Saad Natiq

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Saad Natiq

| image = Brasil x Iraque - Futebol masculino - Olimpíadas Rio 2016 (28838143315).jpg

| fullname = Saad Natiq Naji{{cite web |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Iraq |work=FIFA.com |page=12 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=23 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627043508/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Al-Najaf, Iraq

| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Center back, Defensive midfielder

| currentclub = Al-Talaba

| clubnumber =

| youthclubs1 = Al-Najaf FC

| youthyears1 =

| clubs1 = Masafi Al-Wasat

| clubs2 = Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

| clubs3 = Al-Arabi

| clubs4 = Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

| clubs5 = Al-Shorta

| clubs6 = Al-Batin

| clubs7 = Abha

| clubs8 = Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

| clubs9 = Al-Talaba

| years1 = 2011–2014

| years2 = 2014–2017

| years3 = 2017–2018

| years4 = 2018–2019

| years5 = 2019–2022

| years6 = 2022

| years7 = 2022–2024

| years8 = 2024

| years9 = 2024–

| caps1 =

| goals1 = 1

| caps2 =

| goals2 = 3

| caps3 = 21

| goals3 = 3

| caps4 =

| goals4 = 5

| caps5 = 64

| goals5 = 8

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| caps7 = 32

| goals7 = 1

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| nationalteam1 = Iraq U20

| nationalteam2 = Iraq U23

| nationalyears1 = 2011–2013

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2016

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalcaps2 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2024

| nationalteam3 = Iraq Olympic (O.P.)

| nationalcaps3 = 1

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2015–

| nationalteam4 = Iraq

| nationalcaps4 = 41

| nationalgoals4 = 1

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = 24 August 2022

| nationalteam-update = 30 July 2024

}}

Saad Natiq Naji ({{langx|ar|سَعْد نَاطِق نَاجِي}}, born 19 March 1994),{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=368713/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152313/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=368713/index.html/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - SUAD NATIQ|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-08-25}} sometimes referred as Suad Natiq Naji, is an Iraqi footballer who plays for Al-Talaba in the Iraqi Premier League and the Iraq national football team as a center back and defensive midfielder.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kooora.com/?player=73116|title=اللاعب: سعد ناطق ناجي|website=Kooora.com|access-date=2017-08-25}}

Club career

Born in Najaf Saad went through the Al-Najaf FC youth system and made his senior debut with his home club under Hatif Shamran in 2009 and was part of the club's first team for two seasons.{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Iraq Olympic Team Profile|url=https://ahdaaf.me/2016/08/02/iraq-olympic-team-profile/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104944/https://ahdaaf.me/2016/08/02/iraq-olympic-team-profile/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=22 December 2017}} However it was in the Iraqi capital that Saad made his name, when he joined Doura-based oil refinery club Al-Masafi in the south of Baghdad where he played for three seasons – earning his selection to the Iraqi U-19s. It was under Hakim Shaker that Saad Natiq became one of the nation's recognised defenders, playing for the Iraqi Under 19s at the FIFA World U-20 Cup in Turkey. It was his spell at Al-Masafi under the command of trainers Hassan Ahmed and Nadhim Shaker that he developed as a player and was transformed into a strong tackling centre half after used in several positions at the club including at right back having first started out as a midfield anchor in his early days at Al-Najaf. In the summer of 2014, the defender was signed by his former Al-Masafi club coach Nadhim Shaker to play for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya after his club were relegated to the first division.

=Al Arabi=

Saad Natiq signed for Al Arabi for the 2017/18 season. He made his debut on 17 September against Al Sailiya which ended in a 3–1 defeat. He scored his first goal in the Qatar Stars League against Al Rayyan on 19 November, with his second coming in the same match.

International career

On 26 August 2015, Natiq made his first international appearance for Iraq against Lebanon in a friendly match.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}

=International Goals=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"

! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

29 January 2024

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar

align="center"|1–1

align="center"|2–3

2023 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

Iraqi Premier League: 2016–17
Iraq FA Cup: 2015–16
AFC Cup: 2016, 2018{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/|title=The AFC|website=The-afc.com|access-date=18 November 2021}}

Al-Shorta

Iraq U-20