Ahmad Saba'a

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ahmad Saba'a
أحمد سبع

| image =

| fullname = Ahmad Saba'a

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|05|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Majd al-Kurum, Israel

| height =

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Hapoel Bnei Zalafa (manager)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Hapoel Majd al-Krum

| years1 = 1997–2002

| clubs1 = Hapoel Majd al-Krum

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2002–2003

| clubs2 = Hapoel Acre

| caps2 = 20

| goals2 = 10

| years3 = 2003–2009

| clubs3 = Hapoel Bnei Lod

| caps3 = 149

| goals3 = 61

| years4 = 2009–2013

| clubs4 = Maccabi Netanya

| caps4 = 124

| goals4 = 51

| years5 = 2013–2014

| clubs5 = Ironi Kiryat Shmona

| caps5 = 6

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2014

| clubs6 = Hapoel Ra'anana

| caps6 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014

| clubs7 = Hapoel Bnei Lod

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2014–2015

| clubs8 = Ihud Bnei Majd al-Kurum

| caps8 = 6

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2015

| clubs9 = Hilal Al-Quds

| caps9 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2015–2016

| clubs10 = Hapoel Kafr Kanna

| caps10 = 27

| goals10 = 6

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 = 2014–2015

| manageryears2 = 2016–2017

| manageryears3 = 2017

| manageryears4 = 2019–2020

| manageryears5 = 2020–2021

| manageryears6 = 2021–2022

| manageryears7 = 2023–

| managerclubs1 = Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum

| managerclubs2 = Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum

| managerclubs3 = Hapoel Umm al-Fahm

| managerclubs4 = Hapoel Kafr Kanna

| managerclubs5 = Hapoel Bu'eine

| managerclubs6 = Ahva Kafr Manda

| managerclubs7 = Hapoel Bnei Zalafa

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Ahmad Saba'a (or Ahmed Saba,{{Cite web|url=http://www.football.org.il/en/players/player/?player_id=19950|title = ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - Ahmad SABEA}} {{langx|ar|أحمد سبع}}, {{langx|he|אחמד סבע}}; born 24 May 1980) is an Arab-Israeli former footballer.

Biography

Ahmad Saba'a was born in Majd al-Kurum, Israel, to a Muslim-Arab family.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/give-football-a-chance-to-break-the-cycle-of-violence/|title = Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence}} His cousin Dia Saba'a is a footballer as well.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/give-football-a-chance-to-break-the-cycle-of-violence/|title = Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence}} In 2010, Saba'a founded his own football school, operating in his hometown of Majd al-Kurum. The school has 180 protégés and its main goal is to bring local talent from Majd al-Kurum to the second and first division leagues in Israel.{{Cite web|url=http://one.co.il/Article/190596.html|title=סבע: ראובן נותן לנו את כולו, הוא יצליח בכל מקום|date=19 November 2011}} He is a cousin of Israeli professional footballer Dia Saba.{{cite web |last1=Mendel |first1=Jack|date=15 October 2018|title=Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/give-football-a-chance-to-break-the-cycle-of-violence/ |website=blogs.timesofisrael.com |access-date=4 September 2020}}

Club career

=Hapoel Majd al-Kurum=

Ahmad grew up in the youth ranks of Hapoel Majd al-Krum and made his debut for the senior side in 1997. In 1999-00 he was one of the main players in the club's historic promotion to Liga Artzit. He left Majd al-Krum in 2002.

=Hapoel Acre=

Ahmad moved to Hapoel Acre after signing a one-year contract in July 2002. Even though he played well for the club with 10 goals in 20 league games, he didn't extended his contract with the club.

=Hapoel Bnei Lod=

In August 2003 he moved to Hapoel Bnei Lod. He helped Lod win two promotions, the first came in the 2004–05 season when the club won Liga Alef, the next season the club won Liga Artzit with Ahmad as one of the factors for the team's success. In 6 seasons with the club Saba'a scored 61 goals in 149 league games.

=Maccabi Netanya=

On 20 January 2009, Saba'a signed a one-year deal with Maccabi Netanya.{{cite news |script-title=he:אחמד סבע חתם במכבי נתניה |first=Dor |last=Blech |url=http://sports.walla.co.il/?w=/157/1420549 |publisher=Walla! |date=2009-10-20 |accessdate=19 January 2009 |language=Hebrew |trans-title=Ahmed Saba'a Signed With Maccabi Netanya }} His first goal for the club came against Sliema Wanderers in the UEFA Europa League on 23 July 2009.

In his first season with Netanya he became the club's top scorer, a feat repeated the following three seasons.

In June 2011 he extended his contract with the club for 3 more years under a new contract worth $390,000.{{Cite web|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/180943.html|title = אחמד סבע חתם ל-3 שנים בנתניה: אין מאושר ממני|date = 5 June 2011}}

In September 2011 he was appointed as the captain of the team.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4116872,00.html|title = מכבי נתניה: אחמד סבע מונה לקפטן הקבוצה|newspaper = Ynet|date = September 2011|last1 = ארצי|first1 = שי}}

He was voted as player of the 2011–12 season while securing his position as the top goalscorer with 20 league goals.{{Cite web|url=http://one.co.il/Article/199685.html|title=סבע השחקן, בן שמעון המאמן, הפועל האכזבה|date=13 May 2012}}

On 4 November 2012 he became the first to score a goal in the opening game of the new Netanya Stadium as Netanya won the game 2–1 against Hapoel Tel Aviv.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4301167,00.html|title = חנוכת בית, נתניה סטייל|newspaper = Ynet|date = 4 November 2012|last1 = פורת|first1 = אבינעם}}

In 4 seasons with the club Saba'a scored 62 goals in a total of 153 games in all club competitions. Saba'a is in the top ten all time goalscorers of Maccabi Netanya.

=Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona=

On 16 May 2013, after 4 years with Netanya he moved to Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona for a transfer fee of $120,000. Saba'a signed a two years contract with Kiryat Shmona.{{Cite web|url=http://one.co.il/Article/217091.html|title=סבע חתם בק"ש: מבקש סליחה מאוהדי נתניה|date=16 May 2013}}

=Hapoel Ra'anana=

After a terrible half season with Kiryat Shmona, in January 2014 Saba'a moved to Hapoel Ra'anana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/13-14/1,1,31,0/228144.html|title = אחמד סבע חתם לעונה וחצי בהפועל רעננה|date = 14 January 2014}} One month later he asked to be released from the club.{{Cite web|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/229499.html|title = אחמד סבע שוחרר מרעננה: לא היה לי טוב שם|date = 13 February 2014}}

International career

After reaching the highest levels of Israeli domestic football, Saba'a has said that his goal is to one day play for the Israel national team.{{cite news |script-title=he:אחמד סבע: "חולם להגיע לנבחרת ישראל" |first=Shai |last=Artzi |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3792816,00.html |newspaper=Yedioth Ahronoth |date=2009-10-20 |accessdate=20 October 2009 |language=Hebrew |trans-title=Ahmed Saba'a: "Dream of Making Israeli National Team" }} He has never featured for any national youth football teams. On 18 March 2012 after a lot of media coverage on the fact that he has yet been called for the national team, Saba'a was quoted that he will not play for the Palestine national side - "I won't play for Palestine because I'm an Israeli player".{{Cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4204131,00.html|title = סבע: "אני שחקן ישראלי, לא אשחק בפלסטין"|newspaper = Ynet|date = 18 March 2012|last1 = ארצי|first1 = שי}}

Statistics

colspan=3 \| Club performance ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Season	Club	League ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals ! Apps	Goals
colspan=3 \| Israel ! colspan=2 \| League ! colspan=2 \| State Cup ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Total
2006–07	rowspan="3"\|Hapoel Bnei Lod	rowspan="3"\|Liga Leumit	29	11	2	2	2	0	0	0	33	13
2007–08	30	6	0	0	10	2	0	0	40	8
2008–09	31	13	1	0	11	5	0	0	43	18
2009–10	rowspan="4"\|Maccabi Netanya	rowspan="6"\|Ligat ha'Al	26	9	1	0	2	1	3	1	32	11
2010–11	\|35	12	4	4	5	2	0	0	44	18
2011–12	33	20	3	2	3	0	0	0	39	22
2012–13	30	10	1	0	5	0	2	1	38	11
rowspan="2"\|2013–14	rowspan="1"\|Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
rowspan="1"\|Hapoel Ra'anana	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
2014–15	rowspan="1"\|Hapoel Bnei Lod	rowspan="1"\|Liga Leumit	7	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	11	0
2014–15	rowspan="1"\|Hapoel Majd al-Kurum	rowspan="1"\|Liga Alef	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
2015	rowspan="1"\|Hilal Al-Quds	rowspan="1"\|West Bank Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
2015–16	rowspan="1"\|Hapoel Kafr Kanna	rowspan="1"\|Liga Alef	27	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	30	6

Honours

=Team=

Liga Alef (2):
1999-00 (Northern division), 2004-05 (Southern division)
Liga Bet (1):
2003-04
Liga Artzit (1):
2005-06

=Individual=

Sport 5 Player of the Season (1): 2011–12{{Cite web|url=http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=920&DocID=118159&Lang=he|title = שחקן העונה: אחמד סבע - ספורט 5}}
Footballer of the Year in Israel (1): 2012[http://www.nrg.co.il/online/71/ART2/350/295.html שחקן העונה: אחמד סבע כובש שוב]
Israeli Premier League - 2011–12 Top Goalscorer (20 goals)

References

External links

{{IFA league player|id=19950&SEASON_ID=8}}
[http://www.one.co.il/Player/Current//1,1,8,34721/%d7%90%d7%97%d7%9e%d7%93_%d7%a1%d7%91%d7%a2 Profile and statistics on One.co.il]

{{Navboxes

|bg=gold

|fg=navy

|title= Awards

|list1=

}}

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:Arab citizens of Israel

Category:Arab-Israeli footballers

Category:Israeli Muslims

Category:Israeli men's footballers