age 32) 0 0 Centre-back 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) Right [ 87] Hawbir Mustafa (1993-09-23 ) 23 September 1993 (age 30) 1 0 Right-back 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) Left [ 88] Kais Al-Ani (1997-03-29 ) 29 March 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Goalkeeper 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) Left [ 89] Murad Gerdi (1986-03-07 ) 7 March 1986 (age 38) 1 0 Defensive midfielder 174 cm (5 ft 8+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 90] Rebin Asaad (1994-10-31 ) 31 October 1994 (age 29) 0 0 Defensive midfielder 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Right [ 91] Shwan Jalal (1983-08-14 ) 14 August 1983 (age 41) 0 0 Goalkeeper 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) Left [ 92] Yaser Kasim (1991-05-10 ) 10 May 1991 (age 33) 21 3 Central midfielder 181 cm (5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in) Right [ 93]
General Statistics Venues Results Players Goals World Cup Finals Asian Cup Finals Other tournaments Noted rivalries Notable matches Other FA teams
West Asia (WAFF ) Central Asia (CAFA ) South Asia (SAFF ) East Asia (EAFF ) Southeast Asia (AFF ) Defunct Former