Sami Al-Jaber

Sami Al-Jaber

Sami Al-Jaber in 2013
Personal information
Full name Sami Abdullah Al-Jaber
Date of birth (1972-12-11) 11 December 1972
Place of birth Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker
Youth career
1986–1988 Al-Hilal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–2007 Al-Hilal 305 (180)
2000 → Wolverhampton (loan) 4 (0)
Total 309 (180)
National team
1992–2006 Saudi Arabia 156 (46)
Teams managed
2009–2012 Al-Hilal (assistant)
2012–2013 AJ Auxerre (assistant)
2013–2014 Al-Hilal
2015 Al-Wahda
2016– Al-Shabab

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Sami Abdullah Al-Jaber (Arabic: سامي الجابر‎‎; born 11 December 1972) is a retired football striker from Saudi Arabia. He spent the majority of his career from 1988 to 2008 with Al-Hilal. He is currently managing Al-Shabab in Saudi Professional League.

He is his country's second highest international goalscorer with 46 goals in 156 internationals from 1992 to 2006. Al-Jaber appeared in four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, from 1994 to 2006, scoring in three of them. He was also a member of the Saudi squads which won the AFC Asian Cup in 1996. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Saudi players ever.

Club career

Al-Hilal

Al-Jaber is often cited as Al-Hilal's most famous player, after spending nearly 20 years with the club. He joined the club aged 15 and during two decades as a senior player, helped them to win 6 league titles, 6 Crown Prince Cups and 2 Asian Champions League titles among other honours. He was also top goalscorer in the Saudi Premier League twice (in 1989–90 and 1992–93).

On 21 January 2008, Al-Hilal held a testimonial for Al-Jaber against English Premier League giants Manchester United. Al-Jaber scored a penalty en route to a 3–2 victory over the visitors, in his last game for the club.[1]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 22 August 2000, English First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers agreed terms to sign Al-Jaber after impressing Wolves' boss Colin Lee in a trial.[2] The deal consisted of an initial five-month loan period with the option to buy for a reported £1.2 million at its conclusion and made him the first Saudi player to play in England.[3] However, the move was fraught with complications and setbacks. It took almost a month for his international clearance to arrive before he could make his Wolves debut on 16 September 2000 coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw at Wimbledon. He did the same in the following two league games (and played a full League Cup match) before having to leave to appear in the Asian Cup with his country. However, he returned from international duty carrying a groin injury that left him on the sidelines for a further month and drew a furious reaction from Wolves after learning of the injections he had been given while away to enable him to complete the tournament.[4]

Al-Jaber regained his fitness but managed only one further substitute appearance in the first team, annoying his Saudi club. He returned home on compassionate leave after his father became ill over the Christmas period,[5] and upon returning to Molineux discovered Colin Lee had been sacked as manager and replaced by Dave Jones. Jones asked for his trial to be extended to allow him chance to personally evaluate the player but when his parent club Al-Hilal refused, he returned home after just eight months and five (goalless) appearances in England.[6] Despite his failure to make an impression, he later said: "I learned everything at Wolves and was really happy to have had that time there.[7]

Club

As of 11 August 2016
Club Season League Cup ACL Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Al-Hilal
1988–89 11231--143
1989–90 201671--2717
1990–91 211463633320
1991–92 13693--229
1992–93 211952--2721
1993–94
1994–95 122138--2510
1995–96 194110--304
1996–97 132931053110
1997–98 15286963214
1998–99 197116523515
1999–00 19695403211
2000–01 1316252245
2001-02 1732064257
2002–03 1528220254
2003–04 1332041193
2004–05 1611108--2619
2005–06 604230132
2006–07 5132--83
Career Total 268101126545423448177

International career

He competed in four FIFA World Cups—appearing in the 1994, 1998, 2002, and the 2006 World Cups. His record of 163 caps is second only to Mohamed Al-Deayea in his country's history.

He received his first cap for the Saudi national team on 11 September 1992 in a 1–1 draw with Syria in the Arab Nations Cup. He took until his 19th game to score his first international goal when he netted in a 6–0 rout of Macau on 1 May 1993 in a World Cup 1994 qualifier. Saudi Arabia subsequently qualified for the 1994 World Cup Finals, their first World Cup appearance. Al-Jaber appeared in two group games in the USA, scoring from the penalty spot against Morocco in a 2–1 win.

He was part of the squad that won the 1996 Asian Cup before reaching his second World Cup Finals in 1998. He played in all three games in which the Saudi side appeared in France, scoring a second World Cup goal when he netted in a 2–2 draw with South Africa. This made him the first Asian player to score in two consecutive World Cups.

After gaining a runners-up medal in the 2000 Asian Cup, he appeared in the 2002 World Cup but only played in one game, an 0–8 hammering by Germany. He was ruled out of the rest of the competition when his appendix burst and he had to be rushed to hospital.[8]

Following this disappointment, he decided to retire from international football but was tempted back by Saudi Arabia's Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon in early 2005 for their 2006 World Cup campaign. He scored three times in four qualifying games to help reach the finals. He appeared in all three games the Saudis played in the tournament in Germany and scored in their opening match against Tunisia to give them a 2–1 lead but the match ended 2–2. After failing to advance to the knockout stages, Al-Jaber announced his international retirement.

International goals

[9]

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 September 1992 Latakia, Syria  Kuwait 2–0 Won 1992 Arab Nations Cup Group Stages
2 18 April 1993 Singapore  New Zealand 3–1 Won Friendly
3 24 April 1993 Singapore  New Zealand 1–0 Won Friendly
4 1 May 1993 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Macau 6–0 Won 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
5 17 September 1993 Khobar, Saudi Arabia  Thailand 4–0 Won Friendly
6 28 October 1993 Doha, Qatar  Iran 4–3 Won 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
7 30 March 1994 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Chile 2–2 Draw Friendly
8 27 April 1994 Athinai, Greece  Greece 5–1 Lost Friendly match
9 25 June 1994 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Morocco 2–1 Won 1994 FIFA World Cup
10 19 October 1994 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia  United States 2–1 Won Friendly
11 6 November 1994 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  United Arab Emirates 1–1 Draw 1994 Gulf Cup of Nations
12 10 December 1994 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Poland 2–1 Lost Friendly
13 8 October 1995 Washington DC, United States  United States 4–3 Lost Friendly
14 28 October 1995 Matsuyama, Japan  Japan 2–1 Lost Friendly
15 19 October 1996 Muscat, Oman  Qatar 2–2 Draw 1996 Gulf Cup of Nations
16 5 December 1996 Dubai, United Arab Emirates  Thailand 6–0 Won 1996 AFC Asian Cup Group Stage
17 16 December 1996 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  China PR 4–3 Won 1996 AFC Asian Cup Quarter-finals
18 31 March 1997 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  Chinese Taipei 6–0 Won 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
19 31 March 1997 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  Chinese Taipei 6–0 Won 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 31 March 1997 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  Chinese Taipei 6–0 Won 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
21 25 September 1997 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Mali 5–1 Won Friendly
22 25 September 1997 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Mali 5–1 Won Friendly
23 9 May 1998 Cannes, France  Trinidad and Tobago 2–1 Won Friendly
24 12 May 1998 Nice, France  Iceland 1–1 Draw Friendly
25 17 May 1998 Cannes, France  Namibia 2–1 Won Friendly
26 24 June 1998 Bordeaux, France  South Africa 2–2 Draw 1998 FIFA World Cup
27 31 May 2000 Győr, Hungary  Hungary 2–2 Draw Friendly
28 5 October 2000 Zarqa, Jordan  China PR 2–0 Won Friendly
29 10 February 2001 Dammam, Saudi Arabia  Bangladesh 3–0 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
30 12 February 2001 Dammam, Saudi Arabia  Vietnam 5–0 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
31 12 February 2001 Dammam, Saudi Arabia  Vietnam 5–0 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
32 12 February 2001 Dammam, Saudi Arabia  Vietnam 5–0 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
33 15 February 2001 Dammam, Saudi Arabia  Mongolia 6–0 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
34 10 July 2001 Singapore  Singapore 3–0 Won Friendly
35 10 July 2001 Singapore  Singapore 3–0 Won Friendly
36 15 September 2001 Bangkok, Thailand  Thailand 3–1 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
37 21 September 2001 Manama, Bahrain  Bahrain 4–0 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
38 21 October 2001 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Thailand 4–1 Won 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
39 16 January 2002 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Kuwait 1–1 Draw 2002 Gulf Cup of Nations
40 20 January 2002 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Bahrain 3–1 Won 2002 Gulf Cup of Nations
41 14 May 2002 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Senegal 3–2 Won Friendly
42 9 February 2005 Tashkent, Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 1–1 Draw 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
43 8 June 2005 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Uzbekistan 3–0 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
44 8 June 2005 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Uzbekistan 3–0 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
45 15 March 2006 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Iraq 2–2 Draw Friendly
46 14 June 2006 Munich, Germany  Tunisia 2–2 Draw 2006 FIFA World Cup

Managerial career

He was named as assistant coach of Al-Hilal in 2009, one year after retired from professional football. He worked under notable coaches like Eric Gerets, Gabriel Calderon and Thomas Doll. In 2012, he became assistant coach of Ligue 2 side AJ Auxerre.

On 27 May 2013, Sami Al-Jaber was named as the manager of Al-Hilal, replaced former coach Zlatko Dalić. He became the first Saudi coach to manage Al-Hilal after 14 years after Khalil Ibrahim Al-Zayani in 1999. After his first season in his new career, he was ranked 19th in Football Coach World ranking. Even though, Al-Hilal decided to replace him. On 19 July 2014, Al Arabi announced his assignment as the technical manager of their football team.

Managerial statistics

As of 20 October 2016
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLGFGA+/-Win %
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia June 2013 June 2014 41 29 6 6 91 38 +53 70.73
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates February 2015 May 2015 13 6 2 5 9 13 −4 46.15
Al-Shabab Saudi Arabia June 2016 14 7 4 3 21 13 +8 50.00
Total 68 42 12 14 121 64 +57 61.76

Honours

Player

Al-Hilal
Saudi Arabia

Manager

Al-Hilal

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Report: Al Hilal 3 United 2". Manchester United FC. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  2. ↑ "Wolves agree Al-Jaber fee". BBC Sport. 22 August 2000. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  3. ↑ "Saudi striker Sami Al Jaber terms with Wolves". RTÉ Sport. 22 August 2000. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  4. ↑ Willars, Ian (4 November 2000). "Wolves in sue threat over Sami; Anger at Saudi FA.". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  5. ↑ "Saudi given compassionate leave". BBC Sport. 22 December 2000. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  6. ↑ "Saudi Arabia's Sami Al Jaber about the pleasure of playing football". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  7. ↑ "Saudi Arabia 0 – 4 Ukraine". The Guardian. 19 June 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  8. ↑ Alosaimi, Najah (21 January 2008). "'Sam 6' Regarded as Kingdom's Best". Arab News. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  9. ↑ Roberto Mamrud & Naim Albakr. "Sami Abdullah Al-Jaber - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
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