Majed Ahmed Abdullah (Arabic: ماجد احمد عبد الله) (born January 11, 1959)[1] is a former striker for Al Nassr FC and Saudi national team. He was one of the top international scorers in the world (115 goals). He won Asian Footballer of the Year three times in 1984, 1985, and 1986. He won the AFC Asian Cup twice in 1984 and 1988. He has been the league's top scorer 6 times and was nicknamed the "Arabian Jewel".
Childhood
Abdullah was born in the Al-Baghdadia District in Jeddah, close to Al-Ittihad Club. Majed is the second son of Ahmed Abdullah. Being a neighbor to a sports club alongside with being the son of a football manager made the child Majed live in a football environment. All the pictures in the house were on the walls and all the conversations between Majed's father and his guests were about football and that made the young Majed a football lover from the beginning.
In the mid-1960s, Majed and his family moved to Riyadh where his father got a job as the manager of Al-Nassr youth team. Majed joined "Al-Jazaeria Elementary School" and the 3 year old kid was passionately watching the older kids playing football. Couple of years later, Majed started participating in the school team and the neighborhood team as a goalkeeper. One day, the team striker was absent and Majed replaced him to guide his team to a 3-1 victory. Majed's Family moved to Hotat Khaled District and the young Majed joined "Al-Motawasta Al-Thania" high school. Majed and his young neighbors formed a team they called "Al-Ittifaq". They tried to participate in one of the most famous tournaments but their request was rejected due to their young age. The kids didn't give up and challenged one of Riyadh's best teams for a place in that tournament and surprisingly they won 3-1 with 2 goals from the young talent "Majed Abdullah". "Al-Ittifaq" was accepted to compete regardless of its members young age, and the team went on to win the championship.
Club career
Mohammed Al-Hudayan, a teammate at Al-Ittifaq, recommended Abdullah to Al-Nassr president Prince Abdulrahman Bin Saud, as did Al-Ittifaq's trainer Nasseb Awad to Khaled Al-Turki and Al-Nassr coach Brocic Ljubisa (Broshtch). Brocic went to see Abudullah unannounced at Al-Ittifaq's training field in Al-Batha, and requested that the club sign him. Abdullah joined Al-Nassr in November 1975.
Abdullah spent 2 years playing for the youth teams before joining the senior team., making his senior debut in a friendly against the Moroccan team Al-Fath in January 1977. His competitive debut came against Al-Shabab later the same month, followed by his first goal for the club against Al-Wehda in March 1977.Majed spent that season as a substitute but the injury of Al-Nassr number 1 striker Mohammed Saad Al-Abdali gave the young talent the chance where he started the last 4 matches of the season scoring 4 goals which was a huge achievement for a 17 year old player. Majed started his career with the shirt number 14 before switching to his legendary number 9.
Majed went on to represent Al-Nassr for more than 20 years scoring 320 goals making him Al-Nassr greatest player ever.
National team
Under 17 Team
In August 1977, Majed was chosen to represent the Saudi Arabia under 17 soccer team in Tabriz Championship in Iran. Majed's beginning was stunning. He amazed everyone in the tournament including his own trainer "Jeff Faundon" and went on to score 7 goals in 3 matches (2 against Iran – 2 against Bulgaria – 3 against Russia) to become the tournament's top scorer.
The Senior Team
Majed made his senior team debut in 1978 in a friendly against Portuguese giants Benfica where he scored 2 goals in his first ever international match when he was only 18. His official debut was against Kenya in the same year. Majed represented Saudi national team continuously for 16 years where injury was the only reason to keep him out the National Team.
Goals
Majed Abdullah Scored with the club 321 goals Class A (260 official).
Majed Goals with Club
From 1977 to 1998, Majed scored for the club Al Nassr FC 321 goals* (260 goals Class A in 240 matches).
Season
League
Cup*
Gulf
Asia*
Total
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
1976–1977
5
4
4
5
-
-
-
-
9
9
1977–1978
12
12
2
2
-
-
-
-
14
14
1978–1979
13
18
3
6
-
-
-
-
16
24
1979–1980
13
17
-
-
-
-
-
-
13
17
1980–1981
15
21
4
4
-
-
-
-
19
25
1981–1982
6
9
1
1
-
-
-
-
7
10
1982–1983
11
14
3
3
4
3
-
-
18
20
1983–1984*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1984–1985
4
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
1
1985–1986
12
15
2
1
-
-
-
-
14
16
1986–1987
11
15
4
5
-
-
-
-
15
20
1987–1988
6
5
3
2
-
-
-
-
9
7
1988–1989
15
19
4
5
-
-
-
-
19
24
1989–1990
12
13
3
5
-
-
-
-
15
18
1990–1991
11
10
4
5
4
5
-
-
19
20
1991–1992
2
3
-
-
-
-
2
1
4
4
1992–1993
5
4
1
0
-
-
-
-
6
4
1993–1994*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1994–1995
8
8
1
1
-
-
-
-
9
9
1995–1996
3
0
2
2
4
5
6
0
15
7
1996–1997
4
2
1/2
0/4
3
3
3
1
13
10
1997–1998
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
2
1
Total
168
190
44
51
15
16
13
3
240
260
Majed scored 61 goals in friendly matches with Al Nassr club + 260 goals (Official matches) = 321 goals.
The Cup: King's Cup 1977-1990 (33m/39g), Crown Cup 1991-1997 (9m/8g), SF Cup in 1997 (2m/4g).
Asia: Champions League 1996 and 1997 (9m/1g), Cup Winners Cup 1991 and 1998 (4m/2g).
1984 and 1994: Did not play in the season because of joining with the national team.
Majed Goals with National Team
File:Saudi Arabia Football Federation logo (2017).pngMajed Abdullah Scored with the national team 115 goals Class A (79 official).
From 1978 to 1994, Majed scored for National Team 229 goals* (115 goals Class A in 185 matches "79 official - 36 Friendly").
On 20/05/2008— after 10 years from Majed's last match— a big farewell match was organised between Al-Nasr and Real Madrid who were just crowned with their 31st La Liga title. 70,000 people packed in King Fahd Stadium and additional 30,000 went back home because there were no more space. The match ended 4-1 in favour of Al-Nasr with 2 goals from Malek Mouath and a goal from Saud Kariri and Nashat Akram. Arjen Robben scored Real Madrid's only goal.
