Mohamed Al-Taay
 Al-Taay playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 June 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Campbelltown, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wellington Phoenix | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2015 | Blacktown City | ||
| 2016 | Marconi Stallions FC | ||
| 2017–2021 | Western Sydney Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Western Sydney Wanderers NPL | 76 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Newcastle Jets | 29 | (0) |
| 2023– | Wellington Phoenix | 27 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Iraq | 3 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024 | |||
Mohamed Al-Taay (Arabic: محمد الطائي; born 15 June 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for A-League club Wellington Phoenix. Born in Australia, he represents the Iraq national team.
Early life
[edit]Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, New South Wales with two older brothers and one younger sister.[1][2] His parents, who hailed from Iraq, fled to Australia in 1994 due to the conflicts under Saddam Hussein.[1][2] His father fled Iraq in 1991 to a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia before moving to Australia.[2]
Al-Taay began playing football at the age of six with his father and brothers and attended Campbelltown Performing Arts High School growing up.[3] He joined his first football clubs with Blacktown City and Marconi Stallions in their junior age groups.[4]
Despite being born in Australia, Al-Taay developed interest in representing the Iraq national football team.[5] He is a devoted Muslim and frequently participates in Ramadan.[2] Al-Taay is fluent in Arabic and English, having learnt the former first growing up.[2]
Club career
[edit]Newcastle Jets
[edit]Having come through the Western Sydney Wanderers academy and NPL program, Al-Taay joined Newcastle Jets ahead of the 2021–22 season, in the hope of breaking through for his A-League debut.[6]
At the conclusion of the 2022–23 A-League season, Al-Taay departed Newcastle after 29 appearances in all competitions across two seasons.[7]
Wellington Phoenix
[edit]Al-Taay signed for Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2023–24 season.[8]
International career
[edit]On 21 May 2024, Al-Taay was named in Iraq’s 26 man squad for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Indonesia and Vietnam.[9] He made his debut in the former on 6 June 2024, substituting Osama Rashid in the 86th minute as Iraq beat Indonesia with the score of 2–0.[10]
Style of play
[edit]Al-Taay is primarily positioned as a defensive midfielder but is also able to play as a centre-back and right back.[4] He is characterised more to be a ball-winning midfielder and is noted for his work rate and defensive abilities by Giancarlo Italiano. He is also described as having a similar playing style towards Cameron Devlin.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Five things to know about Mohamed Al-Taay". Wellington Phoenix. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Comito, Matt (21 December 2023). "My dad escaped war, chose Australia & worked 20 hours a day so I could make it to the A-Leagues". A-League. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Elmerhebe, Tarik (22 November 2016). "Aspiring soccer teen Mohamed Al-Taay aims high". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Get to know new recruit Mohamed Al-Taay". Newcastle Jets. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Clarke, George (12 October 2023). "Phoenix new boy Al-Taay targets Iraqi national team". The West Australian. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ "Jets secure defensive utility Mohamed Al-Taay - Newcastle Jets". Newcastlejetsfc.com.au. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Newcastle Jets Confirm A-League Men departures". Newcastle Jets FC. 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix begin rebuild with signing of midfielder Mohamed Al-Taay". Stuff. 11 May 2023.
- ^ @IraqNT_EN (21 May 2024). "📋🇮🇶 Our 26-man squad for the #AsianQualifiers with Indonesia and Vietnam: GK: Jalal Hassan, Hussein Hassan, Ali Kadhim, Kumel Saadi DF: Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashim, Frans Putros, Zaid Tahseen, Manaf Younis, Ahmed Yahya, Ahmed Maknzi, Hussein Ali, Mustafa Saadoun MF: Amir Al-Ammari, Osama Rashid, Safaa Hadi, Mohamed Al-Taay, Ali Jasim, Marko Farji, Bashar Resan, Louai Al-Ani, Zidane Iqbal, Ibrahim Bayesh, Youssef Amyn FW: Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Indonesia v Iraq game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
- ^ D'Urbano, Nick (11 May 2023). "Wellington Phoenix start rebuild with 'no-brainer' signing: 'He reminds me of Cam Devlin'". A-League. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
External links
[edit]- Mohamed Al-Taay at Soccerway
- Living people
- 2000 births
- Soccer players from Sydney
- Iraqi men's footballers
- Iraq men's international footballers
- Australian men's soccer players
- Australian people of Iraqi descent
- Men's association football midfielders
- Western Sydney Wanderers FC players
- Newcastle Jets FC players
- Wellington Phoenix FC players
- A-League Men players
- National Premier Leagues players
- Australian expatriate men's soccer players
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
- Iraqi expatriate men's footballers
- Iraqi expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
- Expatriate men's association footballers in New Zealand
- 21st-century Australian sportsmen