View source for Yousuf Al-Thunayan

{{Short description|Saudi Arabian footballer}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2009}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Yousuf Al-Thunayyan
| image = 
| image_size = 
| fullname = Yousuf Al-Thunayyan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1963|11|18}}
| birth_place = [[Riyadh]], Saudi Arabia
| height = {{height|m=1.74}}
| position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]], [[attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1981–1983
| youthclubs1 = [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]
| years1 = 1984–2003
| clubs1 = [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]]
| caps1 = 350
| goals1 = 98
| nationalyears1 = 1986–1998
| nationalteam1 = [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]
| nationalcaps1 = 81
| nationalgoals1 = 20
}}
'''Yousuf Al-Thunayyan''' ({{langx|ar|يوسف الثُنيان}}, born November 18, 1963) is a former [[association football]] [[Winger (association football)|winger]] and [[attacking midfielder]] from [[Saudi Arabia]]. He spent [[List of one-club men in association football#Retired players|all 21 seasons of his senior career]] at [[Al-Hilal FC]].  A playmaker known for vision and technique, Al-Thunayyan was nicknamed "The Philosopher" for his dribbling, goal scoring, and playmaking skills. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Saudi and Asian players of all time.

==Club career==
Al-Thunayan played his entire club career for [[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]], joining the first team in 1984 and retiring in 2005 after winning a total of 24 titles with the club.{{Citation needed|date=March 2014}} On 14 December 2005, Al-Hilal hosted [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] in his farewell match.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciberche.net/histoche/partidos/5?mid=4110 |title=14.12.2005: Al Hilal 2 - 1 Valencia CF |website=www.ciberche.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211133857/http://www.ciberche.net/histoche/partidos/5?mid=4110 |archive-date=2013-12-11}}</ref> Particular highlights are Asian Club Championship 1991 Winner and Asian Club Championship 1999-2000 Winner.

==International career==
During his active career, Al-Thunayan played 95 international matches and scored 33 goals for the [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia national team]]. At the age of 34 he was selected for his only [[1998 Football World Cup|Football World Cup]], and appeared in two games, scoring from the penalty spot in the 2–2 draw with [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8764/report.html |title=FIFA.com - 1998 FIFA World Cup France ™ |access-date=June 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615211636/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8764/report.html |archive-date=June 15, 2010 }}</ref> Yousuf represented Saudi Arabia in 3 consecutive [[AFC Asian Cup]] finals in 1988, 1992 and 1996, winning two out of these three.

'''[[1988 AFC Asian Cup]]''' (Qatar)

Yousuf took over the starting forward role mid way thru the tournament coached by [[Carlos Alberto Parreira]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spieler_profil/carlos-alberto-parreira/|title=Carlos Alberto Parreira|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113206/https://www.weltfussball.de/spieler_profil/carlos-alberto-parreira/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He played vs Bahrain in Group stages which tied 1-1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-bahrain/|title=Saudi-Arabien - Bahrain 1:1 (Asian Cup 1988 Katar, Gruppe 2)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113214/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-bahrain/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also played the important game vs China which Saudi Arabia won 1–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-china/|title=Saudi-Arabien - China 1:0 (Asian Cup 1988 Katar, Gruppe 2)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113200/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-china/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He played the Semi Finals vs Iran which Saudi Arabia won 1–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-halbfinale-saudi-arabien-iran/|title=Saudi-Arabien - Iran 1:0 (Asian Cup 1988 Katar, Halbfinale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113200/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-halbfinale-saudi-arabien-iran/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He also played in the Final vs South Korea which Saudi Arabia won on penalties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-endspiel-saudi-arabien-suedkorea/|title=Saudi-Arabien - Südkorea 4:3 (Asian Cup 1988 Katar, Finale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2023-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512021524/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1988-in-katar-endspiel-saudi-arabien-suedkorea/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[1992 AFC Asian Cup]]''' (Japan)

He scored the goal in a stage game vs China which Saudis tied 1-1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-china/|title=Saudi-Arabien - China 1:1 (Asian Cup 1992 Japan, Gruppe 2)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917180821/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-china/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He also played the group stage game vs Qatar which Saudis again tied 1-1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-katar/|title=Saudi-Arabien - Katar 1:1 (Asian Cup 1992 Japan, Gruppe 2)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917180543/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-katar/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the final group stage game, Yousuf scored a goal in a 4–0 rout of Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-thailand/|title=Saudi-Arabien - Thailand 4:0 (Asian Cup 1992 Japan, Gruppe 2)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917180532/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-gruppe-2-saudi-arabien-thailand/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Yousuf led the team to defeat UAE 2–0 in Semi Finals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-halbfinale-saudi-arabien-va-emirate/|title=Saudi-Arabien - VA Emirate 2:0 (Asian Cup 1992 Japan, Halbfinale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917180654/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-halbfinale-saudi-arabien-va-emirate/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Yousuf played whole Final game in which Saudi Arabia lost to Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-endspiel-japan-saudi-arabien/|title=Japan - Saudi-Arabien 1:0 (Asian Cup 1992 Japan, Finale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917180551/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1992-in-japan-endspiel-japan-saudi-arabien/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''[[1992 King Fahd Cup]]''', later known as the [[FIFA Confederations Cup]]

The confederation cup was the last stop prior to Asian World Cup qualifiers. Saudi Arabia beat USA 3–0, with Yousuf scoring a goal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/confederationscup/saudiarabia1992/matches/round=4298/match=21302/index.html|title=Intercontinental Champions Cup Saudi Arabia 1992 - USA 0:3 (0:0) Saudi Arabia - Overview |date=2015-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913052324/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/confederationscup/saudiarabia1992/matches/round=4298/match=21302/index.html|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2015-09-13}}</ref>

'''[[1996 AFC Asian Cup]]''' (UAE)

Yousuf was on the bench but was substituted in during the game against Iran, where Saudi Arabia lost 3–0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-gruppe-b-saudi-arabien-iran/|title=Saudi-Arabien - Iran 0:3 (Asian Cup 1996 VA Emirate, Gruppe B)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113211/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-gruppe-b-saudi-arabien-iran/|url-status=live}}</ref>
A Quarter finals game against China started badly, with Saudi Arabia down 2–0. Yousuf scored a goal and made an assist, and in the end Saudi Arabia won the game 4–2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-viertelfinale-saudi-arabien-china/|title=Saudi-Arabien - China 4:3 (Asian Cup 1996 VA Emirate, Viertelfinale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113209/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-viertelfinale-saudi-arabien-china/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the Semi Finals game vs Iran, Saudi Arabia won the match on PK 4–3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-halbfinale-iran-saudi-arabien/|title=Iran - Saudi-Arabien 3:4 (Asian Cup 1996 VA Emirate, Halbfinale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113214/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-halbfinale-iran-saudi-arabien/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Saudi Arabia won 4–2 against UAE, the host nation, with Yousuf playing the whole game and scoring a critical first penalty shot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-endspiel-saudi-arabien-va-emirate/|title=Saudi-Arabien - VA Emirate 4:2 (Asian Cup 1996 VA Emirate, Finale)|website=weltfussball.de|language=de|access-date=2019-12-04|archive-date=2019-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113202/https://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-endspiel-saudi-arabien-va-emirate/|url-status=live}}</ref>
This was a second continental Asian Cup for Yousuf and a third for Saudi Arabia.

'''[[1998 Arab Cup]]'''

Yousuf scored in the Semi Finals game 2–1 against Kuwait. In the Final game vs Qatar, he made an assist to clinch the title for Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Citation|title=1998 Arab Nations Cup|date=2019-07-25|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1998_Arab_Nations_Cup&oldid=907888495|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref>

'''[[1998 World Cup]]'''

As Saudi Arabia failed to qualify for the 1986 and 1990 world cup, Yousuf had only one chance to play on the World Cup near the end of his peak. He appeared as a substitute against Denmark where Saudi Arabia Lost 1–0.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
Yousuf scored a penalty kick to earn Saudi Arabia a 2–2 draw vs South Africa, resulting in the solitary point for Saudi Arabia in 1998 world cup.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} He captained the team in the game.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

===International goals===
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/aljaber-intlg.html |title=Sami Abdullah Al-Jaber - Century of International Appearances |author=Roberto Mamrud & Naim Albakr |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=2013-11-23 |archive-date=2023-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418073146/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/aljaber-intlg.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 25 February 1986 || [[Khobar]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Wales}} || 1–2 || Lost || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 2 || 3 October 1986 || [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]] || {{fb|KWT}} || 2–2 || Drew || [[1986 Asian Games]]
|-
| 3 || 15 March 1989 || [[Jeddah]] [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Syria}} || 5–4 || Won || [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)]]
|-
| 4 || 15 October 1992 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|USA}} || 3–0 || Won || [[FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|-
| 5 || 29 October 1992 || [[Hiroshima]], [[Japan]] || {{fb|China}} || 1–1 || Drew || [[1992 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| 6 || 2 November 1992 || [[Hiroshima]], [[Japan]] || {{fb|Thailand}} ||4–0 || Won || [[1992 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| 7 || 29 December 1995 || [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Kazakhstan}} ||3–0 || Won || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 8 || 29 December 1995 || [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Kazakhstan}} ||3–0 || Won || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 9 || 24 January 1996 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Kyrgyzstan}} || 3–0 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| 10 || 24 January 1996 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Kyrgyzstan}} || 3–0 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| 11 || 28 January 1996 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Yemen}} || 4–0 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| 12 || 28 January 1996 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Yemen}} || 4–0 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| 13 || 31 January 1996 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|Kyrgyzstan}} || 2–0 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| 14 || 21 October 1996 || [[Muscat, Oman]] || {{fb|Bahrain}} ||3–1 || Won || [[13th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|-
| 15 || 16 December 1996 || [[Abu Dhabi]], [[United Arab Emirates]] || {{fb|China}} || 4–3 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| 16 || 16 December 1996 || [[Abu Dhabi]], [[United Arab Emirates]] || {{fb|China}} || 4–3 || Won || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| 17 || 14 September 1997 || [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] || {{fb|KWT}} || 2–1 || Won || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)]]
|-
| 18 || 24 June 1998 || [[Bordeaux]], [[France]] || {{fb|South Africa}} ||2–2 || Drew || [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| 19 || 29 September 1998 || [[Doha]], [[Qatar]] || {{fb|KWT}} ||2–1 || Won || [[1998 Arab Nations Cup]]
|-
| 20 || 2 November 1998 || [[Manama]], [[Bahrain]] || {{fb|Bahrain}} ||1–1 || Drew || [[14th Arabian Gulf Cup]]
|}

==Honours==

===Club===
* [[Saudi Premier League]] : 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002
* [[Crown Prince Cup|Saudi King Cup]] : 1984, 1989
* [[Crown Prince Cup]] : 1995, 2000
* [[Saudi Federation Cup]] : 1987, 1996, 2000
* [[Saudi Founder's Cup]] : 2000
* [[AFC Champions League]] : 1991, 2000
* [[Asian Cup Winners Cup]] : 1997
* [[Asian Super Cup]] : 1997
* [[Arab Champions League]] : 1994, 1995
* [[Arab Super Cup]] : 2001
* [[GCC Club Cup]] : 1986, 1998
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Thynyan1515.jpg|thumb|right|290px|Yousuf Al-Thunayan Left AFC Asian Cup 1996.]] -->

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

===Individual===
* [[1986 Asian Club Championship|1986]], [[1991-92 Asian Club Championship]]  - Best player

==Farewell match==
{{Football box
|date=2005-12-14
|time=18:00 [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
|team1=[[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]] {{Flagicon|KSA}}
|score=2–1
|team2={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Valencia CF|Valencia]]
|goals1= [[Yasser Al-Qahtani|Al-Qahtani]] {{goal|30}}<br />[[Abdullah Jumaan Al-Dosari|Al-Jumaan]] {{goal|69}}
|goals2= [[Mario Regueiro|Regueiro]] {{goal|80}}
|stadium= [[King Fahd Stadium]], [[Riyadh]]
|attendance=more than 65,000}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{NFT player|pid=15182}}
*[http://s.alriyadh.com/2005/12/13/img/101314.jpg Image]

{{1988 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{Saudi Arabia squad 1988 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Saudi Arabia Squad 1992 King Fahd Cup}}
{{Saudi Arabia Squad 1992 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Saudi Arabia Squad 1996 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Saudi Arabia Squad 1998 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thunayan, Yousuf}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1988 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:1992 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:1992 King Fahd Cup players]]
[[Category:1996 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:AFC Asian Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Al Hilal SFC players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1986 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1990 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Footballers from Riyadh]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Saudi Pro League players]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Asian Games footballers for Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1986 Asian Games]]
[[Category:AFC Champions League Elite–winning players]]
[[Category:20th-century Saudi Arabian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in football]]