Salah Assad

**Salah Assad** (; born 13 March 1958) is an Algerian former football player and manager who played as a forward. Known for his agility and precise finishing, Assad played a crucial role in leading Algeria to their stunning victory against West Germany, assisting one of the goals in their iconic 2-1 win. His tenacity and flair on the field, combined with his ability to find the back of the net, made him a standout performer. Assad's exceptional play and tactical awareness were instrumental in Algeria's impressive debut at the world stage, capturing the hearts of fans globally and leaving an indelible mark on the tournament's history. Widely considered as one of the best left-wingers in African football history.

## Club career

He made his debut in adult football in 1975 with Raed Shabab Cuba, in which he spent seven seasons and helped the team become the champion of Algeria in 1981.

During the 1982–83 season, he defended the colors of the French Mulhouse, but at the end of the season, the club took the last 20th place and was relegated from the elite division, after which Assad moved to Paris Saint-Germain. He played for the Parisian team the next season of his playing career, but could not gain a foothold in the main team.

In 1984, he returned to the Mulhouse club, which continued to play in the second division. This time he spent two seasons in the team and scored quite regularly, but the team in both seasons occupied only second place in its group and could not return to the top division.

In the summer of 1986, he returned to his native club Raed Shabab Cuba, for which he played another 4 seasons. He finished his professional career as a football player playing for this club in 1990.

## International career

In 1978, he made his debut in official matches as part of the Algerian national team. In the same year, as part of the national team, he won gold medals at the All-African Games in Algeria, scoring one goal.

In 1980, he played as part of the Algerian national team at the Olympic football tournament in the USSR, where the "desert foxes" were able to get out of the group.

As a member of the national team, he participated in the 1980 African Cup of Nations in Nigeria, where he won silver with the team, the 1982 African Cup of Nations, the 1982 World Cup in Spain and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

During his career in the national team, which lasted 12 years, he spent 68 matches in the uniform of the main team of the country, scoring 15 goals.

## Honours

**RC Kouba**
- Algerian League Champion in 1981

**Algeria**
- Gold medal in the 1978 All-Africa Games in Algiers
- Bronze medal in the 1979 Mediterranean Games in Split
- 2nd in the final of the 1980 African Cup of Nations in Nigeria
- Quarter final round in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow
- 2 participations in FIFA World Cup of 1982 in Spain & 1986 in Mexico

**Individual**
- Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament:1980, 1982
- Best left forward in 1982 FIFA World Cup
- 2nd best African football player of the year in 1982

## Infobox (football biography)

- **name**: Salah Assad
- **image**: Assad, salah 1986.jpg
- **caption**: Assad in 1986
- **birth place**: Larbaâ Nath Irathen, Algeria
- **height**: 1.84 m
- **position**: Forward (association football), Forward
- **youthyears1**: 1972–1974
- **youthclubs1**: JSM Chéraga
- **youthyears2**: 1974–1975
- **youthclubs2**: RC Kouba
- **years1**: 1975–1982
- **clubs1**: RC Kouba, RC Kouba / RS Kouba
- **caps1**: 307
- **goals1**: 83
- **years2**: 1982–1983
- **clubs2**: FC Mulhouse, Mulhouse
- **caps2**: 26
- **goals2**: 13
- **years3**: 1983–1984
- **clubs3**: → Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Paris Saint-Germain (loan)
- **caps3**: 11
- **goals3**: 1
- **years4**: 1984–1986
- **clubs4**: FC Mulhouse, Mulhouse
- **caps4**: 55
- **goals4**: 15
- **years5**: 1986–1989
- **clubs5**: RC Kouba, RC Kouba / RS Kouba
- **caps5**: 119
- **goals5**: 32
- **years6**: 1989
- **clubs6**: JSM Chéraga
- **caps6**: 32
- **goals6**: 12
- **totalcaps**: 550
- **totalgoals**: 155
- **nationalyears1**: 1977–1989
- **nationalteam1**: Algeria national football team, Algeria
- **nationalcaps1**: 68
- **nationalgoals1**: 15