# Ahmed Radhi

Ahmed Radhi Humaiesh Al-Salehi (Arabic: أَحْمَد رَاضِي هَمِيش الصَّالِحِيّ, 21 April 1964 – 21 June 2020) was an Iraqi footballer who played as a striker. Nicknamed "Al-Saher" (The Magician) in his playing days and regarded as one of Iraq's and Asia's best players of all time, Radhi scored the only Iraqi goal at the FIFA World Cup in its 1986 edition, a low shot to the corner of the net against Belgium in a 2–1 defeat. He was voted the Asian Footballer of the Year in 1988.

## Club career

Radhi started to make a name for himself after he was forced to switch childhood club Al-Zawraa for new powerhouse Al-Rasheed, the club founded and owned by Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday. Alongside fellow legend Adnan Dirjal, Radhi led the club to reaching the 1988–89 Asian Club Championship final, losing to Qatari side Al Sadd on away goals. He later had a four-year spell at Al-Wakrah in Qatar before finishing his career with Al-Zawraa.

## International career

Radhi was given his debut for Iraq against Jordan on 21 February 1982 by Ammo Baba, who acknowledged his talent and supported the player in his first years of senior football. Coach Baba however left Radhi out of the 1984 Summer Olympics squad citing a lack of effort by the player. He then scored 8 goals in World Cup qualification, leading Iraq to a first World Cup finals, in Mexico in 1986.
With Iraq he won 2 Arab Cups, 1 Pan-Arab Games & a Gulf Cup, while he also did represent Iraq in the Olympics in 1988, scoring a goal each in games against Zambia and Guatemala. In 1988, he was voted Asian player of the year and 9th best Asian player of the century in 1999.

## Personal life

Radhi had three daughters and one son.
He fled Iraq in 2006 because of the sectarian violence and moved with his family to the Jordanian capital Amman, but returned to Iraq in 2007 for a career in politics. In October 2007, he was nominated by the opposition Iraqi Accord Front to the Council of Representatives of Iraq, replacing Abd al-Nasir al-Janabi, who had resigned to join the insurgency.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2014 and 2018 elections with the National Alliance, a coalition of Sunni and Shia figures.

### Death

Radhi was admitted into Al Nuaman General Hospital in Adhamiyah on 13 June 2020 after contracting COVID-19. He left the hospital only to be readmitted on 18 June after his condition worsened. On 21 June, Radhi was pronounced dead at the age of 56 following complications from COVID-19 during the pandemic in Iraq.
Details about his death were later revealed, that he was about to be taken to be treated in Jordan, but delays in finalizing his medical report postponed the proposed flight. However, the death happened after Radhi removed his artificial ventilation to go to the restroom by himself, later on the medical staff found him dead. His resting place is the Karkh Cemetery in Abu Ghraib.

## Career statistics

| Club | Season | Qatar Stars League | Qatar Stars League | Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cup | Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cup | Crown Prince Cup | Crown Prince Cup | Qatar Emir Cup | Qatar Emir Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Assist |
| Al-Wakrah Sport Club | 1993–94 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Wakrah Sport Club | 1994–95 | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | +7 | +6 | |
| Al-Wakrah Sport Club | 1995–96 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 7 | |
| Al-Wakrah Sport Club | 1996–97 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 | |
| Career total | Career total | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Club | Season | Qatar Stars League | Qatar Stars League | Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cup | Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cup | Crown Prince Cup | Crown Prince Cup | Qatar Emir Cup | Qatar Emir Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Assist |
| Al-Arabi Sports Club | 1997–98 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| Career total | Career total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |

### International goals

    Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 10 October 1983 | Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah | United Arab Emirates | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1984 Olympics qualifiers |
| 2. | 25 March 1984 | Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat | Qatar | 1–2 | 1–2 | 7th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 3. | 15 March 1985 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Lebanon | 5–0 | 6–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4. | 15 March 1985 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Lebanon | 6–0 | 6–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 18 March 1985 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Lebanon | 1–0 | 6–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6. | 18 March 1985 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Lebanon | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7. | 18 March 1985 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Lebanon | 3–0 | 6–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 29 March 1985 | King Abdullah Stadium, Amman | Jordan | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9. | 19 April 1985 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Jordan | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | 5 May 1985 | Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Calcutta | Qatar | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11. | 6 August 1985 | Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca | Libya | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1985 Pan Arab Games |
| 12. | 14 August 1985 | Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1985 Pan Arab Games |
| 13. | 14 August 1985 | Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca | Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1985 Pan Arab Games |
| 14. | 1 November 1985 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Bahrain | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 15. | 8 June 1986 | Estadio Nemesio Díez, Toluca | Belgium | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1986 FIFA World Cup |
| 16. | 21 September 1986 | Daegu Stadium, Daegu | Oman | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 17. | 23 September 1986 | Daegu Stadium, Daegu | Pakistan | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1986 Asian Games |
| 18. | 27 March 1987 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | United Arab Emirates | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1988 Olympics qualifiers |
| 19. | 8 April 1987 | Manama National Stadium. Manama | Bahrain | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 20. | 8 April 1987 | Manama National Stadium. Manama | Bahrain | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 21. | 1 May 1987 | Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1988 Olympics qualifiers |
| 22. | 8 January 1988 | Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat | Qatar | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1988 Olympics qualifiers |
| 23. | 25 February 1988 | Stade El Menzah, Tunis | Tunisia | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 24. | 8 March 1988 | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh | Kuwait | 1–0 | 1–0 | 9th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 25. | 13 March 1988 | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh | Qatar | 2–0 | 3–0 | 9th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 26. | 13 March 1988 | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh | Qatar | 3–0 | 3–0 | 9th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 27. | 16 March 1988 | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 2–0 | 9th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 28. | 9 July 1988 | Amman International Stadium, Amman | Tunisia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1988 Arab Nations Cup |
| 29. | 15 July 1988 | Amman International Stadium, Amman | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1988 Arab Nations Cup |
| 30. | 15 July 1988 | Amman International Stadium, Amman | Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1988 Arab Nations Cup |
| 31. | 19 July 1988 | Amman International Stadium, Amman | Jordan | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1988 Arab Nations Cup |
| 32. | 17 September 1988 | Daejeon Hanbat Stadium, Daejeon | Zambia | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1988 Olympic Games |
| 33. | 19 September 1988 | Daejeon Hanbat Stadium, Daejeon | Guatemala | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1988 Olympic Games |
| 34. | 27 January 1989 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Oman | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 35. | 3 February 1989 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Jordan | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 36. | 3 February 1989 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Jordan | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 37. | 3 February 1989 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Jordan | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 38. | 3 February 1989 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Jordan | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 39. | 10 February 1989 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad | Qatar | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 40. | 3 November 1989 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | South Yemen | 1–0 | 6–2 | 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup |
| 41. | 3 November 1989 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | South Yemen | 2–0 | 6–2 | 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup |
| 42. | 8 November 1989 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Kuwait | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup |
| 43. | 8 November 1989 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Kuwait | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup |
| 44. | 12 November 1989 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City | Uganda | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup |
| 45. | 3 March 1990 | National Stadium, Kuwait City | United Arab Emirates | 1–2 | 2–2 | 10th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 46. | 18 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Ethiopia | 1–0 | 13–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 47. | 18 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Ethiopia | 5–0 | 13–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 48. | 18 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Ethiopia | 7–0 | 13–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 49. | 18 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Ethiopia | 10–0 | 13–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 50. | 18 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Ethiopia | 13–0 | 13–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 51. | 20 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Congo | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 52. | 20 August 1992 | National Stadium, Irbid | Congo | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1992 Jordan International Tournament |
| 53. | 25 April 1993 | Changwon Civic Stadium, Changwon | South Korea | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 54. | 26 May 1993 | Kofahi Inter Stadium, Irbid | Yemen | 5–1 | 6–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 55. | 28 May 1993 | Kofahi Inter Stadium, Irbid | Pakistan | 4–0 | 8–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 56. | 30 May 1993 | Kofahi Inter Stadium, Irbid | China | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 57. | 14 June 1993 | Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu | Jordan | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 58. | 16 June 1993 | Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu | Yemen | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 59. | 22 October 1993 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha | Iran | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 60. | 24 October 1993 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 61. | 28 October 1993 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha | Japan | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 62. | 23 May 1997 | Lahore Stadium, Lahore | Pakistan | 6–2 | 6–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours
### Player
#### Al-Rasheed

* Iraqi Premier League: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
* Iraq FA Cup: 1986–87, 1987–88
* Arab Club Champions Cup: 1985, 1986, 1987

#### Al-Zawraa

* Iraqi Premier League: 1990–91, 1998–99
* Iraq FA Cup: 1990–91, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1998–99
* Umm al-Ma'arik Championship: 1991–92

#### Iraq

* Asian Games: 1982
* Arabian Gulf Cup: 1984, 1988
* Arab Games: 1985
* Arab Cup: 1988

#### Individual

* Asian Footballer of the Year: 1988
* Arabian Gulf Cup top scorer: 1988
* Arab Cup top scorer: 1988
* Iraqi Premier League top scorer: 1985–86, 1991–92
* Chosen in the Asia's Top 10 Players of the Century list by IFFHS.

### Manager
#### Al-Shorta

* Umm al-Ma'arik Championship: 2000–01