SAUD KARIRI
A Saudi Titan With A Heart Of Gold
A Saudi Icon on Asian Pitches. Saud Kariri is considered one of the most prominent Saudi Arabia stars throughout its history, due to his contributions during his long career with the Saudi national team and the four clubs he represented.
He played over 300 club matches across a career including Al-Qadsiah, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Shabab.
Kariri, who was one of the most prominent names representing Al-Ittihad as a player, continued his prominence in the world of AFC football through his work as director of football at Al-Hilal.
Beyond the pitch, Kariri had a prominent societal role and impact through the work he did for the youth of his country, making him worthy of a place on the Champions of Progress edition of TREND 11, presented by NEOM, the global partner of the Asian Football Confederation.
A Golden Asian and Domestic Career
Kariri began his career at Al-Qadsiah in 2000, breaking into the first team to star for the club for three years. Thanks to his remarkable performance, Al-Ittihad’s leadership pushed to sign him in 2003, which began his golden era as a player.
Kariri played for Al-Ittihad from 2003 until 2013, participating in 170 matches in various tournaments. He won eight domestic and international titles with Al-Ittihad, including the Saudi League title twice, in the 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 seasons. He also won the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup twice, in the 2010 and 2013 editions, and won the Crown Prince Cup with Al-Ittihad in 2004.
On the international level, Kariri was one of the key players when Al-Ittihad made history to win the AFC Champions League in two consecutive editions, 2004 and 2005, and also won the Arab Club Champions Cup in the 2005 edition.
After his golden journey with Al-Ittihad, Kariri moved to Al-Hilal, where he played for the team from 2013 until 2016. While at the Riyadh club, he won three titles – the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup and the Saudi Super Cup in the 2015 season, while his last title was in the 2016 season, when he won the Crown Prince Cup. Kariri's club career finished with two years at Al-Shabab.
He had a golden career with the Saudi national team, which he represented for 14 years following his debut in 2001. Kariri played 133 matches during this period, scoring seven goals.
Thanks to his consistent performances, Kariri was a fundamental pillar of the national team, across a carousel of 13 coaches. He participated in 21 competitions at various regional, continental and international levels. Kariri won two titles, the first was in the Arab Cup in 2002, and the second was in the Gulf Cup in 2003.
In addition to his distinguished career with the Green Falcons, which was represented by participating in many world and Asian tournaments, Kariri is the only Saudi player who participated in four editions of the AFC Asian Cup (2004, 2007, 2011, and 2015).
Community Impact
Kariri's retirement from the world of football was short-lived, as he quickly took on the role of Football Director at Al-Hilal Club in 2019, following administrative changes made by club president Fahd bin Nafl.
Kariri proved to be “the right man in the right place” as he successfully navigated the challenges faced by the club, particularly after their elimination from the AFC Champions League due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Kariri demonstrated his behind-the-scenes abilities on numerous occasions, playing a key role in the contract extensions of several Al-Hilal stars, most notably defender Ali Al-Bulayhi, who was on the verge of leaving the club after entering his contract's final year.
Despite the recent developments in Saudi football, including the hiring of foreign football directors, Kariri has remained a steadfast figure in the face of change.
Due to his widespread popularity in Saudi sports, Kariri has had a significant community impact. In a video posted on Al-Hilal's social channels, he discussed ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the importance of adhering to guidelines to protect the community.
He was also chosen by the National Committee for Combating Drugs to deliver an awareness speech to the community, highlighting the dangers of addiction and its impact on individuals and society.
Kariri's influence extended beyond the football field. The legendary captain demonstrated his loyalty when his team, Al-Ittihad, faced a financial crisis.
His generosity saw him personally cover some of the players' salaries and paid the signing-on fee for Ahmed Asiri, who was in his first season. He also persuaded his team-mates to waive some of their financial entitlements to alleviate the club's burden.
Humanitarian and Charitable Acts
Away from football, Kariri has been keen to support all segments of society by sponsoring various events for orphaned children and providing financial support to charities.
He has also contributed to the reconstruction of facilities that provide care for children, such as schools and Quran memorisation centres.
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