George Mourad

George Mourad
Mourad with Tromsø in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-09-18) 18 September 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Beirut, Lebanon[1]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Västra Frölunda
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Västra Frölunda 58 (13)
2004–2008 IFK Göteborg 68 (14)
2006 → Brescia (loan) 6 (2)
2008–2010 Willem II 36 (4)
2010 Tromsø 25 (8)
2011 Portimonense 5 (1)
2011–2012 Mes Kerman 9 (1)
2012 Syrianska 18 (2)
2013 Qingdao Jonoon 13 (0)
2013–2016 Örgryte IS[2] 61 (17)
2017 Utsiktens BK 23 (1)
Total 321 (63)
International career
2005 Sweden 2 (0)
2011 Syria 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

George Mourad (Arabic: جورج مراد; born 18 September 1982)[3] is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Mourad represented both Sweden and Syria internationally.

Club career

After playing for Västra Frölunda IF, he joined IFK Göteborg in 2004 and scored seven goals in his debut season in Allsvenskan. In 2005, he had a disappointing season with only three goals in Allsvenskan. He then signed a six-month loan contract for Italian Serie B side Brescia on 31 January 2006. After a trial, Mourad was granted a contract on 11 January 2008 at the Dutch club Willem II. He has played for the Sweden men's national football team. As of 1 February 2010, Mourad left Willem II after dissolving his contract.[4] Mourad signed a one-year contract with Tromsø IL on 11 March 2010.

Mourad transferred to Chinese Super League side Qingdao Jonoon in February 2013.[5]

International career

Mourad was born in Lebanon,[1] and is of Assyrian descent, but was raised in Sweden. He played for Swedish youth teams, and a friendly for the Sweden men's national football team, before switching to the Syrian Arab Federation for Football.

He played his first official cap in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament for Syria against Tajikistan on 23 July 2011, thereby eliminating the possibility of playing for Sweden ever again. His international debut for the Syrian national team was in a friendly against Iraq in Arbil on 29 June 2011.[6]

In a controversial decision, FIFA disqualified Syria from the 2014 World Cup qualifiers for fielding Mourad, who previously represented Sweden in a U-21 UEFA qualifying tournament in 2003,[7] without seeking the administrative approval of FIFA for the switch. Tajikistan replaced Syria in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers as of 19 August 2011. Syrian Arab Federation for Football president Farouq Sarriyeh announced he would petition CAS to overturn the FIFA ban.[8]

Career statistics

As of 17 July 2012
Club Season League National Cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tromsø 2010 Tippeligaen 25 8 2 0 27 8
Portimonense 2010–11 Primeira Liga 5 1 0 0 5 1
Mes Kerman 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup 9 1 2 0 11 1
Syrianska 2012 Allsvenskan 18 2 1 1 19 3
Career total 57 12 5 1 62 13
  1. ^ Includes Norwegian Cup, Taça de Portugal, Hazfi Cup, and Svenska Cupen

International

Scores and results list Syria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mourad goal.
List of international goals scored by George Mourad
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 23 July 2011 King Abdullah Stadium, Amman, Jordan  Tajikistan 2–1 2–1 FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

References

  1. ^ a b "Player profile on Soccerway. Retrieved 2017-09-25". Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  2. ^ George Mourad klar för Örgryte Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Gp.se. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  3. ^ Mourad, George — Archived 29 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Svenskfotboll.se (18 September 1982). Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  4. ^ Willem II breekt met Mourad. Telegraaf.nl (31 January 2010). Retrieved 2011-07-05.Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ 瑞超高中锋确认将签约中能 叙利亚曾因他受重罚 Archived 2 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine sohu.com (27 February 2013). Retrieved 2013-03-02
  6. ^ Debut – för Syrien | Internationellt | Fotboll | Sportbladet | Aftonbladet Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Aftonbladet.se. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  7. ^ http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=69855/profile/index.html [dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Syria disqualified by FIFA over ineligible player". Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2011.