Tarak Dhiab

Tarak Dhiab
Dhiab in 2012
Minister of Youth and Sports
In office
24 December 2011 – 29 January 2014
Preceded bySlim Chaker
Succeeded bySaber Bouatay
Personal details
Born (1954-01-15) January 15, 1954 (age 70)
Tunis, Tunisia
Political partyIndependent
Occupation
  • Politician
  • footballer
Association football career
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1978 ES Tunis 155 (43)
1978–1980 Al-Ahli SC (21)
1980–1990 ES Tunis 272 (84)
International career
1974–1990 Tunisia 101 (17)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tarak Dhiab (Arabic: طارق ذياب, born January 15, 1954) is a former professional footballer from Tunisia. The African Footballer of the Year in 1977, he is listed by the Tunisian Football Federation as having 107 caps for the Tunisia national team,[1] although this number has not been ratified by FIFA. At the 1978 FIFA World Cup, he was a member of the Tunisia national team that became the first national team from Africa to win a World Cup match. Dhiab was chosen as the Tunisian footballer of the 20th century.

He has served as Minister of Youth and Sports under Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali since December 24, 2011.

Early life

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Dhiab's football talent was discovered by his uncle, Hedi Dhiab.

Career

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Dhiab assumed the midfield role with superb passing skills and an excellent scoring record from midfield.[citation needed] He formed a sound understanding with winger Témime Lahzami both at Espérance and on the Tunisian national team.[citation needed]

Dhiab was awarded the African Footballer of the Year title in 1977 and played a pivotal role in helping Tunisia qualifying for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. At the World Cup, Tunisia won a group stage match 3–1 against Mexico, becoming the first national team from Africa to win a match at the World Cup.[2] In coverage relating to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Dhiab was mentioned as Tunisia's "World Cup legend" by the BBC[3] and as one of Tunisia's greatest World Cup players by the CBC.[4]

He is widely regarded as one of Tunisia's all-time greats, and arguably the greatest midfield playmaker the country has produced.[citation needed] Though he never played in a major European league, many believe he was able to hold his own among international playmakers in this period.[citation needed] Dhiab's international career spanned 16 years; his final international match came against England in 1990.

Personal life

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Dhiab's younger brother Lassad Dhiab also followed his footsteps and joined Esperance, having a productive career.[citation needed]

Dhiab is now a television football analyst. He is also a businessman,[2] and Tunisian magazine Réalités reported in 2004 that he was trying to start his own satellite sports channel.[5] He works as a TV presenter and sports analyst for beIN Sports MENA in Doha, Qatar.[6]

Honours

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Tunisia

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Huesu, Emmanuel (May 24, 2002). "1978: Tunisia break the jinx". BBC Sport Online. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  3. ^ "Tunisia team guide". BBC Sport Online. May 22, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  4. ^ "World Cup 2006 – Teams – Tunisia". CBC Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  5. ^ "4 New TV Stations for Tunisia". February 25, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  6. ^ "Tarak Dhiab".
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