# Abbas Ahmad Atwi

Abbas Ahmad Atwi (Arabic: عباس أحمد عطوي; born 12 September 1979) is a Lebanese football coach and former player who is the assistant coach of Lebanese Premier League club Nejmeh.
Making his debut for Lebanon in 2002, Atwi was the all-time most capped player for his country with 88 international caps, before being surpassed by Hassan Maatouk in 2020; he played for the national team for over 13 years, until his final match in 2016.

## Club career

Born in Kunin, in the south of Lebanon, Atwi grew up in the Zuqaq al-Blat quarter of Beirut; he began playing football in the streets aged six. Atwi joined Nejmeh on 5 December 1997, and scored 114 goals in over 500 matches in his 10-year stay. In 2012, Atwi was sent on loan for a few months to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Atwi terminated his contract with Nejmeh on 18 January 2017, due to problems with the technical staff.
In summer 2017 Atwi joined Shabab Arabi, before moving to Shabab Sahel on 4 January 2018, scoring four goals and making five assists in his first season. On 17 July 2020, Atwi re-joined Nejmeh on a two-year deal.
On 2 September 2021, Atwi moved to Akhaa Ahli Aley on a free transfer; aged 42, he became the oldest Lebanese player to sign for another club. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), Atwi was the fourth-oldest player (and oldest outfield player) to play a match in the top tier of a national championship in 2022, aged 42 years, 247 days in his last Lebanese Premier League game in 2022 against Sporting on 17 May. He left Akhaa in summer 2022.

## International career

In 2002, Atwi played for the Lebanon Olympic team at the 2002 Asian Games, scoring a goal in an 11–0 win against Afghanistan.
Atwi made his senior debut for Lebanon in a match against Jordan in 2002, and took part in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He played his last international match in 2016.

## Managerial career

In February 2024, Atwi returned to Nejmeh as an assistant manager to Dragan Jovanović. They eventually lead Nejmeh to win the 2023–24 Lebanese Premier League.

## Personal life

Atwi is not related to fellow Lebanese footballer Abbas Ali Atwi, who is also known as Onika.

## Career statistics
### International

    Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 9 April 2008 | Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon | Maldives | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 2. | 23 January 2009 | Surakul Stadium, Phuket, Thailand | North Korea | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2009 King's Cup |
| 3. | 25 August 2009 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, India | Kyrgyzstan | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2009 Nehru Cup |
| 4. | 15 November 2011 | Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon | South Korea | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 5. | 14 December 2012 | Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium, Al Farwaniyah, Kuwait | Kuwait | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2012 WAFF Championship |
| 6. | 26 August 2015 | Saida Municipal Stadium, Sidon, Lebanon | Iraq | 1–1 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 7. | 8 October 2015 | Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Myanmar | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification |

## Honours
### Player

Nejmeh
* Lebanese Premier League: 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2013–14
* Lebanese FA Cup: 2015–16; runner-up: 2020–21
* Lebanese Elite Cup: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2021
* Lebanese Super Cup: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2016; runner-up: 2021
Shabab Sahel
* Lebanese Elite Cup: 2019
Individual
* Lebanese Premier League Best Player: 2005–06, 2013–14
* Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season: 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2013–14
* Lebanese Premier League Best Goal: 2006–07
* Lebanese Premier League top assist provider: 2006–07, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14

### Manager

Nejmeh (assistant manager)
* Lebanese Premier League: 2023–24