By Duncan Mackay
November 28 – Sami Al Jaber (pictured), who played for Saudi Arabia in four consecutive World Cup finals, has joined Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup as an ambassador, it has been announced.
The record-breaking striker retired last year after appearing 163 times and scoring 44 goals for his country, including three goals at consecutive World Cup finals from 1994 to 2006.
Al Jaber, 36, said: ”This is an extremely exciting role for me because I wholeheartedly believe that our passionate football region here in the Middle East deserves the opportunity to host football’s greatest event, which I have been fortunate enough to experience on four occasions throughout my career.
“My experiences tell me that Qatar would be a fascinating, innovative and unique host nation for a World Cup of the future, and help to inspire millions of kids from the region to follow in my footsteps and represent their country at the World Cup finals.”
Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi, the chief executive of Qatar 2022, handed over a special shirt to Al Jaber to mark his new role.
Al Thawadi said: “We are happy to welcome Sami to our team.
“Sami embodies the passion and talent that exists in Middle East football today.
“We believe he perfectly represents the unity and power of football which Qatar 2022 will offer to the world of football, opening a new market to FIFA and the wider football family.”
Al Jaber, who spent nearly 20 years at home club Al Hilal and retired in 2008 with a 3-2 testimonial match victory over Manchester United – in which he fittingly found the back of the net once more, also played in England for the Wolverhampton Wanderers., where his spell in 2000-2001 was wrecked by injury and he was restricted to just five appearances without scoring
He first burst onto the international scene in 1992 and was part of the Saudi Arabian team that reached the second round of the USA 1994 World Cup two years later.
Al Jaber also became the first player from Asia to score in two consecutive World Cup finals when he netted in a 2-2 draw with South Africa in France in 1998.
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