Mahdi Karim
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Mahdi Karim Ajeel |
| Date of birth |
December 10, 1983 (1983-12-10) (age 28) |
| Place of birth |
Baghdad, Iraq |
| Height |
1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Playing position |
Right Winger, Right Wingback |
| Club information |
| Current club |
Arbil FC |
| Number |
6 |
| Youth career |
| 1995–1996 |
Al Shurta |
| 1996–1997 |
Al-Khutot |
| 1997–1998 |
Al-Salikh |
| 1998–1999 |
Al-Shabab |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps† |
(Gls)† |
| 1999–2002 |
Al Naft |
? |
(?) |
| 2002–2005 |
Al Talaba |
? |
(?) |
| 2005–2007 |
Apollon Limassol |
83 |
(10) |
| 2007–2008 |
Al Ahly Tripoli |
18 |
(11) |
| 2008–2009 |
Al-Khor |
19 |
(3) |
| 2009– |
Arbil FC |
|
|
| National team‡ |
| 2001– |
Iraq |
90 |
(12) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 January 2011 |
Mahdi Karim Ajeel (Arabic: مهدي كريم عجيل, born December 10, 1983 in Iraq) is an Iraqi footballer. He currently plays as a winger for Arbil FC in Iraq and the Iraq national football team.
[edit] Career
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. The 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.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Country
[edit] Individual
- 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)
[edit] Famous matches
[edit] International goals
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Karim, Mahdi |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
1983-12-10 |
| Place of birth |
Baghdad, Iraq |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
India
