# Yousef Al-Salem

Yousef Al-Salem (Arabic: يوسف السالم, 4 May 1985 – 12 February 2023) was a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who played as a striker for several clubs most notably Al-Ettifaq and Al-Hilal. He was a member of the Saudi Arabia national team from 2007 to 2013.

## Career

Al-Salem began his career at Al-Qadsiah and made his debut during the 2004–05 season. Following the club's relegation to the First Division in 2008, Al-Salem joined Al-Shabab. In his single season with the club, Al-Salem won the King Cup and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Cup. In July 2009, Al-Salem joined Al-Ettifaq on a four-year contract. He scored 52 goals in 132 appearances in his four seasons at the club. Following the expiry, Al-Salem joined Al-Hilal on a free transfer. Despite not establishing himself as a starter for the club, Al-Salem went on to make 66 appearances and scored 10 goals with the club. He also won three titles with Al-Hilal. In September 2016, Al-Salem returned to Al-Ettifaq following his release by Al-Hilal. In March 2020, after almost two years without a club, Al-Salem joined Saudi Second Division side Al-Jubail on a six-month contract. In October 2020, Al-Salem joined Al-Thoqbah.
Al-Salem was a full international, who earned caps at all youth levels. He helped the under-23 side win the 2008 GCC U-23 Championship. He made his senior debut in 2007 and scored three goals for the senior side.

## Death

Al-Salem died on 12 February 2023, at the age of 37. The cause of death has not been specified, other than reports that he suffered an illness about three weeks before he died.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 12 February 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Al-Qadsiah | 2004–05 | Premier League | 10 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 18 | 6 |
| Al-Qadsiah | 2005–06 | Premier League | 17 | 5 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 4 | 24 | 9 |
| Al-Qadsiah | 2006–07 | Premier League | 16 | 10 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 4 | 19 | 14 |
| Al-Qadsiah | 2007–08 | Premier League | 16 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 22 | 6 |
| Al-Qadsiah | Total | Total | 59 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 12 | 83 | 35 |
| Al-Shabab | 2008–09 | Pro League | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 5 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 2009–10 | Pro League | 21 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 29 | 7 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 2010–11 | Pro League | 24 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 19 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 2011–12 | Pro League | 24 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 4 | — | — | 40 | 16 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 2012–13 | Pro League | 25 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 10 |
| Al-Ettifaq | Total | Total | 94 | 39 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 132 | 52 |
| Al-Hilal | 2013–14 | Pro League | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Al-Hilal | 2014–15 | Pro League | 13 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 25 | 5 |
| Al-Hilal | 2015–16 | Pro League | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 20 | 4 |
| Al-Hilal | Total | Total | 37 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 10 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 2016–17 | Pro League | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 2017–18 | Pro League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Al-Ettifaq | Total | Total | 19 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| Al-Jubail | 2019–20 | Second Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 |
| Al-Thoqbah | 2020–21 | MS League | 23 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 2 |
| Al-Jubail | 2021–22 | Third Division | 13 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 4 |
| Al-Jubail | 2022–23 | Third Division | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 |
| Al-Jubail | Total | Total | 19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 10 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 269 | 83 | 18 | 8 | 22 | 6 | 32 | 9 | 28 | 13 | 369 | 119 |
* ↑ Includes King Cup
* ↑ Includes Crown Prince Cup
* ↑ Includes AFC Champions League and AFC Cup
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in Prince Faisal bin Fahd Cup
* ↑ Six appearances and four goals in Prince Faisal bin Fahd Cup, one appearance in Arab Champions League
* ↑ Four appearances in Prince Faisal bin Fahd Cup, three appearances in GCC Champions League

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Saudi Arabia | 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2008 | 0 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2013 | 4 | 3 |
| Total | Total | 11 | 3 |
    Scores and results list Saudi Arabia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Al-Salem goal.
List of international goals scored by Yousef Al-Salem :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 17 March 2013 | Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia | Malaysia | 1–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 23 March 2013 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia | Indonesia | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 3 | 23 March 2013 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia | Indonesia | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |

## Honours

Al-Shabab
* King Cup: 2009
* Prince Faisal bin Fahd Cup: 2008–09
Al-Hilal
* King Cup: 2015
* Saudi Super Cup: 2015
* Saudi Crown Prince Cup: 2015–16
Saudi Arabia U23
* GCC U-23 Championship: 2008