Hassan Maatouk facts for kids

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Hassan Maatouk

Maatouk with Ansar in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Hassan Ali Maatouk
Date of birth	(1987-08-10) 10 August 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Sir el Gharbiyeh, Lebanon
Height	1.71 m
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Ansar
Number	10
Youth career
1995–1998	Rot-Weiss Essen
1998–2001	Sagesse
2001–2004	Ahed
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2017	Ahed		(53)
2011–2012	→ Ajman (loan)	21	(6)
2012	→ Emirates (loan)	0	(0)
2012–2013	→ Al-Shaab (loan)	25	(4)
2013–2017	→ Fujairah (loan)	91	(46)
2017–2019	Nejmeh	40	(20)
2019–	Ansar	75	(34)
National team
2003	Lebanon U17
2005	Lebanon U19
2007	Lebanon U23	11	(2)
2006–2024	Lebanon	123	(26)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 September 2024. † Appearances (Goals).

Hassan Ali Maatouk (born 10 August 1987) is a Lebanese professional footballer. He plays as a forward for the Ansar club in Lebanon.

Maatouk is famous for his speed and great skills with the ball. He is the Lebanon national team's all-time top goalscorer and has played the most games for his country. He was also the team captain from 2016 to 2024.

He started his senior career at 17 with Ahed in Lebanon in 2004. There, he won 12 trophies, including three league titles. In 2011, he moved to the UAE, playing for different clubs like Ajman and Fujairah. At Fujairah, he became the club's all-time top scorer with 56 goals.

Maatouk returned to Lebanon in 2017 and joined Nejmeh. He won two cups there and was named the Best Player of the league twice. In 2019, he joined Ansar. He helped them win their first league title in 14 years in 2021, and he was the league's top scorer that season.

He played his first international game for Lebanon in 2006. He became captain in 2016 and led Lebanon to qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time in 2019. In 2022, Maatouk became the first Lebanese player to play 100 international games. He ended his international career with 26 goals in 123 games, making him Lebanon's top scorer and most-capped player.

Early Life and Football Start

Hassan Maatouk was born on August 10, 1987, in Sir el Gharbiyeh, Lebanon. In 1989, his family moved to Germany because of the Lebanese Civil War. In Germany, Hassan started playing football with the youth team of Rot-Weiss Essen for three years.

He was very talented, and scouts from the German team Schalke noticed him. However, his family had to return to Lebanon in 1998, which ended his chance to play for Schalke. Maatouk said his time in Europe was very important for him to become a better player.

Back in Lebanon, Maatouk played for Sagesse's youth team. He didn't sign a long-term contract, which was common back then. At 15, Jamal Al Haj, a supervisor for Ahed's youth team, saw him play. Maatouk eventually signed with Ahed for $2,000 and a monthly salary of $150. This helped his family when their minibus, their only source of income, broke down.

Club Career Highlights

Playing for Ahed (2004–2011)

Maatouk started his senior career at 17 with Ahed in 2004. He made his first appearance on September 28, 2004. His first league goal came in March 2005. He also scored two goals in the 2005 AFC Cup. In his first season, he scored three league goals and helped Ahed win the Lebanese FA Cup.

In February 2006, he scored his first three goals in one game (a hat-trick) against Salam Zgharta. He scored eight goals that season. In the 2007–08 season, he scored another hat-trick and helped Ahed win their first-ever Lebanese League title.

Maatouk was the top scorer in the 2008 Lebanese Elite Cup. He also helped Ahed win a "domestic treble" in the 2008–09 season, meaning they won the Lebanese FA Cup, the Lebanese Elite Cup, and the Lebanese Super Cup.

In the 2009–10 season, he scored 12 goals and won the Lebanese Premier League Best Player award. In his last full season with Ahed (2010–11), Maatouk scored 15 league goals and became the league's top scorer. He also helped his team win four trophies in one season (a domestic quadruple). He won his second Best Player award. In total, he scored 53 league goals for Ahed and won 12 trophies.

Moving to the UAE (2011–2017)

In September 2011, Maatouk joined UAE Pro League team Ajman on a loan. He scored six goals for Ajman in the 2011–12 season, including two goals in his first game.

In 2012, he moved to Emirates Club on another loan. After that, he joined Al-Shaab on loan for one year, where he scored four league goals.

In 2013, Maatouk moved to Fujairah in the UAE First Division. He scored 20 goals in 23 games, helping his team get promoted back to the UAE Pro League. Because he played so well, his loan was extended for another year.

He scored five goals in the 2014–15 season and helped Fujairah stay in the top league. His loan was extended again. In the 2015–16 UAE Pro League season, he scored nine goals. Fujairah was relegated back to the second division after two seasons. In his last season for Fujairah, he scored 12 goals. He left Fujairah in July 2017 as the club's all-time top scorer with 56 goals in all competitions.

Return to Lebanon with Nejmeh (2017–2019)

Maatouk came back to Lebanon in July 2017 and signed with Nejmeh. Soon after, he helped them win the 2017 Lebanese Elite Cup. In his first league game, he scored against his old club Ahed.

He scored 13 goals and made 14 assists in the 2017–18 season. He won the Lebanese Premier League Best Player award for the third time and was chosen for the Team of the Season.

In August 2018, Maatouk won his second straight Elite Cup with Nejmeh, making it his fifth overall. In the 2018–19 season, he scored seven league goals and made seven assists. He won the Lebanese Premier League Best Player award for the fourth time and was again included in the Team of the Season.

Joining Ansar (2019–Present)

Maatouk with Ansar during the 2019 Lebanese Elite Cup final against Shabab Sahel

On July 3, 2019, Maatouk joined Ansar, a rival team of Nejmeh. He scored his first goal for Ansar in July 2019 against Nejmeh. He was the top scorer in the 2019 Lebanese Elite Cup with four goals, but Ansar lost in the final.

In the 2020–21 season, Maatouk scored his first league goal in October 2020. He scored two goals in the next game and another two against his former club Ahed. In December, he scored three goals (a hat-trick) in one game.

Maatouk helped Ansar win the league title and the FA Cup, achieving a "domestic double." He was the league's top scorer with 14 goals and also had the most assists. This was Ansar's first league title since 2007.

Maatouk with Ansar in the 2020–21 Lebanese Premier League

He had some shoulder injuries during the 2021–22 season and didn't score in the league, which was unusual for him. However, he scored three goals in the FA Cup. In May 2022, he signed a new contract with Ansar.

Maatouk scored his first league goal in 16 months in September 2022. He finished the 2022–23 season with 10 goals and eight assists.

On August 6, 2023, he scored a free-kick goal in the first game of the 2023–24 season. On August 20, he scored his 100th Lebanese Premier League goal. In April 2024, his contract was renewed for two more seasons. Ansar won the FA Cup in July 2024. Maatouk was the league's top assist provider with 11 assists.

International Career

Youth and Early Senior Career (2003–2011)

Hassan Maatouk played for Lebanon's under-17 and under-19 teams. In 2007, he was called up for the under-23 team for the 2008 Summer Olympics qualifiers. He scored two goals in 11 games for the under-23 team.

His senior international career began on January 26, 2006, when he was 19. He played in a friendly match against Saudi Arabia. Maatouk scored his first goal for Lebanon in 2011 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh. He scored two goals against Kuwait in October 2011.

Becoming a Key Player (2012–2016)

Maatouk (right) playing for Lebanon against Iran in 2013.

Maatouk helped Lebanon reach the final round of the 2014 World Cup qualification for the first time ever. He played in all eight games in that round and scored a goal against South Korea.

He also played in the 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers and scored three goals against Thailand. In September 2014, he played in an unofficial friendly match against the Brazilian Olympic team.

In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Maatouk scored two goals. Lebanon didn't qualify for the World Cup, but their performance helped them get into the final round of qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup.

Captain and Record-Breaker (2016–2024)

Maatouk (left) captained Lebanon against South Korea in 2019.

After the 2016 World Cup qualifiers, Maatouk became the captain of the national team. He was very important in helping Lebanon qualify for their first ever Asian Cup through qualification in 2019, scoring five goals.

In the 2019 Asian Cup, Maatouk was the team captain. He scored a penalty kick against North Korea. Lebanon was knocked out of the competition based on a fair play rule.

On November 19, 2022, Maatouk played his 100th game for Lebanon, becoming the first player from his country to reach this milestone. On June 22, 2023, he scored his 22nd international goal against Bangladesh, making him Lebanon's all-time top scorer since 1971.

In December 2023, Maatouk was the captain for the 2023 Asian Cup. He played his last game for Lebanon on June 11, 2024, scoring three goals (a hat-trick) in a 4–0 win against Bangladesh. Maatouk retired from the national team as Lebanon's top scorer with 26 goals and most-capped player with 123 games.

Style of Play

Hassan Maatouk is sometimes called the "Lebanese Messi" because of his amazing skills. He can play in many attacking positions, starting as a central forward and later becoming a winger.

He is known for his speed and great dribbling skills. Maatouk also has excellent vision, which means he can see opportunities to create goals for his teammates. He can use both feet well, making him a very flexible player. Maatouk is also very good at taking free kicks.

His coaches have praised him a lot. Theo Bücker, Lebanon's national team coach, said Maatouk is a player who "comes around every 10 years." Diego Maradona called him an "outstanding" player. Miodrag Radulović, another Lebanon coach, described Maatouk as a "leader" and "one of the very best players in the Middle East."

Personal Life

Hassan Maatouk is married to Sahar, and they have four children: a son, a daughter, and twin boys. He says his father, Ali, inspired him to work hard in both his studies and football. His brother Hussein also greatly influenced his football career, always believing in his talent.

When he played for Ahed, Maatouk also worked at a bank. He would wake up early for work and then go to football training in the afternoon.

In 2022, FIFA released a docuseries called Captains. This series followed six national team captains during their 2022 World Cup qualification journeys. Maatouk was one of the captains featured, representing Lebanon. The series was available on Netflix and FIFA+.

Career Statistics

Club

International

List of international goals scored by Hassan Maatouk

Honours

Ahed

• Lebanese Premier League: 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11
• Lebanese FA Cup: 2004–05, 2008–09, 2010–11
• Lebanese Elite Cup: 2008, 2010, 2011
• Lebanese Super Cup: 2008, 2010, 2011

Nejmeh

• Lebanese Elite Cup: 2017, 2018

Ansar

• Lebanese Premier League: 2020–21
• Lebanese FA Cup: 2020–21, 2023–24
• Lebanese Super Cup: 2021

Individual

• IFFHS All-time Lebanon Men's Dream Team
• Lebanese Premier League Best Player: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2018–19
• Lebanese Premier League Best Young Player: 2004–05
• Lebanese Premier League Player of the Week: 2007–08, 2009–10
• Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2018–19
• Lebanese Premier League top goalscorer: 2010–11, 2020–21
• Lebanese FA Cup top goalscorer: 2021–22
• Lebanese Elite Cup top goalscorer: 2008, 2019
• Lebanese Premier League top assist provider: 2017–18, 2020–21

Records

• Lebanon all-time top goalscorer: 26 goals (as of 11 June 2024)
• Lebanon all-time appearance holder: 123 appearances (as of 11 June 2024)
• Fujairah FC all-time top goalscorer: 56 goals (as of 20 May 2019)

See also

In Spanish: Hassan Maatouk para niños

• List of Lebanon international footballers