# Yousuf Al-Thunayan

Yousuf Al-Thunayyan (Arabic: يوسف الثُنيان, born November 18, 1963) is a former association football winger and attacking midfielder from Saudi Arabia. He spent all 21 seasons of his senior career at Al-Hilal FC. A playmaker known for vision and technique, Al-Thunayyan was nicknamed "The Philosopher" for his dribbling, goal scoring, and playmaking skills. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Saudi and Asian players of all time.

## Club career

Al-Thunayan played his entire club career for Al-Hilal, joining the first team in 1984 and retiring in 2005 after winning a total of 24 titles with the club. On 14 December 2005, Al-Hilal hosted Valencia in his farewell match. Particular highlights are Asian Club Championship 1991 Winner and Asian Club Championship 1999-2000 Winner.

## International career

During his active career, Al-Thunayan played 95 international matches and scored 33 goals for the Saudi Arabia national team. At the age of 34 he was selected for his only Football World Cup, and appeared in two games, scoring from the penalty spot in the 2–2 draw with South Africa. Yousuf represented Saudi Arabia in 3 consecutive AFC Asian Cup finals in 1988, 1992 and 1996, winning two out of these three.
1988 AFC Asian Cup (Qatar)
Yousuf took over the starting forward role mid way thru the tournament coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira. He played vs Bahrain in Group stages which tied 1-1. He also played the important game vs China which Saudi Arabia won 1–0. He played the Semi Finals vs Iran which Saudi Arabia won 1–0. He also played in the Final vs South Korea which Saudi Arabia won on penalties.
1992 AFC Asian Cup (Japan)
He scored the goal in a stage game vs China which Saudis tied 1-1. He also played the group stage game vs Qatar which Saudis again tied 1-1. In the final group stage game, Yousuf scored a goal in a 4–0 rout of Thailand. Yousuf led the team to defeat UAE 2–0 in Semi Finals. Yousuf played whole Final game in which Saudi Arabia lost to Japan.
1992 King Fahd Cup, later known as the FIFA Confederations Cup
The confederation cup was the last stop prior to Asian World Cup qualifiers. Saudi Arabia beat USA 3–0, with Yousuf scoring a goal.
1996 AFC Asian Cup (UAE)
Yousuf was on the bench but was substituted in during the game against Iran, where Saudi Arabia lost 3–0. A Quarter finals game against China started badly, with Saudi Arabia down 2–0. Yousuf scored a goal and made an assist, and in the end Saudi Arabia won the game 4–2. In the Semi Finals game vs Iran, Saudi Arabia won the match on PK 4–3. Saudi Arabia won 4–2 against UAE, the host nation, with Yousuf playing the whole game and scoring a critical first penalty shot. This was a second continental Asian Cup for Yousuf and a third for Saudi Arabia.
1998 Arab Cup
Yousuf scored in the Semi Finals game 2–1 against Kuwait. In the Final game vs Qatar, he made an assist to clinch the title for Saudi Arabia.
1998 World Cup
As Saudi Arabia failed to qualify for the 1986 and 1990 world cup, Yousuf had only one chance to play on the World Cup near the end of his peak. He appeared as a substitute against Denmark where Saudi Arabia Lost 1–0. Yousuf scored a penalty kick to earn Saudi Arabia a 2–2 draw vs South Africa, resulting in the solitary point for Saudi Arabia in 1998 world cup. He captained the team in the game.

### International goals

| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 25 February 1986 | Khobar, Saudi Arabia | Wales | 1–2 | Lost | Friendly |
| 2 | 3 October 1986 | Seoul, South Korea | Kuwait | 2–2 | Drew | 1986 Asian Games |
| 3 | 15 March 1989 | Jeddah Saudi Arabia | Syria | 5–4 | Won | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
| 4 | 15 October 1992 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | United States | 3–0 | Won | FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 5 | 29 October 1992 | Hiroshima, Japan | China | 1–1 | Drew | 1992 AFC Asian Cup |
| 6 | 2 November 1992 | Hiroshima, Japan | Thailand | 4–0 | Won | 1992 AFC Asian Cup |
| 7 | 29 December 1995 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Kazakhstan | 3–0 | Won | Friendly |
| 8 | 29 December 1995 | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Kazakhstan | 3–0 | Won | Friendly |
| 9 | 24 January 1996 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Kyrgyzstan | 3–0 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 10 | 24 January 1996 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Kyrgyzstan | 3–0 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 11 | 28 January 1996 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Yemen | 4–0 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 12 | 28 January 1996 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Yemen | 4–0 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 13 | 31 January 1996 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Kyrgyzstan | 2–0 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 14 | 21 October 1996 | Muscat, Oman | Bahrain | 3–1 | Won | 13th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 15 | 16 December 1996 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | China | 4–3 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup |
| 16 | 16 December 1996 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | China | 4–3 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup |
| 17 | 14 September 1997 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Kuwait | 2–1 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
| 18 | 24 June 1998 | Bordeaux, France | South Africa | 2–2 | Drew | 1998 FIFA World Cup |
| 19 | 29 September 1998 | Doha, Qatar | Kuwait | 2–1 | Won | 1998 Arab Nations Cup |
| 20 | 2 November 1998 | Manama, Bahrain | Bahrain | 1–1 | Drew | 14th Arabian Gulf Cup |

## Honours
### Club

* Saudi Premier League : 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002
* Saudi King Cup : 1984, 1989
* Crown Prince Cup : 1995, 2000
* Saudi Federation Cup : 1987, 1996, 2000
* Saudi Founder's Cup : 2000
* AFC Champions League : 1991, 2000
* Asian Cup Winners Cup : 1997
* Asian Super Cup : 1997
* Arab Champions League : 1994, 1995
* Arab Super Cup : 2001
* GCC Club Cup : 1986, 1998

### International

* AFC Asian Cup
** Winners (2) : 1988, 1996
** Runners-up (1) : 1992
* FIFA Confederations Cup
** Runners-Up (1) : 1992
* Arabian Gulf Cup
** Runners-up (1) : 1998
* Arab Nations Cup
** Winners (1) : 1998
** Runners-up (1) : 1992

### Individual

* 1986, 1991-92 Asian Club Championship - Best player