Saad Abdul-Amir

Early career

Saad began playing for shaabiya teams in the Shuala district of Baghdad, then with the Al-Shuala club juniors and Al-Kadhimiya before joining Al-Karkh, guiding them to promotion back to the top flight in 2010. Saad came into the international fold in 2010 after impressing for the Iraqi School team. In the summer of 2010, weeks after he had won the Arab School Championship in Beirut with the Iraqi School team beating Egypt 2–1 in the final, Saad was included in Wolfgang Sidka’s first squad and was one of only three players from the initial preliminary squad that was selected for the final 2010 WAFF Championship squad. The retirement of Qusay Munir and career threatening injury to Muthanna Khalid saw Saad become Iraq's most experienced player in midfield in the run-up to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, four years after he had sat on the bench at the 2011 tournament in Doha watching Qusay and Nashat Akram organising the midfield. In Australia at the 2015 Asian Cup, Saad formed a strong midfield partnership with Swindon Town's Yaser Kasim that was one of the reasons for Iraq reaching the semi-finals.

Al-Karkh

Saad was handed his debut aged just 16 in 2008, he played for 3 seasons in the Iraqi Second division and Iraqi Premier League where his defensive prowess and short passing ability earned him a transfer to Kurdish side Erbil. Saad Played 40 times for Al Karkh by the time he was 18.

Erbil

Saad Joined Erbil in 2010, it is there where his…

Saad is a Defensive and centre midfielder. He excels in positioning and close range ball control. Saad has also been praised for his leadership qualities.

In 2010 he was included in German Wolfgang Sidka’s first squad and was one of only three players from an initial 26 players that was selected for the final 2010 WAFF Championship squad, and made his debut in a 3-2 friendly win over Oman national football team, prior to the tournament, which Iraq won the match 3–2. With the likes of Qusay Munir, Salih Sadir and Nashat Akram blocking his way, Saad had to play understudy to the 2007 Asian Cup winners for most of his time with the national side. Saad scored his first goal for the national team in 2013 in a 1-1 draw with Yemen. Saad was in the Squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, as well as the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

Rio 2016

Abdul-Amir was selected as one of the 3 over 23 players in Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament. He was the captain in all three games and scored Iraq's Only Goal in the final group game against South Africa. Iraq Crashed out of the tournament finishing third in the group with 3 draws.

International goals

Iraq U-23

National team

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.

Club

Erbil SC Iraqi Premier League: 2011–12 AFC Cup runners-up: 2012, 2014 Al-Shorta Iraqi Premier League: 2018–19 Iraqi Super Cup: 2019 Al-Zawraa Iraqi Super Cup: 2021 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Iraq Stars League: 2025–26

International

Iraq WAFF Championship runner-up: 2012 AFC Asian Cup fourth-place: 2015

Individual

Soccer Iraq Team of the Decade: 2010–2019 Soccer Iraq Goal of the Season: 2019–20