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.
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.
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.
On 11 February 2022, Sadir announced his retirement from football.https://twitter.com/AlrabiaSportsTV/status/1492250742849159176 AlrabiaSportsTV
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.
+ List of international goals scored by Salih SadirNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition18 September 2004Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan1–04–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification 22–0 33 December 2004Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates2–13–1Friendly 425 July 2006Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus, Syria2–02–1Friendly 56 September 2006Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates1–12–22007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 622 June 2007Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan3–03–02007 WAFF Championship 724 June 2007Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan1–21–22007 WAFF Championship
Honours Ansar Lebanese Premier League: 2005–06, 2006–07 Lebanese FA Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07
Ahed Lebanese FA Cup: 2008–09
Iraq AFC Asian Cup: 2007
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 at aliraqi.org