| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nasser Ali Al-Shamrani | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-11-23)23 November 1983 (age 42) | ||
| Place of birth | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2004 | Al-Wehda | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2007 | Al-Wehda | 56 | (20) |
| 2006 | →Al-Shabab (loan) | 6 | (3) |
| 2007–2013 | Al-Shabab | 123 | (87) |
| 2013–2017 | Al-Hilal | 75 | (45) |
| 2017 | →Al Ain (loan) | 10 | (8) |
| 2017–2019 | Al-Shabab | 39 | (12) |
| 2019 | Al-Ittihad | 2 | (0) |
| 2021 | Al-Hidd | 6 | (2) |
| Total | 317 | (177) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2005–2018 | Saudi Arabia | 78 | (19) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 07 May 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 February 2018 | |||
Nasser Al-Shamrani (Arabic:ناصر الشمراني; born 23 November 1983) is a Saudi Arabian formerfootballer who played for theSaudi Arabia national team as aforward. Often considered one of the most versatile, effective Saudi Arabian strikers of all time, he won theAsian Footballer of the Year award in 2014.
Al-Shamrani began his professional career at the age of 20 playing withAl-Wehda's first team, in the 2003–04 season. He was young then, but along with his teammateEssa Al-Mehyani, was one of the main strikers at the club. Even though Al-Wehda had talented young strikers, they did not win any tournaments and the highest rank they achieved in theSaudi Premier League was 3rd place in the 2006–07 season.
During the 2005–06 season,Al-Shabab decided to try Al-Shamrani out, and a loan deal was agreed till the end of the season (Al-Wehda accepted because at that time they had no chance of competing in all of the local tournaments). During these couple of months, Al-Shamrani was able to prove his worth as a striker. He scored four goals in theAFC Champions League, which helped Al-Shabab reach the quarter-finals that year. In the league, he scored three goals, including the third in theSaudi Premier League final against Al-Hilal, which ended 3–0. After the end of the season, Al-Shabab were impressed by his performance, and tried sign a contract with him, but Al-Wehda refused and by the 2006–07 season he returned to Al-Wehda.
Al-Shamrani had one of his best seasons with Al-Wehda, scoring nine goals in theSaudi Premier League. He helped his team reach 3rd place in the league, though he did not score any goals in the golden play-off games against Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad. By the end of the season, Al-Wehda went through financial problems. Al-Shabab soon noticed this and offered 13 million riyals for Al-Shamrani. Al-Wehda accepted, and Al-Shamrani moved to Al-Shabab by the beginning of the 2007–08 season, signing a five-year contract for 13 million riyals.
Al-Shamrani's move to Al-Shabab was anticipated by many of their fans, but he began the season 'dry', without scoring any goal in the league. By the 6th round in the Saudi Premier League, he started his scoring with a hat-trick inAl-Qadisiya. He then scored continually in every game (1 goal against Al-Watani, 1 against Al-Nasr, 2 against Al-Ittihad, 1 against Al-Ta'ee, 1 against Al-Ahli, 1 against Al-Wehda, and 2 against Najran SC). He led the league goalscorers with 12 goals, but his former Al-Wehda teammate Eisa Al-Mehyani was closing the gap. was able to score 13 goals, and also with 13 goals.
By the end of the season, Al-Shamrani had scored 18 goals with Al Shabab, and won theSaudi Premier League's top goal scorer award for the first time, ahead of Al-Mehyani andAl Hasan Al-Yami.
On 30 June 2013, Al-Shamrani agreed to a three-year deal with the 'club of the century' in Asia,Al-Hilal. After losing the2014 Asian Champions League final, he spat atWestern Sydney Wanderers playerMatthew Spiranovic before attempting to headbutt him.[1][2] As a result of his conduct, Al-Shamrani was handed an 8 match Champions League ban from theAsian Football Confederation.[3][4][5][6]
In 2017, it was reported that Al-Shamrani had joined United Arab Emirates sideAl Ain FC in a 2 million Dhs deal for a six-month loan contract. This was his first experience playing outside Saudi Arabia, and with one of the most successful clubs in Asia. In his third match againstAl Ahli, he assisted a goal in minute 91 which helped Al Ain FC to win in the 'classico'.
In summer 2017, he returned to Saudi Arabia and Al-Shabab.[7]
In 2019, he played forAl-Ittihad.[8]
On 9 March 2021, Al-Shamrani joined Bahraini sideAl-Hidd.[9]
On 30 December 2014, Al-Shamrani pushed a fan prior toSaudi Arabia's 4–1 loss toBahrain and later missed the2015 AFC Asian Cup due to "injury".[10]
His brother Mohammed Al Shamrani was also a footballer who played forManama Club, where he was the top scorer of the2012–13 season, and Saudi clubs includingAl Raed.[11]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Asia | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Al-Wehda | 2003–04 | Saudi Premier League | 16 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||
| 2004–05 | 13 | 3 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 4[a] | 2 | 18 | 5 | ||||
| 2005–06 | 9 | 4 | — | 4 | 0 | — | 4[a] | 0 | 17 | 4 | ||||
| 2006–07 | 18 | 11 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4[a] | 1 | 23 | 13 | ||||
| Total | 56 | 20 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 14 | 3 | 77 | 24 | ||||
| Al-Shabab (loan) | 2005–06 | Saudi Premier League | 6 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 | |
| Al-Shabab | 2007–08 | Saudi Premier League | 19 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | 1[a] | 1 | 29 | 27 | |
| 2008–09 | Saudi Pro League | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 2[a] | 0 | 37 | 22 | |
| 2009–10 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2[a] | 1 | 20 | 11 | ||
| 2010–11 | 23 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | — | 33 | 22 | |||
| 2011–12 | 25 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 23 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | 34 | 17 | |||
| Total | 123 | 87 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 182 | 122 | ||
| Al-Hilal | 2013–14 | Saudi Pro League | 26 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 10 | — | 43 | 33 | |
| 2014–15 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 34 | 21 | |||
| 2015–16 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | ||
| 2016–17 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 16 | 7 | ||
| Total | 75 | 45 | 8 | 4 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 114 | 68 | ||
| Al-Ain (loan) | 2016–17 | UAE Pro League | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | — | 15 | 11 | |
| Al-Shabab | 2017–18 | Saudi Pro League | 21 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 8 | ||
| 2018–19 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 39 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 13 | ||||
| Al-Ittihad | 2018–19 | Saudi Pro League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 3 | — | 7 | 3 | ||
| Al-Hidd | 2020–21 | Bahraini Premier League | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | 5 | |
| Career totals | 317 | 177 | 29 | 20 | 33 | 17 | 60 | 33 | 20 | 5 | 457 | 248 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 2005 | 7 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 15 | 4 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 13 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 78 | 19 | |
As of 14 January 2017[15]
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 January 2005 | King Fahd International Stadium,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia |  Turkmenistan | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 12 August 2009 | Al-Saada Stadium,Salalah,Oman |  Oman | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 9 September 2009 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |  Bahrain | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 14 October 2009 | Stade 7 November,Radès,Tunisia |  Tunisia | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 14 November 2009 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium,Dammam, Saudi Arabia |  Belarus | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 13 July 2011 | Amman International Stadium,Amman,Jordan |  Jordan | 1–1 | 1–1(4–3p) | Fox International Quartet Championship |
| 7 | 23 July 2011 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia |  Hong Kong | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 3–0 | |||||
| 9 | 28 July 2011 | Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground,Siu Sai Wan,Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 6 September 2011 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam |  Australia | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 29 February 2012 | AAMI Park,Melbourne,Australia | Australia | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 15 October 2013 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan |  Iraq | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 13 | 15 November 2013 | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 14 | 16 November 2014 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Bahrain | 1–0 | 3–0 | 22nd Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 15 | 23 November 2014 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |  United Arab Emirates | 1–0 | 3–2 | 22nd Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 16 | 6 October 2016 | King Abdullah Sports City,Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Australia | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 14 January 2017 | Zayed Sports City Stadium,Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates |  Cambodia | 1–1 | 7–2 | Friendly |
| 18 | 2–1 | |||||
| 19 | 3–1 |
Saudi Arabia Squads | |||||||||||||
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| AFC award (international) |
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