Alaa Abdul-Zahra Information & Alaa Abdul-Zahra Links at HealthHaven.com

Alaa Abdul-Zahra
	Alaa Abdul-Zahra
Personal information
Full name	Alaa Abdul-Zahra Khashan
Date of birth	December 22, 1987 (age 21)
Place of birth	Baghdad, Iraq
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Second striker, Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Al-Kharitiyath
Senior career1
National team2
	1 Senior club appearances and goals; counted for the domestic league only and; correct as of 10 May 2009.; 2 National team caps and goals correct; as of November 18, 2009.; * Appearances (Goals)

Alaa Abdul-Zahra Khashan (Arabic: علاء عبدالزهرة خشَان‎) (born December 22, 1987 in Baghdad, Iraq) is an Iraqi football player who currently plays for Al-Kharitiyath in Qatar Stars League and the Iraq national football team. His nickname is Kaka of Iraq or Iraqi Kaka. During his profissonal career in Qatar and Sudan he was known as Alaa Al-Zahra (Alaa the rose). Alaa Abdul-Zahra is one of the most promising youth players in Iraq.

[edit] Info

At 21, Alaa Abdul Zahra is already being heralded as one of Iraq's most promising stars. The striking sensations relatively small frame belies lightening pace and a thunderous shot. Furthermore, with a nose for goals and supreme self-confidence in one-on-one situations, Abdul Zahra is sure to be a threat to any rival defense.

Affectionately nicknamed 'the Kaka of Iraq', Alaa's road towards fame looked relatively straightforward. At the age of 16, he got his playing career off to a dream start when he was discovered and signed by Iraqi powerhouses Al Zawraa. After spending two seasons there, he made a high-profile move to Iranian top-division side Mes Kerman, scoring three times in 11 appearances. He would then move to Jordanian outfit Shabab Al Ordon in 2007 before earning a contract with Al Merrikh, with whom he won the Sudanese Premier League in his first season in 2007/08.

He first made his mark on the international scene with Iraq's youth team at the 2004 AFC Youth Championship in Malaysia. Two years later, he would repeat this feat by figuring prominently at the 2006 AFC Youth Championship, where the striking prodigy finished as the tournament's second-top scorer with four goals despite his team's early exit at the quarter-final stage. From there, he went on to showcase his predatory talents in Asia's qualifying final round for the Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 by topping the scoring charts with a six-goal haul.

At senior level, he featured in two of Iraq's eight qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, coming off bench to play in a goalless draw against Pakistan before featuring in the 2-0 loss to Qatar.

[edit] International Goals

**International goals**
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	2009-01-10	Royal Oman Police Stadium, Wattaya, Oman	Kuwait	1-1	1-1	2009 Gulf Cup of Nations
2	2009-07-13	Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq	Palestine	2-0	4-0	Friendly match

[edit] Career: Clubs Level

[edit] Al-Zawraa

In 2004 at the age of 17 Alaa Abdul-Zahra made a move to one of the best Iraqi football club in history, Al-Zawraa. He qualify with Al-Zawraa to the AFC Champions League in 2005 and won with them the Iraq Super League 2006.

[edit] Mes Kerman

After the AFC Youth Championship 2006, Alaa Abdul-Zahra signed a one year Contract with the Iranian Premier League Club Mes Kerman. He played 11 times for them and scored 3 goals.

[edit] Duhok Problem

Alaa Abdul-Zahra signed with Duhok FC Before the start of Iraq Super League (2007–2008) but he didn't go to Iraq, Instead he signed another contract with the Jordanian club Shabab Al-Ordon, Claimed that signing with Duhok FC was incomplete.

[edit] Shabab Al-Ordon Debut

On 29 Dec 2007 In his first appearance with Shabab Al-Ordon, Alaa Abdul-Zahra scored his first goal with his new team against Hussein Irbid in Jordan Cup, helped his team to win 3-2 and qualify to the quarterfinals, then on 3 Jan 2008 Alaa Abdul-Zahra played his 2nd and last match with Shabab Al-Ordon this season against Al-Arabi Irbid in Jordan League, which they win 23-0.

[edit] Al-Merrikh

Alaa Abdul-Zahra and his Olympic team's mate Saad Attiya signed a Contract with Sudan giant club Al-Merrikh. He won Sudan Premier League 2007–2008.

[edit] Al-Khor

After the success in the Sudanese League, Alaa signed a contract with the Qatari side Al-Khor.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Individual

Runner-up topscorer of the AFC Youth Championship 2006
Topscorer of the 2008 Summer Olympics Games qualification

[edit] Country

2006 Asian Games Silver medallist.

[edit] Club

Sudan Premier League 2007–2008 Champion with Al-Merreikh.

[edit] External link(s)

Contents