George Mourad
Birth date18 September 1982 (age 44)
Birth placeBeirut, Lebanon[1]
Height1.89 m
PositionStriker
Youthclubs 1Västra Frölunda
Years 12000–2003
Clubs 1Västra Frölunda
Caps 158
Goals 113
Years 22004–2008
Clubs 2IFK Göteborg
Caps 268
Goals 214
Years 32006
Clubs 3→ Brescia (loan)
Caps 36
Goals 32
Years 42008–2010
Clubs 4Willem II
Caps 436
Goals 44
Years 52010
Clubs 5Tromsø
Caps 525
Goals 58
Years 62011
Clubs 6Portimonense
Caps 65
Goals 61
Years 72011–2012
Clubs 7Mes Kerman
Caps 79
Goals 71
Years 82012
Clubs 8Syrianska
Caps 818
Goals 82
Years 92013
Clubs 9Qingdao Jonoon
Caps 913
Goals 90
Years 102013–2016
Clubs 10Örgryte IS[2]
Caps 1061
Goals 1017
Years 112017
Clubs 11Utsiktens BK
Caps 1123
Goals 111
Totalcaps321
Totalgoals63
Nationalyears 12005
Nationalteam 1Sweden
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22011
Nationalteam 2Syria
Nationalcaps 25
Nationalgoals 21

George Mourad (Arabic: جورج مراد; born 18 September 1982)[3] is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born in Lebanon, he 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 national 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 Syria 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. The Syrian Arab Federation for Football president, Farouq Sarriyeh, announced he would petition CAS to overturn the FIFA ban.[8]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tromsø2010Tippeligaen25820278
Portimonense2010–11Primeira Liga510051
Mes Kerman2011–12Persian Gulf Cup9120111
Syrianska2012Allsvenskan18211193
Career total5712516213
  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.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
123 July 2011King Abdullah Stadium, Amman, JordanTJK2–12–1FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying

References

  1. ^ "Player profile on Soccerway. Retrieved 2017-09-25". Archived 21 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  2. ^ George Mourad klar för Örgryte Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Gp.se. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  3. ^ Mourad, George — Archived 29 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Svenskfotboll.se (18 September 1982). Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  4. ^ Willem II breekt met Mourad. Telegraaf.nl (31 January 2010). Retrieved 5 July 2011.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 2 March 2013
  6. ^ Debut – för Syrien | Internationellt | Fotboll | Sportbladet | Aftonbladet Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Aftonbladet.se. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  7. ^ UEFA
  8. ^ "Syria disqualified by FIFA over ineligible player". The Peninsula Qatar. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2011.