Salman Al-Faraj

Salman Mohammed Mohammed Al-Faraj (Arabic: سلمان محمد محمد الفرج; born 1 August 1989) is a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and captains both Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and the Saudi Arabia national team.

Salman Al-Faraj (Az Koon Falaj)
Salman with Saudi Arabia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Salman Mohammed
Mohammed Al-Faraj (Az koon Falaj)[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-01) 1 August 1989
Place of birth Medina, Saudi Arabia[2]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Hilal
Number 7
Youth career
2004–2008 Al Hilal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008– Al Hilal 242 (17)
International career‡
2011–2012 Saudi Arabia U23 2 (1)
2021 Saudi Arabia Olympic (wild-card) 3 (0)
2012– Saudi Arabia 73 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:59, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:33, 17 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Al-Faraj is a one-club man of Al Hilal.

International career

Al-Faraj's first match with his national team was against Congo in an international friendly at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia on 14 October 2012. The match ended in a 3–2 win.[4] In December 2014, he was named in the Saudi squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.[5]

Salman's first goal with his national team was against Timor-Leste during the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers at King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 3 September 2015. The match ended in a 7–0 win.[6]

In May 2018, he was named in Saudi Arabia's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[7] On 4 June, Salman was included in 23-man squad for the World Cup.[8] On 25 June, Salman scored the equalizing goal and his first ever World Cup goal from the penalty kick in a 2–1 victory over Egypt in their last group stage match of the tournament; it was Saudi Arabia's lone win in the tournament as the team crashed out of the group stage.[9]

In June 2021, he assumed the role of captain for the national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[10] Subsequently, in November 2022, he earned a spot in the 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.[11] However, under the coaching of Roberto Mancini, Al-Faraj was excluded from the squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 31 May 2024[13]
Club Season League King Cup Crown Prince Cup Asia Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Al-Hilal 2008–09 40100000—50
2009–10 10200010—40
2010–11 100000010—110
2011–12 151203060—261
2012–13 223203091—364
2013–14 220302060—330
2014–15 2025142131—426
2015–16 1924041801[lower-alpha 1]0363
2016–17 1722030801[lower-alpha 1]0312
2017–18 17300—70—243
2018–19 8200—002[lower-alpha 2]0102
2019–20 19230—9000312
2020–21 17010—001[lower-alpha 1]0190
2021–22 22041—1011[lower-alpha 3] 1[lower-alpha 1]0382
2022–23 8020—40—140
2023–24 21020—80—310
Total 242173321939037039125
Career totals 242173321939037039125
  1. Appearances in Saudi Super Cup
  2. One appearance in Arab Club Champions Cup, and one appearance in Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup
  3. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International
Statistics accurate as of match played 17 October 2023.[14][15]
Saudi Arabia
YearAppsGoals
201220
201330
201470
2015101
201680
201781
2018112
201972
202000
202192
202260
202321
Total739

International goals
Scores and results list Saudi Arabia's goal tally first.[14]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.3 September 2015King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia East Timor4–07–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.7 October 2017 Jamaica3–15–2Friendly
3.9 May 2018Estadio Ramón de Carranza, Cádiz, Spain Algeria1–02–0
4.25 June 2018Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia Egypt1–12–12018 FIFA World Cup
5.14 November 2019Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan1–13–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.2–2
7.15 June 2021King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia1–03–0
8.2–0
9.13 October 2023Estádio Municipal de Portimão, Portimão, Portugal Nigeria1–02–2Friendly

Honours

Al-Hilal

Saudi Pro League, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24

References
  1. "Saudi Team". www.ksa-team.com.
  2. "سلمان الفرج "ضابط إيقاع الأخضر".. توقّـع له كوزميــن الاحتــراف فـــي أوروبا".
  3. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. "Saudi Arabia vs Congo". ksa-team.com. Saudi Team Website. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  5. "Olaroiu Selects Saudi AFC Asian Cup Side". Boxscorenews.com. 24 December 2014.
  6. "Saudi Arabia vs Timor-Leste". ksa-team.com. Saudi Team Website. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia". bbc.com. BBC Sport. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  8. "World Cup 2018: Saudi Arabia name all-domestic 23-man squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  9. "Salem al-Dawsari snatches win for Saudi Arabia against Egypt". The Guardian. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  10. "الشهري يستدعي 24 لاعباً لمعسكر الأخضر الأولمبي للإعداد للأولمبياد".
  11. "Renard announces the national team list for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  12. "Mancini in spotlight as off-field issues dampen Saudi Arabia's Asian Cup bid". The Guardian. 17 January 2024.
  13. "SALMAN AL FARAJ".
  14. Salman Al-Faraj at National-Football-Teams.com
  15. "( Salman ALFARAJ ) Matches Played".
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