Abbas Saad
Encyclopedia
Abbas Saad is an Australia
n former international football (soccer)
player.
and started a professional footballing career. A midfielder
with a good eye for goal, he played in the Malaysian League
for Johor
and Singapore
in the early 1990s. He was a key member of teams that won the League and Malaysia Cup
double with both Johor in 1991 and Singapore in 1994.
However a year after the 1994 triumph with Singapore, he was charged with match-fixing. He was tried, convicted and fined S$
50,000 by the courts in Singapore in June 1995, but always maintained his innocence. He then received a global playing ban from FIFA
.
After his ban ended, he played for several teams in the National Soccer League
in Australia – Sydney Olympic
in 1996–97, Sydney United
from 1997–99, and for Northern Spirit FC
in the 1999–00 season.
two years later. After a six-year gap, he was recalled by then Socceroos coach Terry Venables
for three games in 1998. In all, he played six times for his country, including four full caps.
side Penrith Nepean United
, in 2009 was named as Technical Youth Director by Sydney Olympic FC
. He is also the Head Coach for the Australian Deaf Football team. He is also the head coach of an academy called GIS Academy which is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the name of the school is called Garden International School.
and for the SingTel coverage of the UEFA Champions League
in Singapore, where his popularity once saw him dubbed as "The Singapore Beckham". He is also a regular studio guest for the FourFourTwo TV Show
with the SuperSport channel on Malaysian network, Astro
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former international football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
Club career
Born in Lebanon, Saad moved to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and started a professional footballing career. A midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
with a good eye for goal, he played in the Malaysian League
Malaysian Super League
The Malaysia Super League is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia...
for Johor
Johor FA
The Football Association of Johor enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Johor. The team currently plays in the Malaysia Premier League.The team won the Malaysia Cup in 1985 and 1991, and the Malaysian League in 1991....
and Singapore
Football Association of Singapore
The Football Association of Singapore is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded in 1952. Prior to that, the Singapore Amateur Football Association, founded in 1892, was the governing body for football in Singapore...
in the early 1990s. He was a key member of teams that won the League and Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...
double with both Johor in 1991 and Singapore in 1994.
However a year after the 1994 triumph with Singapore, he was charged with match-fixing. He was tried, convicted and fined S$
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
50,000 by the courts in Singapore in June 1995, but always maintained his innocence. He then received a global playing ban from FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
After his ban ended, he played for several teams in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
in Australia – Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian football club that plays in the NSW Premier League. It competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 until the league's demise in 2004, having won the championship in 1989–90, 2001–02, the League Cup in 1980, the minor premiership in 2002–03 and the...
in 1996–97, Sydney United
Sydney United
Sydney United Football Club are an Australian football club from Sydney, Australia, established in 1957 by Croatian Australians in the area...
from 1997–99, and for Northern Spirit FC
Northern Spirit FC
Northern Spirit Football Club was a football club based in North Sydney, Australia. Northern Spirit entered the National Soccer League in the 1998-99 season...
in the 1999–00 season.
International career
In 1990, Saad represented Australia in a match against Russian club Torpedo Moscow and earned his first full cap against MalaysiaMalaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...
two years later. After a six-year gap, he was recalled by then Socceroos coach Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
for three games in 1998. In all, he played six times for his country, including four full caps.
Coaching career
Saad is in the process of completing his 'A' licence. He was coach at New South Wales Premier LeagueNew South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
side Penrith Nepean United
Penrith Nepean United
Penrith Nepean United Football Club was an Australian football club based in St Marys.-History:Penrith Nepean United played in the New South Wales Premier League, the highest level of competitive Men's football in New South Wales. The club hosted their home games at CUA Stadium in Penrith but are...
, in 2009 was named as Technical Youth Director by Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian football club that plays in the NSW Premier League. It competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 until the league's demise in 2004, having won the championship in 1989–90, 2001–02, the League Cup in 1980, the minor premiership in 2002–03 and the...
. He is also the Head Coach for the Australian Deaf Football team. He is also the head coach of an academy called GIS Academy which is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the name of the school is called Garden International School.
Broadcasting career
Saad's football ban in Singapore was only lifted in March 2009 after almost 14 years. In August 2009, he began appearing as a football expert in the studios of ESPN STAR SportsESPN Star Sports
ESPN Star Sports is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and News Corporation...
and for the SingTel coverage of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in Singapore, where his popularity once saw him dubbed as "The Singapore Beckham". He is also a regular studio guest for the FourFourTwo TV Show
FourFourTwo TV Show
FourFourTwo is a thrice-weekly football magazine television show on Asian cable channel, Astro SuperSport, broadcasting to Malaysia and Brunei in association with global football magazine, FourFourTwo. In its third season, FourFourTwo has highlights from European leagues including England's Premier...
with the SuperSport channel on Malaysian network, Astro
Astro (Malaysian satellite television)
Astro is the brand name of the Malaysian direct broadcast satellite pay television service. It transmits digital satellite television and radio to households in Malaysia & Brunei...
.