Mahdi Karim

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Mahdi Karim
Personal information
Full nameMahdi Karim Ajeel
Date of birth (1983-12-10) December 10, 1983
Place of birthBaghdad, Iraq
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionRight Winger, Right Wingback
Club information
Current clubAl-Shorta
Number18
Youth career
1995–1996Al-Shorta
1996–1997Al-Khutot
1997–1998Al-Salikh
1998–1999Al-Shabab
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1999–2002Al Naft?(?)
2002–2005Al Talaba?(?)
2005–2007Apollon Limassol83(10)
2007–2008Al Ahly Tripoli18(11)
2008–2009Al-Khor19(3)
2009–2013Erbil SC
2013–Al-Shorta
National team‡
2001–2012Iraq95(12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 16, 2012

Mahdi Karim Ajeel (Arabic: مهدي كريم عجيل‎, born December 10, 1983 in Iraq) is an Iraqi footballer. He currently plays as a winger for Al-Shorta in Iraq and the Iraq national football team.

Player Info

Mahdi Kareem Ajeel's successful conversion to a winger came initially came as a result of his failure claim a more central striking role in the face of competition from the likes of Younis Mahmoud. Kareem's club career began with Al Naft, where he displayed his predatory instincts by scoring regularly for the local powerhouses. However, his career as a centre-forward effectively ended when he moved to Al Talaba in 2002.

With Ala Khadim, Younis Mahmoud and Ahmed Salah all in their prime and ahead of Kareem in the pecking order for a starting place, the youngster found himself switched to the right wing. Not that it took long for the versatile player to adapt to his new position; indeed, it was on the wing that Kareem really came into his own.

Having thrived in his new role at the club level, he quickly broke into Iraqi Olympic team under Adnan Hamad. There, he formed one half of a dynamic wing duo with Hawar Mullar Mohammed, whose surging down the left flank were as significant as Kareem's in breaking down opposition defences. Both figured prominently with the Iraq junior side as they came through Asia's hard-fought qualifying round to book an appearance at Athens 2004, where they would stun the watching world by storming into the last four.

The high point of Kareem's international career had still to come, however. That arrived later in the year when Iraq won their first continental title at year's AFC Asian Cup. He also figured prominently in Iraq's qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, scoring four times in the 7-0 victory over Pakistan. This outstanding display helped earned him a move to Al Ahly Tripoli, where he has already scored 11 times in just 18 appearances. Then he went to the Qatarian Club Al-Khor, where he had a great season. In 2009, Iraq played disastrous Gulf Cup. But Mahdi was one of the best players. He always fights. He never gives up. Combined with speed and a great technique, it makes him to one of the best Iraqi player ever. He played a great Confederations Cup. After that he moved to the giant Iraqi Club Arbil FC. He made great matches in the AFC Cup against Al Kuwaiti, where he also scored a goal. Mahdi is a great player and one of Iraq's hope to defend the Asian Cup Title in 2011.

International goals

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 8 June 2005 King Abdullah Stadium, Amman  Jordan 1–0 1-0 Friendly match
2. 1 March 2006 Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ayn  China PR 1–0 2-1 2007 AFC Asian Cup qual.
3. 25 July 2006 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Syria 1–2 1-2 Friendly match
4. 11 October 2006 Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ayn  Singapore 2–1 4-2 2007 AFC Asian Cup qual.
5. 22 October 2007 Punjab Stadium, Lahore  Pakistan 2–0 7-0 2010 FIFA World Cup qual.
6. 22 October 2007 Punjab Stadium, Lahore  Pakistan 3–0 7-0 2010 FIFA World Cup qual.
7. 22 October 2007 Punjab Stadium, Lahore  Pakistan 6–0 7-0 2010 FIFA World Cup qual.
8. 22 October 2007 Punjab Stadium, Lahore  Pakistan 7–0 7-0 2010 FIFA World Cup qual.
9. 9 June 2009 King Abdullah Stadium, Cape Town  Poland 1–0 1-1 Friendly match
10. 18 November 2009 Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain  United Arab Emirates 1–0 1-0 Friendly match
11. 11 November 2010 Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah  India 2–0 2-0 Friendly match

Honours

Country

Individual

  • Champion with Apollon Limassol FC (CYP) in 2005-2006
  • Best Foreign Player (Libyan Premier League 2007-08) (voting sponsored by Libyana and Al-Madar)
  • Goal of the Season (Libyan Premier League 2007-08, against Al-Madina) (voting sponsored by Libyana and Al-Madar)
  • Worst Signing of the season (Libyan Premier League 2009-10) (voting sponsored by Libyana and Al-Madar)

Notes

    External links

    Iraq squad – 2004 AFC Asian Cup
    Iraq
    Iraq men's football squad – 2004 Summer Olympics – Fourth Place
    Iraq
    Iraq squad – 2007 AFC Asian Cup Winners (1st Title)
    Iraq
    Iraq squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
    Iraq
    Iraq squad – 2011 AFC Asian Cup
    Iraq
    Arbil SC – current squad
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