Mohamed Al-Taay

Last updated

Mohamed Al-Taay
Mohamed Al-Taay.jpg
Al-Taay playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-06-15) 15 June 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Campbelltown, Australia
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Phoenix
Number 12
Youth career
2012–2015 Blacktown City
2016 Marconi Stallions FC
2017–2021 Western Sydney Wanderers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2021 Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 76 (0)
2021–2023 Newcastle Jets 29 (0)
2023– Wellington Phoenix 27 (0)
International career‡
2024– Iraq 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024

Mohamed Al-Taay (born 15 June 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Wellington Phoenix. Born in Australia, he represents the Iraq national team internationally.

Contents

Early life

Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, New South Wales with two older brothers and one younger sister. [1] [2] His parents, who hailed from Iraq, fled to Australia in 1994 due to the conflicts under Saddam Hussein. [1] [2] His father fled Iraq in 1991 to a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia before moving to Australia. [2]

Al-Taay began playing football at the age of six with his father and brothers and attended Campbelltown Performing Arts High School growing up. [3] He joined his first football clubs with Blacktown City and Marconi Stallions in their junior age groups. [4]

Despite being born in Australia, Al-Taay developed interest in representing the Iraq national football team. [5] He is a devoted muslim and frequently participates in ramadan. [2] Al-Taay is fluent in Arabic and English, having learnt the former first growing up. [2]

Career

Newcastle Jets

Having come through the Western Sydney Wanderers academy and NPL program, Al-Taay joined Newcastle Jets ahead of the 2021–22 season, in the hope of breaking through for his A-League debut. [6]

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 A-League season, Al-Taay departed Newcastle after 29 appearances in all competitions across two seasons. [7]

Wellington Phoenix

Al-Taay signed for Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2023–24 season. [8]

International career

On 21 May 2024, Al-Taay was named in Iraq’s 26 man squad for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Indonesia and Vietnam. [9] He made his debut in the former on 6 June 2024, substituting Osama Rashid in the 86th minute as Iraq beat Indonesia with the score of 2–0. [10]

Style of play

Al-Taay is primarily positioned as a defensive midfielder but is also able to play as a centre-back and right back. [4] He is characterised more to be a ball-winning midfielder and is noted for his work rate and defensive abilities by Giancarlo Italiano. He is also described as having a similar playing style towards Cameron Devlin. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Five things to know about Mohamed Al-Taay". Wellington Phoenix. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Comito, Matt (21 December 2023). "My dad escaped war, chose Australia & worked 20 hours a day so I could make it to the A-Leagues". A-League. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Elmerhebe, Tarik (22 November 2016). "Aspiring soccer teen Mohamed Al-Taay aims high". The Daily Telegraph. Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Get to know new recruit Mohamed Al-Taay". Newcastle Jets. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Clarke, George (12 October 2023). "Phoenix new boy Al-Taay targets Iraqi national team". The West Australian. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Jets secure defensive utility Mohamed Al-Taay - Newcastle Jets". Newcastlejetsfc.com.au. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Newcastle Jets Confirm A-League Men departures". Newcastle Jets FC . 7 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Wellington Phoenix begin rebuild with signing of midfielder Mohamed Al-Taay". Stuff . 11 May 2023.
  9. ↑ @IraqNT_EN (21 May 2024). "📋🇮🇶 Our 26-man squad for the #AsianQualifiers with Indonesia and Vietnam: GK: Jalal Hassan, Hussein Hassan, Ali Kadhim, Kumel Saadi DF: Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashim, Frans Putros, Zaid Tahseen, Manaf Younis, Ahmed Yahya, Ahmed Maknzi, Hussein Ali, Mustafa Saadoun MF: Amir Al-Ammari, Osama Rashid, Safaa Hadi, Mohamed Al-Taay, Ali Jasim, Marko Farji, Bashar Resan, Louai Al-Ani, Zidane Iqbal, Ibrahim Bayesh, Youssef Amyn FW: Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "Indonesia v Iraq game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
  11. ↑ D'Urbano, Nick (11 May 2023). "Wellington Phoenix start rebuild with 'no-brainer' signing: 'He reminds me of Cam Devlin'". A-League . Retrieved 12 November 2023.
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