Alaa Mhawi

Alaa Ali Mhawi (Arabic: علاء علي مهاوي‎ , born 3 June 1996)[1] known as Alaa Mhawi, is a professional footballer who plays for Al-Shorta in Iraqi Premier League and the Iraqi national team as a right back.

Alaa Mhawi
علاء مهاوي
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-06-03) 3 June 1996
Place of birth Baghdad, Iraq
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Right Back
Club information
Current team
 Al-Shorta
Youth career
Ammo Baba School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Al-Kahraba ? (4)
2015–2017 Al-Zawraa ? (8)
2017 Al-Batin 2 (0)
2017– Al-Shorta 12 (3)
National team‡
2011–2013 Iraq U17 11 (2)
2013–2014 Iraq U19 5 (2)
2015– Iraq U23 12 (0)
2016– Iraq 43 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 August 2017
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 26 January 2021

Club career

Youth career

Mhawi was graduated from the prestigious Ammo Baba Football School, situated opposite the Al-Shaab Stadium, one of Iraq's biggest stadiums, where he spent the early part of his football education. Many other Iraqi footballers have come out of the school such as Ali Adnan.[2]

Al Kahraba

After leaving the Ammo Baba school, Alaa signed for Al Kahraba. His club was relegated to the Iraq Division One in 2013 but Alaa helped the club to the Division One title the following year where he scored 4 league goals as a defender.[3]

Al Zawraa

In 2015, Mhawi signed a one-year contract for Iraqi giants Al Zawra'a. Ala'a won another league title, this time however it was the Iraqi Premier League. His impressive showing with 6 goals from the fullback position earned him a two-year contract extension.[4]

In the 2016/17 season, Mhawi played in the AFC Cup, Asia's second-tier continental tournament. During the AFC Cup, Mhawi scored 2 goals, one coming against Syrian side Al Jaish on 4 April 2017 and the second coming in a match against defending champions Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya on 22 May 2017 in the zonal Semi-Final, where his team got knocked out. Ala'a left the team shortly before the end of the 2016/17 season, to join Saudi club Al Batin.[5]

Al Batin

On 17 July 2017, Mhawi signed a professional contract for one season with Saudi Club Al-Batin.[6] He made his debut on 11 August in a shock 3-1 victory over Ittihad.[7] His contract was ended by mutual consent on 29 September 2017 after playing only two games.[8]

Al Shorta

Following his release from Al Batin. Ali returned to Iraq, this time with Al-Shorta. He made his debut on 21 November as a second-half substitute against Karbalaa.

International career

Iraq U-17

Mhawi made his debut for Iraq's Under-17s in 2011 at the age of just 15. He played for the Under-17s over the next 3 years. He went on to make 10 more appearances for the youth side scoring 2 goals in his 11 appearances. At the age of 17, Mhawi played in the 2013 Under-17 World Cup and played in all of Iraq's matches against Sweden,[9] Mexico[10] and Nigeria.[11]

Iraq U-19

Mhawi was called up to the Iraqi Under-19 squad for the AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Bangladesh and Kuwait in October 2013. He scored 20 minutes into his debut as Iraq beat Bangladesh 6-0 and played in the 0-0 draw against Kuwait which saw Iraq top the group and qualify for the 2014 AFC Under-19 Championship.

Alaa played in all 3 of Iraq's matches at the Under-19 Asian Cup in October 2014 against Oman, Qatar and North Korea. Despite Iraq having a higher goal difference and the same number of points as North Korea, they were knocked out at the group stage due to the head-to-head results. He scored his second and final goal in his fifth and final appearance for the Under-19s, which came against North Korea on 14 October 2014.

Iraq U-23

Alaa was called up to the Iraqi Under-23 squad for the 2016 AFC Under-23 Championship qualifiers against Oman, Lebanon, Bahrain and the Maldives in March 2015. He made his debut in Iraq's 4-1 win over Lebanon and played in ever qualifier, being instrumental to Iraq's qualification to the Under-23 Asian Cup.

Alaa was part of the squad which went to Qatar for the Under-23 Asian Championship in 2016. He played in all of Iraq's matches, against South Korea, Uzbekistan, Yemen and the U.A.E. as the young side made it to the semi-final, where they were beaten by eventual champions Japan. In the third-place play-off, which Mhawi played in as well, against Qatar, Iraq won, awarding them with a spot at that summer's Olympics.

As a result of his performance at the Under-23 Asian Championship, Mhawi was included in the squad that went to Brazil for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He featured in 2 of Iraq's 3 matches as they were knocked out at the group stage, despite being unbeaten. In Iraq's match against hosts Brazil, Mhawi's direct opponent was Brazil and FC Barcelona superstar Neymar,[12] who was expected to be the star man in a Brazil demolition. Mhawi's excellent defending, and occasional attacking, however, prevented Neymar and Brazil from scoring in a match that saw even Brazilian fans applaud the Iraqi team after the match. Mhawi was also key in Iraq's draw with South Africa in their final match as the got knocked out, despite not losing a match.

Iraq

Alaa was called up to the Iraqi senior team following his impressive performances at the Under-23 Asian Championship and the Rio 2016 Olympics. On 21 August 2016 he made his international debut and won his first cap for Iraq against North Korea in a friendly match. Alaa has gone on to play in multiple World Cup qualifiers and friendlies for Iraq, establishing himself as one of the country's best right backs.

Personal life

Alaa is currently based in Baghdad. He is married and he has one daughter called rose. His cousin is also a young professional footballer Amir Aldaraji.[13]

Playing Style

Mhawi is a very good all-rounder. Despite being a right back, he can be seen scoring goals quite often. Although he is relatively quick, he hasn't got the explosive pace that a lot of full backs have, he makes up for that with his dribbling however, as he is very good on the ball going forwards. He is just as good defensively, stopping many wingers from getting into dangerous areas.[14]

statistics
As of 28 February 2018
National team Caps Goals Assists Yellow card
Iraq U17 11 2
Iraq U19 5 2
Iraq U23 12 0 1
Iraq 16 0 2 2
All44423

Honors

Club

Individual

References
  1. "Alaa Ali". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016.
  2. "علاء مهاوي: منتخبنا لن يكون رقما تكميليا في المونديال".
  3. "علاء مهاوي: أتطلع لخوض أول تجربة احترافية".
  4. "علاء مهاوي يجدد الولاء للنوارس". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  5. "إدارة الزوراء تطلق سراح علاء ومهند". Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  6. "Alaa Ali Mhawi joins Saudi club albatin club from Al Zawraa".
  7. "Kahraba on target as Al Ittihad fall against Al Batin".
  8. "Alaa Ali Mhawi released from albatin club".
  9. "Match Report".
  10. "Match Report". FIFA.
  11. "Match Report". FIFA.
  12. "Ala'a Mhawi Vs Neymar". 15 August 2016.
  13. Balal, Hassanane (8 May 2020). "Interview With Amir Aldaraji – Introducing The U23 Iraqi National Team Expat Based In The USA". IRAQ FOOTBALL. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. "علاء مهاوي - Ala'a Mhawi". 30 March 2017.
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