 Elrich playing for the Central Coast Mariners in 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ahmad Elrich | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1981-05-30)30 May 1981 (age 43) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sydney,New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Right winger | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Parramatta FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bass Hill | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Parramatta Eagles | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2004 | Parramatta Power | 119 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Busan I'Cons | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Fulham | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | →Lyn Oslo (loan) | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Wellington Phoenix | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Central Coast Mariners | 15 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Rydalmere Lions | 37 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018– | Parramatta FC | 30 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 178 | (23) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Australia U20 | 17 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Australia U23 | 9 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Australia | 17 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 September 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ahmad Elrich (Arabic:أحمد الريش; born 30 May 1981) is an Australian professional associationfootballer who plays as aright winger for Australian clubParramatta FC. Born in Australia to Lebanese parents, Elrich represented his native country internationally, both at youth and senior level.[1]
Elrich played seventeen games for theAustralia national soccer team and played forFulham F.C. in the EnglishPremier League.[2] He is the older brother of professional football playerTarek Elrich.
Elrich began his professional career at theParramatta Eagles, his home club, being born just west of the club's home ground.
At the end of his first season with the Eagles, he toured Lebanon with a team of Lebanese-Australians. He was offered a contract withNejmeh SC in Beirut, but declined in favour of returning to Australia.[1]
Returning to Australia he signed with newNSL clubParramatta Power in the club's inaugural squad. Elrich cemented a first-team spot as a free-flowing winger here, including a memorable 2003–04 season where he was one of the league's leading assist getters, and played in the Grand Final at just 22. His time at theParramatta Power was cut short, as the club andNSL met its demise.
Elrich then moved to South Korean sideBusan I'cons. After a protracted contract dispute that saw him on the sidelines for five months, he made his move to the EnglishPremier League.[3][4]
Elrich signed a 3-year deal withFulham in the Summer of 2005 fromK-League clubBusan I'cons.[5] He was loaned out toFC Lyn Oslo from April to May 2006.[4][6]
After signing for Fulham and making his debut againstLiverpool in aPremier League match, Elrich's first team appearances were few and far between, but despite signing a 3-year contract in 2006, his future at the club looked in doubt after not being given a squad number for the2007–08 season andFulham confirmed Elrich's departure on 4 September 2007.[7]
Elrich signed a contract with theWellington Phoenix in theA-League as theirmarquee player on 21 September 2007.[8] Elrich scored his first goal, in his first home game, for theWellington Phoenix againstCentral Coast Mariners on 21 October 2007, which he described as the 'best goal of his career'. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Ahmad left theWellington Phoenix to move back to Australia, moving toCentral Coast Mariners to link up with several formerParramatta Power teammates. After limited appearances and poor form, he was released by the Central Coast Mariners at the end of the2009–10 A-League season.[9]
Elrich returned to soccer to play for semi-professional team Rydalmere Lions FC inNational Premier Leagues NSW 3 in 2017 after playingregional league soccer with Auburn District in 2016.[10][11]
Elrich represented Australia at the2004 Summer Olympics. His inactivity forFulham FC was seen as the key factor in him not being selected for the AustralianWorld Cup squad. On 6 September 2006, Elrich suffered a serious knee injury whilst playing for Australia in anAsian Cup qualifier againstKuwait.
Elrich was born on 30 May 1981 to Lebanese parents Mahmoud and Ahmad. He also has a younger brother,Tarek, who also plays professional football.[12][13]
In May 2011, Elrich was charged with a number of gun offences and possession of a drug after being pulled over on his motorcycle because of a faulty tail light.[14] He was sentenced to four years and released on 12 October 2015.[10]
| Australia national team[15] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2004 | 10 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 17 | 5 |
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 June 2004 | Adelaide, Australia |  Fiji | 1 goal | 6–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 October 2004 | Honiara, Solomon Islands |  Solomon Islands | 1 goal | 5–1 | 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 12 October 2004 | Sydney, Australia | Solomon Islands | 1 goal | 6–0 | 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 26 March 2005 | Sydney, Australia |  Iraq | 1 goal | 2–1 | Friendly match |
| 22 February 2006 | Manama, Bahrain |  Bahrain | 1 goal | 3–1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
Australia
Australia U-20
Awards
I'm a Lebanese Muslim and I've achieved things.
Australia squads | |||||||||||||
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