View source for Ahmad Elrich

{{short description|Australian association football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Ahmad Elrich
| image               = Ahmad Elrich-24.12.09.jpg 
| caption             = Elrich playing for the Central Coast Mariners in 2009
| fullname            = Ahmad Elrich
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1981|5|30}}
| birth_place         = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia 
| height              = 1.83 m
| position            = [[Winger (association football)|Right winger]]
| currentclub         = [[Parramatta FC]]
| clubnumber          = 
| youthyears1         = 
| youthclubs1         = Bass Hill
| years1              = 1999      | clubs1 = [[Parramatta Eagles]]                                | caps1 = 9   | goals1 = 0 
| years2              = 1999–2004 | clubs2 = [[Parramatta Power]]                                 | caps2 = 119 | goals2 = 19 
| years3              = 2004      | clubs3 = [[Busan I'Park|Busan I'Cons]]                        | caps3 = 10  | goals3 = 1 
| years4              = 2005–2007 | clubs4 = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]                               | caps4 = 6   | goals4 = 0 
| years5              = 2006      | clubs5 = → [[FC Lyn Oslo|Lyn Oslo]] (loan)                    | caps5 = 6   | goals5 = 1 
| years6              = 2007–2008 | clubs6 = [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]]         | caps6 = 13  | goals6 = 1 
| years7              = 2008–2010 | clubs7 = [[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]] | caps7 = 15  | goals7 = 1 
| years8              = 2017–2018 | clubs8 = [[Rydalmere Lions FC|Rydalmere Lions]]               | caps8 = 37  | goals8 = 15 
| years9              = 2018–     | clubs9 = [[Parramatta FC]]                                    | caps9 = 30  | goals9 = 4
| totalcaps = 178 
| totalgoals = 23
| nationalyears1 = 2001     | nationalteam1 = [[Australia national under-20 football team|Australia U20]] | nationalcaps1 = 17 | nationalgoals1 = 2 
| nationalyears2 = 2004     | nationalteam2 = [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Australia U23]] | nationalcaps2 = 9  | nationalgoals2 = 6 
| nationalyears3 = 2004–2006| nationalteam3 = [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]  | nationalcaps3 = 17 | nationalgoals3 = 5
| club-update         = 27 September 2019
| nationalteam-update = 
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[OFC Nations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004 Australia]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[OFC U-19 Men's Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2001 OFC U-20 Championship|2001 Cook Islands/New Caledonia]]|}}
}}

'''Ahmad Elrich''' ({{langx|ar|أحمد الريش}}; born 30 May 1981) is an Australian professional association [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Winger (association football)|right winger]] for Australian club [[Parramatta FC]]. Born in Australia to Lebanese parents, Elrich represented his native country internationally, both at youth and senior level.<ref name="smh1">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/22/1074732540707.html?from=storyrhs|title=Elrich fills in the gaps|last=Cockerill|first=Michael|date=23 January 2004|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 May 2011|quote=I'm a Lebanese Muslim and I've achieved things.}}</ref>

Elrich played seventeen games for the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia national soccer team]] and played for [[Fulham F.C.]] in the English [[Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian Player Database – EA|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/E/EA.html|website=OzFootball|access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> He is the older brother of professional football player [[Tarek Elrich]].

==Club career==
===Australia===
Elrich began his professional career at the [[Parramatta Eagles]], his home club, being born just west of the club's home ground.

At the end of his first season with the Eagles, he toured Lebanon with a team of Lebanese-Australians. He was offered a contract with [[Nejmeh SC]] in Beirut, but declined in favour of returning to Australia.<ref name="smh1" />

Returning to Australia he signed with new [[National Soccer League|NSL]] club [[Parramatta Power]] in the club's inaugural squad. Elrich cemented a first-team spot as a free-flowing winger here, including a memorable 2003–04 season where he was one of the league's leading assist getters, and played in the Grand Final at just 22. His time at the [[Parramatta Power]] was cut short, as the club and [[National Soccer League|NSL]] met its demise.

===South Korea and Fulham===
Elrich then moved to South Korean side [[Busan I'Park|Busan I'cons]]. After a protracted contract dispute that saw him on the sidelines for five months, he made his move to the English [[Premier League]].<ref name="smh2">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Football/Elrich-helps-Socceroos-get-one-up-on-friendly-foes/2005/03/26/1111692683953.html|title=Elrich helps Socceroos get one up on friendly foes|last=Cockerill|first=Michael|date=27 March 2004|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="smh3">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Football/Elrich-races-his-way-to-the-big-time/2005/06/10/1118347603754.html|title=Elrich races his way to the big time|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=11 June 2011|access-date=25 May 2011|date=11 June 2005}}</ref>

Elrich signed a 3-year deal with [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in the Summer of 2005 from [[K-League]] club [[Busan I'Park|Busan I'cons]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ahmad Elrich joins|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2005/june/09/ahmad-elrich-joins|publisher=Fulham Official Website|date=9 June 2005|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref> He was loaned out to [[FC Lyn Oslo]] from April to May 2006.<ref name="smh3" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Elrich joins FC Lyn|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2006/march/28/elrich-joins-fc-lyn|publisher=Fulham Official Website|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref>

After signing for Fulham and making his debut against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in a [[Premier League]] match, Elrich's first team appearances were few and far between, but despite signing a 3-year contract in 2006, his future at the club looked in doubt after not being given a squad number for the [[FA Premier League 2007-08|2007–08 season]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] confirmed Elrich's departure on 4 September 2007.<ref>{{cite web| title= Transfer Round-Up| work= FulhamFC.com| url= http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2007/September/Transfer%20Round-Up.aspx| access-date= 4 September 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015937/http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2007/September/Transfer%20Round-Up.aspx| archive-date= 30 September 2007| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

===Return to Australia===
[[Image:Ahmad Elrich.jpg|160px|right|thumb|Elrich playing for the Central Coast Mariners]] 
Elrich signed a contract with the [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]] in the [[A-League]] as their [[A-League#Marquee player|marquee player]] on 21 September 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Socceroo Elrich signs with Phoenix|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=465120&cc=5739|access-date=5 July 2017|work=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|date=20 September 2007}}</ref> Elrich scored his first goal, in his first home game, for the [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]] against [[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]] on 21 October 2007, which he described as the 'best goal of his career'. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Ahmad left the [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]] to move back to Australia, moving to [[Central Coast Mariners]] to link up with several former [[Parramatta Power]] teammates. After limited appearances and poor form, he was released by the Central Coast Mariners at the end of the [[2009–10 A-League]] season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elrich on Gun Charges|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/204877,elrich-on-gun-charges.aspx|access-date=5 July 2017|work=FourFourTwo|publisher=nextmedia Pty Ltd.|date=25 May 2011|archive-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211213638/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/204877,elrich-on-gun-charges.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{Clear|left}}

===Comeback===
Elrich returned to soccer to play for semi-professional team Rydalmere Lions FC in [[National Premier Leagues NSW 3]] in 2017 after playing [[New South Wales Regional Leagues|regional league]] soccer with Auburn District in 2016.<ref name="gatt">{{cite news|last1=Gatt|first1=Ray|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/ahmad-elrich-sees-light-through-football-after-prison/news-story/3991eb1ce7616863a9641c6260e7be11|title=Ahmad Elrich sees light through football after prison|date=18 March 2017|work=The Australian|access-date=5 July 2017|location=Sydney}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Galea|first1=Matt|title=Ahmad Elrich back on track with Rydalmere|url=http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=149&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2017&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=03&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12128|website=Football NSW|access-date=5 July 2017|language=en|date=March 2017}}</ref>

==International career==
Elrich represented Australia at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]. His inactivity for [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham FC]] was seen as the key factor in him not being selected for the Australian [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] squad. On 6 September 2006, Elrich suffered a serious knee injury whilst playing for Australia in an [[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]] qualifier against [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]].

== Personal life ==
Elrich was born on 30 May 1981 to Lebanese parents Mahmoud and Ahmad. He also has a younger brother, [[Tarek Elrich|Tarek]], who also plays professional football.<ref name="parra">{{cite news|author=Cheng, Kevin|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ex-socceroo-fulham-and-a-league-star-charged-with-gun-and-drug-offences/story-e6freuy9-1226062787399|title=Former Socceroo and A-League star Ahmad Elrich to face 11 gun charges|date=25 May 2011|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|access-date=7 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="migrationcentre">{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/family-elrich.shtml|title=Meet the Families – Ahmad Elrich|work=The Ultimate Goal: Football, migration & the 2010 World Cup|publisher=Migration Heritage Centre NSW|location=Sydney, Australia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520130358/http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/family-elrich.shtml|archive-date=20 May 2011|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref>

In May 2011, Elrich was charged with a number of gun offences and possession of a drug after being pulled over on his motorcycle because of a faulty tail light.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gatt|first1=Ray|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/ahmad-elrich-has-fallen-from-a-leading-footballer-to-silverwater-prison-inmate/news-story/da2cb9eb33c88a68a154371275496ac0|title=Ahmad Elrich has fallen from a leading footballer to Silverwater prison inmate|date=25 May 2011|work=The Australian|access-date=5 July 2017|last2=Kogoy|first2=Peeter}}</ref> He was sentenced to four years and released on 12 October 2015.<ref name="gatt" />

==Career statistics==
===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia national team]]<ref>{{NFT player|id=462}}</ref>
|-
!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|-
|2004||10||3
|-
|2005||5||1
|-
|2006||2||1
|-
!Total||17||5
|}

==International goals==
:''Results list Australia's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 2 June 2004 || [[Adelaide]], Australia || {{fb|FIJ}} || 1 goal || 6–1 || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 9 October 2004 || [[Honiara]], Solomon Islands || {{fb|SOL}} || 1 goal || 5–1 || [[2004 OFC Nations Cup]]
|-
| 12 October 2004 || [[Sydney]], Australia || {{fb|SOL}} || 1 goal || 6–0 || [[2004 OFC Nations Cup]]
|-
| 26 March 2005 || Sydney, Australia || {{fb|IRQ}} || 1 goal || 2–1 || [[Friendly match]]
|-
| 22 February 2006 || [[Manama]], Bahrain || {{fb|BHR}} || 1 goal || 3–1 || [[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|}

== Honours and achievements ==
=== Player ===
'''Australia'''
*[[OFC Nations Cup]]: [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 2004|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>

'''Australia U-20'''
*[[OFC U-19 Men's Championship]]: [[2001 OFC U-20 Championship|2001]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oc-u20-01.html|title=Oceania U-20 World Cup 2001 Qualifiers|access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref>

=== Individual ===
'''Awards'''
* [[Joe Marston Medal]]: 2003–2004 with [[Parramatta Power]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIFA player|181466}}
* {{K League player}}
* {{NFT player|462}}
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/E/EA.html Ahmad Elrich] at ozfootball.net
* {{AOC profile|ahmad-elrich}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|ahmad-elrich}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{Joe Marston Medal}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Australia squads
|bg = #FFE605
|fg = #005800
|list1 =
{{Australia Squad 2004 OFC Oceania Nations Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Australia Squad Confederations Cup 2005}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elrich, Ahmad}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian people of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Australia men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Australia men's youth international soccer players]]
[[Category:Australia men's under-20 international soccer players]]
[[Category:Parramatta Power SC players]]
[[Category:Busan IPark players]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Lyn Fotball players]]
[[Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players]]
[[Category:Central Coast Mariners FC players]]
[[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) players]]
[[Category:K League 1 players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Eliteserien players]]
[[Category:A-League Men players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in South Korea]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in South Korea]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Norway]]
[[Category:2004 OFC Nations Cup players]]
[[Category:OFC Nations Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Australia]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Parramatta FC players]]
[[Category:Marquee players (A-League Men)]]
[[Category:Australian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Rydalmere Lions FC players]]
[[Category:People from Parramatta]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]