Noor Sabri

Career

Noor Sabri was the outstanding goalkeeper at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, conceding just two goals throughout Iraq's title-winning campaign. This record was unmatched by any of the keepers from the other 15 participating sides. Like the majority of the current Iraqi squad, 25-year-old Sabri belongs to the country's golden generation that was nurtured by Adnan Hamad. He broke on to the Asian scene in the AFC Youth Championship 2000, when he warmed the bench until the final game against Japan. Despite serving as the replacement for the suspended first choice Ahmed Ali Jaber, Sabri earned praise for keeping Iraq in contention before Emad Mohammed scored the title-winning goal.

He was quickly back on the sidelines as the team played in the subsequent 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage. However, although he served as a back-up to Jaber with the national youth team, Sabri proved a fast learner at the club level and went from strength to strength with Iraqi first division side Al-Zawraa. His improvement impressed German coach Bernd Stange so much that the youngster was called into the team that eventually booked a surprise berth to the 2004 Summer Olympics. He started in all six of Iraq's games during their campaign and performed admirably as Iraq stormed into the last four. He won the Damascus International Championship in 2005 with Al-Talaba when they defeated Al-Zawraa 5–4 on penalties in the final with Noor saving two penalties and scoring one himself in the shootout. Like many of his team-mates on the Olympic squad, Sabri graduated to the country's senior team. He went on to make the No. 1 jersey his own in the ensuing years and was part of the side that earned Iraq's maiden continental title in 2007.

Sabri impressed throughout the competition as Iraq reached the semi-final, where they were presented with the daunting task of facing the Korea Republic. The two sides remained level at 0-0 after extra time and a penalty shootout beckoned. After both sides were on target in the first three rounds, Sabri made a decisive save by tipping away Yeom Ki-Hun's shot. After Kim Jung-Woo hit the post in their final attempt, it was Sabri and his team-mates who, against all expectations, progressed to the final.

Sabri announced his retirement from international football, citing his reason to allow younger players the opportunity to represent the Iraqi national team.

Country

Club

Individual

Personal life

Noor Sabri is a Shia Muslim and married. He has two children.