Yaser Kasim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yaser Kasim

Kasim with Swindon Town in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Yaser Safa Kasim Al-Kadefaje
Date of birth	(1991-05-10) 10 May 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Karrada, Baghdad, Iraq
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Youth career
2006–2007	Fulham
2007–2010	Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	Brighton & Hove Albion	1	(0)
2012–2013	→ Luton Town (loan)	11	(1)
2013	→ Macclesfield Town (loan)	5	(0)
2013–2017	Swindon Town	122	(7)
2017–2019	Northampton Town	6	(0)
2019	Örebro SK	12	(0)
2020	Erbil	5	(0)
2021–2022	Zakho	8	(2)
2022–2023	Welling United	9	(1)
2023	Gloucester City	1	(0)
2023	Margate	12	(0)
2023–2024	Eastbourne Borough	14	(1)
2024	Margate	12	(0)
Total		218	(12)
International career
2012	Iraq U23	1	(0)
2014–2021	Iraq	21	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:42, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

Yaser Safa Kasim Al-Kadefaje (Arabic: ياسر قاسم; born on May 10, 1991) is a former footballer from Iraq. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both attack and defend. Yaser Kasim recently announced his retirement from playing football in May 2024 to focus on coaching.

Early Life and Football Dreams

Yaser Kasim was born in Baghdad, Iraq. When he was six years old, his family moved to Jordan. After a year there, they moved to England. His mother remembers him always kicking a ball, even inside their home! Neighbors would sometimes complain, so she took him to the park. She even stood in goal for him to practice his shots.

Yaser's parents wanted him to play tennis, and he was good at it. But Yaser loved football the most. He begged his parents to let him play. His passion for football started in Baghdad. His father recalled Yaser coming home covered in mud from playing.

Yaser's parents made many sacrifices for him and his siblings. They left Baghdad in the early 1990s to find a better life in London. Yaser felt proud when he played for the Iraqi national team. He knew it was because of everything his parents had given up for him.

A big moment in his life happened when he was 18. He decided not to sign a professional contract with Tottenham Hotspur. He felt he wouldn't get enough chances to play there. Yaser spent about a year and a half away from football. This time was tough, but it made him mentally stronger. He became even more determined to succeed in football.

Club Career Highlights

Yaser's football journey in England began in the youth teams. He first joined Premier League club Fulham. After a few months, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. He stayed with Spurs until he was 18. He left in 2010 because he wanted more opportunities to play. Soon after, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion.

Playing for Brighton & Hove Albion

Yaser joined Brighton in October 2010. He made his first team debut for Brighton on May 7, 2011, against Notts County. In July 2012, he went on loan to Conference Premier team Luton Town. He played as a defensive midfielder and became a regular player there. He also had a short loan spell at Macclesfield Town in 2013. Brighton released him in May 2013.

Time at Swindon Town

Yaser found a regular spot at Swindon Town. He signed a three-year deal after a trial. In his first season, he played 45 games. He formed a strong midfield partnership with Australian player Massimo Luongo. His manager, Mark Cooper, made him a key part of the team. Swindon reached a cup final but lost. Yaser scored his first goal for the club in December 2013. He signed a contract extension to stay until 2016.

In his second season, Yaser played 41 games and scored three goals. Swindon finished 4th in League One. This meant they could play in the Championship play-offs. They reached the final but lost, missing out on promotion. Yaser missed some games in January because he was playing for Iraq in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

In his third season, Yaser was an important player and became an unofficial third captain. He played 29 games and scored one goal. Swindon finished 15th that season. In his fourth and final season with Swindon, the club faced challenges. Yaser also dealt with injuries, especially to his groin and hip. Swindon was relegated to EFL League Two that year.

Later Club Adventures

After leaving Swindon Town in 2017, Yaser signed a two-year deal with Northampton Town in League One. He left the club in January 2019.

In the summer of 2019, Yaser moved to Sweden. He signed a one-year contract with Örebro SK, a team in the top Swedish league, Allsvenskan. He left after the 2019 season.

In January 2020, Yaser returned to Iraq. He signed for Iraqi Premier League club Erbil. He played five games before the league was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He left Erbil in June 2020 due to issues with his contract.

After Erbil, Yaser was close to moving to South America. But he returned to Iraq for the 2021-2022 season. He signed a one-year contract with Zakho. He had a great start, scoring two goals. This led to him being called back to the Iraqi national team. Yaser was expected to move to a Spanish club, but the move did not happen.

In September 2022, Yaser announced he was retiring from professional football. However, he later joined National League South team Welling United in October 2022. He left Welling in January 2023.

After Welling, Yaser joined National League North club Gloucester City. He played only one game before leaving to take on a coaching role. On February 24, 2023, Yaser signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Margate. He had played with their assistant manager before.

Before the 2023–24 season, Yaser signed for National League South club Eastbourne Borough. In January 2024, he returned to Margate. In May 2024, Yaser Kasim officially announced his retirement from playing football to focus on coaching and other interests.

International Career

Yaser Kasim made his debut for the Iraq national team on March 5, 2014, against China. Many people were impressed with his performance in that first game.

Before this, Yaser had turned down an earlier call-up to focus on playing for Swindon Town. He had become a very important player for his club. He had also previously paid his own way to join the Olympic team, which might have influenced his decision.

After some time away from the national team, Yaser was called up again in 2021 for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup. This was after he had a strong start to the season with Zakho.

Olympic Games Opportunity

In 2016, Yaser was considered for the Iraqi Under-23 team for the Olympics in Rio. He was expected to be one of the older players allowed on the team. However, he was not fully fit and left the training camp unexpectedly. This caused some issues, and he did not end up playing in the Olympics.

Yaser sometimes chose not to play for the national team between 2015 and 2017. In September 2016, he attended a camp but claimed an injury. In 2017, he initially ignored invitations from the new coach before announcing his retirement. However, he later changed his mind and played a friendly match against Saudi Arabia in February 2018.

Career Statistics

Club

International Goals

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	17 November 2014	Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Oman	1–0	1–1	22nd Arabian Gulf Cup
2.	12 January 2015	Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia	Jordan	1–0	1–0	2015 AFC Asian Cup
3.	31 March 2015	Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium, Sharjah, UAE	DR Congo	1–0	1–0	Friendly

Honours

Iraq

• AFC Asian Cup fourth-place: 2015

See also

In Spanish: Yaser Kasim para niños