There
are 15 member nations of West Asia but there are only four nations to have players qualified for the squad consists of Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Israel is the only team to have played in the Europe zone since the
lately 1980s after they affiliated to AFC for several decades, and also being
the first nation in Asia-Middle east to qualify for World cup led by Mordechai Spiegler. However, the first West Asian legend is Nahum Stelmach, Israeli from the late 1950s. The 1970s saw Ali Parvin, the best Iranian player ever, shining a a midfielder. Abdullah Majed appeared to perform as one of the best Asian player ever in the mid-1980s. The proud highlight in history of World cup for the Middle East teams is the
scene Saeed Al-Owairan showed his fantastic dribble passing five Belgian
defenders before making a goal beat Michael Preud’hommem in 1994. Berkovic was is rated as the 10th best midfielder in history of Premier League, performing during the 1990s. Ali Daei became the top international country scorer ever in the early 2000s.
West Asia
Location :
Middle East
World Cup
Participation : 12 Times (1970, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994,
1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Best Achievement
In World Cup :
Quarter Final In 1994 (Saudi Arabia)
Asian Cup
Champions : 11 Times (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988,
1996, 2007, 2019, 2023)
Most Caps : Mohamed Al-Dayea (181 Games)
Top Scorer :
Ali Daei (109 Goals)
The Greatest
Player Ever :
Mordechai Spiegler
Date Of Birth : 2 August 1972
Nation :
Saudi Arabia,
Height : 191 cm, Position : Goalkeeper
Major Club : Al
Ta’ee, Al-Hilal
World Cup
Participation : 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 (10 Games)
Club Honours : 3
Times Saudi Arabian League
5 Times Saudi
Arabian Cup, 2000 AFC Champion
League
2000 Arab Cup
Winners’ Cup, 2002 Asian Cup
Winners’ Cup
International
Honours : 2002 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual
Achievement : 1996 AFC Asian Cup Best Goalkeeper
IFFHS Asia
Goalkeeper of The Century
2021 IFFHS ASIA All-Time Dream Team
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 24 July 1977
Nation : Iran,
Position : Right-Wing-Back/Side-Midfielder
Height : 172
cm
Major Club : Hambrug
World Cup
Participation : 1998, 2006 (6 Games)
Club Honours : 3
Times Iranian League
1 Time German
League Cup
International
Honours : None
Individual
Achievement : 2003 Asian Footballer of The Year
2021 IFFHS ASIA All-Time Dream Team
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 14
September 1956
Nation : Israel,
Height : 172 cm, Position : Left-Back
Major Club : Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Liverpool
Club Honours : 2 Times Israel League
1 Time English Top
Division
1 Time Scottish
League Cup
1981 European Cup
International
Honours,
Individual
Achievement : 1979 Israel Footballer of The Year
IFFHS Israel
Player of The Century
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 31 December 1951
Nation : Iran
Position : Center-Back
Height : 175 cm
Major Club : New Yorke Cosmos
Caps : 29 Games
World Cup
Participation : 1978 (2 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Iranian League
3 Times North American League
3 Times North American League
International
Honours : 1976 AFC Asian Cup
Individual
Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 31 March 1982
Nation : Israel
Position : Center-Back
Height : 178 cm
Major Club : Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Bolton Walderrers
Caps : 74 Games
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2006 (6 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Israel League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Princess Gold
Date Of Birth : 20 February 1974
Nation : Iran,
Position : Central Holding Midfielder
Height : 186 cm
Major Club : Arminia Bielefeld, Persepolis
World Cup
Participation : 1998 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 1
Time Iranian League
International
Honours : None
Individual
Achievement : 2008 Iranian Player of The Year
2000 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 22 February 1972
Nation : Israel
Caps : 67 Games
Caps : 67 Games
Position : Left-Winger
Height : 177 cm
Major Club : Celta Vigo
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 1 Time Turkish League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 5 May 1980
Nation : Israel,
Position : Attacking Midfielder, Right-Winger
Height : 176
cm
Major Club : Al-Hilal
World Cup
Participation : None
Club Honours : 2
Times Israel Premier League
International
Honours : None
Individual
Achievement :
2001 Israel Premier League Most Valuable Player
2001 Israel Premier League Most Valuable Player
Class : Prince Bronze
9. Abdullah Majed
Date Of Birth : 21 June 1958
Nation : Saudi Arabia, Caps : 139 Games (67 Goals)
Height : 180 cm, Position : Forward, Major Club : Al-Nasr
World Cup
Participation : 1994 (2 Games)
Professional
Scores Record : 190 Goals/ 218 Games
Club Honours : 5
Times Saudi Arabian League
5 Times Saudi
Arabian Cup, 1998 Asian Cup
Winners’ Cup
International
Honours : 2 Times AFC Asian Cup
Individual
Achievement : 6 Times Saudi Arabian League Top Scorer
2 Times Arabian
Golden Boot, 1982 Gulf Cup of
Nation Top Scorer
3 Times Asian
Player of The Year (1984, 1985, 1986)
1989 Silver Ball, 1988 Bronze Asian
Footballer of The Year
IFFHS Bronze Asian - Saudi Arabian Player of The Century
2021 IFFHS ASIA All-Time Dream Team
Class : Prince Bronze
10. Eyal Berkovic
Date Of Birth : 2 April 1972
Nation : Israel,
Position : Playmaker
Height : 170 cm
Major Club : West Ham United, Manchester City
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 2 Times Israel League
3 Times Israel Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 19
August 1944
Nation : Israel,
Height : 183 cm, Position : Forward
Major Club : Maccabi
Netanya
World Cup
Participation : 1970 (3 games/1 Goal)
Professional
Scores Record : 196 Goals/ 324 Games
Club Honours : 1
Time Israel League, 4 Times Israel Cup
International
Honours : 1964 AFC Asian Cup Winner
Individual
Achievement : 1964 Asian Cup Top Scorer
3 Times Israel
League Top Scorer
4 Times Israel
Footballer of The Year (1966, 1969 - 1971)
Israel All-Time
Top Scorer, UEFA Jubilee Award
(Israel)
Class : Prince Bronze
___________________________________________________
Substitution
Date Of Birth :19 December 1949
Nation : Iran,
Height : 185 cm, Position : Goalkeeper
Major Club : Esteghlal
World Cup
Participation : 1978 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 1
Time Iran League
1 Time Asian
Champion Cup
International
Honours :
3 Times AFC Asian Cup Champions (1968, 1972, 1976)
3 Times AFC Asian Cup Champions (1968, 1972, 1976)
Individual
Achievement : None
Class : Princess Gold
13. Saleh Nu' Eimeh
Class : Princess Gold
Date Of Birth : 24 June 1960
Nation : Saudi Arabia, Caps : 150 games
Height : 186cm, Position : Center-Back
Height : 186cm, Position : Center-Back
Major Club : Al-Hilal
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 5 Times Saudi Arabian League
5 Times Saudi Arabian Cup, 1992 AFC Champion League
1995 Arab Champion Cup, 1997 Asian Cup Winners' Cup
International Honours : 2 Times AFC Asian Cup (1984-1988)
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 28 August 1993
Nation : Qatar,
Height : 133 cm, Position : Left-Back
Major Club :
Al-Lttihad
World Cup
Participation : 2022
Club Honours : 4
Times Qatar League
3 Times Qatar Cup
2011 AFC
Champion League
International
Honours : 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Individual
Achievement : 2018 Asian Footballer of The Year
2019 AFC Asian Cup Best XI
Class : Princess Gold
Date Of Birth : 17 September 1955
Nation : Iraq,
Height : 169 cm, Position : Left and Right Back
Major Club : Al-Salmiya
World Cup
Participation : None
Club Honours : 5
Times Iraq League
2 Times Iraq Cup, 3 Times Arab
Championship
International
Honours : 1980 AFC Asian Cup Winner
Individual
Achievement : 2 Times AFC Asian Cup Best XI
Class : Princess Gold
Date Of Birth : 7
March 1971
Nation : Israel
Caps : 80 Games
Caps : 80 Games
Position : Destroyer
Height : 171
cm
Major Club : Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Haifa,
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Brescia
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Brescia
Club Honours : 3
Times Israel League, 3 Time Israel Cup
International
Honours,
Individual
Achievement : 1991 Israel Footballer of The Year
Class : Princess Gold
17. Giora Spiegel
Date Of Birth : 27 July 1947
Nation : Iran,
Position : Playmaker
Height : 180 cm
Major Club : Maccabi Tel Aviv
World Cup Participation : 1970
Club Honours : 4 Times Israeli League
3 Times Israeli Cup
2 Times Asian Club Championship
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth :18 November 1963,
Nation : Saudi Arabia,
Position : Right-Winger, Major Club : Al Hilal
World Cup
Participation : 1998
Club Honours : 8
Times Saudi Arabian League
5 Times Saudi
Arabian Cup, 2000 Arab Cup
Winners' Cup
2 Times Arab
Champion Cup (1995, 1996)
2 Times Asian Cup
Winners' Cup (1997, 2002)
2 Times AFC
Champion League (1992, 2000)
International Honours : 2
Times AFC Asian Cup (1988, 1996)
1998 Arab Nations
Cup
Individual
Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
19. Ronny Rosenthal
Date Of Birth : 11 October 1963
Nation : Israel,
Height : 180 cm, Position : Left-Side-Forward
Major Club : Maccani Haifa, Liverpool, Tottenham
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 2 Times Israeli League
1 Time Belgian League, 1 Time English League
1 Time FA Cup
1 Time Belgian League, 1 Time English League
1 Time FA Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 19
August 1967
Nation : Saudi Arabia, Caps : 50 Games (24 Goals)
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Height :
180 cm, Major Club : Al-Shabab
World Cup Participation : 1994, 1998 (6 Games/1 Goal)
Club Honours : 3
Times Saudi Arabian League
3 Times Saudi
Arabian Cup, 2001 Arab Cup
Winners’ Cup
2 Times Arab
Champion League (1992, 1999)
International
Honours : None
Individual
Achievement : 1992 Saudi Arabian League Top Scorer
1993 IFFHS International Top Scorer
1994 Asian Footballer of The Year
1993 IFFHS International Top Scorer
1994 Asian Footballer of The Year
Class : Prince Bronze
21. Nahum Stelmach
Date Of Birth : 19 July 1936
Nation : Israel
Caps : 61 Games (22 Goals)
Caps : 61 Games (22 Goals)
Position : Deep-lying Forward
Height : Unknown
Major Club : Hapoel Petah Tikva
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 6 Times Israeli League, 1 Time Israeli Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1956 AFC Asian Cup Top Scorer
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 21 March 1969
Nation : Iran,
Height : 190 cm, Position : Target Striker
Major Club : Bank Tejarat, Hertha Berlin
World Cup Participation : 1998, 2006 (5 Games/No Goal)
Club Honours/International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1996 Asian Cup Top Scorer
1999 Asian Footballer of The Year
AFC Asian Cup All-Time Top Scorer
IFFHS Iran Player of The Century
International Most Goals Record
2 Times IFFHS International Top Scorer (1996, 2004)
International Most Goals Record
2 Times IFFHS International Top Scorer (1996, 2004)
Class : Prince Bronze
Manager
Avram Grant
Year Of Birth
: 4 May 1955
Major Team : Maccabi Haifa, Israel
Major Achievement
: 2 Times Israel Premier League
1 Time Israel Cup
2008 Premier
League Runner-Up
2008 UEFA Champion
League Runner-Up
2012 Serbia Super
Liga
Individual
Achievement : None
Class :
Prince Bronze
Conclusion
of Squad
GK : Mohamed
Al-Deayea, Nasser Hejazi
DF : Mehdi
Mahdavikia, Avi Cohen, Tal Ben Haim, Saleh Nu'eimeh, Abdelkarin Hassan, Mahboub Jumaa
MF : Tal Banin,
Karim Bagheri (Captain), Yousef Al-Thunayan, Haim Revivo, Yossi Benayoun, Giora Spiegel, Eyal Berkovic
FW : Ronny Rosenthal, Saeed-Owairan, Mordechai Spiegler, Abdullah Majed, Nahum Stelmach, Ali Daei
Manager
: Avram Grant
Formation XI (4-2-2)
Explanation of
Formation
The team strategy is deep-midfield line with wing-back's consistent support to midfield. Mohamed
Al Dayea, one of most caps footballer in history of the game, is a starter as a keeper. Cohen and Madahvikia are to go advanced to support midfield area when Revivo and Benayoun move inside, respectively. Bagheri and Berkovic is base on central
midfield as a deep-lying playmaker. and Benayoun is primarily on the right-side
midfield area while Revivo is also mainly on the left-wing but would go to support as attacking midfielder in central area. There is no target striker in this formation, using a great potential duo-deep-lying forwards likes Spiegler and Majed.
Azadi Stadium
Opened : 1971
(Renovated In 2003)
City : Tehran
Capacity : 100,000
Seats
Field Dimension : 110x75m
Field Dimension : 110x75m
Statistics
By Decade
|
By Class
|
By Nation
|
1920s
: -
1930s
: -
1940s
: -
1950s
: -
1960s
: 1
1970s
: 4
1980s
: 7
1990s
: 6
2000s
: 4 2010s : 1
|
King
: -
Queen
: -
Prince
: 16
Princess
: 6
|
Israel
: 10
Iran
: 5
Saudi Arabia : 5 Qatar : 1 Kuwait : 1
|
Major Reserved Players
Date Of Birth : 25 September 1947
Nation : Iran,
Position : Playmaker, Side Midfielder
Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Persepolis
World Cup Participation : 1978 (3 Games)
Club Honours : 2 Times Iran League
International Honours : 2 Times AFC Asian Cup Winner (1972, 1976)
Individual Achievement : None
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 1 February 1964
Nation : Israel,
Height : 180 cm, Position : Deep-lying Forward
Major Club : Beitar Jerusalem
World Cup Participation : None
Club Honours : 1 Time Belgian League
4 Times Israeli League, 2 Times Israeli Cup
1988 Cup Winners'Cup
4 Times Israeli League, 2 Times Israeli Cup
1988 Cup Winners'Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1988 Bravo Award
2 Times Israeli Player of The Year
2 Times Israeli Player of The Year
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth : 11 December 1972
Nation : Saudi Arabia, Caps : 156 Games (46 Goals)
Height : 177 cm, Position : Forward
Major Club : Al-Hilal
World Cup Participation : 1982 (2 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Saudi League
5 Times Saudi Cup, 2000 AFC Champion League
2 Times Asian Cup Winners Cup
2 Times Arab Champion League
International Honours : 1996 AFC Asian Cup Winner
Individual Achievement : 2 Times Saudi League Top Scorer
3 Times Arab Champion League Top Scorer
1994 Arab Champion Cup Best Player
1996 AFC Asian Cup Best XI
Arab Champion Cup All-Time Top Scorer
Class : Prince Bronze
Date Of Birth: 21 March 1964,
Nation : Iraq,
Position : Fast Striker, Major Club : Al-Zawraa, Al-Rasheed
World Cup Participation : 1986 (2 Games With 1 Goal)
Club Honours : 4 Time Iraq League, 5 Times Iraq Cup
2 Times Arab Champions League (1986, 1987)
1989 AFC Champion League Runner-Up
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1988 Arab Nations Cup Top Scorer
2 Times Iraq League - 1 Time Qatar League Top Scorer
2 Times Iraq League - 1 Time Qatar League Top Scorer
1988 Gold, 1989 Bronze Asian Footballer of The Year
IFFHS Iraq Player of The Century
Class : Prince Bronze
Jassem Yacoub
Date Of Birth : 1953
Nation : Kuwait, Caps : 49 Games (34 Goals)
Height : 179 cm, Position : Target Striker
Major Club : Qadsia
World Cup Participation : 1982 (2 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Times Kuwait League
4 Times Kuwait Cup
International Honours : 1980 AFC Asian Cup Winner
Individual Achievement : 1980 AFC Asian Cup Best XI
Class : Prince Bronze
Minor Reserved
Group
Goalkeeper
Yaakov
Horodov (Israel)
Raad Hammoudi (Iraq)
Raad Hammoudi (Iraq)
Ali
Al-Habsi (Oman)
Defender
Yochanan
Vollach (Israel)
Alon Harazi (Israel)
Alon Harazi (Israel)
Osama
Hussain (Kuwait)
Adnan Dirjal (Iraq)
Raman Rezaei (Iran)
Midfielder
Fahad
Al-Bishi (Saudi Arabia)
Fahad
El-Ghesheyan (Saudi Arabia)
Nir
Klinger (Israel)
Ali
Karimi (Iran)
Masoud Shojaei (Iran)
Javad Nekounam (Iran)
Masoud Shojaei (Iran)
Javad Nekounam (Iran)
Khodadad
Azizi (Iran)
Falah Hassan (Iraq)
Falah Hassan (Iraq)
Uri
Milmalian (Israel)
Hassan Rowshan (Iran)
Hassan Rowshan (Iran)
Fatih
Kameel (Kuwait)
Omar Abdulraman (UAE)
Omar Abdulraman (UAE)
Eran Zahavi (Israel)
Forward
Yehoshua Glazer (Israel)
Munas Dabbur (Israel)
Adnan
Khamis Al-Taliyani (UAE)
Faisal
Al-Dakhil (Kuwait)
Hussein Saeed (Iraq)
Hussein Saeed (Iraq)
Jassem
Al-Houwaidi (Kuwait)
Bashar
Abdullah (Kuwait)
Mansour
Miftah (Qatar)
The Greatest West
Asian National Footballers of All-Time
Israel :
Saudi
Arabia : Abdullah Majed
Iran
:
Iraq
: Ahmed Radhi
Kuwait
: Jassem Yaqoub
UAE
: Amed Radhi
Qatar
: Mansour Miftah
Jordan
: Halid Halil Awad
Oman
: Ali Al-Habsi
Bahrain
: Hamood Sultan Mazkur
Syria
: Marvam Medrati
Lebanon
: Rodar Antar
Palestine
: Mostafa Najim
Yemen
: Ali Moshen Al-Moraisi
The Greatest West Asian
Footballers of All-Time
1. Abdullah Majed
2. Mehdi Madahvikia
3. Yossi Benayoun
4. Haim Revivo
5. Ronny Rosenthal
6. Eyal Berkovic
7. Mordechai Spiegler
8. Giora Spiegler
9. Nahum Stelmach
10. Avi Cohen
younis Mahmoud?
ReplyDeleteI see he was so famous as a MVP of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup but he is selected as Iraqi player of the year just once time. I'm not sure when award was started and has continued ?
DeleteSaeed al Owairan? He scored a fantastic solo goal against Belgium in 1994 world cup
ReplyDeleteHe is named in substitution. Here is an all-time performance. Only fantastic goal is a very minor part of entire career.
DeleteJavad Nekounam? and Vahid Hashemian
ReplyDeleteBibras Natkho, Roda Antar and Omar Abdullahram are not options?
ReplyDeleteNatkho is not impressive enough for me as he has only two outstanding season in russian premier league.
DeleteI never heard Roda Antar even he played football in the era I watched football.
Omar Abddullahram is the best choice. I think he should have been in the reserved list at least.
How about 'Andranik Eskandarian'? Companion of great Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto, he was 3 times NASL Champion and selected 'NASL Best XI' also 3 times(1982, 1983, 1984). Additionally, he was main pillar of the Iran's golden era. Because of playing overseas, his national team career is short. But he contributed to 1976 AFC Asian cup triumph, 1976 Summer Olympics quarter-final, 1978 FIFA world cup qualification.
ReplyDeleteOK I believe in his level as he could be one of the members of New Yorke COsmos in its golden era so I even think he should have been a first starter instead of Rezaei. Thanks you.
DeleteSardar Azmoun and Alireza Beiranvand
ReplyDeleteMasoud Shojaei and Javad Nekounam deserve a place in the team. Both played in the Spanish league and were key players or Osasuna at the time
ReplyDeleteThanks I agree they're deserved mentioned in reserved list but not in the squad as they're not one of the best Iranian players in history.
DeleteWhy Revivo ahead of Rosenthal in the starting XI, especially at LW? Revivo wasn't even a winger. You also have Rosenthal ahead of Revivo in the Greatest Players list.
ReplyDeleteRevivo played as left-winger at first season of Maccabi Haifa. At Celta, he sometimes switched to right-winger position. Anyway, Revivo is more creative player than Rosenthal who is a more forwarder. It is a tactical reason to select Revivo instead of Rosenthal.
ReplyDeleteIn this page, Eli Ohana isn't in "The Greatest West Asian National Footballers of All-Time
ReplyDelete" list. But in "Asia & Oceania Football Hall of Fame", he is in the sixth place of best player of all times. Which is correct?
I think he is overrated in Asia & Oceania list. He never had an success aboard.
DeleteSurely Eran Zahavi for reserves. Israel NT's second goalscorer after Spiegler. Astonishing goalscoring records in both Israel and China without having played striker for most of his career. Good season in the Netherlands with PSV as well. Twice MVP in Israel and one in China.
ReplyDeleteAhmadreza Abedzadeh?
ReplyDeleteConsider Natiq Hashim
ReplyDeletedo you think Sadar Azmoun and Taremi deserved to be here? Azmoun has been superb under national shirt and the core of Zenit for years, Taremi has been play for Portuguese giant for a decade.
ReplyDelete