Al-Mina'a SC 2024–25 football season
The 2024–25 season will be Al-Minaa's second season in the newly-formed Iraq Stars League, and their 48th season in the top division of Iraq football.
Review
Background
After Al-Minaa Club entered into an administrative crisis last season, as FIFA imposed a ban on contracting players, it was forced to play with the academy players. Despite all the difficulties, it was able to ensure its survival in the Iraq Stars League since the 35th round and finished the league in 12th place, which was considered a football miracle. However, coach Hassan Ahmed apologized for continuing with the team and withdrew after the end of the season. So the club's newly elected management began contracting with Spanish coach Pablo Grandes in 29 July to prepare a team that would compete for the league.
Summer transfer window
The Iraq Stars League summer transfer window runs from 2 August to 2 September 2024. Al-Minaa announced from the first day the renewal of the contract of right back Hameed Ali Hameed.
On 5 August, Al-Minaa announced the signing of three professional players and the renewal of two local players. The club signed 22-year-old Tunisian attacking midfielder Abdallah Amri from Tunisian club CS Sfaxien, 25-year-old Gabonese international defensive midfielder Clech Loufilou from Omani club Sur, and 23-year-old Swedish left winger of Iraqi origin Hamid Abdulla from Swedish club Rosengård. The club also renewed the contracts of goalkeeper Jaafar Shenaishil and midfielder Ayad Abed Farhan.
On 7 August, the club renewed the contract of the team's goalkeeper and the U-17 national team, Ammar Ali, and on 8 August, it renewed the contract of the right winger, Sajjad Alaa, and announced the signing of the 24-year-old Congolese right winger, Tuisila Kisinda, coming from the Moroccan club, RS Berkane. On 9 August, the club renewed the contract of defensive midfielder Haidar Salem.
On 10 August, coach Pablo Grandes arrived in Basra from Spain with his assistant Iván McCarroll to officially lead the Al-Minaa team. He was introduced to the media as the coach of Al-Minaa, and he said in the press conference that he wanted to compete for advanced positions in the league and that he chose Al-Minaa because it is the oldest club among the Iraqi clubs and that he would work to create a competitive team.
On 12 August, the club announced the signing of 31-year-old Spanish striker Lolo Plá from Spanish club, Talavera. The contract of central midfielder Mohammed Khudhair was also renewed, as was the contract of centre back Hussein Amer after his return from a loan to Naft Maysan.
On 13 August, the club announced the signing of 29-year-old Zimbabwean international centre back Gerald Takwara from Saudi club Ohod. Centre back Mohammed Ghaleb's contract was also renewed, as was goalkeeper Abed Saleem Hammad's contract after he returned from loan to Amanat Baghdad. On August 15, 16 and 17, the contracts of defenders Mojtaba Ali and Abbas Yas and striker Salem Ahmed were renewed. On 18 August, the club renewed the contracts of left-back Muslim Mousa and left-winger Karrar Jaafar, and a day later announced the signing of 23-year-old midfielder Amir Ahmed from Al-Naft. On 21 August, the club renewed the contract of right-back Karrar Al-Amir Ali.
On 26 August, the club announced the signing of 30-year-old striker Mohannad Abdul-Raheem from Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. It also announced the signing of 24-year-old Spanish right-back Raúl Parra from Portuguese club Estoril. Thus, the club announced the completion of the six professional players, according to the IFA regulations, which requires that the number of professional players not exceed six players.
On 27 August, the club announced the signing of 36-year-old striker Alaa Abdul-Zahra from Al-Shorta. On 28 August, the club announced the signing of 28-year-old Swedish defensive midfielder of Iraqi origin, Sumar Almadjed, from the Swedish club Helsingborgs IF. On 30 August, the club announced the signing of 24-year-old Swedish defensive midfielder of Iraqi origin, André Alsanati, from the Swedish club IK Sirius.
Pre-season
The 2024 WAFF U-16 Championship took place in Jordan from 2–11 September. Two Al-Minaa first-team players were named in squads for the tournament, Ammar Ali and Zain Al-Abidin Jassim. They played in the starting lineup in the first match against Lebanon in 4 September, and Jassim scored two goals.
The Iraqi U-20 team left for China in 1 September to play two friendly matches against China in preparation for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification. The travelling delegation was joined by three Al-Minaa first-team players who had previously been named in the squad: Karrar Jaafar, Muslim Mousa and Mohammed Ghaleb.
Gerald Takwara (Zimbabwe) was called up to respective country' senior squads for international fixtures in September.
On 1 September, Al-Minaa announced a pre-season tour to Antalya, and the following day it was also announced that Spanish match analyst Daniel Casas Trillo had joined the coaching staff, as he joined the team in Antalya with player Raúl Parra.
On 5 September, Al-Minaa took on Süper Lig club Antalyaspor. Sajjad Alaa gave Al-Minaa an early lead. Alaa Abdul-Zahra scored a second goal. In the second half, Lolo Plá scored the third goal, helping Al-Minaa win 3–0.
On 7 September, Tunisian Abdallah Amri and Gabonese Clech Loufilou joined the team's training in Antalya, along with 20-year-old goalkeeper Abbas Karim, who officially signed Al-Minaa from Al-Shorta.
On 10 September, Al-Minaa played against the Iraq Stars League club Al-Zawraa in their second friendly match. Sajjad Alaa gave Al-Minaa an early lead. Lolo Plá scored a second goal, while Ibrahim Ghazi scored for Al-Zawraa. In the second half, Hasan Abdulkareem scored for Al-Zawraa to end the match 2–2.
On 14 September, Al-Minaa played their third friendly match against Turkish Regional Amateur League club Kumluca Belediye Spor, with Hameed Ali Hameed scoring the only goal of the match in the second half to help Al-Minaa win 1-0, and with that the team ended their 14-day pre-season tour in Turkey and returned to Iraq the following day.
September
Hammad
Amer
Takwara
Parra
Yas
Almadjed (c)
Loufilou
Alaa
Abdulla
Amri
Lolo
Starting XI for the Iraq Stars League home match against Al-Hudood on 22 September 2024
Grandes's side kicked off their Iraqi Star League campaign with a 2–1 win over Al-Hudood at home on 22 September. Al-Hudood's Hussein Jabbar in a 19th-minute opener with an own goal after Parra's free kick hit Jabbar's head and changed direction, deceiving the goalkeeper. Almadjed added the second goal in the 51st minute after an assist from Lolo, while Atheer Saleh scored the only goal for the visiting team after three minutes from a free kick. Four players from the first team were missed from the match, Mohannad Abdul-Raheem due to injury, and three players, namely Muslim Musa, Mohammed Ghaleb and Karrar Jaafar, were selected by the coach of the U-20, Emad Mohammed, to participate in the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification in Thailand, which will be played from September 25 to 29. They played in the starting lineup in the first match against Brunei and Karrar Jaafar scored two goals in this match.
Al-Minaa travelled to the capital to face Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya at Al-Shaab Stadium in second round. Lolo opened the scoring from long range in the 23th minute. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya drew level with a penalty kick scored by Saad Abdul-Amir on 88 minutes. Mustafa Saadoon completed the turnaround for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in the extra time. The 2–1 loss left the Al-Minaa sitting eighth in the league table.
October
Al-Minaa announced on 2 October that the arrival of André Alsanati’s international card, and that he is now ready to participate with the team in the upcoming match. The team also regained its three players Muslim Musa, Mohammed Ghaleb and Karrar Jaafar, from the U-20 team, and they are also ready to participate with the team.
First-team squad
- As of 4 October 2024
New contracts and transfers
New contracts
Transfers in
Transfers out
Promotion from Academy
| Date
|
Pos.
|
Name
|
Ref.
|
| 19 August 2024
|
AM
|
 Zain Al-Abidin Jassim
|
|
| 31 August 2024
|
AM
|
Hassan Hamed Khalaf
|
|
| 4 September 2024
|
CM
|
Naji Nasser
|
|
| ST
|
Muntadher Qahtan
|
|
Personnel
Technical staff
| Position
|
Name
|
| Manager |
 Pablo Grandes
|
| Assistant coach |
Iván McCarroll
|
| Goalkeeping Coach |
Amer Abdul Wahab
|
| Fitness coach |
Amir Razzaq
|
| Match analyst |
Daniel Casas Trillo
|
| Physiotherapist |
 Sebastian Baltateanu
|
| Team supervisor |
Taher Balas
|
Kits
Adidas were announced as Al-Minaa's kit supplier as of the start of the season.
Supplier: Adidas
Home
|
|
Away
|
Goalkeeper
|
Goalkeeper
|
Pre-season and friendlies
On 3 September 2024, Al-Minaa arrived in Antalya to pre-season tour, which it started with a friendly against Süper Lig club Antalyaspor.
Win
Draw
Loss
Fixtures
Antalyaspor 
v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Zawraa
Kumlucablspor v Al-Minaa
| 14 Sep 2024 Friendly | Kumlucablspor | 0–1 | Al-Minaa | Antalya, Turkey |
| 16:30 UTC+3 |
|
|
|
Stadium: Kumluca Ilçe Stadium |
Al-Minaa v Al-Bahri
Al-Minaa v Masafi Al-Janoob
Al-Minaa v Al-Zubair
Competitions
Overview
| Competition
|
First match
|
Last match
|
Starting round
|
Record
|
| Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Win %
|
| Iraq Stars League
|
22 September 2024
|
TBD
|
Matchday 1
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
−1
|
040.00
|
| FA Cup
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
Third round
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
+0
|
!—
|
| Total
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
−1
|
040.00
|
Last updated: 29 October 2024
Source: Competitions
Iraq Stars League
Main article: 2024–25 Iraq Stars League
League table
Updated to match(es) played on 4 January 2025. Source: IPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) number of wins.
Summary table
| Overall |
Home |
Away
|
| Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD
|
| 5
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
−1
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
+1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
−2
|
Last updated: 29 October 2024.
Source: Goalzz.com
Results by matchday
| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H |
|---|
| Result | W | L | L | L | W |
|---|
| Position | 1 | 8 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
|---|
Updated to match(es) played on 29 October 2024. Source: Goalzz.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
The league fixtures were announced on 17 September 2024.
Win
Draw
Loss
Fixtures
Al-Minaa v Al-Hudood
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Karkh
Karbala v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Zawraa
Al-Talaba v Al-Minaa
Diyala v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Zakho
Al-Shorta v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Erbil
Al-Qasim v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Naft Maysan
Al-Naft v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Naft Al-Basra
Al-Najaf v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Duhok
Al-Kahrabaa v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Newroz
Al-Minaa v Al-Karma
Al-Hudood v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Qasim
Zakho v Al-Minaa
Erbil v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Najaf
Al-Minaa v Al-Naft
Newroz v Al-Minaa
Duhok v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Shorta
Naft Al-Basra v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Kahrabaa
Al-Karma v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Karkh v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Karbala
Naft Maysan v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Al-Talaba
Al-Zawraa v Al-Minaa
Al-Minaa v Diyala
Statistics
Appearances
Nineteen players made their appearances for Al-Minaa's first team during the season.
Includes all competitions for senior teams.
- As of 4 October 2024
Goalscorers
The following three players scored for Al-Minaa's first team during the season.
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by squad number when season-total goals are equal. Players with no goals not included in the list.
- As of 4 October 2024
Assists
The following two player registered their assists for Al-Minaa's first team during the season.
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by squad number when season-total assists are equal. Players with no assists not included in the list.
- As of 4 October 2024
Disciplinary record
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by red cards, then yellow cards (and by squad number when total cards are equal). Players with no cards not included in the list.
- As of 4 October 2024
Clean sheets
Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.
- As of 4 October 2024
| Rank
|
Nat
|
No.
|
Name
|
IS League
|
FA Cup
|
Total
|
| 1
|
|
1
|
Abed Saleem Hammad
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| TOTALS
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Captains
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by squad number when season-total number of games where a player started as captain are equal. Players with no games started as captain not included in the list.
- As of 4 October 2024
External links
References
- ""بسبب عقوبات الـ"فيفا".. الميناء يدخل دوري المحترفين بـ11 لاعباً فقط". shafaq.com (in Arabic). October 26, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- "الميناء يفوز على نفط ميسان بثلاثية نظيفة ويضمن تواجده في دوري نجوم العراق". today-agency.net (in Arabic). June 27, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- "بالصور.. النجف يحبط الميناء بثنائية بيضاء". kooora.com (in Arabic). July 13, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- "الميناء ظاهرة مميزة في كرة القدم العراقية". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). March 16, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- "حسن أحمد يرحل عن تدريب الميناء". alforatnews.iq (in Arabic). July 17, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- "حسن أحمد يترك تدريب الميناء العراقي". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). July 18, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- "انتخاب هيئة ادارية جديدة لنادي الميناء الرياضي". ninanews.com (in Arabic). July 20, 2024.
- "اختيار فرحان الفرطوسي رئيسا للهيئة الادارية لنادي الميناء". ninanews.com (in Arabic). July 23, 2024.
- "الميناء يتعاقد مع المدرب بابلو غرنانديز". ysscores.com (in Arabic). July 29, 2024.
- "Al-Minaa signs coach Pablo Gernandez". ysscores.com. July 29, 2024.
- "Pablo Grandes asume el cargo de entrenador del Al Minaa SC". informacional.es (in Spanish). July 29, 2024.
- "Pablo Grandes, nuevo entrenador del Al Minaa SC". lavozdigital.es (in Spanish). July 29, 2024.
- "اتحاد الكرة العراقي يعلن آلية فترتي الانتقالات الصيفية والشتوية". shafaq.com (in Arabic). August 5, 2024.
- ^ "بورصة الانتقالات الكروية تتواصل استعداداً لدوري نجوم العراق". shafaq.com (in Arabic). August 2, 2024.
- ^ "عبد الله العمري يوقّع للميناء العراقي". assabahnews.tn (in Arabic). August 4, 2024.
- ^ "محترف غابوني يعزز صفوف الميناء". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Al Mina'a SC officialise l'arrivée Clench Loufilou". centrafriquefootball.com (in French). 6 August 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يعلن تعاقده مع حميد عبدالله". ysscores.com (in Arabic). August 5, 2024.
- ^ تعاقدات جديدة تشعل دوري النجوم مبكرا (in Arabic). al-aalem.com. 6 August 2024.
- ^ الميناء يتعاقد مع لاعبين محترفين ويجدد عقود عدد من لاعبيه الشباب وعودة حصني قريبا (in Arabic). ninanews.com. 6 August 2024.
- ^ "ستة أندية عراقية تستعد للموسم المقبل بتعاقدات جديدة". shafaq.com (in Arabic). August 9, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يعلن ضم مهاجم أفريقي". kooora.com (in Arabic). August 9, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يتعاقد مع الكونغولي كيسيندا". ysscores.com (in Arabic). August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Mercato Estival : Rossien Tuisila Kisinda Rejoint Al Minaa SC en Irak". lemondeen24h.com (in French). August 10, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يعزز صفوفه بنجوم جدد وهمام طارق الى زاخو". shafaq.com (in Arabic). August 11, 2024.
- "المدرب الاسباني يصل الى البصرة لقيادة فريق الميناء". ninanews.com (in Arabic). August 10, 2024.
- "نادي الميناء يقدم مدربه الاسباني بابلو گرانديز". azlsport.com (in Arabic). August 11, 2024.
- "الإسباني بابلو غرانديز يعد بمنافسة الميناء على المراكز المتقدمة بدوري نجوم العراق". al-aalem.com (in Arabic). August 12, 2024.
- ^ "محترف إسباني ينضم للدوري العراقي". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 12, 2024.
- ^ "محترف إسباني يدعم صفوف الميناء تحضيراً للموسم الجديد". ina.iq (in Arabic). August 12, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يجدد عقود لاعبين ويباشر باول وحدة تدريبية". ninanews.com (in Arabic). August 13, 2024.
- ^ "مدافع المنتخب الأولمبي في الميناء مجدداً". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 13, 2024.
- ^ "رسميا مدافع منتخب زيمبابوي يعزز صفوف الميناء". ninanews.com (in Arabic). August 14, 2024.
- ^ "Zimbabwe national team center back Gerald Takwara joins Iraq's Al-Minna SC". mbaretimes.com. August 19, 2024.
- ^ "لاعبو الميناء يجددون ولاءهم للسفانة في الموسم الكروي المقبل". ninanews.com (in Arabic). August 18, 2024.
- "الميناء يؤمن ثلاثة من مواهبه". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 18, 2024.
- ^ "لاعب الأولمبي ينتقل لنادي الميناء". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 19, 2024.
- ^ "إدارة الميناء تجدد عقود لاعبين شباب وتعزز صفوف فريقها بمهاجم اسباني". title.news (in Arabic). August 22, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يتعاقد مع لاعب القوة الجوية". kooora.com (in Arabic). August 26, 2024.
- ^ "مهند عبد الرحيم ينضم للميناء العراقي". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). August 27, 2024.
- ^ "صفقة أوروبية تعزز صفوف الميناء". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 27, 2024.
- ^ "مدافع اسباني يلتحق ومهند عبد الرحيم يوقع رسميا وعلاء عبد الزهرة يقترب من الميناء". almarsa-news.com (in Arabic). August 27, 2024.
- "Al Minaa SC: el desembarco de excadistas en Irak". lavozdigital.es (in Spanish). August 27, 2024.
- "ادارة الميناء تعلن إكتمال اللاعبين المحترفين الستة في فريقها الكروي استعدادا للموسم المقبل". ninanews.com (in Arabic). August 27, 2024.
- "اتحاد الكرة العراقي يعتبر اللاعب اليمني "لاعباً محلياً" في دوري النجوم". shafaq.com (in Arabic). August 20, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء يخطف عبد الزهرة من الزوراء". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 26, 2024.
- ^ "علاء عبدالزهرة ينضم لصفوف الميناء". kooora.com (in Arabic). August 28, 2024.
- ^ "محترف في السويد يدعم صفوف الميناء الموسم المقبل". ninanews.com (in Arabic). August 29, 2024.
- ^ "الميناء العراقي يضم سومر الماجد". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). August 29, 2024.
- ^ "محترف من السويد يلتحق بالميناء". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). August 31, 2024.
- "ريمونتادا لبنانية أمم العراق بكأس آسيا للناشئين". kooora.com (in Arabic). September 4, 2024.
- "منتخب الشباب يشدّ الرحال إلى الصين". alsabaah.iq (in Arabic). September 1, 2024.
- "استدعاء ثلاثي الميناء محمد غالب ومسلم موسى وكرار جعفر لصفوف منتخب الشباب في بطولة غرب آسيا". nabd.com (in Arabic). May 3, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- "Warriors Coach Michael Nees Names Squad For AFCON Qualifiers". pindula.co.zw. August 26, 2024.
- ^ "إسباني جديد في الكادر التدريبي للميناء". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). September 3, 2024.
- "الميناء يفوز على أنطاليا سبور التركي بثلاثية وديا في معسكره التدريبي". ninanews.com. September 6, 2024.
- ^ "حارس الشرطة ومحترف تونسي يلتحقان بالميناء في معسكره التدريبي بتركيا". ninanews.com (in Arabic). September 7, 2024.
- "الزوراء ينهي معسكره في تركيا وانضمام آخر محترفي الفريق استعدادا لدوري النجوم". shafaq.com. September 13, 2024.
- "الميناء ينهي معسكره التدريبي في تركيا استعدادا لدوري النجوم". ninanews.com. September 15, 2024.
- "بالصور: الميناء يفوز على الحدود". kooora.com (in Arabic). September 22, 2024.
- "الميناء يبدأ مشواره في دوري النجوم بغياب 4 لاعبين". shafaq.com (in Arabic). September 22, 2024.
- "الإعلان عن قائمة منتخب الشباب العراقي للقاء بروناي بالزي الأبيض". shafaq.com (in Arabic). September 24, 2024.
- "العراق يمطر بروناي بـ 15 هدفاً بلا جواب". shafaq.com (in Arabic). September 25, 2024.
- "القوة الجوية يخطف فوزا قاتلا أمام الميناء". kooora.com (in Arabic). September 27, 2024.
- "الميناء يستعد غدا لمواجهة الكرخ في البصرة". ninanews.com (in Arabic). October 3, 2024.
- "نفط ميسان يدعم صفوفه بنجم الكهرباء". kooora.com (in Arabic). July 28, 2024.
- "كرة كربلاء تستقطب مهاجم الميناء وليام جيبور". almusawer-alriyadhi.com (in Arabic). July 28, 2024.
- "ديالي يتعاقد مع لاعب الكرخ". kooora.com (in Arabic). August 3, 2024.
- "الملعب التونسي يبرم صفقة جديدة". kooora.com (in Arabic). July 30, 2024.
- "اعلن نادي الميناء توقيع عقد مع شركة اديداس لتجهيز الفريق". ayn-shahid.com (in Arabic). September 2, 2024.
- "الميناء يواجه فريق انطاليا سبور التركي غدا". news.alqaraa.com (in Arabic). September 4, 2024.
- "جدول مباريات دوري نجوم العراق لكرة القدم". alsumaria.tv (in Arabic). September 17, 2024.
| Iraq Stars League |
|---|
| Seasons | | 1970s |
|
|---|
| 1980s |
|
|---|
| 1990s |
|
|---|
| 2000s |
|
|---|
| 2010s |
|
|---|
| 2020s |
|
|---|
|
|---|
| Clubs | |
|---|
| Competition |
|
|---|
| Statistics and awards |
|
|---|
| Associated competitions |
|
|---|
|
|
Category:
Sur
Rosengård
RS Berkane
Ohod
Estoril
Dare Olatunji
William Jebor
Habib Omar Fofana
66'
90+10'
