Ziad Al Samad
Lebanese football coach and player
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Ziad Ali Al Samad (Arabic: زِيَاد عَلِيّ الصَّمَد; born 6 August 1978) is a Lebanese professional football coach and former player who is the goalkeeper coach of Lebanese Premier League club Safa and the Lebanon national under-23 team. As a player, Al Samad played as a goalkeeper.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ziad Ali Al Samad[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 August 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Kuwait[1] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Safa (goalkeeper coach) Lebanon U23 (goalkeeper coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1998 | Riada Wal Adab | ||
| 1999–2008 | Ansar | ||
| 2008–2011 | Racing Beirut | ||
| 2011–2014 | Safa | 63 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Saham | ||
| International career | |||
| 1999–2012 | Lebanon | 47 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2020– | Lebanon U23 (goalkeeper) | ||
| 2021–2022 | AC Sporting (goalkeeper) | ||
| 2022–2025 | Ansar (goalkeeper) | ||
| 2025– | Safa (goalkeeper) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
With 47 caps for the Lebanon national team, Al Samad is his country's all-time most capped goalkeeper.
Club career
Al Samad started his senior club career at Lebanese Premier League club Riada Wal Adab,[3] before moving to Ansar during the 1999–2000 season.[4] In his first season at the club, Al Samad won both the Lebanese Federation Cup, and the Lebanese Super Cup.[5] The following season, in 2000–01, Al Samad helped Ansar win both the Lebanese Elite Cup, and the Federation Cup.[5] In 2001–02, Al Samad won the Lebanese FA Cup,[4][5] before helping Ansar winning two consecutive domestic doubles (league and cup), in 2005–06 and 2006–07.[4][5]
In 2008, Al Samad moved to Racing Beirut, staying there for three seasons season.[4] In 2011 he moved to 2008 AFC Cup runners-up Safa.[4] In his three seasons at the club, Al Samad would help Safa win two league titles (2011–12, 2012–13),[4] an FA Cup (2012–13),[4][5] another Elite Cup (2012),[5] and a Super Cup (2013).[5]
On 30 September 2014, Safa sold Al Samad to Bahraini side Saham on a one-season deal.[6] Following the 2014–15 Oman Professional League season, Al Samad retired from football.[4]
International career
Al Samad made his senior international debut for Lebanon on 1 September 2002 at the 2002 WAFF Championship, against Jordan; Lebanon lost 1–0.[4] The goalkeeper's first clean sheet came on 26 December 2002, at the 2002 Arab Nations Cup, in a goalless draw against Bahrain.[4]
Al Samad ended his international career with 47 caps for the Lebanon national team, as his country’s all-time most capped goalkeeper.[7]
Managerial career
On 12 August 2020, Al Samad was appointed goalkeeper coach of the Lebanon national under-23 team.[8] He became goalkeeper coach of Lebanese Premier League side AC Sporting on 18 June 2021.[9] On 27 September 2021, following Jamal Taha's appointment as head coach, Al Samad was confirmed goalkeeper coach of Lebanon U23.[10] On 28 June 2022, he was appointed goalkeeper coach of Ansar.[11]
Honours
Ansar
- Lebanese Premier League: 2005–06, 2006–07
- Lebanese FA Cup: 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07
- Lebanese Elite Cup: 2000
- Lebanese Federation Cup: 1999, 2000
- Lebanese Super Cup: 1999
Safa
- Lebanese Premier League: 2011–12, 2012–13
- Lebanese FA Cup: 2012–13
- Lebanese Elite Cup: 2012
- Lebanese Super Cup: 2013
Individual