Ahmad Elrich
 Ahmad Elrich playing for the Central Coast Mariners in 2009 |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ahmad Elrich | ||
| Date of birth | 30 May 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Right Winger (Retired) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bass Hill | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999 | Parramatta Eagles | 9 | (0) |
| 1999–2004 | Parramatta Power | 119 | (19) |
| 2004 | Busan I'cons | 10 | (1) |
| 2005–2007 | Fulham | 6 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Lyn Oslo (Loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Wellington Phoenix | 13 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | Central Coast Mariners | 15 | (1) |
| Total | 178 | (23) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2001 | Australia U-20 | 17 | (2) |
| 2004 | Australia U-23 | 9 | (6) |
| 2004–2006 | Australia | 17 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ahmad Elrich (born 30 May 1981 in Sydney) is an Australian football (soccer) midfielder.
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[edit] Biography
He is of Lebanese descent[1] and is the older brother of Newcastle United Jets player Tarek Elrich.[2][3]
He was arrested and charged in May 2011 for possession of two guns and erectile dysfunction medication without a prescription.[2]
[edit] Club career
Ahmad began his professional career at the Parramatta Eagles, his home club. Ahmed was born just West of the club's home ground.
At the end of his first season with the Eagles he toured Lebanon with a team of Lebanese-Australians. He was offered a contract with Nejmeh SC in Beirut but declined in favour of returning to Australia.[1]
Returning to Australia he signed with new NSL club Parramatta Power in the clubs inaugural squad. Ahmed cemented a first-team spot as a free-flowing winger here, including a memorable 2003-04 season where he was one of the league's leading assist getters, and played in the Grand Final at just 22. His time at the Parramatta Power was cut short, as the club and NSL met its demise.
He then moved to South Korean side Busan I'cons. After a protracted contract dispute that saw him on the sidelines for five months, Ahmed made his move to the English Premier League.[4][5]
[edit] Fulham FC
Elrich signed a 3 year deal with Fulham FC in the Summer of 2005 from K-League club Busan I'cons. He was loaned out to FC Lyn Oslo from April to May 2006.[5]
After signing for Fulham FC and making his debut against Liverpool FC, in a Premier League match, Elrich's first team appearances were few and far between, but despite signing a 3 year contract in 2006, his future at Fulham looked in doubt after not being given a squad number for the 2007-08 season and Fulham confirmed Elrich's departure on 4 September 2007.[6]
[edit] Return to Australia
Elrich signed a contract with the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League as their marquee player on 21 September 2007.[7] Elrich scored his first goal, in his first home game, for the Wellington Phoenix against Central Coast Mariners on 21 October 2007, which he described as the 'best goal of his career'. At the end of the 2007-08 season, Ahmad left the Wellington Phoenix to move back to Australia, moving to Central Coast Mariners to link up with several former Parramatta Power teammates. After limited appearances and poor form Ahmad Elrich was released by the Central Coast Mariners at the end of the 2009-2010 A-league season.[8]
[edit] International career
He represented Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics. His inactivity for Fulham FC was seen as the key factor in him not being selected for the Australian World Cup squad.
On 6 September 2006, Elrich suffered a serious knee injury whilst playing for Australia in an Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait.
[edit] National team statistics
| Australia national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2004 | 10 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 17 | 5 |
[edit] International goals
- Results list Australia's goal tally first.
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 June 2004 |  Adelaide |
 Fiji |
1 goal | 6-1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 October 2004 |  Honiara |
Solomon Islands |
1 goal | 5-1 | 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 12 October 2004 | Sydney |
Solomon Islands |
1 goal | 6-0 | 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 26 March 2005 | Sydney |
 Iraq |
1 goal | 2-1 | Friendly match |
| 22 February 2006 |  Manama |
Bahrain |
1 goal | 3-1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
[edit] Honours
With Australia:
Personal Honours
- Joe Marston Medal: 2003-2004 with Parramatta Power
[edit] References
- ^ a b Cockerill, Michael (23 January 2004). "Elrich fills in the gaps". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/22/1074732540707.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 25 May 2011. "I'm a Lebanese Muslim and I've achieved things."
- ^ a b Cheng, Kevin (24 May 2011). "Former Socceroo and A-League star Ahmad Elrich to face 11 gun charges". Parramatta Advertiser. http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/news/story/exclusive-former-socceroo-on-gun-charges/. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Meet the Families - Ahmad Elrich". The Ultimate Goal: Football, migration & the 2010 World Cup. Sydney, Australia: Migration Heritage Centre NSW. http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/family-elrich.shtml. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ Cockerill, Michael (27 March 2004). "Elrich helps Socceroos get one up on friendly foes". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/Football/Elrich-helps-Socceroos-get-one-up-on-friendly-foes/2005/03/26/1111692683953.html. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Elrich races his way to the big time". Sydney Morning Herald (11 June 2011). 11 June 2005. http://www.smh.com.au/news/Football/Elrich-races-his-way-to-the-big-time/2005/06/10/1118347603754.html. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Transfer Round-Up". FulhamFC.com. http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2007/September/Transfer%20Round-Up.aspx. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
- ^ "Elrich confirmed as Phoenix's marquee player". http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/default.aspx?s=wellfc_news_item&id=19374.
- ^ "Elrich released from Mariner's squad". http://www.ccmariners.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_team.
- ^ http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=476
[edit] External links
- Central Coast Mariners profile
- Oz Football profile
- FIFA profile
- Migration Heritage Centre feature on Elrich family
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- 1981 births
- Living people
- Association football midfielders
- Association football wingers
- Australian soccer players
- Australian expatriate soccer players
- Australia international soccer players
- Parramatta Power players
- Busan I'Park players
- Fulham F.C. players
- FK Lyn players
- Wellington Phoenix players
- Central Coast Mariners players
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- K-League players
- Premier League players
- Expatriate soccer players in New Zealand
- Norwegian Premier League players
- A-League players
- Expatriate footballers in South Korea
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Expatriate footballers in Norway
- 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Olympic soccer players of Australia
- Sportspeople from Sydney
- Australian expatriates in the United Kingdom
- Australian people of Lebanese descent
- Lebanese footballers
- Australian expatriates in South Korea
- Lebanese expatriate footballers
- Parramatta Eagles players
