# Kenny Saief

Kenneth Hasan "Kenny" Saief (Arabic: كينيث حسن "كيني" سيف, Hebrew: קנת' חסן "קני" סייף; born (1993-12-17)December 17, 1993) is an American-Israeli professional soccer player who plays as a left midfielder for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Haifa. He played for Israel internationally at both youth and senior levels, before switching allegiance.

## Early life

Saief was born in Panama City, Florida, U.S., to Druze-Israeli parents; the family returned to Israel when he was three.

## Club career

Saief began his professional career with Bnei Sakhnin in 2011, before he was transferred to Hapoel Haifa one season later. The next year, he moved to Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona and reached the final of the Israel State Cup. Saief made only two appearances however, which resulted in a transfer to Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon. There he gained more playing opportunities.
Saief attracted the attention of Belgian Pro League team K.A.A. Gent, who signed him for a three-year deal on August 8, 2014. Saief's first season at the club saw him with the Belgian Pro League title. After four seasons at Gent, Saief officially signed to Anderlecht in May 2018.
On March 6, 2019, Saief was loaned to FC Cincinnati of Major League Soccer. On March 24, 2019, Saief scored his first MLS goal against the New England Revolution. On June 11, 2019, Saief's loan was terminated due to injury complications.
On February 12, 2020, he was loaned to Polish Ekstraklasa's Lechia Gdańsk until the end of 2019–20 season.
On 1 July 2022, Saief signed a two-year contract with Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftçi. On 14 December 2023, Saief left Neftçi.
On 19 December 2023 signed for Maccabi Haifa.

## International career

Saief has represented the Israel national team at various youth levels. He reportedly stated that he expected to play for the United States national team, although he was called up to the Israel national team and made his debut in a friendly 2–1 loss to Croatia.
On June 3, 2017, Saief was called up by the United States as part of their 40-man preliminary roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. As part of his callup, Saief filed a one-time switch with FIFA, tying him permanently to the US program.
On June 22, 2017, U.S. Soccer confirmed that Saief had been approved by FIFA for a change of association.
He was chosen to make his first start for the United States against Paraguay on March 27, 2018.

## Career statistics

    As of match played December 15, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Bnei Sakhnin | 2010–11 | Israeli Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Hapoel Haifa | 2012–13 | Israeli Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 2012–13 | Israeli Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Ramat HaSharon | 2013–14 | Israeli Premier League | 28 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 10 |
| Gent | 2014–15 | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 3 |
| Gent | 2015–16 | Belgian Pro League | 28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| Gent | 2016–17 | Belgian First Division A | 31 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 | 47 | 8 |
| Gent | 2017–18 | Belgian First Division A | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Gent | Total | Total | 82 | 13 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 1 | 113 | 15 |
| Anderlecht (loan) | 2017–18 | Belgian First Division A | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Anderlecht | 2018–19 | Belgian First Division A | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Anderlecht | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anderlecht | Total | Total | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| FC Cincinnati (loan) | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Lechia Gdańsk (loan) | 2019–20 | Ekstraklasa | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 |
| Lechia Gdańsk (loan) | 2020–21 | Ekstraklasa | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| Lechia Gdańsk (loan) | Total | Total | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Ashdod (loan) | 2021–22 | Israeli Premier League | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Neftçi | 2022–23 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 32 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 41 | 6 |
| Neftçi | 2023–24 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 18 | 2 |
| Neftçi | Total | Total | 46 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 3 | 59 | 8 |
| Maccabi Haifa | 2023–24 | Israeli Premier League | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Maccabi Haifa | 2024–25 | Israeli Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Maccabi Haifa | Total | Total | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 296 | 34 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 4 | 360 | 40 |
* ↑ Includes Israeli State Cup, Belgian Cup, Polish Cup, Azerbaijan Cup
* ↑ Includes Toto Cup
* ↑ One appearance in the Belgian Super Cup and seven in the UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

## Honors

Gent
* Belgian Pro League: 2014–15
* Belgian Super Cup: 2015