43 Facts About Nashat Akram

Nashat Akram Abid Ali Al-Eissa is an Iraqi former professional footballer.

Nashat Akram won league titles with Saudi club Al-Shabab, Qatari club Al-Gharafa and Dutch club FC Twente.

Nashat Akram almost signed for Premier League club Manchester City in 2008, but work permit issues meant that he was not allowed to join, while he was linked with clubs such as Sunderland and Malaga in his career.

Nashat Akram first achieved prominence on Iraq's U-17s managed by Ammo Baba, who finished second in their Asian Cup qualifying group.

Nashat Akram was later called into the Iraq U-19s by Adnan Hamad.

Nashat Akram was a regular until he was replaced at half time against Korea Republic due to a tactical change, he later made appearances late on in games and created openings with his inspirational play.

Nashat Akram went on to be involved in Iraq's qualification for both the Asian Cup 2004 and the Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004.

In 2000, aged 16, Nashat Akram transferred to Al-Shorta and made it into their first team, and from the first sight the analysts believed that Iraq would produce one of the most promising players in Asia.

Nashat Akram has since seen three of his coaches at Al-Nassr replaced, Ljubisa Tumbakovic, the Romanian Mircea Rednic, and the Egyptian Mohsen Saleh after less than a year at the club.

Nashat Akram left the Saudi club due to wranglings over unpaid wages owed to him.

In 2004, Nashat signed with the giant club Al-Shabab; in his first season, the team won the Saudi Premier League, and won the title again in 2006, where Akram won the league's Player of the Year and Foreign Player of the Year awards.

On 1 August 2007, Nashat Akram signed a 1-year contract with the club Al-Ain from UAE for 1 million dollars, he was linked to England with Sunderland.

On 15 May 2008, although Nashat Akram signed for Al-Gharafa, Akram has received an invitation from Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia to participate in a testimonial honoring club legend Majed Abdullah on 20 May against the Stars of Real Madrid CF.

On 20 May 2008, Nashat Akram played with Al-Nassr against Real Madrid for 75 minutes, in the 53rd minute Nashat Akram assisted the first goal and scored the 2nd goal in the 55th minute.

On 10 June 2010, Nashat Akram was released and canceled his two-year contract remaining with Dutch champions FC Twente after having many difficulties with the club, such as an injury keeping him off the pitch for more than 8 weeks.

In November 2010, Nashat Akram signed with Al-Wakrah on a free transfer for the remainder of the season.

Nashat Akram Left Al Wakrah at the end of the season to sign for Qatari champions Lekhwiya.

In July 2011, Nashat Akram signed with Lekhwiya, the league title holder in the Qatar Stars League.

Nashat Akram had some problems which he later released him from his contract during the winter transfer window.

On 3 January 2012, shortly after being released by Lekhwiya, Nashat Akram signed with his former club Al-Wakrah.

Nashat Akram joined alongside national teammates Younis Mahmoud, Alaa Abdul-Zahra, and Ali Rehema.

At the beginning of the season, Nashat Akram signed with Al-Nasr Dubai.

On 17 February 2013, Nashat Akram signed a contract with his former club Al Shorta after 10 years abroad.

Nashat Akram said that he wished to fulfill the dreams of Al Shorta's fans and win the Iraqi Premier League.

Nashat Akram was given the number 15 shirt, formerly worn by Abbas Rehema who had just left to join Al-Talaba.

Nashat Akram went on to score against Al-Najaf FC, Erbil SC, Zakho FC, Karbalaa FC and in the Baghdad Derby against Al-Zawraa in his return season, captaining his side to their third Iraqi Premier League title.

Nashat Akram gave the captain's armband to Amjad Kalaf in the last match of the season to allow him to be the first man to lift the trophy for Al Shorta.

On 11 February 2014, Nashat Akram free transferred from Al-Shorta to the Chinese Super League, signing a 2-years contract with Dalian Aerbin.

Nashat Akram played three matches with this team and then he stopped due to injury.

On 17 August 2014, Nashat Akram re-signed for Al-Shorta after his unsuccessful spell in China.

However, after just two games at the club, Nashat Akram left the club due to Ayad Bunyan being voted out from his position as president of the club.

Nashat Akram became a free agent and said that he would only play for Al-Shorta if Ayad Bunyan was the president.

In February 2015, Nashat Akram signed a contract with Erbil SC, but only to play AFC Cup matches.

Nashat Akram announced his retirement in April 2015 after becoming a father.

Nashat Akram made his name as the star player in Iraq's U-17s managed by Ammo Baba, who finished 2nd in their Asian Cup qualifiers group in July 2000.

Nashat Akram was later called up by Adnan Hamad into the Iraq Under-19s.

Nashat Akram was a regular until he was replaced at half time against Korea Republic due to a tactical change; he later made appearances late on in games and created openings with his inspirational play.

Nashat Akram made his international debut for the Iraq national team on 5 October 2001 in a World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia in Amman at the age of only 17 years and 23 days.

Nashat Akram was a major factor in the team, his great vision and mentality helped the team to win the 2007 Asian Cup; Nashat Akram was part of almost all Iraq's goals in the Asian Cup.

Nashat Akram won the Most Valuable Player award in 2 matches, the first against Australia and the second against Saudi Arabia in the final.

In 2007 Nashat Akram was Asian Footballer of the Year 3rd place.

Nashat Akram is married with Hawra Al-Nadawi, an Iraqi writer living in London and they have two children.

Nashat Akram's father died when he was a little child.