Failed Wonderkid #15- Ali Adnan
- Andrew Cheam
- Feb 7, 2020
- 3 min read
Biodata
Full Name: Ali Adnan Kadhim Al-Tameemi
Nationality: Iraqi
Date of Birth: 19 December 1993
Position: Wing Back
Current Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Current Market Price: 1.80mil Euro (Updated on Nov 2019)
Highest Market Price: 3.80mil Euro (Aug 2014)
Former Clubs:
2010- 2013 Baghdad
2013- 2015 Caykur Rizespor
2015- 2019 Udinese
2018- 2019 Atalanta (loan)
International Career:
2012- Iraq
Achievement:
None
Career
There are not much of Asian football players who make their mark in European football in the early stages of their career. Therefore, these players will surely gain more attention from Asian football fans because of its rarity. However, the upcoming career of these batch of Asian players differs depends on their ability and most importantly opportunities given. We can see the success story like Son Heung-Min, at the same time we can see the less success case like Ryo Miyaichi. In this article, this Iraqi player can still prove that he can redeem himself in the European league despite currently plying his trade at the Major League Soccer.
Ali Adnan was graduated from the infamous Ammo Baba Football School in Iraq, where he spent the early part of his football career. At the age of 15, Adnan moved from the school to one of the Iraq top clubs, Al-Zawraa. Al-Zawraa always is known for one of the best youth set-ups in Iraq. A year later, Adnan has moved again to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. After spending a season at the youth team over there, Adnan transferred to Baghdad FC. It was in Baghdad FC that Adnan gained his reputation from. He was given the opportunity by the head coach at the time, Karim Kurdi on the left wing-back spot. Adnan strength progressed day-by-day and eventually dislodging his idol, Bassim Abbas in both club and national level. He even gained his national team debut at the age of 18 in 2012. Besides, Ali Adnan was the key figure that helping the Iraq U-20 side to the semi-finals at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and caught attention from several big clubs like Sevilla, Arsenal and Galatasaray.
On August 2013, Ali Adnan officially agreed to sign with the Turkish side, Caykur Rizespor. He scored on just in his third match in his new club against Kayseri Erciyesspor. Adnan registered 3 goals and 9 assists in his debut season in Turkey. Even though his attacking stats dropped in the next season, Adnan still registered 1.6 interceptions per game in that season. This is the performance that attracted the attention of the Italian club, Udinese. Udinese signed Adnan on July 2015, which made him the first-ever Iraqi player to play in the Serie A. He was frequently used in his debut season as he registered an impressive defensive statistics. Adnan registered 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game that season. He emerged as the fans favourite in that season with his beautiful free-kick against Genoa.
However, Adnan’s chance was limited in his second season after a managerial change in Udinese. Even though he impressed whenever he had the chance to play, his chance in the club was still limited. Therefore in August 2018, Adnan joined Atalanta on a season-long loan, which saw Marco D’Alessandro moving to Udinese in exchange. His time in Atalanta was not smooth too. Adnan was informed that he would be out of Gasperini’s plan for the season after a dispute with the manager. He was forced to make a loan move to MLS side to continue to play until the end of the season due to the winter transfer season in Europe is over when the dispute occurred.
On March 2019, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that he had secured a loan deal with Ali Adnan until the end of June. He regained his form in MLS as his offensive and defensive stats are improving. His impressive form has convinced Vancouver Whitecaps to sign him permanently by July 2019. In his debut season in MLS, Adnan registered 2 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 2 dribbles per game. This is an impressive stats despite playing in a relatively weaker league than in European top leagues.
Verdict
Disappointment Rate: 6/10. Still 26 of age, Adnan still have the chance to return to the European League in the future. However, spending his peak years playing in MLS is still considered as a disappointment for the Asian rising star.
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