Joseph Abou Mrad (; 18 April 1933 – 28 October 2003) was a Lebanese footballer and manager. He played as a striker for Racing Beirut and the Lebanon national team.
Abou Mrad was awarded Lebanese Premier League top-scorer with 18 goals during the 1964–65 season. Abou Mrad played for the Lebanon national team, and scored the opening goal at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in 1957 against Romanian club Energia Ploiești. He was also the captain of the national team in 1966.
Abou Mrad was Racing Beirut's sporting director in 1971. He coached Lebanon during the 1970s, failing to qualify Lebanon to the Asian Cup during their first qualifications in 1972.
Club career Abou Mrad started his senior career at Intisar Chiyah, before moving to Lebanese Premier League club Racing Beirut in 1953, with whom he stayed until his retirement in 1966. Abou Mrad helped his side win two league titles, in 1955–56 and 1964–65. In the latter season, Abou Mrad was the season's top-goalscorer, with 18 goals. This award was both preceded and succeeded by fellow national Levon Altonian. Abou Mrad retired from football in 1966.
International career Abou Mrad represented Lebanon internationally between 1953 and 1966. He played in a friendly against Hungary, on 23 January 1955, scoring one goal in a 2–3 defeat. Abou Mrad also played in another friendly against Hungary, on 29 February 1966, which ended in a 1–4 defeat. In 1957 Abou Mrad scored in the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium's opening game against Romanian club Energia Ploiești. Abou Mrad captained Lebanon at the 1966 Arab Cup, where Lebanon came fourth.
Managerial career On 18 January 1971, Abou Mrad was nominated sporting director of Racing Beirut by the club's General Assembly. He coached Lebanon from 1971 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1979, failing to qualify Lebanon to the Asian Cup during their first qualifications in 1972 and 1980.
Career statistics
International
Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Abou Mrad goal. +List of international goals scored by Joseph Abou MradNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition13 August 1953Alexandria, Egypt–1–41953 Arab Games218 October 1957Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon1–01–11957 Arab Games322 October 1957Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon–6–01957 Arab Games426 January 1962Kuwait University Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait1–05–0Friendly54 April 1963Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon1–02–31963 Arab Cup66 April 1963Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon1–05–01963 Arab Cup73 April 1966Al-Kashafa Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq–6–11966 Arab Cup85 April 1966Al-Kashafa Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq–2–11966 Arab Cup928 September 1967Tokyo National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan–1–11968 Summer Olympics qualification106 October 1967Tokyo National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan–11–11968 Summer Olympics qualification119 October 1967Tokyo National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan–5–21968 Summer Olympics qualification
Honours
Player Racing Beirut Lebanese Premier League: 1955–56, 1964–65
Lebanon Pan Arab Games third place: 1957 Arab Cup third place: 1963
Individual Lebanese Premier League top goalscorer: 1964–65
References
External links