Adnan Dirjal

Adnan Dirjal (Arabic: عدنان درجال مطر; born 26 January 1960 in Baghdad) is an Iraqi former footballer, national team coach, and as of May 2020 heads the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports.[2] He was one of Iraq's most prominent national team captains, who played as a defender.

Adnan Dirjal
President of Iraq Football Association
Assumed office
14 September 2021
Personal details
Born (1960-01-26) 26 January 1960 (age 64)
Baghdad, Iraq
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)

Association ftball career
Position(s)Defender
Youth career
1976–1977Assyrian Sports Club
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1977–1980Al-Zawraa
1980–1984Al-Talaba
1984–1990Al-Rasheed
International career
1978–1990Iraq121[1](8)
Managerial career
1991–1992Al-Karkh
1992–1993Iraq
1993–1994Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
1995–1998Al Wakrah
1999Al Sadd
1999Al Shamal
1999–2000Al Wakrah
2000–2001Al Arabi
2004Al Sailiya
2004–2005Al Wakrah
2007Al Wakrah
2010–2012Al Wakrah
2013–2014Al Wakrah
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

On 14 September 2021 he won the presidency of the Iraqi Football Association.[3]

Club career

Adnan started his career with Al-Zawraa, where he won the Iraqi league and cup double in 1978/1979. He went on to join Al-Talaba, where he was one of the stars of a team that included Haris Mohammed, Jamal Ali and the great Hussein Saeed. At Al-Talaba Adnan won the Iraqi league two times and reached two cup finals.

His most successful club spell came at Al-Rasheed, the club owned by Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday, where he captained the club and won three Iraqi league titles, two cups and a record three Arab Club Championships during the mid to late 1980s.[4]

Political career

He secured a position in Iraqi PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi's cabinet in May 2020 when he was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports.[2]

International career

Adnan made the step into international football early, helping Iraq win both the CISM World Military Championship and the Gulf Cup in 1979. He later played at three Olympic Games, in 1980, 1984 and 1988,[5] three Gulf Cup victories, and the Asian Games win over Kuwait in 1982. The biggest disappointment in a glittering career was missing the World Cup finals in Mexico in 1986 through injury.

International goals

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.25 March 1981Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh  Bahrain2–02–01982 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.28 March 1984Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat  Qatar1–01–17th Arabian Gulf Cup
3.27 September 1986Daegu Stadium, Daegu  Thailand1–02–11986 Asian Games

Personal life

He has three sons and one daughter. One of them is Muhannad Darjal, who played professionally for Al Wakrah as a defender.

See also

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Iraq captain
2003–2004
Succeeded by