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Omar Al Somah

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Omar Al Somah
Al Somah with Al-Ahli in 2019
Personal information
Full name Omar Al Somah[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-23)23 March 1989(age 35)
Place of birth Deir Ez-Zor,Syria[1]
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Al-Arabi
Number 9
Youth career
2001–2008 Al Futowa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Al Futowa 42 (36)
2011–2014 Al Qadsia 57 (43)
2014–2023 Al Ahli 180 (144)
2022–2023 →Al-Arabi(loan) 20 (19)
2023– Al-Arabi 22 (17)
International career‡
2007–2008 Syria U20 2 (1)
2008–2012 Syria U23 10 (5)
2012– Syria 42 (21)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:42, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Omar Jehad Al Somah(Arabic:عُمَر جِهَاد السُّومَة;born 23 March 1989) is a Syrian professionalfootballerwho plays as astrikerforQatar Stars LeagueclubAl-Arabiand theSyria national team.Nicknamed in Syria asAl ʿAggied(Arabic:الْعَكِيْد) which is a historical civil character inDamascusknown for participating in the resistance against occupiers and for being courageous, helpful, and generous.[2][3]

Al Somah started his career at local clubAl Futowa,before joining Kuwaiti sideAl Qadsiain 2011. In July 2014, Al Somah joinedAl Ahliin theSaudi Pro League.He went on to become the league top goalscorer in2015,2016and2017.He helped Al Ahli win the league in 2016, their first in 32 years. In 2022, he joined Qatari clubAl-Arabion loan, before making the transfer permanent the following year.

Club career

[edit]

Al Futowa

[edit]

Al Somah began his football career at the age of 12, joining the youth academy of his hometown clubAl Futowa.The academy won the 2007–08 Syrian under-18 league,[4]with Al Somah emerging as the top scorer of the season with 29 goals.[5]

He advanced to the senior team, aged 17, in the2008–09 season,scoring 12 goals in the league and becoming his club's top scorer, although the club was relegated to the1st Division.In the following season, he played a crucial role in their immediate promotion. He scored five goals during the2010–11 seasonuntil its suspension in March 2011 due to theSyrian revolution.[6]

Al Qadsia

[edit]

On 30 June 2011, Al Somah joinedAl Qadsiain theKuwaiti Premier League.[7]In his debut season, he achieved theKuwaiti Premier League,Emir CupandSuper Cup.[6]

Trial at Nottingham Forest

[edit]

In July 2012, Al Somah participated in three games withNottingham Forest,scoring once in a month-long trial.[8]His trial with Nottingham occurred during the ownership of Kuwaiti businessmanFawaz Al-Hasawi,alongside his fellow national teammateFiras Al-Khatib.[9]

Despite coachSean O'Driscoll's desire to keep the player, his proposed transfer collapsed due to his inability to obtain a work permit. This was due to specific conditions required in English football, including his country'sFIFA rankingand the number of international matches he had played in the last two years. In the meantime, it was proposed that he could play for six months in France before joining the English club, but he refused, preferring a higher salary with Al Qadsia to support his family.[10][11]

Return to Al Qadsia

[edit]

Upon returning to Al Qadsia, Al Somah secured the Emir Cup, Super Cup, andCrown Prince Cupin 2013. In the 2013–14 season, he won his second league title, along with the Crown Prince Cup,Federation Cup,Super Cup, and the continentalAFC Cup.He concluded his final season at the club as the league's top scorer, netting 23 goals.[6]

Al Ahli

[edit]

2014–15: Debut season and Pro League's top scorer

[edit]

In May 2014, it was announced that Al Somah would join Saudi sideAl Ahli,by signing a two-year contract.[12]On 16 August 2014, he netted a hat-trick on his league debut in a 6–1 victory overHajer.[13]In December that year, he extended his contract until 2018.[14]

On 13 February 2015, he scored a goal, one minute after entering the pitch, to open the score in an eventual 2–1 victory overAl Hilalin theSaudi Crown Prince Cup final.[6]He finished his debut season as league's top scorer with 22 goals.[15]Later that year, on 27 May, he netted a brace in a 2–1 victory overNaft Tehranin theAFC Champions League knockout stageround of 16 second leg, yet his club were eliminated on away goals rule.[16]

2015–17: Three domestic titles and consecutive top scorer

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In the 2015–16 season, Al Somah scored 27 goals in thePro League,securing his club's first title in 32 years.[15]He also netted a brace in a 3–1 win overAl Nassrafter extra time in theKing Cup final.In addition, he scored a goal and decisive penalty during the shootouts victory over Al-Hilal in theSuper Cup.[15]In the 2016–17 season, he achieved his third top scorer award with 24 goals, becoming the first player to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive season.[11]

2017–22: Recurring injuries and Pro League's all-time top scorer

[edit]

In 2017–18, he sustained an ankle injury which sidelined him for most of the season.[17]In April 2018, he signed a new contract with the club until 2021.[18]

During the2018–19 season,Al Somah scored 19 goals in 24 matches forSaudi Professional LeaguesideAl Ahli.[19]On 1 March 2019, he scored an overhead kick againstAl-Ittihadin theJeddah Derby.[20]

On 29 November 2020, Al Somah scored a goal in a 2–1 win overAl-Faisaly,in which he managed in seven seasons to equalNasser Al-Shamrani's record of 126 goals in eleven seasons, to be the joint all-time top scorer of the league, since the Professional League rebrand in the 2008–09 season.[21]On 22 December, he broke the record by scoring his 127th goal in a 1–0 win overAl Fateh.[22]

In January 2021, he extended his contract until 2024.[23]Following the club's relegation in2021–22,Al Somah departed with an impressive tally of 192 goals and 30 assists, including a record 144 league goals.[15]

Al-Arabi

[edit]

2022–23: Loan season and Emir Cup title

[edit]

On 9 August 2022, Al Somah joined Qatari sideAl-Arabion a one-year loan.[24]On 12 May 2023, he scored a brace for Al-Arabi in a 3–0 win overAl Saddin theEmir Cupfinal, to be their first title in the competition in over 30 years.[25]He finished his debut season as the club's top scorer with 19 goals, three goals behind league's top scorerMichael Olunga.[26]

2023–present: Permanent transfer

[edit]

On 21 July 2023, Al Somah joined Qatari side Al-Arabi on a two-year deal.[27]

International career

[edit]

Al Somah played forSyria U20during the2008 AFC U-19 Championship,scoring his country's only goal in the tournament againstIraq.[28]On 11 October 2012, he made his senior debut in a friendly match againstKuwait,which ended in a 1–1 draw.[29]He was then part of the team which won the2012 WAFF Championship.[30]

After a five-year hiatus, he returned to the national team during the2018 FIFA World Cup qualification,playing his first match againstQataron 31 August 2017, followed by scoring his first goal, a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2–2 away draw againstIran,which qualified his country to thequalification's fourth round.[31]He scored both goals againstAustraliain a 2–3 defeat on aggregate, in addition to hitting the post from afree kickin the stoppage time of extra time, which could have qualified his country to theinter-confederation play-offsonaway goals rule.[32]In December 2018, he was named in the Syrian squad for the2019 AFC Asian Cupin the United Arab Emirates.[33]

In December 2023, he announced his retirement from international football, after being excluded by coachHéctor Cúperfrom the squad for the2023 AFC Asian Cupin Qatar.[34]After a few days, he reversed his decision to retire, explaining that his initial announcement was made out of anger and frustration, and stated that he would be ready to represent Syria whenever called up for international duty.[35]On 6 June 2024, he started his first match following his return in a 1–0 defeat againstNorth Koreaduring the2026 World Cup qualification.[36]

Style of play

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Al Somah plays an attacking role, most often as a center-forward, and is known for his finishing andfree kickabilities. His height, strength, jumping ability, and heading technique give him an edge in winning aerial challenges. Additionally, he scores with both feet. His playing style has earned him the nickname "the SyrianIbrahimović".[37][38]

Personal life

[edit]

Al Somah has been married since 2015 and has two children.[39]In February 2019, Al Soma donated $6,000 toAl-Fotuwa,the club he started his career with.[40]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of 26 August 2024[41]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Al Futowa 2008–09 SyPL 18 13 0 0 – – – 18 13
2009–10 SL1D 16 18 0 0 – – – 16 18
2010–11 SyPL 8 5 0 0 – – – 8 5
Total 42 36 0 0 – – – 42 36
Al Qadsia 2011–12 KPL 13 7 2 1 6 4 7[c] 4 4[d] 1 32 17
2012–13 18 13 5 3 4 1 9[c] 2 10[e] 13 46 32
2013–14 26 23 3 0 5 3 9[f] 8 1[g] 0 44 34
Total 57 43 10 4 15 8 25 14 15 14 122 83
Al-Ahli 2014–15 SPL 22 22 0 0 4 3 7[h] 6 – 33 31
2015–16 22 27 3 4 3 2 3[h] 1 – 31 34
2016–17 24 24 4 4 3 7 7[h] 5 1[i] 1 39 41
2017–18 14 11 1 0 – 0 0 – 15 11
2018–19 24 19 1 0 – 8[h] 7 6[j] 2 39 28
2019–20 25 19 3 3 – 4[h] 1 – 32 23
2020–21 24 12 0 0 – 5[h] 4 – 29 16
2021–22 25 10 2 1 – – – 27 11
Total 180 144 14 12 10 12 34 24 7 3 245 195
Al-Arabi 2022–23 QSL 20 19 4 6 2 2 – 1[k] 0 27 27
2023–24 22 17 2 0 2 2 1 0 – 27 19
2024–25 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 3 1
Career total 324 259 30 23 28 24 60 38 23 17 466 360
  1. ^IncludesKuwait Emir Cup,King Cup
  2. ^IncludesKuwait Crown Prince Cup,Saudi Crown Prince Cup
  3. ^abAppearances inAFC Cup
  4. ^Appearances inKuwait Federation Cup
  5. ^Nine appearances and thirteen goals inKuwait Federation Cup,one appearance inKuwait Super Cup
  6. ^Three appearances and one goal inAFC Champions League,six appearances and seven goals in AFC Cup
  7. ^Appearance inKuwait Super Cup
  8. ^abcdefAppearances in AFC Champions League
  9. ^Appearance inSaudi Super Cup
  10. ^Appearances inArab Club Champions Cup
  11. ^Appearance inQatar Cup

International

[edit]
As of match played 11 June 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Syria
2012 4 0
2017 6 3
2018 7 4
2019 9 8
2021 4 2
2022 4 1
2023 6 3
2024 2 0
Total 42 21

International goals

Scores and results list Syria's goal tally first.[42]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 September 2017 Azadi Stadium,Tehran,Iran Iran 2–2 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 5 October 2017 Hang Jebat Stadium,Krubong,Malaysia Australia 1–1 1–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 10 October 2017 Stadium Australia,Sydney,Australia 1–0 1–2 (a.e.t.)
4 24 March 2018 Basra Sports City,Basra,Iraq Qatar 1–0 2–2 2018 International Friendship Championship
5 6 September 2018 Milliy Stadium,Tashkent,Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 1–1 1–1 Friendly
6 10 September 2018 Dolen Omurzakov Stadium,Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan 1–1 1–2
7 11 October 2018 Bahrain National Stadium,Rifaa,Bahrain Bahrain 1–0 1–0
8 15 January 2019 Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium,Al Ain,United Arab Emirates Australia 2–2 2–3 2019 AFC Asian Cup
9 5 September 2019 Panaad Stadium,Bacolod,Philippines Philippines 1–1 5–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 4–1
11 10 October 2019 Rashid Stadium,Dubai,United Arab Emirates Maldives 1–0 2–1
12 2–0
13 15 October 2019 Guam 1–0 4–0
14 2–0
15 3–0
16 12 October 2021 King Abdullah II Stadium,Amman,Jordan Lebanon 2–3 2–3 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
17 11 November 2021 Thani bin Jassim Stadium,Doha,Qatar Iraq 1–0 1–1
18 1 June 2022 Shabab Al Ahli Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tajikistan 1–0 1–0 Friendly
19 25 March 2023 Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium,Dubai, United Arab Emirates Thailand 1–0 3–1
20 17 October 2023 Police Officers' Club Stadium,Dubai, United Arab Emirates Kuwait 1–0 1–2
21 16 November 2023 Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia North Korea 1–0 1–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

[edit]

Al Futowa

  • Syrian Premier Division U-18 League: 2007–08[4]
  • Syrian Second Division Northern Group: 2009–10

Al Qadsia

Al Ahli

Al Arabi

Syria

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Omar Al Somah".Global Sports Archive.Retrieved10 June2021.
  2. ^"عمر السومة.." العكيد "الذي أعاد اللقب إلى" قلعة الكؤوس "".سكاي نيوز عربية(in Arabic).
  3. ^"لا عروض اوروبية".menafn.
  4. ^ab"دوري الشباب السوري".Kooora.Retrieved25 November2015.
  5. ^ab"دوري الشباب السوري".Kooora.Retrieved25 November2015.
  6. ^abcd"قصة عمر السومة وبداياته مع الفتوة"(in Arabic). AlliSport. 16 April 2024.Retrieved5 June2024.
  7. ^"الأزرق دوت كوم".Alazraq. Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2011.Retrieved25 November2015.
  8. ^"Nottingham Forest trialists hope to do Arab football proud".Archived fromthe originalon 14 December 2013.Retrieved14 December2013.
  9. ^"الخطيب والسومة يصلان لندن للاختبار مع نوتنغهام"(in Arabic). psyrianp. 16 July 2012.
  10. ^Tenbusch, Ronald (11 July 2017)."Sie nennen ihn den" syrischen Ibrahimovic ""(in German). Welt.
  11. ^ab"السومة.. هداف في الثلاثين ضل طريق العالمية بسبب جنسيته"(in Arabic). thenewkhalij.news. 28 March 2019.
  12. ^"السومة هداف الدوري ينتقل إلى أهلي جدة"(in Arabic). alittihad.ae. 10 May 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 10 April 2018.
  13. ^"Al Ahli 6 – 1 Hajer".Archived fromthe originalon 9 April 2016.
  14. ^"السومة أهلاوي حتى 2018"(in Arabic). alresalah.ps. 24 December 2014.
  15. ^abcdDuerden, John (13 August 2022)."Omar Al-Somah departs Al-Ahli as Saudi Pro League legend".Arab News.
  16. ^"Al Ahli 2–1 Naft Tehran".ESPN. 27 May 2015.
  17. ^"جراحة ناجحة لعمر السومة في ألمانيا"(in Arabic). Kooora. 22 December 2017.
  18. ^"عمر السومة أهلاوي حتى 2021"(in Arabic). Sky News Arabia. 21 April 2018.
  19. ^"Omar Al Soma".soccer24.
  20. ^"هدف الأهلي الأول ضد الاتحاد (عمر السومة) في الجولة 22 من دوري كأس الأمير محمد بن سلمان للمحترفين".Dawri Plus(in Arabic). 1 March 2019.
  21. ^"السومة يلحق بالشمراني بقائمة تاريخية بالدوري السعودي".Kooora(in Arabic). 29 November 2020.
  22. ^"رسميا.. عمر السومة الهداف التاريخي للدوري السعودي".Kooora(in Arabic). 22 December 2020.
  23. ^"Al Soma commits future to Al Ahli Saudi FC".AFC. 13 January 2021.
  24. ^"العربي القطري يعلن رسميًا ضمّ النجم السوري عمر السومة إلى صفوفه".aden-hura(in Arabic). 10 August 2022.
  25. ^"العربي يفوز على السد 0/3 ويتوج بكأس أمير قطر".vetogate(in Arabic). 12 May 2023.
  26. ^"Players - Stars League - Top Scorer & Assist".Soccerway.Retrieved8 May2023.
  27. ^"العربي يضم السومة موسمين"(in Arabic). arriyadiyah. 21 July 2023.
  28. ^"Syria 1–2 Iraq"(PDF).AFC. 2 November 2008. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 11 May 2012.
  29. ^"Kuwait vs. Syria".National Football Teams. 11 October 2012.
  30. ^"المنتخب السوري يحرز لقب بطل غرب آسيا للمرة الأولى في تاريخه إثر فوزه على العراق 1-0"(in Arabic). France 24. 21 December 2012.
  31. ^"الحلم يستمر.. السومة يضرب إيران بهدف قاتل ويعبر بسوريا إلى الملحق"(in Arabic). CNN. 5 September 2017.
  32. ^McAuley, John (13 November 2019)."Exclusive: Omar Al Somah on 'that' goal in Tehran, 'that' overhead kick for Al Ahli and carrying Syria's World Cup hopes".The National News.
  33. ^"إعلان القائمة النهائية لمنتخب سورية المشارك في نهائيات آسيا".Al-Thawra(in Arabic). 23 December 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 26 December 2018.Retrieved24 December2018.
  34. ^"عمر السومة يعتزل اللعب دولياً"(in Arabic). beIN SPORTS. 21 December 2023.
  35. ^"السومة يتراجع عن قرار الاعتزال الدولي مع منتخب سوريا"(in Arabic). beIN SPORTS. 25 January 2024.
  36. ^"North Korea 1–0 Syria".ESPN. 6 June 2024.
  37. ^"بالأرقام.. عمر السومة يتحول لظاهرة في الدوري السعودي"(in Arabic). FilGoal. 31 October 2024.
  38. ^"لاعب منتخب سورية عمر السومة هدافاً قاتلاً ضمن أبرز نجوم آسيا"(in Arabic). JP News. 24 May 2017.
  39. ^"عمر السومة يرزق بولدين" توأم "ويعلن عن اسميهما".akhbaar24(in Arabic). 31 July 2017.
  40. ^Omar-Al-Somahhttp://leartishasic.Retrieved 15 May 2021
  41. ^Omar Al Somahat Soccerway. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  42. ^"Omar Al Somah".National Football Teams.Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann.Retrieved5 September2017.
  43. ^"IFFHS MAN TEAM - AFC - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020".IFFHS.30 January 2021.
  44. ^"أفضلية نوفمبر تذهب إلى رازافان والسومة وبخاري".
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