Salih Sadir Salih Al-Sadoun (; born 21 August 1981) is an Iraqi former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Previously, Sadir played with Rah Ahan and Paykan in the Persian Gulf Pro League. He also played for the Iraq national football team between 2002 and 2011. He has two younger brothers, Ayad and Qaed, both also footballers.

Salih Sadir

Club career

Sadir started his playing career with Nasour Al-Jumhuriya before joining Najaf FC where he progressed through the youth ranks under coach Zuhair Khadim. In 1999, he was promoted into the first team by Najih Hemoud and became a regular. Under coach Hemoud, Najaf FC became one of Iraq's most entertaining teams with Saleh Sadeer – and captain Falah Hassan, Abbas Wahoudi, Saeed Muhsin, Ali Hashim and Qasim Jalout.

Salih Sadir

In 2003 after the war, he moved to Al-Talaba where he made several outstanding performances in the Arab Champions League – which earned him a move to Egyptian giants Zamalek SC for next season. After playing one season with Zamalek SC, he joined Lebanon league champions Al-Ansar where he helped them to two consecutive Lebanon league titles. Sadir moved to Zakho on 14 September 2013.

Salih Sadir

On 11 February 2022, Sadir announced his retirement from football.

International career

Sadir played for the Olympic team in the qualifying rounds – his performances compensated for the absence of Nashat Akram in Iraq's midfield. Before the war, he was named one of the two best players in the 2003–04 season by an Iraqi FA panel and became a regular in Stange's Olympic squad making his debut in the 2–1 defeat to Qatar in the former Oman and Perth Glory coach's first game in charge of Iraq. Saleh Sadeer was one of Bernd Stange's favourite players when the German first arrived in Iraq. He scored an important goal in the 1–1 draw with Vietnam in Hanoi that helped Iraq to progress to the second round.

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sadir goal.

Honours

Ansar

Lebanese Premier League: 2005–06, 2006–07

Lebanese FA Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07

Ahed

Lebanese FA Cup: 2008–09

Individual

Lebanese Premier League Best Player: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09

Lebanese Premier League Player of the Week: 2008–09

Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09

Lebanese Premier League top scorer: 2008–09

References

External links

Salih Sadir at iraqsport.com

Salih Sadir at aliraqi.org

1981 births

Living people

People from Najaf

Iraqi men's footballers

Men's association football midfielders

Men's association football forwards

Al-Najaf SC players

Al-Talaba SC players

Zamalek SC players

Al Ansar FC players

Al Ahed FC players

Rah Ahan Tehran F.C. players

Safa SC players

Paykan F.C. players

Duhok SC players

Zakho SC players

Al-Zawraa SC players

Naft Al-Wasat SC players

Al-Minaa SC players

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya players

Iraq Stars League players

Lebanese Premier League players

Persian Gulf Pro League players

Olympic footballers for Iraq

Iraq men's international footballers

2004 AFC Asian Cup players

Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics

2007 AFC Asian Cup players

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup players

AFC Asian Cup-winning players

Iraqi expatriate men's footballers

Iraqi expatriate sportspeople in Lebanon

Iraqi expatriate sportspeople in Iran

Expatriate men's footballers in Lebanon

Expatriate men's footballers in Iran

Lebanese Premier League top scorers