View source for Hussein Saeed

{{Short description|Iraqi footballer (born 1958)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Hussein Saeed
| native_name         = حُسَيْن سَعِيد مُحَمَّد
| image               = Hussein Saeed.jpg
| caption             = 
| office              = 16th President of the [[Iraq Football Association|IFA]]
| term_start          = 27 June 2004
| term_end            = 13 June 2011
| predecessor         = [[Uday Hussein]]
| successor           = [[Najeh Humoud]]
| birth_name          = Hussein Saeed Mohammed
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1958|1|21|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Al Adhamiya]], [[Baghdad|Bagdad]], [[Kingdom of Iraq|Iraq]]
| height              = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| nationality         = [[Iraq]]i
| occupation          = [[Association football|Footballer]] <br />[[Manager (association football)|Manager]] <br />Football administrator
| module              = {{Infobox football biography | embed = yes | header-color = lightgreen
| position    = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1      = 1975–1990 | clubs1 = [[Al-Talaba SC|Al-Talaba]] | caps1 =300 | goals1 = 122
| manageryears1  = 1993 | managerclubs1 = [[Al-Talaba SC|Al-Talaba]]
| nationalyears1 = 1975–1977 | nationalteam1 = [[Iraq national under-20 football team|Iraq U20]] | nationalcaps1 = 12  | nationalgoals1 = 18
| nationalyears2 = 1976–1990 | nationalteam2 = [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]]               | nationalcaps2 = 137 | nationalgoals2 = [[List of international goals scored by Hussein Saeed|78]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|IRQ}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Arabian Gulf Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[5th Arabian Gulf Cup|1979 Iraq]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[7th Arabian Gulf Cup|1984 Oman]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{Medal|G|[[1982 Asian Games|1982 New Delhi]]|[[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[AFC U-20 Asian Cup|AFC U-19 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1977 AFC Youth Championship|1977 Iran]]|}}
}}
}}
'''Hussein Saeed Mohammed'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/aliserhaan |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=Twitter |language=en |title=Archived copy |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402081911/https://twitter.com/aliserhaan |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{langx|ar|حُسَيْن سَعِيد مُحَمَّد}}, born 21 January 1958) is an Iraqi former [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] and is a former president of the [[Iraq Football Association]]. Saeed is in twelfth place in the [[List of top international association football goal scorers by country|list of top international goal scorers]], with 78 goals.<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)">{{cite web |last1=Mubarak |first1=Hassanin |last2=Mamrud |first2=Roberto |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/hsaeed-intlg.html |title=Hussein Saeed Mohammed – Century of International Appearances |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208231206/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/hsaeed-intlg.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Along with [[Ahmed Radhi]], he is considered to be the best Iraqi player of the 20th century and features in 25th place in Asia's Best Players of the Century list.<ref name="IFFHS' Century Elections, Asia – Player of the Century – RSSSF">{{cite web|title=IFFHS' Century Elections, Asia – Player of the Century|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|date=30 January 2000|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=3 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303065744/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hussein's 78 international goals make him currently the Iraqi national team's highest scoring player.<ref name="Iraq – Record International Players – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Mamrud|first1=Roberto|title=Iraq – Record International Players|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iraq-recintlp.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=14 December 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151214112601/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iraq-recintlp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Saeed started his professional football career at the age of 17, when he joined the Iraq national varsity football team and won the 1975 Arab Schools Games gold medal. In 1975, he joined Al-Jamiea, who later became known as Al-Talaba, where he spent all 15 years of his career, achieving three league titles and getting the top goalscorer of the league award in three seasons. He won two [[AFC U-19 Championship]]s, two [[Arabian Gulf Cup]]s, where he was the top goalscorer of both occasions and the best player of one, a [[World Military Cup]], and an [[Asian Games]] gold medal.

==Early life==
[[File:Hussein Saeed in 1972.jpg|left|thumb|Saeed (the middle from standing) wearing the number 10 with Al-Iskan Youth Center in 1972]]
Hussein Saeed was born on 21 January 1958 in [[Al Adhamiya]], where most of the [[Al-Ubaid (tribe)|Al-Ubaid]] tribe lived, to a conservative Baghdadi family. The family moved from Al Adhamiya to live in Al-Iskan when his father, who had previously worked as a fabrics merchant, got a job in the Ministry of Construction and Housing.

Hussein Saeed started playing football in the streets before joining Al-Iskan's youth center. He led them to an Iraq Youth Centers' Championship, scoring a [[hat-trick]] in a 4–2 win against [[Al-Zawra'a SC|Al-Zawra'a]] youth team and catching the eye of Dawoud Al-Azzawi, the manager of the [[Iraq national under-17 football team]] and Iraq national varsity football team. Al-Azzawi called him up to the varsity team and, in his first competitive tournament with the team, he won the gold medal in the 1975 Arab Schools Games in Egypt.<ref name="A Cup of Coffee With the Player of the Century, the Legend Hussein Saeed – Al-Gardenia">{{cite web|last1=Al-Bustani|first1=Eman|title=A Cup of Coffee With the Player of the Century, the Legend Hussein Saeed|url=http://www.algardenia.com/2014-04-04-19-52-20/fanjanqahwa/18497-2015-08-18-17-16-09.html|website=Al-Gardenia|language=ar|date=18 August 2015|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=7 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407142238/http://algardenia.com/2014-04-04-19-52-20/fanjanqahwa/18497-2015-08-18-17-16-09.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kooora Forum">{{cite web|title=Hussein Saeed and the Incredible Achievements|url=http://forum.kooora.com/?t=15068555|website=Kooora| date=24 February 2009 |access-date=1 October 2014|language=ar|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006090254/http://forum.kooora.com/?t=15068555|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Club career==
Saeed joined [[Al-Talaba SC|Al-Jamiea]] when he was 17 years old in 1975 with an invitation from the manager [[Jamal Salih]] who lived in Saeed's neighborhood.<ref name="A Cup of Coffee With the Player of the Century, the Legend Hussein Saeed – Al-Gardenia" /> His first match for Al-Jamiea was in the [[1975–76 Iraq FA Cup]] against [[Al Shorta SC|Al-Shorta]], which Al-Jamiea won 3–0. He scored his first league goal with the club against [[Al-Hilla SC|Al-Hilla]] in a 1–1 draw.<ref name="Kooora Forum" /> The club eventually finished in 8th place.<ref name="Iraq 1975/76 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1975/76|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq76.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq76.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They came very close to achieve the league in the [[1976–77 Iraqi League|1976–77]] season but they settled in 2nd place in the league table behind [[Al-Zawra'a SC|Al-Zawra'a]].<ref name="Iraq 1976/77 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1976/77|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq77.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815070651/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq77.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1977–78 Iraqi League|1977–78]] season, Saeed scored two goals with his team finishing in 8th place.<ref name="Iraq 1977/78 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1977/78|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq78.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq78.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Al-Jamiea became known as [[Al-Talaba SC]] ahead of the [[1978–79 Iraqi League|1978–79]] season after merging with a new club of the same name, which saw Saeed reach the top three goalscorers of the league for the first time, netting six goals for Al-Talaba which made him the second top goalscorer behind [[Falah Hassan]] with only one goal and along with his teammate, [[Haris Mohammed]], in 3rd. Al-Talaba finished in 3rd place in the table at 15 points.<ref name="Iraq 1978/79 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1978/79|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq79.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq79.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The season after, in [[1979–80 Iraqi League|1979–80]], Al-Talaba finished in 3rd place at 27 points in the league and reached the final of the [[1979–80 Iraq FA Cup]] where they came up against [[Al-Jaish FC (Iraq)|Al-Jaish]] and lost on penalties 4–2 after a 1–1 draw.<ref name="Iraq 1979/80 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1979/80|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq80.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=21 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321023456/https://rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq80.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[1980–81 Iraqi League|1980–81]] season, Al-Talaba won their first ever league title after tying with [[Al Shorta SC|Al-Shorta]] on both points and goal difference in the end where the [[Iraq Football Association]] declared Al-Talaba as champions due to them having more wins than Al-Shorta. Hussein Saeed was the top goalscorer of the league with 11 goals in 11 matches out of Al-Talaba's total 19 goals.<ref name="Iraq 1980/81 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1980/81|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq81.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq81.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the cup, Al-Talaba reached the final for the second time in the row and came up against Al-Zawra'a and lost again in the final 1–0.<ref name="80–81 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=80–81|url=http://www.niiiis.com/80-81.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512230308/http://www.niiiis.com/80-81.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1981–82 Iraqi League|1981–82]] season, Al-Talaba retained their league title, sitting in 1st at 34 points with Saeed being the second top goalscorer of the league with 11 goals, along with [[Baghdad FC|Al-Amana]]'s [[Ghazi Hashim]] and behind Al-Zawra'a's [[Thamer Yousif]].<ref name="Iraq 1981/82 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1981/82|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq82.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127115141/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq82.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They reached the cup final for the third time in the row and lost to Al-Zawra'a again 2–1.<ref name="81–82 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=81–82|url=http://www.niiiis.com/81-82.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201114625/http://www.niiiis.com/81-82.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The next season, Saeed continued his battle for the top goalscorer in which he scored 17 goals surpassing his teammate, [[Rahim Hameed]], with 8 goals. Al-Talaba finished in 2nd place with one point away from the champions, [[Salahaddin FC|Salahaddin]].<ref name="Iraq 1982/83 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1982/83|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq83.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq83.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Hussein Saeed with Al-Talaba in 1984-85.jpg|thumb|Saeed in a match against [[Al-Rasheed]] in [[1984–85 Iraqi League|1984–85]]]]
In the [[1983–84 Iraqi League|1983–84]] season, Saeed came in third in the goalscorers table with 7 goals behind Al-Jaish's Rahim Hameed and [[Ali Hussein Mahmoud]]. Al-Talaba finished as the runners-up for the third time in their history at 36 points behind Al-Jaish.<ref name="Iraq 1983/84 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1983/84|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq81.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq81.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The season after, before the league was abandoned, Saeed scored 14 goals out of his team's 20 goals and was the top goalscorers of the league. The club finished in 5th place at 15 points and reached the quarterfinal of the [[Al-Rasheed Cup]].<ref name="84–85 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=84–85|url=http://www.niiiis.com/84-85.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512220610/http://www.niiiis.com/84-85.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The First Al-Rasheed Cup 1985 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=The First Al-Rasheed Cup 1985|url=http://www.niiiis.com/rasheed1.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201114701/http://www.niiiis.com/rasheed1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[1985–86 Iraqi League|1985–86]] season was one of Al-Talaba and Saeed's best season in their history where Al-Talaba achieved their third league title after beating their rivals at the time, [[Al-Rasheed]], in front of 50,000 spectators, with Saeed's only goal from a penalty, finishing in 1st with 25 points from 15 matches.<ref name="85–86 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=85–86|url=http://www.niiiis.com/85-86.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512220607/http://www.niiiis.com/85-86.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saeed finished the season as the top goalscorer of the league along with Al-Zawra'a's [[Ahmed Radhi]] and Al-Jaish's Rahim Hameed where, for the first time, every one of them scored 9 goals in the league.<ref name="Iraq 1985/86 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1985/86|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq86.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq86.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of that season, Saeed was also made the club's vice president. In the 1986 Saddam International Tournament, Saeed played for Baghdad XI, rather than Al-Talaba, because Baghdad XI was essentially the Iraq national team under a different name. Baghdad XI won all of their group matches including a victory over Saeed's club Al-Talaba to qualify for the semi-finals where they thrashed Al-Zawra'a to reach the final. However, Baghdad XI lost the final 2–1 to Al-Rasheed; Saeed scored Baghdad XI's only goal in the final in the 78th minute with a penalty.<ref name="Saddam International Tournament (Baghdad) 1986 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Saddam International Tournament (Baghdad) 1986|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saddam86.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404070157/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saddam86.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1986 results – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=1986 results|url=http://niiiis.com/r1986.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=6 June 2016|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020003559/http://niiiis.com/r1986.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saeed returned to Al-Talaba for the [[1986 Iraqi Perseverance Cup]] between Al-Talaba and Al-Rasheed; Al-Rasheed won the match 2–1.<ref name="Iraqi League 1985-86 – Emmanuel Anwiyah">{{cite web|title=Know the league winners&nbsp;– Al-Talaba 1985–1986|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35674090|website=Kooora Forums|publisher=Emmanuel Anwiyah|language=ar|date=8 August 2015|access-date=6 June 2016|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822045946/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35674090|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1986–87 Iraqi League|1986–87]] season, Al-Talaba finished mid-table in 6th place at 49 points.<ref name="Iraq 1986/87 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|last2=Mubarak|first2=Hassanin|title=Iraq 1986/87|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq87.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq87.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The second half of the season witnessed the retirement of the team captain, [[Jamal Ali]], in 1987, when Saeed was named the new captain of the team, although he only participated in the first stage of the league due to an association punishment against him. The [[1987–88 Iraqi League|1987–88]] season was the only season where Saeed hasn't scored any goals due to him not participating in many matches because of national duty.<ref name="Goalscoring Journey To Al-Talaba's Fans – Kooora Forums">{{cite web|last1=Mahmoud|first1=Shukri|title=Goalscoring Journey To Al-Talaba's Fans|url=http://forum.kooora.com/?t=32764933|website=Kooora Forums|language=ar|date=5 June 2013|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822014729/http://forum.kooora.com/?t=32764933|url-status=live}}</ref> They finished, for the first time since 1977–78, in 8th place at 30 points.<ref name="87–88 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=87–88|url=http://www.niiiis.com/87-88.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201115703/http://www.niiiis.com/87-88.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saeed wasted Al-Talaba's hope in achieving the league title in [[1988–89 Iraqi League|1988–89]] when he missed his penalty in the final of the league against their rivals, Al-Rasheed, after a 1–1 draw. The score was 4–3 to Al-Talaba but with Saeed's miss they got the equalizer and with his teammate missing the fifth penalty, Al-Rasheed won 5–4. Saeed returned to the top three goalscorers of the league table in 3rd with 12 goals along with Al-Zawra'a's Saad Abdul-Raheem.<ref name="88–89 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=88–89|url=http://www.niiiis.com/88-89.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=19 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719061014/http://www.niiiis.com/88-89.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The last season that Saeed played in was the [[1989–90 Iraqi League|1989–90]] season where he led his team through the first stage at 1st place until the 18th round on 19 January 1990 where he played his last match and scored his last goal with the club, against Al-Zawra'a, before the Iraq Football Association called him up in the last days for the [[10th Arabian Gulf Cup]] and after he scored 10 goals for his team.<ref name="Last Goal of Hussein Saeed in Al-Zawra'a's Net 1989-1990 – Youtube">{{cite web|title=Last Goal of Hussein Saeed in Al-Zawra'a's Net 1989-1990|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT5Rferx7qk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/hT5Rferx7qk |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=Mofeed Awadh|language=ar|date=26 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This call-up made his team drop to 6th place after being the league leaders.<ref name="89–90 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=89–90|url=http://www.niiiis.com/89-90.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211023828/http://www.niiiis.com/89-90.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After finishing the Gulf Cup, he announced his retirement. In the total 15 season that Saeed has played for Al-Talaba he scored 122 goals and was the top goalscorer of the team for 10 seasons.<ref name="Goalscoring Journey To Al-Talaba's Fans – Kooora Forums" /> Although he retired, Saeed stayed as the vice president of Al-Talaba until 1992.<ref name="Vice President of Al-Talaba – Al-Jareedah">{{cite web|title=Sport: What Do You Know About Hussein Saeed?|url=http://www.aljaredah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=11469|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412013033/http://www.aljaredah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=11469|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2022|website=Al-Jareedah|language=ar}}</ref>

==International career==
Saeed was called up from the [[Iraq national under-17 football team]] to the reserves team of the [[Iraq national under-20 football team]], where he first participated in the [[1975 AFC Youth Championship]], in which Iraq shared the title with [[Iran national under-20 football team|Iran]] after they had a goalless match in the final.<ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1975">{{cite web|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-75.html|title=Asian U-19 Championship 1975|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=30 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130003618/https://rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-75.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1976 AFC Youth Championship|1976]] edition, Saeed was called up by the team's new manager, Miodgard Stankovic, to be part of the first eleven, scoring four goals in Iraq's opening match, against [[Sri Lanka national under-20 football team|Sri Lanka]], and becoming the top goalscorer of the tournament with 7 goals. Iraq was knocked out in the quarterfinal, against [[North Korea national under-20 football team|North Korea]].<ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1976">{{cite web|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|last2=Hashim|first2=Refel|last3=Morrison|first3=Neil|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-76.html|title=Asian U-19 Championship 1976|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=30 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130013626/https://rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-76.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the [[4th Arabian Gulf Cup]] the managerial staff was changed and the [[Iraq Football Association]] assigned the Croatian manager, [[Lenko Grčić]], as the new manager of the [[Iraq national football team]], Saeed was called up to the national team, for the first time in his career, at the age of 18.<ref name="A Cup of Coffee With the Player of the Century, the Legend Hussein Saeed – Al-Gardenia" /> He made his debut on 5 September 1976 in a friendly match against [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] where they drew 0–0.<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> He continued to play in the youth team because the manager, Miodgard Stankovic, was Yugoslavian, reaching an understanding with Grčić. Iraq achieved the [[1977 AFC Youth Championship]] where Saeed scored the winning goal in the final, from a diving header in the 90th minute, against Iran in a 4–3 victory in [[Tehran]].<ref name=FIFA.com>{{cite web|title=Hussain Saeed: The pride of Iraq's lions|url=http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/stories/doyouremember/news/newsid=1347813.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019045845/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/stories/doyouremember/news/newsid=1347813.html|archive-date = 19 October 2012}}</ref> Saeed was also the top goalscorer of this edition with 9 goals,<ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1977">{{cite web|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|last2=Hashim|first2=Refel|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-77.html|title=Asian U-19 Championship 1977|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=30 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130022436/https://rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-77.html|url-status=live}}</ref> scoring his first national [[hat-trick]] against [[Afghanistan national under-20 football team|Afghanistan]] in Iraq's 5–1 win.<ref name="The 19th AFC Youth Championship – 1977 – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=The 19th AFC Youth Championship|url=http://www.niiiis.com/games/youthasia77.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510170214/http://www.niiiis.com/games/youthasia77.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The same team represented Iraq in the first edition of the [[FIFA World Youth Championship]] in [[1977 FIFA World Youth Championship|1977]] where they lost 3–1 to the [[Soviet Union national under-20 football team|Soviet Union]],<ref name="FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Soviet Union 3–1 Iraq">{{cite web|title=FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Soviet Union 3–1 Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191058/match=30620/index.html#overview#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602213616/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191058/match=30620/index.html#overview#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2016|website=[[FIFA.com]]}}</ref> won 5–1 over [[Austria national under-21 football team|Austria]] with Saeed scoring a hat-trick,<ref name="FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Iraq 5–1 Austria">{{cite web|title=FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Iraq 5–1 Austria|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191058/match=30628/index.html#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602215044/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191058/match=30628/index.html#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2016|website=[[FIFA.com]]}}</ref> and lost 4–0 to [[Paraguay national under-20 football team|Paraguay]] which knocked them out of the competition.<ref name="FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Paraguay 4–0 Iraq">{{cite web|title=FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Paraguay 4–0 Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191058/match=30636/index.html#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602213051/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191058/match=30636/index.html#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2016|website=[[FIFA.com]]}}</ref>

Saeed's first competition with the senior national team was the [[Merdeka Cup (Pestabola Merdeka)|1977 Merdeka Cup]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]].<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> He started in Iraq's opening match, against [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]], on 17 July 1977, and scored his first goal with Iraq after only 8 minutes from kickoff, scored a goal in Iraq's 5–0 win over [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]] after 6 minutes, and scored Iraq's only goal in their 1–1 draw against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]. Iraq finished in 2nd place in the table behind South Korea, meeting them again in the final where Iraq lost 1–0. Saeed played all the 630 minutes of Iraq's 7 matches.<ref name="Merdeka Tournament 1977 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Saaid|first1=Hamdan|title=Merdeka Tournament 1977 (Malaysia)|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/merdeka77.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203121432/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/merdeka77.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 February 1978, Saeed scored his first hat-trick with the senior national team in a friendly match against [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] at the [[Al-Shaab Stadium]]. His second competition was the [[Merdeka Cup (Pestabola Merdeka)|1978]] edition of the Merdeka Cup where he scored a single hat-trick against [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]].<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> Iraq finished in 2nd place behind South Korea again, leading to the second Merdeka Cup final between the two teams where Iraq lost 2–0.<ref name="Merdeka Tournament 1978 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Morrison|first1=Neil|title=Merdeka Tournament 1978 (Malaysia)|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/merdeka78.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=23 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323011149/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/merdeka78.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]], He scored a goal in Iraq's 2–0 win over [[China national football team|China]] in the preliminary group stage. In the semifinal group stage, He scored in Iraq's 3–0 win over [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] and another goal in Iraq's 3–0 win against [[India national football team|India]].<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> Iraq lost in the bronze medal game with China by a single goal.<ref name="Asian Games 1978 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|title=Asian Games 1978|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames78.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames78.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saeed was also part of the [[Iraq military national football team]] that won the 1979 CISM World Military Championship in [[Kuwait City]]. He scored a goal against [[Austria military national soccer team|Austria]] in a 4–0 win and scored a goal in Iraq's 5–0 win over [[Bahrain military national football team|Bahrain]] in the group stage. He scored for Iraq's semifinal match with [[Kuwait military national football team|Kuwait]] for a 2–0 win. He scored Iraq's first kick in the penalty shootout, in the final, against [[Italy military national football team|Italy]] after a 0–0 draw. Iraq won 4–3 on penalties and achieved the military cup.<ref name="1979 CISM World Military Championship – Match Details Iraq">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=1979 CISM World Military Championship – Match Details Iraq|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/military79-iraq.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=28 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128123042/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/military79-iraq.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Hussein Saeed 1979.jpg|thumb|Saeed playing for Iraq in a match against [[Oman national football team|Oman]] in the [[1979 Gulf Cup of Nations|1979 Gulf Cup]]|left]] -->
Saeed's first appearance in the [[Arabian Gulf Cup]] was in the [[1979 Gulf Cup of Nations|1979]] edition in Baghdad under the management of [[Ammo Baba]]. In Iraq's opening match, against [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]], he scored a hat-trick.<ref name="Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. Bahrain">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. Bahrain|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=195&period=5|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024259/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=195&period=5|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also scored Iraq's two goals in their win over [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]],<ref name="Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. Qatar">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. Qatar|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=198&period=5|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124039/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=198&period=5|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> scored a goal in Iraq's huge 5–0 win against the [[UAE national football team|UAE]],<ref name="Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. UAE">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. UAE|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=210&period=5|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124016/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=210&period=5|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and scored a super hat-trick in the 7–0 victory over [[Oman national football team|Oman]].<ref name="Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. Oman">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1979 – Iraq vs. Oman|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=211&period=5|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124037/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=211&period=5|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iraq achieved the cup after finishing in 1st place at 12 points, breaking [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]]'s streak since the [[1970 Gulf Cup of Nations|1970]] edition. Saeed also became the top goalscorer of the tournament with 10 goals, making him the all-time top goalscorer of the Arabian Gulf Cup.<ref name="Gulf Cup Goalscorers">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup Goalscorers|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/gulfcup/indexa.php?page=scorers_a.php|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813163937/http://www.gulfcup.com/gulfcup/indexa.php?page=scorers_a.php|archive-date=13 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Saeed started in Iraq's five matches of the [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1980 Summer Olympics qualifiers]] played in Baghdad in which a goal against [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] and two more against [[South Yemen national football team|South Yemen]]. Iraq drew in points with Kuwait in the [[1980 Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournaments|Asian Qualifying Tournament]] Group 1 which led to a playoff match that Iraq lost 3–2.<ref name="Games of the XXII. Olympiad –  Football Qualifying Tournament – ASIA – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Elbech|first1=Søren|title=Games of the XXII. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament – ASIA|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1980q.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=12 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012164059/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1980q.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Iraq got qualified by replacing [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]].<ref name="Teams of Olympic Football Tournament Moscow 1980">{{cite web|title=Teams of Olympic Football Tournament Moscow 1980|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/moscow1980/teams/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216115651/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/moscow1980/teams/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2012|website=[[FIFA.com]]}}</ref> In the [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Summer Olympics]] in the [[USSR]], Saeed scored a single goal against [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]].<ref name="Olympic Football Tournament Moscow 1980 – Iraq – Costa Rica">{{cite web|title=Olympic Football Tournament Moscow 1980 – Iraq – Costa Rica|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/moscow1980/matches/round=197132/match=32191/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722011338/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/moscow1980/matches/round=197132/match=32191/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Iraq reached the quarterfinal and was beaten by [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]] in a 4–0 loss.<ref name="Olympic Football Tournament Moscow 1980 – German Democratic Republic – Iraq">{{cite web|title=Olympic Football Tournament Moscow 1980 – German Democratic Republic – Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/moscow1980/matches/round=197138/match=32211/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722011322/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/moscow1980/matches/round=197138/match=32211/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Saeed participated in the [[6th Arabian Gulf Cup]] in [[Abu Dhabi]] in 1982, scoring a total of five goals in the tournament: one against Oman, two against Bahrain, one against Saudi Arabia, and a last one against the UAE.<ref name="RSSSF (Gulf Cup 1982)">{{cite web|last1=Qayed|first1=Mohammed|title=Gulf Cup 1982|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gulf82.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130005612/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gulf82.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Iraq finished 1st in the table, they withdrew from the competition by an order from Former President [[Saddam Hussein]] to motivate Kuwait who qualified to the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]] by letting them win which led to scratching all of Iraq's results from the competition.<ref name="Karemlash4u (1982 Gulf Cup)">{{cite web|title=Ammo Baba: A presidential message took away the Gulf Cup from Iraq|url=http://www.karemlash4u.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41612|website=Karemlash4u|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=4 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204123930/http://www.karemlash4u.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41612|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same year, Saeed led Iraq to win their first ever [[Football at the Asian Games|gold medal in the Asian Games]] in the [[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982 Asian Games]], under the management of Ammo Baba, in [[New Delhi]]. In Iraq's opening match, Saeed scored a goal in an easy 4–0 win over [[Burma national football team|Burma]]. He also scored two goals in Iraq's 3–0 win against [[Nepal national football team|Nepal]]. In the quarterfinal, Iraq won over [[Japan national football team|Japan]] with a single goal in extra time from [[Emad Jassim]] and, in the semifinal, they defeated Saudi Arabia with one goal. On 3 December, the final match was played between Iraq and Kuwait, where Saeed gained Iraq's gold medal when he scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute of the match with a through pass from [[Karim Mohammed Allawi]].<ref name="RSSSF (Asian Games 1982)">{{cite web|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|last2=Morrison|first2=Neil|title=Asian Games 1982|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames82.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames82.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Iraq achieved their second Arabian Gulf Cup in the [[1984 Gulf Cup of Nations|1984]] edition in [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], with Ammo Baba as the team's manager. Saeed scored the two Iraqi goals in Iraq's opening match in a 2–1 victory,<ref name="Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Oman">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Oman|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=239&period=7|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124048/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=239&period=7|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> scored a hat-trick in Iraq's 4–0 win over Saudi Arabia,<ref name="Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Saudi Arabia">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Saudi Arabia|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=245&period=7|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124008/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=245&period=7|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and also scored two goals in Iraq's fifth match against Kuwait in a 3–1 win.<ref name="Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Kuwait">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Kuwait|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=252&period=7|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124018/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=252&period=7|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iraq were a match away from winning the cup but, unfortunately, Iraq lost against Qatar in a 1–2 defeat.<ref name="Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Qatar (1st)">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Qatar (1st)|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=254&period=7|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204124035/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=254&period=7|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iraq and Qatar had an equal number of points which led them to having a final decisive match. On 28 March, a final match between them was played. The two teams drew in the whole 90 minutes of the game. In extra time, Iraq scored a goal and Qatar leveled, taking the match to penalties where Iraq defeated Qatar 4–3.<ref name="Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Qatar">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1984 – Iraq vs. Qatar|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=257&period=7|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204123952/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/matcha.php?match_id=257&period=7|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Saeed was the top goalscorer of the tournament with 7 goals and had received the Best Player of the Tournament award along with Oman's [[Ghulam Khamis]].<ref name="Gulf Cup Goalscorers" /><ref name="Stars Made of Gold – Gulf Cup">{{cite web|title=Stars Made of Gold|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/gulfcup/indexa.php?page=best_a.php|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813163905/http://www.gulfcup.com/gulfcup/indexa.php?page=best_a.php|archive-date=13 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Saeed appeared in all of the nine [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics#Qualification|1984 Summer Olympics qualification]] match that was played by Iraq, scoring a goal against Bahrain in Iraq's 2–1 win in [[Manama]] and another one against [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]] in Iraq's 2–0 win in [[Singapore]].<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> Iraq was qualified for the second time in the row to the Summer Olympics where Saeed scored Iraq's only goal in the opening match, against [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]], in the 83rd minute of a 1–1 draw.<ref name="FIFA (Iraq vs. Canada) 1984">{{cite web|title=Olympic Football Tournament Los Angeles 1984 – Canada – Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/losangeles1984/matches/round=2301/match=12684/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184511/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/losangeles1984/matches/round=2301/match=12684/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also scored a goal in Iraq's defeat against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] 4–2.<ref name="FIFA (Iraq vs. Yugoslavia) 1984">{{cite web|title=Olympic Football Tournament Los Angeles 1984 – Yugoslavia – Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/losangeles1984/matches/round=2301/match=12689/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005006/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/mensolympic/losangeles1984/matches/round=2301/match=12689/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Iraq were knocked out of the competition after drawing a game and losing the other two.

Saeed captained Iraq through the [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]] in 1985, playing 8 matches and scoring 8 goals including four against [[Lebanon national football team|Lebanon]] in two 6–0 wins for Iraq, a winning goal against [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] in Iraq's 3–2 win,<ref name="WORLD CUP 1986 – Jordan 2-3 Iraq – All World Cup">{{cite web|title=WORLD CUP 1986 – Jordan 2-3 Iraq|url=http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1986/PROTOCOL/QUALIF/ASIA/G2/JORVSIRQ.HTM|website=All World Cup|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112060101/http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1986/PROTOCOL/QUALIF/ASIA/G2/JORVSIRQ.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref> which was Saeed's 100th appearance with the senior national team.<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> Iraq finished in the top of the Group 1B table at 6 points in the [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|first round]], getting qualified to the [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification]] – AFC second round. Saeed scored two goals in Iraq's 3–2 away win over the UAE.<ref name="WORLD CUP 1986 – UAE 2-3 Iraq – All World Cup">{{cite web|title=WORLD CUP 1986 – UAE 2-3 Iraq|url=http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1986/PROTOCOL/QUALIF/ASIA/G2/UAEVSIRQ.HTM|website=All World Cup}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> They lost 2–1 in their home match which qualified them to the final round on away goals. Saeed also scored in Iraq's victorious match against [[Syria national football team|Syria]] in [[Taif]] in which Iraq won 3–1 getting qualified for the first time of their history to the [[FIFA World Cup]] after ending their away match in a 0–0 draw.<ref name="WORLD CUP 1986 – Iraq 3-1 Syria – All World Cup">{{cite web|title=WORLD CUP 1986 – Iraq 3-1 Syria|url=http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1986/PROTOCOL/QUALIF/ASIA/GF/IRQVSSYR.HTM|website=All World Cup|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112061649/http://www.allworldcup.narod.ru/1986/PROTOCOL/QUALIF/ASIA/GF/IRQVSSYR.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref> When the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] was about to start, there were some speculations about Saeed not being in Iraq's squad, due to his injury, but he joined the team in the last moments.<ref name="Planet World Cup">{{cite web|title=World Cup 1986 – Squads – Iraq|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1986/squad_irq86.html|website=Planet World Cup|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-date=5 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305070948/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1986/squad_irq86.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 June, Saeed played in Iraq's first match against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]], where they were defeated by a single goal.<ref name="FIFA (Iraq vs. Paraguay) 1986">{{cite web|title=1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico – Paraguay – Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/mexico1986/matches/round=308/match=628/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073034/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/mexico1986/matches/round=308/match=628/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After the match, Iraq's head coach, [[Evaristo de Macedo]], removed Saeed from the squad, due to his prior injury, and returned him to Baghdad. Iraq lost their two other matches against [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] and [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]], getting knocked out from the group stage of the cup.<ref name="FIFA (Iraq vs. Belgium) 1986">{{cite web|title=1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico – Belgium – Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/mexico1986/matches/round=308/match=427/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006133559/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/mexico1986/matches/round=308/match=427/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="FIFA (Iraq vs. Mexico)">{{cite web|title=1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico – Mexico – Iraq|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/mexico1986/matches/round=308/match=627/index.html|website=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006111309/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/mexico1986/matches/round=308/match=627/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Iraq has not qualified for the World Cup since.<ref name="1986 results – NIIIIS.com" />

After their disappointing run in the World Cup, Saeed rejoined the team in the [[Football at the 1986 Asian Games|1986 Asian Games]] where he scored a goal against Oman in Iraq's opening match which ended 4–0 and another one against the UAE in the 2–1 defeat. He missed the Iraq's 5–1 win over [[Pakistan national football team|Pakistan]] and the quarterfinal with Saudi Arabia which ended in a 1–1 draw, leading the match to penalties where Iraq lost 9–8.<ref name="RSSSF (Asian Games 1986)">{{cite web|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|last2=Morrison|first2=Neil|last3=Jovanovic|first3=Bojan|title=Asian Games 1986|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames86.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames86.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saeed appeared in all of Iraq's matches in the [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics]] qualifiers and scored four goals: three against Jordan and one against Qatar, getting qualified to the Summer Olympics for the third time in the row where they were knocked out again from the [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Group B|group stage]] after finishing 3rd in the Group B table.<ref name="RSSSF (Olympiad Seoul 1988 Football Tournamen)">{{cite web|last1=Reyes|first1=Macario|title=XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988 Football Tournament|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1988f-det.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=28 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028032002/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1988f-det.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 1988 was the first year where Saeed didn't score any goal since his debut year in 1976.<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" />

After not appearing in either the [[1986 Gulf Cup of Nations|1986]] or the [[1988 Gulf Cup of Nations|1988]] Arabian Gulf Cups, Saeed played in the [[1988 President's Cup Football Tournament]] where he scored three goals; Iraq were knocked out in the quarterfinals. Saeed returned to the Gulf Cup in the [[10th Arabian Gulf Cup]] in [[Kuwait]] in 1990. Iraq won their first game against Bahrain 1–0 and drew their second game with Kuwait 1–1. They drew again in their third match against the UAE 2–2 draw.<ref name="Gulf Cup 1990">{{cite web|title=Gulf Cup 1990|url=http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/tournamenta.php?period=10|website=Gulf Cup|language=ar|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229231925/http://www.gulfcup.com/soccer/matches/tournamenta.php?period=10|archive-date=29 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iraq withdrew from the tournament after the game with the UAE, because of the refereeing,<ref name="Middle East Online">{{cite web|title=Arabian Gulf Cup: Iraq back in action after 14-year exile|url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=12088|website=Middle East Online|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102132323/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=12088|archive-date=2 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> which was Saeed's last match in his football career before he decided to retire at the age of 32 in the same year.<ref name="Kooora Forum" />

==Managerial career==
===Al-Talaba (1993)===
After he left the office of vice president of [[Al-Talaba SC|Al-Talaba]] in 1992, the club finished the [[1992–93 Iraqi League|1992–93]] as winners of the league and the [[2nd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]] and the runners-up of the 1992–93 Iraq FA Cup.<ref name="Iraq 1992/93 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1992/93|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq93.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205204429/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq93.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the start of the [[1993–94 Iraqi League|1993–94]] season, the team's manager, [[Ayoub Odisho]], resigned which made the board look for a new manager to settle quickly which ended in assigning Saeed as the interim manager of the club.<ref name="Al-Talaba – Coaches – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Hassanin|title=Al-Talaba – Coaches|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/talaba-coach.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129110336/https://www.rsssf.org/players/talaba-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He coached the team through the first half of the league of 25 matches before re-signing Odisho. Saeed's last match as the manager ended in a 4–0 loss to the league leaders, [[Al-Zawra'a SC|Al-Zawra'a]].<ref name="Know the Winner of the League – Al-Zawra'a – 1993–94">{{cite web|last1=Anwiyah|first1=Emmanuel|title=Know the Winner of the League – Al-Zawra'a – 1993–94|url=http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35932120&pg=1|website=Kooora Forums|language=ar|date=21 November 2015|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719203523/http://forum.kooora.com/f.aspx?t=35932120&pg=1|url-status=live}}</ref> He also led Al-Talaba to achieve the [[3rd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship]], which was held in September 1993, after defeating [[Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya]] in the final 2–1, achieving his first and only trophy as a manager.<ref name="Iraq 1993/94 – RSSSF">{{cite web|last1=Hashim|first1=Refel|title=Iraq 1993/94|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq94.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129104305/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq94.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Al-Talaba 2–1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya – 1993 Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup Final">{{cite web|title=Al-Talaba Win Over Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Lift the 1993 Umm Al-Ma'arik Cup|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOGPXL9c0zM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/TOGPXL9c0zM |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=Mofeed Awadh|language=ar|date=14 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Administrative roles==
{{updated|16 July 2013}}<ref name="Hussein Saeed, The Iraqi Scoring Machine">{{cite web|title=Hussein Saeed, The Iraqi Scoring Machine|url=http://ar.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/do-you-remember/newsid=1347232/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006153225/http://ar.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/do-you-remember/newsid=1347232/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2014|website=[[FIFA.com]]|language=ar}}</ref><ref name="Names in the Iraqi Memories – Episode 2 – Hussein Saeed – Kooora Forums">{{cite web|last1=Al-Sharifi|first1=Mohammed|title=Names in the Iraqi Memories – Episode 2 – Hussein Saeed|url=http://forum.kooora.com/?t=18838270|website=Kooora Forums|language=ar|date=22 August 2008|access-date=11 May 2016|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224750/http://forum.kooora.com/?t=18838270|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! Took office !! Office !! Left office !! Notes
|-
| 1985 || style="text-align: left"|Vice President of [[Al-Talaba SC|Al-Talaba]] || 1992 ||{{#tag:ref|Took the office while he was a player.|name=Player-Vice President|group=n}}
|-
| 1990 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[Iraq Football Association]] || 2003 ||
|-
| – || style="text-align: left"|Director of the [[Iraqi Olympic Committee]] Office of Foreign Relations || – ||
|-
| – || style="text-align: left"|Vice President of the [[Iraq Football Association]] || – ||
|-
| – || style="text-align: left"|Secretary of the [[Iraq Football Association]] || – ||
|-
| 1996 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[Asian Football Confederation|Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee]] || 1998 ||
|-
| 2000 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[Arab League]] Council of Youth and Sport Ministers Sports Committee || 2003 ||
|-
| 2002 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[Asian Football Confederation|Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee]] || 2009 ||
|-
| 2002 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[Asian Football Confederation|Asian Football Confederation Fair Play Committee]] || 2009 ||
|-
| 2002 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[FIFA|Fédération Internationale de Football Association Media Committee]] || 2011 ||
|-
| 27 June 2004 || style="text-align: left"|President of the [[Iraq Football Association]] || 13 June 2011 ||{{#tag:ref|Resigned from office.<ref name="Al Kass">{{cite web|title=Hussein Saeed: They threatened me of being kidnapped and I quit to help Iraq|url=http://cdn.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=51735|website=Al Kass|access-date=5 October 2014|language=ar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092744/http://cdn.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=51735|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>|name=IFA Presidency Resignation|group=n}}
|-
| 2005 || style="text-align: left"|Member of the [[Union of Arab Football Associations|Union of Arab Football Associations Executive Committee]] || 2009 ||
|-
| 29 April 2010 || style="text-align: left"|Vice President of the [[Union of Arab Football Associations]] || 16 July 2013 ||
|}
{{Reflist|group=n}}

===Controversies===
As Saeed was the vice president of the [[Iraq Football Association]], which was headed by [[Uday Hussein]], in the 1990s, there were many controversies about him being a [[Ba'athism|Ba'athist]] and a [[Saddamists|Saddamist]]. He was also accused of being of a [[Palestinians in Iraq|Palestinian]] descent, torturing players, and giving positions to [[Tikrit, Iraq|Tikritis]].<ref name="The Ba'athist Palestinian, Hussein Saeed, Bans the True Iraqi, Falah Hussein, From Running for the Association Presidency">{{cite web|last1=Haider Ali|first1=Samer|title=The Ba'athist Palestinian, Hussein Saeed, Bans the True Iraqi, Falah Hussein, From Running for the Association Presidency|url=http://iraq.iraq.ir/vb/showthread.php?t=119297|website=Iraq.ir|language=ar|date=16 May 2011|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224603/http://iraq.iraq.ir/vb/showthread.php?t=119297|archive-date=8 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Hussein Saeed, the Ba'athist Palestinian, What If He Was Iraqi? – Buratha">{{cite web|last1=Al-Rassam|first1=Sabah|title=Hussein Saeed, the Ba'athist Palestinian, What If He Was Iraqi?|url=http://burathanews.com/news/101300.html|website=Buratha News Agency|language=ar|date=13 August 2010|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604021728/http://burathanews.com/news/101300.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Accusations also went to say that Saeed was Uday's representative in robbing Kuwaitis in the [[1991 Gulf War]].<ref name="To the Palestinian, Hussein Saeed – Sot Al-Iraq">{{cite web|last1=Al-Jubouri|first1=Jabir|title=To the Palestinian, Hussein Saeed|url=http://www.sotaliraq.com/articlesiraq.php?id=51915#axzz48N88g4IT|website=Sot Al-Iraq|language=ar|date=11 November 2009|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214103233/http://www.sotaliraq.com/articlesiraq.php?id=51915#axzz48N88g4IT|archive-date=14 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Documents were put on the internet by some news agencies that suggest that Saeed, [[Najeh Humoud]] and Moayad Al-Badri worked for the [[Iraqi Intelligence Service]] in 2002 by gathering information on their targets. The documents included Saeed gathering information about Al-Badri when he was staying in Saudi Arabia before joining them himself. They also show the approval of the Personal Secretary of Former President [[Saddam Hussein]], [[Abid Hamid Mahmud]], of paying Saeed $50,000 after completing his mission and him signing on receiving $25,000.<ref name="This Is Hussein Saeed – Kitabat Fil Meezan">{{cite web|last1=Hussein Al-Najafi|first1=Ali|title=This Is Hussein Saeed|url=http://www.kitabat.info/subject.php?id=346|website=Kitabat Fil Meezan|language=ar|date=15 August 2010|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108230127/http://www.kitabat.info/subject.php?id=346|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the documents showed him and Al-Badri executing a mission to monitor an alleged Israeli spy in Syria and showed him arresting [[Yahya Alwan]] before travelling to Saudi Arabia.<ref name="Documents Prove Who Are the Palestinian, Hussein Saaed, and His Brother-in-law, Moayad Al-Badri – Shababek">{{cite web|title=Documents Prove Who Are the Palestinian, Hussein Saaed, and His Brother-in-law, Moayad Al-Badri|url=http://www.shababek.de/wathe8/wathae8.htm|website=Shababek|language=ar|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=3 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103145523/http://www.shababek.de/wathe8/wathae8.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Year
!colspan="2"|Tournament
!colspan="2"|Friendly
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Iraq national under-20 football team|Iraq U-20]]
|1976
|4||6||colspan="2"|—||4||6
|-
|1977
|8||12||colspan="2"|—||8||12
|-
!Total
!12||18||colspan="2"|—||12||18
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Iraq military national football team|Iraq Military]]
|1979
|4||3||2||2||6||5
|-
!Total
!4||3||2||2||6||5
|-
|rowspan="16"|[[Iraq national football team|Iraq]]
|1976
|colspan="2"|—||3||0||2||0
|-
|1977
|7||3||1||0||8||3
|-
|1978
|15||6||5||4||20||10
|-
|1979
|6||10||4||3||10||13
|-
|1980
|8||4||3||0||11||4
|-
|1981
|3||1||3||2||6||3
|-
|1982
|11||9||5||3||16||12
|-
|1983
|4||1||1||0||5||1
|-
|1984
|16||12||2||1||18||13
|-
|1985
|8||8||3||1||11||9
|-
|1986
|4||2||4||1||8||3
|-
|1987
|6||4||1||1||7||5
|-
|1988
|4||0||1||0||5||0
|-
|1989
|5||2||colspan="2"|—||5||2
|-
|1990
|3||0||1||0||4||0
|-
!Total
!100||62||37||16||137||78
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!116||83||39||18||155||101
|}

===International goals===
{{main|List of international goals scored by Hussein Saeed}}
'''Iraq U-20'''
{{updated|match played on 4 July 1977}}<ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1976" /><ref name="The 19th AFC Youth Championship – 1977 – NIIIIS.com" /><ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1977" /><ref name="FIFA World Youth Championship Tunisia 1977 – Iraq 5–1 Austria" /> ''Iraq scores listed first''. 
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition
|-
| align=center|1 || rowspan="4"|21 April 1976 || rowspan="4"|[[National Stadium (Thailand)|National Sports Complex]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand || rowspan="4"|{{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka national under-20 football team|Sri Lanka]] || rowspan="4" align=center|5–0 || rowspan="4"|[[1976 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|2
|-
| align=center|3
|-
| align=center|4
|-
| align=center|5 || rowspan="2"|24 April 1976 || rowspan="2"|[[National Stadium (Thailand)|National Sports Complex]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand || rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Hong Kong|1959}} [[Hong Kong national under-20 football team|Hong Kong]] || rowspan="2" align=center align=center|5–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1976 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|6
|-
| align=center|7 || rowspan="2"|17 April 1977 || rowspan="2"|[[Aryamehr Stadium]], [[Tehran]], Iran || rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|India}} [[India national under-20 football team|India]] || rowspan="2" align=center|4–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1977 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|8
|-
| align=center|9 || 19 April 1977 || [[Aryamehr Stadium]], [[Tehran]], Iran || {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh national under-20 football team|Bangladesh]] || align=center|3–0 || [[1977 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|10 || rowspan="3"|22 April 1977 || rowspan="3"|[[Aryamehr Stadium]], [[Tehran]], Iran || rowspan="3"|{{flagicon|Afghanistan|1974}} [[Afghanistan national under-20 football team|Afghanistan]] || rowspan="3" align=center|5–1 || rowspan="3"|[[1977 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|11
|-
| align=center|12
|-
| align=center|13 || 25 April 1977 || [[Aryamehr Stadium]], [[Tehran]], Iran || {{flagicon|Bahrain|1972}} [[Bahrain national under-20 football team|Bahrain]] || align=center|3–0 || [[1977 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|14 || rowspan="2"|28 April 1977 || rowspan="2"|[[Aryamehr Stadium]], [[Tehran]], Iran || rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} [[Iran national under-20 football team|Iran]] || rowspan="2" align=center|4–3 || rowspan="2"|[[1977 AFC Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|15
|-
| align=center|16 || rowspan="3"|1 July 1977 || rowspan="3"|[[Sfax Stadium]], [[Sfax]], Tunisia || rowspan="3"|{{flagicon|Austria}} [[Austria national under-21 football team|Austria]] || rowspan="3" align=center|5–1 || rowspan="3"|[[1977 FIFA World Youth Championship]]
|-
| align=center|17
|-
| align=center|18
|}

'''Iraq Military'''
{{updated|match played on 14 June 1979}}<ref name="History of Iraqi Football – 1979 Results – NIIIIS.com">{{cite web|title=History of Iraqi Football – 1979 Results|url=http://niiiis.com/r1979.html|website=Iraqi Football Archive|language=ar|access-date=9 May 2016|archive-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103042834/http://niiiis.com/r1979.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1979 CISM World Military Championship – Match Details Iraq" /> ''Iraq scores listed first''. 
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition
|-
| align=center|1 || 22 May 1979 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium military national football team|Belgium]] || align=center|4–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|2 || 25 May 1979 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium military national football team|Belgium]] || align=center|5–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|3 || 4 June 1979 || [[Sabah Al Salem Stadium]], [[Kuwait City]]|| {{flagicon|Austria}} Austria || align=center|4–0 || 1979 CISM World Military Championship
|-
| align=center|4 || 6 June 1979 || [[Sabah Al Salem Stadium]], [[Kuwait City]]|| {{flagicon|Bahrain|1972}} [[Bahrain military national football team|Bahrain]] || align=center|5–0 || 1979 CISM World Military Championship
|-
| align=center|5 || 11 June 1979 || [[Sabah Al Salem Stadium]], [[Kuwait City]]|| {{flagicon|Kuwait}} Kuwait || align=center|2–0 || 1979 CISM World Military Championship
|}

'''Iraq'''
{{updated|match played on 3 March 1990}}<ref name="RSSSF (International goals)" /> ''Iraq scores listed first''.
: ''* indicates 27 non-FIFA goals''
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; font-size:100%"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition
|-
| align=center|1 || 17 July 1977 || [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]|| {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Merdeka Tournament|1977 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|2 || 25 July 1977 || [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]] || {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Thailand national football team|Thailand]] || align=center|5–0 || [[Merdeka Tournament|1977 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|3 || 28 July 1977 || [[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]] || {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] || align=center|1–1 || [[Merdeka Tournament|1977 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|4 || rowspan="3"|21 February 1978 || rowspan="3"|[[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| rowspan="3"|{{flagicon|Algeria}} [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] || rowspan="3" align=center|3–0 || rowspan="3"|[[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|5
|-
| align=center|6
|-
| align=center|7 || 27 February 1978 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|North Korea}} [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]] || align=center|1–0 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|8 || rowspan="3"|20 July 1978 || rowspan="3"|[[Stadium Merdeka]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]|| rowspan="3"|{{flagicon|Singapore}} [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] || rowspan="3" align=center|3–0 || rowspan="3"|[[Merdeka Tournament|1978 Merdeka Tournament]]
|-
| align=center|9
|-
| align=center|10
|-
| align=center|11 || 12 December 1978 || [[Bangkok]]|| {{flagicon|China}} [[China national football team|China]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|12 || 18 December 1978 || [[Bangkok]]|| {{flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] || align=center|3–0 || [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|13 || 20 December 1978 || [[Bangkok]]|| {{flagicon|India}} [[India national football team|India]] || align=center|3–0 || [[Football at the 1978 Asian Games|1978 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|14 || 7 February 1979 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|Finland|}} [[Finland national football team|Finland]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|15 || 9 February 1979 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || {{flagicon|East Germany}} [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]] || align=center|1–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|16 || rowspan="2"|12 February 1979 || rowspan="2"|[[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|East Germany}} [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]] || rowspan="2" align=center|2–1 || rowspan="2"|[[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|17
|-
| align=center|18 || rowspan="3"|23 March 1979 || rowspan="3"|[[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || rowspan="3"|{{flagicon|Bahrain|1972}} [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] || rowspan="3" align=center|4–0 || rowspan="3"|[[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|19
|-
| align=center|20
|-
| align=center|21 || rowspan="2"|26 March 1979 || rowspan="2"|[[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] || rowspan="2" align=center|2–0 || rowspan="2"|[[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|22
|-
| align=center|23 || 3 April 1979 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || {{flagicon|UAE}} [[UAE national football team|United Arab Emirates]] || align=center|5–0 || [[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|24 || rowspan="4"|5 April 1979 || rowspan="4"|[[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || rowspan="4"|{{flagicon|Oman|1970}} [[Oman national football team|Oman]] || rowspan="4" align=center|7–0 || rowspan="4"|[[5th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|25
|-
| align=center|26
|-
| align=center|27
|-
| align=center|28* || 16 March 1980 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] || align=center|4–0 || [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1980 Summer Olympics qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|29* || rowspan="2"|28 March 1980 || rowspan="2"|[[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|South Yemen}} [[South Yemen national football team|South Yemen]] || rowspan="2" align=center|3–0 || rowspan="2"|[[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1980 Summer Olympics qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|30*
|-
| align=center|31* || 21 July 1980 || [[Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex|Republican Stadium]], [[Kiev]]|| {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] || align=center|3–0 || [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Summer Olympics]]
|-
| align=center|32 || 8 February 1981 || [[Amman]]|| {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|33 || 8 March 1981 || [[Fez, Morocco|Fez]]|| {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]] || align=center|1–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|34 || 18 March 1981 || [[Riyadh]]|| {{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] || align=center|1–0 || [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification|1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|35* || 4 March 1982 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || {{flagicon|East Germany}} [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]] || align=center|1–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|36 || 7 March 1982 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] || align=center|3–0 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|37 || 10 March 1982 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] || align=center|1–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|38* || 20 March 1982 || [[Zayed Sports City Stadium]], [[Abu Dhabi]]|| {{flagicon|Oman|1970}} [[Oman national football team|Oman]] || align=center|4–0 || [[6th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|39* || rowspan="2"|22 March 1982 || rowspan="2"|[[Zayed Sports City Stadium]], [[Abu Dhabi]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Bahrain|1972}} [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] || rowspan="2" align=center|3–0 || rowspan="2"|[[6th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|40*
|-
| align=center|41* || 24 March 1982 || [[Zayed Sports City Stadium]], [[Abu Dhabi]]|| {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] || align=center|1–2 || [[6th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|42* || 30 March 1982 || [[Zayed Sports City Stadium]], [[Abu Dhabi]]|| {{flagicon|UAE}} [[UAE national football team|United Arab Emirates]] || align=center|1–0 || [[6th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|43 || 21 November 1982 || [[New Delhi]]|| {{flagicon|Burma|1974}} [[Burma national football team|Burma]] || align=center|4–0 || [[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|44 || rowspan="2"|23 November 1982 || rowspan="2"|[[New Delhi]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Nepal}} [[Nepal national football team|Nepal]] || rowspan="2" align=center|3–0 || rowspan="2"|[[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|45
|-
| align=center|46 || 3 December 1982 || [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Delhi)|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]], [[New Delhi]]|| {{flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] || align=center|1–0 || [[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|47* || 7 October 1983 || [[Bahrain National Stadium]], [[Manama]]|| {{flagicon|Bahrain|1972}} [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] || align=center|2–1 || [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympic qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|48 || 27 February 1984 || [[Cairo International Stadium]], [[Cairo]]|| {{flagicon|Egypt|1972}} [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] || align=center|2–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|49 || rowspan="2"|11 March 1984 || rowspan="2"|[[Royal Oman Police Stadium]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Oman|1970}} [[Oman national football team|Oman]] || rowspan="2" align=center|2–1 || rowspan="2"|[[7th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|50
|-
| align=center|51 || rowspan="3"|17 March 1984 || rowspan="3"|[[Royal Oman Police Stadium]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]]|| rowspan="3"|{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] || rowspan="3" align=center|4–0 || rowspan="3"|[[7th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|52
|-
| align=center|53
|-
| align=center|54 || rowspan="2"|22 March 1984 || rowspan="2"|[[Royal Oman Police Stadium]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] || rowspan="2" align=center|3–1  || rowspan="2"|[[7th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| align=center|55
|-
| align=center|56* || 26 April 1984 || Singapore || {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|57* || rowspan="2"|18 May 1984 || rowspan="2"|[[Amman]], Jordan || rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] || rowspan="2" align=center|2–3 || rowspan="2"|[[1985 Arab Nations Cup|1985 Arab Nations Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|58*
|-
| align=center|59* || 30 July 1984 || [[Harvard Stadium]], [[Boston]]|| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]] || align=center|1–1 || [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]]
|-
| align=center|60* || 3 August 1984 || [[Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium]], [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]]|| {{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] || align=center|2–4 || [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]]
|-
| align=center|61* || rowspan="2"|15 March 1985 || rowspan="2"|[[Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium]], [[Kuwait City]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Lebanon}} [[Lebanon national football team|Lebanon]] || rowspan="2" align=center|6–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|62*
|-
| align=center|63* || rowspan="2"|18 March 1985 || rowspan="2"|[[Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium]], [[Kuwait City]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Lebanon}} [[Lebanon national football team|Lebanon]] || rowspan="2" align=center|6–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|64*
|-
| align=center|65 || 29 March 1985 || [[King Abdullah Stadium]], [[Amman]]|| {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] || align=center|3–2 || [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|66* || 8 September 1985 || [[King Fahd Stadium, Taif]]|| {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] || align=center|1–3 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|67 || rowspan="2"|20 September 1985 || rowspan="2"|[[Al-Rashid Stadium]], [[Dubai]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|UAE}} [[UAE national football team|United Arab Emirates]] || rowspan="2" align=center|3–2 || rowspan="2"|[[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|68
|-
| align=center|69 || 29 November 1985 || [[King Fahd Stadium, Taif]]|| {{flagicon|Syria}} [[Syria national football team|Syria]] || align=center|3–1 || [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|70* || 3 February 1986 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]]|| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark League XI national football team|Denmark]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|71 || 21 September 1986 || [[Daegu Stadium]], [[Daegu]]|| {{flagicon|Oman}} [[Oman national football team|Oman]] || align=center|4–0 || [[Football at the 1986 Asian Games|1986 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|72 || 25 September 1986 || [[Daegu Stadium]], [[Daegu]]|| {{flagicon|UAE}} [[UAE national football team|United Arab Emirates]] || align=center|1–2 || [[Football at the 1986 Asian Games|1986 Asian Games]]
|-
| align=center|73* || 8 April 1987 || [[Bahrain National Stadium]], [[Manama]]|| {{flagicon|Bahrain}} [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] || align=center|3–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| align=center|74* || rowspan="2"|17 April 1987 || rowspan="2"|[[Amman]]|| rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] || rowspan="2" align=center|2–1 || rowspan="2"|[[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|75*
|-
| align=center|76* || 24 April 1987 || [[Kuwait City]]|| {{flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] || align=center|2–0 || [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|77* || 11 December 1987 || [[Doha]]|| {{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] || align=center|3–1 || [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics qualifiers]]
|-
| align=center|78 || 10 February 1989 || [[Al-Shaab Stadium]], [[Baghdad]] || {{flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] || align=center|2–2 || [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification|1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers]]
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
[[File:Hussein Saeed receiving the Top Arab Goalscorer Award in 1985.jpg|thumb|right|Saeed receiving the Best Arab Goalscorer Award in 1985]]'''Al-Talaba'''
*[[Iraqi Premier League]]: [[1980–81 Iraqi League|1980–81]], [[1981–82 Iraqi League|1981–82]], [[1985–86 Iraqi League|1985–86]]
*Stafford Cup: 1984
'''Iraq U20'''
*[[AFC U-20 Asian Cup|AFC U-19 Championship]]: [[1977 AFC Youth Championship|1977]]
'''Iraq Military'''
*[[World Military Cup]]: 1979
'''Iraq'''
*[[Arabian Gulf Cup]]: [[5th Arabian Gulf Cup|1979]], [[7th Arabian Gulf Cup|1984]]
*[[Asian Games|Asian Games Gold Medal]]: [[Football at the 1982 Asian Games|1982]]
'''Individual'''
*[[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|FIFA Century Club]]: 2005<ref name="Al-Iraqi">{{cite web|title=Hussein Saeed becomes member of FIFA's Century Club|url=http://www.aliraqi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47853|website=Al Iraqi|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141005224757/http://www.aliraqi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47853|archive-date=5 October 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS]]'s 30 Best Players of the Century – Asia: 2000<ref name="IFFHS' Century Elections, Asia – Player of the Century – RSSSF" />
* [[Asia Football Confederation|AFC]] Century Club: 1999<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BYCcKRKG-tkOvXnUVpbMgLGos184M1He/view?usp=sharing 14 EX-INTERNATIONALS INDUCTED INTO AFC CENTURY CLUB] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116212646/https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BYCcKRKG-tkOvXnUVpbMgLGos184M1He/view?usp=sharing |date=16 November 2021 }} - [[BERNAMA]], 11 February 1999.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G_xOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xhQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3937%2C2915577|title=AFC Hall of Fame - They belong in Club 100|publisher=New Straits Times - 12 February 1999|accessdate=4 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626040415/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G_xOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xhQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3937%2C2915577|archivedate=26 June 2021|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
*Al-Watan Al-Riyadhi Magazine's Best Arab Goalscorer: 1985
*Al-Rasheed Magazine's Best Player of the Season: 1985–86
*[[Iraqi Premier League]] top goalscorer: [[1980–81 Iraqi League|1980–81]], [[1982–83 Iraqi League|1982–83]], [[1985–86 Iraqi League|1985–86]]<ref name="Iraq 1980/81 – RSSSF" /><ref name="Iraq 1982/83 – RSSSF" /><ref name="Iraq 1985/86 – RSSSF" />
*[[Arabian Gulf Cup]] Best Player: [[1984 Gulf Cup of Nations|1984]]<ref name="Stars Made of Gold – Gulf Cup" />
*[[Arabian Gulf Cup]] top goalscorer: [[1979 Gulf Cup of Nations|1979]], [[1984 Gulf Cup of Nations|1984]]<ref name="Gulf Cup Goalscorers" />
*[[AFC U-19 Championship]] top goalscorer: [[1976 AFC Youth Championship|1976]], [[1977 AFC Youth Championship|1977]]<ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1976" /><ref name="Asian U-19 Championship 1977" />

===Manager===
'''Al-Talaba'''
*[[Baghdad Championship]]: [[3rd Umm al-Ma'arik Championship|1993–94]]

==See also==
*[[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]
*[[List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Iraq squads
| bg = #017B3D
| fg = white; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}};
| list =
{{Iraq Squad 1980 Summer Olympics}}
{{Iraq Squad 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Iraq Squad 1986 World Cup}}
{{Iraq Squad 1988 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list =
{{Gulf Cup of Nations Top Scorers}}
{{Gulf Cup of Nations Most Valuable Player}}
{{Iraqi Premier League top scorers}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Association football|Iraq}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saeed, Hussein}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Iraqi men's footballers]]
[[Category:Iraq men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Al-Talaba SC players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Baghdad]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Iraq]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1982 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1986 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraqi football chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1982 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in football]]