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Mohamed Al-Taay

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Iraqi footballer (born 2000)

Mohamed Al-Taay
Al-Taay playing for the Wellington Phoenix in 2024.
Personal information
Full name Mohamed Huseian Reda Khafaji Al Taay
Date of birth (2000-06-15) 15 June 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Campbelltown, Australia
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team Western Sydney Wanderers
Number 6
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)
2023–2025 Wellington Phoenix 35 (0)
2025– Western Sydney Wanderers 0 (0)
International career
2024– Iraq 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 January 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024

Mohamed Al-Taay (Arabic: محمد الطائي; born 15 June 2000) is a professional football midfielder who plays for Western Sydney Wanderers. Born in Australia, he represents the Iraq national team.

Early life

Al-Taay was born in Campbelltown, New South Wales with two older brothers and one younger sister. His parents, who hailed from Iraq, fled to Australia in 1994 due to the conflicts under Saddam Hussein. His father fled Iraq in 1991 to a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia before moving to Australia.

Al-Taay began playing football at the age of six with his father and brothers and attended Campbelltown Performing Arts High School growing up. He joined his first football clubs with Blacktown City and Marconi Stallions in their junior age groups.

Despite being born in Australia, Al-Taay developed interest in representing the Iraq national football team. He is a devoted Muslim and frequently participates in Ramadan. Al-Taay is fluent in Arabic and English, having learnt the former first growing up.

Club career

Newcastle Jets

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.

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 A-League season, Al-Taay departed Newcastle after 29 appearances in all competitions across two seasons.

Wellington Phoenix

Al-Taay signed for Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2023–24 season. On 17 January 2025, Al-Taay was granted an early release from his contract with the Phoenix.

Western Sydney Wanderers

Following his mid-season release from Wellington, Al-Taay returned to the Western Sydney Wanderers, where he had previously been part of their youth academy.

International career

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. 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.

Style of play

Al-Taay is primarily positioned as a defensive midfielder but is also able to play as a centre-back and right back. 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.

References

  1. ^ "Five things to know about Mohamed Al-Taay". Wellington Phoenix. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. Elmerhebe, Tarik (22 November 2016). "Aspiring soccer teen Mohamed Al-Taay aims high". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Get to know new recruit Mohamed Al-Taay". Newcastle Jets. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  5. Clarke, George (12 October 2023). "Phoenix new boy Al-Taay targets Iraqi national team". The West Australian. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. "Jets secure defensive utility Mohamed Al-Taay - Newcastle Jets". Newcastlejetsfc.com.au. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  7. "Newcastle Jets Confirm A-League Men departures". Newcastle Jets FC. 7 May 2023.
  8. "Wellington Phoenix begin rebuild with signing of midfielder Mohamed Al-Taay". Stuff. 11 May 2023.
  9. Rollo, Phillip (17 January 2025). "Midfielder Mohamed Al-Taay joins Wellington Phoenix exodus". Stuff. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  10. "Wanderers confirm the return of Al-Taay". Western Sydney Wanderers FC. 23 January 2025.
  11. @IraqNT_EN (21 May 2024). "📋<img src="https://flagcdn.com/iq.svg" alt="<img src=" https:="" flagcdn.com="" iq.svg"="" style="width: 0.9em; padding: 0 0.05em">" style="width: 0.9em; padding: 0 0.05em"> 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.
  12. "Indonesia v Iraq game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
  13. 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

Western Sydney Wanderers FC – current squad
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