Al Minaa

Al-Minaa
Full nameAl-Minaa Sports Club
Nickname(s)Al-Safana (The Sailors)
Al-Areeq (The Deep-Rooted)
Founded22 November 1931; 92 years ago (22 November 1931)
GroundAl-Minaa Olympic Stadium
Capacity30,000
ChairmanFarhan Al-Farttousi
ManagerHassan Ahmed
LeagueIraq Stars League
2022–23Iraqi First Division League, 1st of 24 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website
Current season
Active departments of Al-Minaa SC
Football Football Academy[1][2] Futsal[3][4]
Basketball[5] Athletics[3] Taekwondo[3]
Karate[5] Wrestling[3][4] Weightlifting[4]
Boxing[5][4] Bodybuilding[4] Futnet[6]

Al-Minaa Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الميناء الرياضي, lit. 'Port Sports Club') is an Iraqi multi-sport club based in Al-Maqal, Basra that participates in the Iraq Stars League, the top tier of Iraqi football. It is one of the most popular clubs in Iraq, particularly in the south, and became the first club outside Baghdad to win the Iraqi Premier League.

Al-Minaa was founded on November 22, 1931, in Al-Maqal. In 1974, the club was merged with another team called Al-Bareed to form a single club called Al-Muwasalat, and it was a strange situation because the Al-Bareed team were based in Baghdad while Al-Minaa were based in Basra and the two teams met in Baghdad on the day of the match only, so after just one season the club was dissolved and Al-Minaa returned in their place. In 1978, the team won the national league title for the first time. After a lean period in the post-war years, the team finished second in the league in the 2004–05 season, and therefore qualified for the 2006 AFC Champions League, becoming the first Iraqi club from outside Baghdad to play in this tournament.

For a long time, the club was considered to be one of the Iraqi football clubs that had its own style of play, and the team practised only under the supervision and training of coaches who graduated from the club, until the beginning of 2011, when the club started to depend on foreign coaches.

History

Foundation and early years (1931–1951)

Al-Minaa Sports Club was formed by some of the British sailors and workers serving in the Marine Transportation Company in Basra on the banks of the Shatt Al-Arab after Mandatory Iraq, where Colonel Sir John Ward was the director of company in the 1920s. When they were forming gatherings, sports were practiced and football was the most important.[7] After the founding of Al-Maqal City and establishment the General Company for Ports on March 1, 1931, by Colonel Sir Ward under the auspices of King Faisal, and the transfer of employees in the company to Al-Maqal, the club coordinated with the company's management to make the green squares in the park located there to be a playing field for them,[8] and after a few months, the company announced the establishment of the club officially, and Mr. C. F. Neikell was chosen as the first president of the club. The first football team consisted of Markar Avadician, Kadhim Dawood, Dehjat Ohaness, Liu Steven, Samuel Akesh, Aziz Hormuz, Rashad Al-Mufti, Khudair Abbas and others.[9] After the founding of the Iraq Football Association, Al-Minaa participated in the Iraq FA Basra Premier League, a regional league for teams in Basra organised by the Basra branch of the IFA.[10] Al-Minaa won the league title in its first season, beating Sharikat Naft Al-Basra 1–0 in the final.[11] Al-Minaa also participated in the first ever national knockout cup in Iraq, the 1948–49 Iraq FA Cup, but were knocked out in the quarter-finals 2–0 by Baghdad-based side Al-Haras Al-Malaki.[12] Al-Minaa went on to finish in third place in the regional league in both the 1949–50 and 1950–51 seasons.[13][14]

In 1950, Al-Minaa played its first match outside the country as the first Iraqi team to play outside Iraq, they played against Shahin at the Amjadiyeh Stadium in Tahran and the result was 2–2, The team was composed of these players: Mustafa Hameed, Karim Allawi, Noori Lafta, Jassim Bader, Karim Jaber, Djali Najeeb, Subhi Mohammed Zaki, Alwan Hussein, Michael Stanley, Salih Mohammed and Sabeeh Darwish.[12] And the team played several friendly matches with other Iranian clubs. They played against Arteshe and the game ended in a 2–1 victory for Al-Minaa, and they played against Taj Ahvaz and won that match 5–1. They also played against Khorramshahr and won 3–1, and they faced Abadan F.C. and won that game too.[12] The team benefited greatly from those matches. In 1951, the team won the Hanna Al-Sheikh Cup, which was organized for Basra-based teams.[15] And in the same year, the first Iraqi national football team was established. Coach Dhia Habib invited three players from the Al-Minaa club to join them – Percy Lynsdale, Saeed Easho and Karim Allawi – to play against Turkey in Turkey. Before traveling, and on Wednesday 2 May 1951, Al-Minaa played – with adding a player from Sharikat Naft Al-Basra club; Shaker Ismail – against Iraq in Basra, and ended the match a draw 1–1, Tariq Khalil scored for Al-Minaa.[16][17][18]

Matches with foreign teams (1952–1972)

The 1950s and 1960s were periods of preparation for Al-Minaa, and the team played several friendly matches with different teams in this period; some of these clubs were strong European teams, and other were strong Asian teams. These matches helped the club develop the qualities of the players in terms of tactics and technique and other aspects. On 6 January 1956, Al-Minaa played with Tehran F.C. and lost 3–0,[19] and after a year they played with a number of English sailors teams, who were arriving in Basra in those years.[20] On December 20, 1958, Al-Minaa team travelled to Kuwait, playing against Kuwait national football team in a friendly match in Ahmadi, defeating Kuwait 8–0, scoring goals by Mohammed Manther, Karim Allawi, Nouri Lafta and Waleed Dawood, each with two goals, It was a very big result against a national team.[21]

In 1961, under the leadership of Danish coach Ingvard Hansen, the team played with a number of Iranian teams, beating Abadan F.C. 4–3 and losing to Shahin 1–0.[22] and in February 1962, the Romanian club; Steaua București visited Iraq and Al-Minaa, under the same coach, played with them and lost 4–1, then, Al-Minaa played with the Syrian team Damascus and won 2–0.[23] In February 1963, the team under the same coach, played with another Romanian club, Petrolul Ploiești, and lost 2–0 to them.[24] The 1962–63 season saw Al-Minaa win the Iraq FA Basra First Division, the top-tier league in the region, by winning three and drawing one of their four games. The club's B team were the league's runners-up.[25] In November 1965, the team played the Kuwaiti club Al-Qadsia and the match ended in a 3–3 draw.[26] In September 1968, the team traveled to Syria and played with some its teams, and the results were good,[27] and in 1969 the team under the leadership of coach Abdul Salam Saud, played against Bahraini club Al-Nasr and beat them 4–1; they then played against the Soviet club Neftçi and lost 1–0[28]

On January 17, 1970, Al-Minaa played against Yugoslavian club Sarajevo and lost 3–1,[29] and over a year later on January 29, 1971, they played under the leadership of coach Hadi Hassan Wasfi, with Czechoslovak club Spartak Trnava and won 2–0; Waleed Dawood and Abdul Razzak Ahmed scored.[30] On December 20, 1972, Al-Minaa under the leadership of coach Hamza Qasim, played against the China national football team lost 1–0.[31] These matches had a significant impact in making Al-Minaa stronger team.

Golden years and League title (1973–1979)

See also: Iraq Stars League

By 1973, Al-Minaa had amassed 15 regional league titles in Basra. In the 1973–74 season, Al-Minaa played in Iraq's new nationwide league under the leadership of coach Hamza Qasim, and finished the season in third place.[9] In the 1974–75 season, the first nationwide league of clubs was formed, and Al-Minaa were merged with another team called Al-Bareed to form a club called Al-Muwasalat which finished third place in the league.[9] Al-Minaa began to participate in the Iraqi Premier League as an independent club in the 1975–76 season under the leadership of coach Najem Abdullah, and finished the season in fourth place.[9] The team was not well under coach Faleh Hassan Wasfi in the 1976–77 season, and finished in sixth place.[9] The first match in Iraqi Premier League history to be televised was played in this season between Al-Minaa and Al-Zawraa at Al-Shaab Stadium on Friday, March 11, 1977, which ended 5–1 for Al-Zawraa.[32]

Farhan
A.Abdullah
Hussein
R.Abdullah

The 1977–78 season was the golden season for the team when they won the league title, and the title moved for the first time from the clubs of the capital, Baghdad, to Basra under coach Jamil Hanoon. The team collected 21 points by winning eight matches and drawing in five matches; they did not lose any matches in this season. The Al-Minaa player Jalil Hanoon won the top scorer award with 11 goals in the league.[33] The champions' squad included the following players: Sattar Farhan, Sameer Nori, Aziz Abdullah, Sabeeh Abed Ali, Abdul Redha Hussein, Rahim Karim, Khalil Ibrahim, Hadi Ahmed, Alaa Ahmed, Ali Abdul Zahra, Abdul Razzaq Ahmed, Jalil Hanoon, Hassan Abdul Hussein, Adnan Saddam, Raad Abdullah and Hadi Jabbar.[9] Before the league start, Al-Minaa played in a pre-season football friendly tournament in Arbil, and the team played against Arbil and won 0–6, and won against Salahaddin in two matches 7–0 and 8–0, depending on this, the team was well prepared for the league championship.[34] The first match of this league season was on October 1, 1977, and the last match was on March 31, 1978. Al-Minaa started the first two matches under coach leadership Faleh Hassan Wasfi, who resigned after being drawn against Salahaddin 0–0 and Al-Sinaa 0–0, the team played after that under the leadership of coach Jamil Hanoon, who took over the job, and led the team to a series of successes, began to win against defending champions Al-Zawraa 2–3 in Baghdad.[34] In the last match, Al-Minaa played against Al-Shorta at Al-Minaa Stadium in Basra, and Al-Minaa won 1–0, thanks to Jalil Hanoon's goal on 50th minutes. The Al-Minaa goalkeeper, Sattar Farhan, saved a penalty kick obtained by Al-Shorta in the final minutes of the match.[35] In 1978–79 season, The team played under the leadership of coaches Sabeeh Abed Ali and Abdul Mahdi Hadi, and finished the season in fourth place, after being equated with second-placed; Al-Shorta and third; Al-Talaba in the number of points (15 points), who applied it on goals difference.[9]

Years of war and chaos (1980–2003)

See also: Iran–Iraq War, Gulf War, and Sanctions against Iraq

At the beginning of the Iran–Iraq War in 1980, Basra became a battleground, and the eight-year war broke all areas of life in Basra, including the field of sports. Al-Minaa in particular had many players recruited and transported to the battlefield, and the team lost their playing field, and did not find a training ground. Their financial allocations were significantly reduced, and the stars of the team left to play in the big clubs of Baghdad. In this period, the Iraqi Ba'athist government worked on the separation of the club and GCPI in terms of funding, so the club has become dependent on self-financing, which was very poor, and as a result the team was composed of 11 players only (players without substitutes).[36]

In the 1985–86 season, Al-Minaa were not able to play in Basra, due to the fall of the bombs and the lack of safe stadiums, so their matches were moved to Amarah, and because of these harsh conditions, the team finished in 14th place and were relegated to the Iraq Division One for the first time in its history.[34] But the team was determined to return to play in the Iraqi Premier League, and they managed to win the Iraq Division One title in 1987, and thus were able to return to play in the Premier League again in the 1987–88 season.[34] They were runners-up of the Al-Faw Liberation Championship in 1988, a tournament hosted at Al-Minaa Stadium that featured Al-Talaba, Al-Zawraa and Al-Tayaran.[37] The club remained unstable after the Second Gulf War, which began in 1991, and Sanctions against Iraq[38] later (1991-2003), which destroyed the sport in the whole of Iraq.[39] The ruling Ba'ath Party has been accused of treating the club with racist treatment, including the opening match of Maysan Stadium in 1987 between Al-Minaa and Al-Rasheed (club sponsored by the ruling party in Iraq), which ended in a 0–0 draw attended by the son of president Uday Saddam Hussein, and when he found that the fans cheer for Al-Minaa team said: "If this stadium could have been moved to Baghdad, I would have done so (this audience is not worth it)".[40] And another of the manifestations of racism that the Ba'athist government was accused of is what happened in the league in 1991–92 season at the Al-Minaa match against Al-Karkh, on Friday, 8 May 1992 at the Al-Minaa Stadium and the attendance of more than 20,000, which ended for Al-Karkh 3–2. The match was led by international referee Subhi Rahim, who scored an incorrect penalty against Al-Minaa and the most famous red card against Al-Minaa player Asaad Abdul Razzaq, which led to the protest of the supporters of the club, then the Al-Karkh coach Adnan Dirjal was accused of shooting Al-Minaa supporters from his pistol,[41] resulting in serious injuries among supporters of the club. The Football Association punished Al-Minaa players, and because Dirjal led the Iraq national football team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification, he prevented Al-Minaa players from playing in the national team, including Mohammed Abdul Hussein, who won the title of best player in the league for the 1992–93 season.[42] Among the practices that one of the most important players in Al-Minaa was exposed to, when Sabah Mirza Mahmoud, a close associate of Saddam Hussein, became president of the Al-Shabab Club and ordered Hadi Ahmed, the most important player in Al-Minaa team, to leave his club and moving to Al-Shabab Club, but Ahmed refused because of his loyalty to the club and was severely punished. Also Uday Saddam Hussein imprisoned him in Al-Radwaniyah Prison, shaved his hair and forced him to retire.[43][44]

Despite these difficult circumstances, the team managed to reach fourth place in Umm al-Ma'arik Championship and fourth place in the league in 1998–99 season,[45] and reach the semifinals of the 1999–2000 Iraq FA Cup, where they were came out of the championship after losing from Al-Zawraa, who won the title that season,[46] and in the 2002–03 Iraq FA Cup also reached the semifinals, came out of the championship after losing from Al-Talaba, who won the title that season.[47]

Gradual return and Asian prominence (2004–2006)

With the change that took place after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrowing of Saddam Hussein, GCPI took care of the club, and started to bring the team back to their natural position slowly, and the 2004–05 season was the distinctive season. Under the leadership of coach Abdul Karim Jassim (Jombi), Al-Minaa won the Southern Group in the First Stage, and advanced to the Elite Stage where they won Group A. In the semi-finals, they managed to beat Al-Zawraa in Baghdad 1–0 and tied 0–0 with them in Basra to advance to the final, where they played against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. The match was played in Baghdad which gave Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya an advantage. Al-Minaa lost the match 2–0 to take the runner-up title, and the opportunity to represent Iraq in the next AFC Champions League; the team became the first team from outside Baghdad to represent Iraq in the continental championship.[48]

After the return of the Iran–Iraq relations, Al-Minaa participated in the 2004 Peace and Friendship Cup in Ahvaz, under the leadership of coach Abdul Karim Jassim, has won the tournament, having played against Iranian clubs have won it, in semi-final, the team played against Esteghlal Ahvaz B and won 2–1, Al Mina'a's goals were scored by Nasser Talla Dahilan at the 35th minute and Qais Essa at the 75th minute.[49] in final played against Foolad Khuzestan B and won 1–0, the winning goal was scored by Alaa Aasi at the 44th minute of the game.[50]

The team under the leadership of coach Aqeel Hato did not enter the 2006 AFC Champions League to compete for the title, given the weaknesses of the team (most of them were young and they needed experience in matches like this), but as a chance to play with strong teams and prepare for the Iraqi Premier League.[51][52] But Al-Minaa embarrassed some of the big teams in Asia and by earning draws against the likes of Mash'al[53] and Al-Hilal.[54]

Last five years of local dependence (2006–2011)

After the team were knocked out of the AFC Champions League, the experienced players joined other clubs,[55] and thus began a new era for the club under the leadership of young coach Asaad Abdul Razzaq[56] for two seasons with and the young players who have grown up in the club. The team entered the 2006–07 season and managed to finish second in their First Stage group behind Al-Najaf to qualify for the Elite Stage,[57] but team was not able to get to the semi-finals as they finished fourth behind Arbil, Al-Talaba and Karbalaa.[58]

S.Salman
J.Faisal
M.Majeed
S.Kadhim
M.Jabbar
O.Alaa
B.Hadi
M.Ghazi
F.Kadhim
I.Hadi (C)

In the 2007–08 season, a similar thing repeated under the same coach, where the team finished in 3rd place in their First Stage group behind Karbalaa and Al-Najaf, having won eight matches, drawn six and lost two, but could not go beyond the Elite Stage,[59] where they finished in fourth place in Group A behind Arbil, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Kirkuk.[60]

In the following three seasons, the team was under the leadership of young coach Adel Nasser[61] and these were not good seasons, as they were knocked out in the First Stage in all three seasons. In the 2008–09 season, the team finished in sixth place in their group, where team won ten matches, drew six and lost eight matches,[62] and in the 2009–10 season, the team ended up in seventh place in the group stage where they won 16 matches, drew 11 and lost seven.[63]

In pre-season and under the leadership of coach Adel Nasser, Al-Minaa won 2009 Thaghr Al Iraq Championship title, Al-Minaa qualified for the final game after collecting 7 points by defeating Naft Maysan 3–1, Ghaz Al-Junoob 4–1,[64] and won the Thaghr Al Iraq Championship after beating Naft Al-Junoob in the final game with a score of 2–1. Al Mina'a's goals were scored by Nayef Falah in the 46th minute and Hassan Hadi Ahmad in the 79th minute. On the other hand, the sole goal of Naft Al-Junoob was scored by Muhannad Youssef at the 10th minute of the game. The two teams shared the lead of the game that was led by referee Ahmad Shaker. The referee gave red cards to 3 players: Amjad Hameed, Alaa Nayrouz from Naft Al-Junoob team and Al-Minaa player Ihsan Hadi.[65]

In the third season, 2010–11, the team under the same coach finished in fourth place in their First Stage group with 12 wins, nine draws and five defeats.[66]

Eight coaches in three seasons (2011–2014)

The club was always praised for depending on coaches and players that had graduated from the club itself, but since the 2011–12 season, the club went a different way by contracting with a professional coach of Norwegian nationality (Iraqi origin) called Younis Al Qattan.[67] But the club's management did not settle on one coach during the season, so they changed the coach seven times during these three years. In the 2011–12 season, the team under the leadership of Al-Qattan was not successful with two wins, two losses and six draws, so the manager was changed.[68] The team began playing under the leadership of Rahim Hameed[69] and they ended the Premier League in 11th place, and in the 2012-2013 season, the club returned to the local coach Aqeel Hato[70] but this did not last very long as he was sacked having won four matches, drawn four matches and lost two matches, and the team played under the leadership of the young coach Ghazi Fahad[71] afterwards but this also did not last long as he was fired having won five matches, drawn one match and lost five matches.[72] The club then appointed coach Asaad Abdul Razzaq [73][74] who led the team to finish the season in eighth place, having won eight matches and lost six with one draw, and the team began the season relying on foreign players. Al-Minaa used five foreign professionals from Europe, Africa and Asia in this season.[75]

In the 2013–14 season, the same thing happened as happened in the previous season, where three coaches led the team in a row. They started the season led by coach Jamal Ali[76] and who resigned because the results were not good, especially after the 2–1 loss to Al-Karkh.[77] Ali won two matches as coach, drew four and lost three, so the club turned the leadership of the team to his assistant Ammar Hussein, who also did not remain long; he resigned after the 3–0 loss to Al-Zawra'a, and he won three matches, drew four and lost three.[78] The club then appointed coach Hassan Mawla,[79] who finished the season in 11th place, and he led the team for just four matches, winning one, losing one and drawing two, and he could not continue the rest of the matches because of Iraq Football Association suspended the Premier League and considered it finished on June 18, 2014.[80]

Title challenge under Al-Sayed (2014–2016)

In the 2014–15 season, the team was under coach Asaad Abdul Razzaq[81] and he was sacked after six matches because the results were not satisfactory; he won one match, lost three and drew two, leaving the team in eighth place in their First Stage group. Al-Minaa contracted with the Syrian professional coach, Hussam Al-Sayed,[82] who led the team through 13 matches until the end of the group without a loss, where the team move into second place in the group behind Al-Shorta.

Al-Minaa players lining up before a match in 2014.

In the Elite Stage they played against three teams (Duhok, Naft Al-Junoob and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya). The team was competing to top the group which would have qualified them for the final, but mistakes from assistant referees shattered that dream, where the assistant referee Maitham Khamat allowed an offside goal to stand in favor of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya against Naft Al-Junoob, while assistant referee Haider Hameed did not count a legitimate goal for Al-Minaa against Duhok due to offside, which lost them two points.[83] These cases deprived the team from getting to the final, where the team is equal to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in the number of points (ten points) but Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya had a better goal difference.[84] In the third place match they were set to play against Al-Shorta but Al-Shorta declared that they pulled out of the match. But strangely, Al-Shorta ended up turning up for the match and Al-Minaa was not prepared to match them so they withdrew meaning the team finished in fourth place in the Premier League.[85]

In the 2015–16 season, the coach Hussam Al-Sayed led the team to a series of wins against strong teams, defeating the likes Erbil 3–1, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2–1 and Al-Shorta 1–0. Al-Minaa were in first place in their First Stage group,[86] with six wins, one draw and two losses, but the many mistakes for the referees against the team[87][88] and then a number of problems arose between the club management and some players[89][90] and other reasons[91] which caused a decline in the level of the team, although the team still managed to qualify for the Elite Group. Their performances in the Elite Group were not up-to-scratch, so the team ended the season in sixth place.[92]

Administrative problems & relegation (2016–2022)

In the 2016–17 season, Al-Minaa contracted with the Romanian professional coach, Marin Ion[93][94] and he was sacked after twenty-seven matches because the chaos that appeared in the team due to the weakness of the personality of the coach, and the results were not satisfactory; he won fourteen matches, lost four and drew nine, and lost both Basra Derbies; against Al-Bahri 2–1, Naft Al-Junoob 1–0, leaving the team in fourth place in their First Stage in league,[95] then Al-Minaa signed local coach Ghazi Fahad,[96][97] who finished the league in sixth place.[98][99] In the 2016–17 Iraq FA Cup, Al-Minaa reached the semi-finals, but could not reach the final after losing from Naft Al-Wasat on penalties, in the match that ended 1-1.[100] Then, the team ended the season without any good results due to several problems within the club.[101] The administrative problems continued within the club, where two departments were formed and each claimed to be the legitimate administration. There was also a conflict between the management of the club and the Ministry of Transport (the owner), which led to a financial crisis, in which the important players migrated to the Baghdad clubs, and change of coaches in the same season was repeated within the club, all of which led to a decline in the level of the team, and ranked last in the ranking of the league teams for more than a season (15th place in the 2017–18 season and 17th place in the 2018–19 season).[102] In the 2021–22 season, the level of the team declined so much that it did not win during the whole season except only 3 times, and the administration resigned after the disastrous mistakes they made during the season, and a temporary administration was formed, but they could not do anything,[103] and in the end the team occupied the 19th place (penultimate) and was officially relegated to the Iraq Division One.[104][105]

Recent history (2022–)

After the end of the season, the Football Association did not specify the mechanism for the participation of clubs and their number in the subsequent season, and the matter remained ambiguous. Orally and in the media, the Football Association decided that the system of playing in the league will be according to the professional league system, and any club that did not complete its file according to the Club Licensing Law will not participate.[106] The president of Football Association, Adnan Dirjal promised the president of Al-Minaa club and the governor of Basra that the Al-Minaa team would play in the Iraqi Premier League and not in the Iraq Division One if the club completed the licensing file. Based on the foregoing, the club contracted with coach Basim Qasim and five professionals, paid all their debts and completed the licensing file.[107][108] But the club was surprised by the decision of the Football Association to reverse its decision to play according to the professional league system and not to accredit the licensed clubs, and that they were deceived by the Football Association.[109][110][111]

Kit

Al-Minaa's traditional colours are blue and white. The home kit is blue and the away kit is white. For much of Al-Minaa's history, their home colours have been bright blue shirts with white sleeves and white shorts, though this has not always been the case. The shirt was blue, and was worn with blue shorts and white socks in 1977–78 season when won league title for the first time.[112] In some seasons the team used the home kit that was blue and painted in yellow or white, and in the away kit use the white and painted in blue or black or red or some of these colors together. But in the 1998–1999 season only the kit was green, and this was unfamiliar.[113]

Historical kits

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Al-Minaa's shirts have been made by manufacturers including Adidas (from the 1970s until 1982), Puma (1982–1984), Adidas (1984–1989), Uhlsport (2001–2003), Macron (2011–2014), Uhlsport (2014–2016), Adidas (2016–2017) and Jako (2017–2018), Uhlsport (from 2018). Like those of most other Iraqi football clubs, Al-Minaa's shirts have featured sponsors' logos since the 1980s; sponsors include Samsung (1999–2000), Elaph Islamic Bank (2015–2016), Fuchs Petrolub (2016–2017) and GCPI (2017–2020).[114]

Stadium

Basra Sports City was a temporary ground of Al-Minaa from May 23, 2015.

Al-Minaa Stadium was founded in the 1930s and contained an open field with a stand on one side. In the 1960–61 season, lighting was installed in the stadium and the stadium was considered the second best stadium in the Arab world after the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt.[115] In the mid-1980s, terraces with three strips were placed around stadium in order to accommodate 4,000 spectators. In 1995, circular strips were built around the ground in order to accommodate 10,000 spectators. The opening match of the new stadium was Al-Minaa match against Samarra, and ended for Al-Minaa 1–0, Adel Nasser scored from a penalty kick.[116]

Construction work for Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium began on March 22, 2011[117][118][119] to be the club's new stadium with a capacity of 30,000 spectators, being built on an area of 52 acres.[120]

Al-Minaa played at the Naft Al-Junoob Stadium during the first phase of the 2012–13 season, for the period from 20 October 2012 to 1 March 2013. In the second phase of the same season, the team was played at the Basra Stadium (Al-Jamhoriya) for the period from 27 April 2014 to 4 September, and they were training at Al-Hawta Stadium in this season. On October 1, 2013, Al-Zubair Olympic Stadium was inaugurated and the team played all home matches at it, during the 2013–14 season and the 2014–15 season, and until May 23, 2015, when the Basra Sports City became a temporary stadium for the team.[121] Since October 2017, Basra Sports City was officially leased to club.[122]

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium in December 2022.

In low attendance matches, Al-Minaa played at Basra Sports City's secondary stadium (also known as Al-Fayhaa Stadium), which has a capacity of 10,000 spectators.[123]

On December 26, 2022, the Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium was inaugurated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in preparation for the establishment of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup,[124][125] where the tournament will take place on this stadium in addition to the Basra Sports City. The opening included a ceremony in which the retired Al-Minaa stars were honored.[126] After that, a friendly match took place between Al-Minaa and Kuwait SC,[127] in which Kuwait won 2–1. Ali Hussain (57') and Taha Yassine Khenissi (66') scored the double for Kuwait, and Karrar Mohammed scored for Al-Minaa from a penalty kick in the 89th minute.[128][129][130]

Supporters

Ultras Safana during Al-Minaa match in October 2014

Al-Minaa fans often refer to themselves as "Jamhoor Al-Safana", the name derived from the team's nickname, "Al-Safana". The fanbase is large and generally loyal; in 2014–15, Al-Minaa had the highest average League attendance for an Iraqi club (40,000, which was 66.6% of available capacity).[131] Al-Minaa has the Promoters Association, which was established at the beginning of the club's starting point, and remained supportive of the team in all their matches, and traveled with them wherever they went.[132]

In June 2014, Al-Minaa supporters founded a group known as "Ultras Safana". The supporters group has become well known throughout Iraqi football as one of the most passionate groups of football fans in Iraq and the group's banners and logos can be seen in any stadium that their club play in. The number of group members is increasing. The foundation of this group has significantly increased both the number of Al-Minaa fans in stadiums and their presence in matches.[133] Ultras Safana won the title of Best Ultras in the Iraqi league a year after its founding,[134] as well as in the second consecutive year.[135]

The supporters of Al-Minaa are very many, spread throughout the provinces of Iraq, and some live outside Iraq, and was considered to be the best fans in the Iraqi league.[134][136][137]

Rivalries

Main article: Basra Derby

Al-Minaa contest the Basra Derby with Naft Al-Basra[138][139] (formerly Naft Al-Janoob until 2020).[140] Since 2005, there have been 31 competitive Basra Derbies. Al-Minaa hold the precedence in these matches, with 10 victories to Naft Al-Basra's 9; there have been 12 draws. The most decisive result in an Al-Minaa–Naft Al-Basra game is Al-Minaa's 4–1 victory at Al Mina'a Stadium, their home ground, on March 11, 2005. There have been two incidences of 3–1, Al-Minaa have been won in both matches; home in December 2005, and away in January 2006. The competition saw 58 goals scored, 31 for Al-Minaa and 28 for Naft Al-Basra; the individual player who scored the most goals was Al-Minaa player Ihsan Hadi and Naft Al-Basra player Bassim Ali, each scored four goals. And there are five players who scored for both teams, they are Alaa Aasi, Nasser Talla Dahilan, Ahmed Hassan, Sajjad Abdul Kadhim and Hussam Malik.[141]

Head-to-head

From 2005 to 2023.

Head-to-head
Competition P W D L GF GA GD
Iraq Stars League 31 9 13 9 30 28 +2
Thaghr Al Iraq Championship 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
Total 32 10 13 9 32 29 +3

Players

First-team squad

As of 4 November 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Unregistered players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Reserves team squad

As of 1 June 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Under-19s and Academy

Further information: Al-Minaa SC Under-19s and Academy
As of 9 December 2022
Players to have featured in a first-team matchday squad for Al-Minaa

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Retired numbers

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Current staff

Position Staff
Manager Iraq Hassan Ahmed
Assistant coach Iraq Nasser Talla Dahilan
Iraq Mahmoud Yasser
Goalkeeping Coach Iraq Qusay Jabbar
Physiotherapist Iraq Fares Abdullah
Team Supervisor Iraq Abbas Hassan
Under-19s Coach Iraq Mohammed Abdul Hussein
Under-16s Coach Iraq Fadhel Nasser
Under-14s Coach Iraq Fadhel Jather

Board members

Note: This administrative body was chosen temporarily by the Iraqi Olympic Committee until elections are held to form an official administrative body.[143]

Position Staff
President Iraq Farhan Al-Farttousi
Vice president Iraq Alaa Abdul Khaliq
Secretary Iraq Raad Malik Sharqi
Treasurer Iraq Bahaa Al-Deen Hussein
Member of the Board Iraq Mohammed Abdul Hussein
Iraq Yousef Rehaima
Iraq Adel Nasser
Iraq Ali Taleb Sharhan
Iraq Aqeel Hato

Records

League history

Season League Position Played Wins Draws Losses GF:GA Points
1975–76 Iraqi National League 4 24 12 7 5 29:18 31
1976–77 Iraqi National League 5 11 3 6 2 12:12 12
1977–78 Iraqi National League 1 13 8 5 0 27:10 21
1978–79 Iraqi National League 4 12 5 5 2 15:9 15
1979–80 Iraqi National League 10 22 7 6 9 26:29 20
1980–81 Iraqi National League 8 11 3 4 4 8:14 10
1981–82 Iraqi National League 9 22 5 7 10 22:30 17
1982–83 Iraqi National League 11 22 3 6 13 18:32 12
1983–84 Iraqi National League 12 24 5 5 14 22:48 15
1984–85[a] Iraqi National League — — — — — — —
1985–86 Iraqi National League ↓ 14 15 3 3 9 13:22 9
1986–87 Iraqi Second Division League ↑ 1
1987–88 Iraqi National League 12 30 5 13 12 22:34 23
1988–89 Iraqi Pan-National League ↓ 8 14
1989–90 Iraqi Second Division League ↑ 1
1990–91 Iraqi National League 8 28 7 9 12 17:24 23
1991–92 Iraqi National League 9 32 12 13 13 39:42 37
1992–93 Iraqi National League 11 69 21 28 20 58:70 70
1993–94 Iraqi National League 17 50 12 21 17 42:58 45
1994–95 Iraqi National League 11 46 16 21 9 54:42 72
1995–96 Iraqi Advanced League 9 22 4 11 7 18:23 23
1996–97 Iraqi Premier League 8 30 9 10 11 22:32 37
1997–98 Iraqi Premier League 7 30 12 3 15 29:41 39
1998–99 Iraqi Premier League 4 30 14 8 8 35:29 50
1999–2000 Iraqi First Division League 8 50 20 24 6 56:28 84
2000–01 Iraqi Elite League 9 30 10 10 10 24:26 40
2001–02 Iraqi Elite League 10 38 13 10 15 39:45 49
2002–03[a] Iraqi First Division League — — — — — — —
2003–04[a] Iraqi Premier League — — — — — — —
2004–05 Iraqi Premier League 2 21 13 3 5 31:11 42
2005–06 Iraqi Premier League 10 16 9 4 3 26:16 31
2006–07 Iraqi Premier League 7 17 10 4 3 23:11 34
2007–08 Iraqi Premier League 10 24 10 9 5 15:18 39
2008–09 Iraqi Premier League 11 24 10 6 8 20:24 36
2009–10 Iraqi Premier League 13 34 16 11 7 36:23 59
2010–11 Iraqi Elite League 7 26 12 9 5 33:21 45
2011–12 Iraqi Elite League 11 38 13 11 14 40:44 50
2012–13 Iraqi Elite League 8 34 15 7 12 54:48 52
2013–14 Iraqi Premier League 11 23 6 10 7 26:27 28
2014–15 Iraqi Premier League 4 23 9 8 6 28:22 35
2015–16 Iraqi Premier League 6 25 11 7 7 36:30 40
2016–17 Iraqi Premier League 6 36 18 12 6 40:24 66
2017–18 Iraqi Premier League 15 38 8 17 13 34:47 41
2018–19 Iraqi Premier League 17 38 8 16 14 34:42 40
2019–20[a] Iraqi Premier League — — — — — — —
2020–21 Iraqi Premier League 8 38 12 13 13 45:44 49
2021–22 Iraqi Premier League ↓ 19 38 3 21 14 33:49 30
2022–23 Iraqi First Division League ↑ 1 23 14 7 2 40:16 49

[a] The league was not completed and was cancelled.

Performance in AFC competitions

Season Competition Round Nat. Club Home Away Aggregate
2006 AFC Champions League Group B United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 1–2 1–2 4th
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1–1 1–3
Uzbekistan Mash'al 0–1 2–2

Against National Teams

Date Venue Opponent Result Scorers Source
2 May 1951 Basra, Iraq  Iraq 1–1 Tariq Khalil [21]
20 December 1958 Ahmadi, Kuwait  Kuwait 8–0 M. Manthar (2), K. Allawi (2), N. Lafta (2), W. Dawood (2) [21]
27 February 1959 Basra, Iraq  Algeria 2–3 Sabeeh Darwish (2) [144]
20 December 1972 Basra, Iraq  China 0–1 [145]
21 August 2015 İzmit, Turkey  Bahrain 0–0 [146]
23 August 2015 İzmit, Turkey  Libya 1–0 Ziyad Ahmed [147]
24 March 2017 Antalya, Turkey  Turkmenistan 1–0 Ahmed Yasser [148]
25 February 2018 Basra, Iraq  Iraq 0–0 [149]

Top Goalscorers

As of 29 December 2023.
Note: The statistic concerns only the goals scored in the league championship since its launch in Iraq, that is, since 1974. The statistics that precede the league are unknown.
Players who are still active with the club are in bold.
# Nat. Name Goals
1° Jalil Hanoon 73
2° Adel Nasser 55
3° Mohammed Jabbar Shokan 46
4° Ihsan Hadi 39
5° Nazar Abdul Zahra 36
6° Nasser Talla Dahilan 33
7° Hussam Ibrahim 30
8° Ali Al-Diwan 29

Presidents and managers

List of presidents

This is a list of Al-Minaa SC presidents and chairmen from its foundation in 1931.[150]

List of presidents

Name Nationality Period
C. F. Neikell  United Kingdom 1931–32
Bey Forde  United Kingdom 1932–43
Donald Langdon  United Kingdom 1944–45
Rajab Al-Ni'ma Iraq Iraq 1946–47
R. C. Klette  United Kingdom 1947–49
Abdul Amir Rahmatallah Iraq Iraq 1949–62
Mohammed Tariq Al-Katib Iraq Iraq 1962–63
Yousef Al-Amer Iraq Iraq 1963
Nasser Mohammed Khan Iraq Iraq 1964–66
Tariq Widad Al-Katib Iraq Iraq 1966–67
Mohammed Tariq Al-Katib Iraq Iraq 1967–69
Adnan Ali Al-Qassab Iraq Iraq 1969–77
Faleh Mahmoud Al-Musa Iraq Iraq 1977–80
Mohammed Lafta Ojoom Iraq Iraq Feb. 2, 1980–May 29, 1982
Talib Hashim Abbas Iraq Iraq 1982–90
Abdul Wahab Al-Na'eb Iraq Iraq 1990–92
Talib Hashim Abbas Iraq Iraq 1992–2003
Hadi Ahmed  Iraq 2004–07
Rahim Karim  Iraq Jun. 2, 2007 – May 30, 2009
Salah Khudhair Abboud  Iraq May 30, 2009 – Jun. 1, 2012
Omran Radhi Thani  Iraq June 1, 2012–Mar. 13, 2016
Jalil Hanoon  Iraq Mar. 13, 2016–Feb. 5, 2017
Abdul Razzaq Ahmed (interim)  Iraq Feb. 5, 2017–Aug. 22, 2017
Jalil Hanoon  Iraq Aug. 22, 2017–Aug. 29, 2018
Asaad Abdul Razzaq (interim)  Iraq Aug. 29, 2018–Dec. 8, 2018
Hadi Ahmed  Iraq Dec. 8, 2018–Sep. 4, 2019
Mohammed Jaber Al-Jaberi  Iraq Nov. 3, 2019–Jan. 4, 2022
Jalil Hanoon  Iraq Jan. 4, 2022–May 21, 2022
Adel Nasser (interim)  Iraq May 21, 2022–Jan. 26, 2023
Farhan Al-Farttousi  Iraq Jan. 26, 2023–Oct. 9, 2023
Ahmed Khalaf Thijeel (interim)  Iraq Oct. 13, 2023–Nov. 20, 2023
Alaa Abdul Khaliq (interim)  Iraq Nov. 20, 2023–Jan. 11, 2024
Farhan Al-Farttousi (interim)  Iraq Jan. 11, 2024–Present

Managerial history

This list includes the team coaches after the end of World War II and the return of the club to engage in sports activity.[151]

  • Iraq Faraj Dano (1943–1948) (player-manager)
  • Iraq Hameed Majeed (1948–1949)
  • Iraq Karim Jaber (1953–1954)
  • Iraq Kamel Abboudi (1954–1955)
  • Iraq Karim Allawi Homaidi (1955–1956)
  • Iraq Michael Stanley (1959–1961)
  • Denmark Ingvard Hansen (1961–1963)
  • Iraq Tariq Khalil (1963–1965)
  • Iraq Mohammed Manthar (1965–1966)
  • Iraq Abdul Salam Saud (1966–1967)
  • Iraq Mohammed Manthar (1967–1968)
  • Iraq Abdul Salam Saud (1968–1970)
  • Iraq Jamil Mohammed Ali (1970)
  • Iraq Hadi Hassan Wasfi (1970–1971)
  • Iraq Hamza Qasim (1971–1973)
  • Iraq Najm Abdullah Al-Azzawi (1973–1975)
  • Iraq Faleh Hassan Wasfi (1975–1977)
  • Iraq Jamil Hanoon (1977–1978)
  • Iraq Sabeeh Abed Ali & Abdul Mahdi Hadi (1978–1979)
  • Iraq Abdul Razzaq Ahmed (1979–1980)
  • Iraq Jamil Hanoon (1980–1983)
  • Iraq Abdul Razzaq Ahmed (1983–1984)
  • Iraq Rahim Karim (1984–1986)
  • Iraq Abdul Razzaq Ahmed (1986–1990)
  • Iraq Hadi Ahmed (1990–1992)
  • Iraq Jamil Hanoon (1992–1993)
  • Iraq Sabeeh Hussein (1993–1995)
  • Iraq Hadi Ahmed (1995–1999)
  • Iraq Abdul Razzaq Ahmed & Hadi Ahmed (1999–2000)
  • Iraq Hadi Ahmed (2000–2001)
  • Iraq Aqeel Hato (2001–2003)
  • Iraq Rahim Karim (2003–2004)
  • Iraq Abdul Karim Jassim (2004–2005)
  • Iraq Aqeel Hato (2005–2006)
  • Iraq Asaad Abdul Razzaq (2006–2007)
  • Iraq Adel Nasser (2007–2008)
  • Iraq Abdul Karim Jassim (2008–2009)
  • Iraq Ammar Hussein (2009)
  • Iraq Adel Nasser (2009–2011)
  • Iraq Younis Al-Qattan (Aug. 2011–Dec. 2011)
  • Iraq Taher Balas (2011–2012) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Rahim Hameed (Jan. 2012–Aug. 2012)
  • Iraq Aqeel Hato (2012–2013)
  • Iraq Mohammed Hussein Gholaim (Feb. 2013) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Ghazi Fahad (Feb. 2013–May 2013)
  • Iraq Asaad Abdul Razzaq (May 2013–Sep. 2013)
  • Iraq Jamal Ali (Sep. 2013–Dec. 2013)
  • Iraq Abbas Obeid (2013–2014)
  • Iraq Ammar Hussein (Jan. 2014–May 2014)
  • Iraq Hassan Mawla (May 2014–Jul. 2014)
  • Iraq Asaad Abdul Razzaq (2014–2015)
  • Iraq Ahmed Rahim (Jan. 2015) (caretaker)
  • Syria Hussam Al Sayed (2015–2016)
  • Romania Marin Ion (2016–2017)
  • Iraq Ghazi Fahad (Apr. 2017–Aug. 2017)
  • Syria Fajr Ibrahim (2017–2018)
  • Iraq Nadhim Shaker (Jan. 2018–May 2018)
  • Iraq Ahmed Rahim (May 2018–Jun. 2018) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Mahmoud Yasser (Jun. 2018–Jul. 2018) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Aqeel Hato (2018–2019)
  • Tunisia Hicham Ghazia (7–25 Feb. 2019) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Emad Aoda (Feb. 2019–May 2019)
  • Iraq Ahmad Sabri (May 2019–Jul. 2019) (caretaker)
  • Romania Valeriu Tița (2019–2021)
  • Iraq Adel Nasser (Jan. 2021–Apr. 2021)
  • Iraq Ahmed Rahim (Apr. 2021–Jul. 2021)
  • Iraq Qusay Munir (Aug. 2021–Oct. 2021)
  • Iraq Ihsan Hadi (Oct. 2021–Nov. 2021) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Ammar Hussien ( 7–15 Nov. 2021)
  • Iraq Ihsan Hadi (15–24 Nov. 2021) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Hatif Shamran (2021–2022)
  • Iraq Ameen Phillip (Jan. 2022–Feb. 2022)
  • Iraq Ahmed Rahim (Feb. 2022–Mar. 2022)
  • Iraq Hatif Shamran (Mar. 2022–May 2022)
  • Iraq Ali Wahab (May 2022–Jul. 2022)
  • Iraq Basim Qasim (2022–2023)
  • Iraq Fareed Majeed (May 2023–Jun. 2023) (caretaker)
  • Iraq Qahtan Chathir (Aug. 2023–Nov. 2023)
  • Iraq Asaad Abdul Razzaq (4–19 Nov. 2023)
  • Iraq Hassan Ahmed (Nov. 2023–present)

Notable players

For a list of all Al-Minaa players, see Al-Minaa SC players.

Captains

This list includes the team's captains since the club's participation in the Iraqi League for the first time.

Years Position Captain
1974–1978 Forward Iraq Abdul Razzaq Ahmed
1978–1983 Defender Iraq Rahim Karim
1983–1986 Midfielder Iraq Hadi Ahmed
1986–1988 Forward Iraq Jalil Hanoon
1988–1990 Forward Iraq Aqeel Hato
1990–1991 Defender Iraq Qasim Jabbar
1991–1992 Defender Iraq Karim Jassim
1992–1995 Goalkeeper Iraq Aqeel Abdul Mohsin
1995–1996 Defender Iraq Asaad Abdul Razzaq
1996–1997 Forward Iraq Mohammed Abdul Hussein
1997–2001 Defender Iraq Asaad Abdul Razzaq
2001–2002 Midfielder Iraq Ali Al-Diwan
2002–2003 Defender Iraq Musa Fayyadh
2003–2005 Forward Iraq Ammar Hussein
2005–2008 Defender Iraq Emad Aoda
2008–2010 Defender Iraq Sajjad Abdul Kadhim
2010–2012 Forward Iraq Mohammed Nasser Shakroun
2012–2014 Midfielder Iraq Nayef Falah
2014–2015 Midfielder Iraq Omar Alaa Ahmad
2015–2016 Goalkeeper Iraq Karrar Ibrahim
2017 Goalkeeper Iraq Noor Sabri
2017–2018 Defender Iraq Mohammed Jabbar Rubat
2018–2019 Forward Iraq Sultan Jassim
2019–2021 Midfielder Iraq Hussam Malik
2021 Defender Iraq Hamza Adnan
2021–2022 Defender Iraq Ahmed Khalid
2022 Forward Iraq Mohammed Jabbar Shokan
2022–2023 Defender Iraq Karrar Mohammed
2023 Defender Iraq Mohammed Abdul-Zahra
2023– Defender Iraq Abdullah Mohsin

Honours

Major

National

Regional

Minor

  • Hanna Al-Sheikh Cup:[152]
    • Winners (11): including 1947–48, 1950–51 (record)
  • Al-Minaa Cup:[153][154]
    • Winners (2): 1948–49, 1949–50
  • Al-Shamkhany Cup:
    • Winners (2): 1947–48, 1948–49
    • Runners-up (1): 1949–50
  • Thaghr al-Iraq Championship:
  • Sabeeh Abed Ali Cup:[155]
    • Winners (1): 2004
  • Peace and Friendship Cup:
  • Basra Mutasarrif Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1956
  • Happiness Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1956
  • Regent's Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1949–50
  • Asfar Knockout Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1948–49
    • Runners-up (1): 1947–48
  • Al-Faw Liberation Championship
    • Runners-up (1): 1988
  • Industries Exhibition Cup[156]
    • Runners-up (1): 1953–54

Rankings

CWR All-Time Club World Ranking

As of 4 July 2015[157]
Rank Club Association Points
2791 Luxembourg Alliance Dudelange UEFA 3
2791 Pakistan Allied Bank Limited AFC 3
2791 Iraq Al-Minaa AFC 3
2791 Qatar Al-Oruba AFC 3
2791 Oman Al-Orouba AFC 3

References

  1. ^ "الميناء يتوج بلقب الدوري الممتاز للشباب". shafaq.com (in Arabic). June 10, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "درع الممتاز.. ثمرة كفاح يقطفها شباب الميناء". ina.iq (in Arabic). June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "News file of Al-Minaa club". iraqifs.com (in Arabic). April 21, 2011. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Al-Minaa establishes a committee and supervisors of all club teams". almirbad.com (in Arabic). March 7, 2017. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "News file of Al-Minaa club". iraqifs.com (in Arabic). May 9, 2011. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  6. ^ "Al-Minaa against Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya in the Foot Tennis Cup Final". alsabaah.iq (in Arabic). January 17, 2020. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Leach, Hugh (29 August 2003). STROLLING ABOUT ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD. Routledge Curzon; London & New York 2003. ISBN 9781134426690. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  8. ^ Al Abbasi, Abdulqader Basha'ayan. "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BASRA CITY HISTORY" (PDF). Basra 1988. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Al-Minaa Sport Club History". qurna.3arabiyate.net (in Arabic). December 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Changes of August 1974". RSSSF. July 25, 2009. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "Port beat Iraq Football Cup holders by only goal". The Iraq Times. 30 May 1949. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Al-Rekabi, Bassim (August 22, 2015). "The oldest football player in Basra tells his memories". azzaman (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  13. ^ "B.P.C. and Union Club in Basrah Final". The Iraq Times. 7 November 1949. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Top tie in Basrah League". The Iraq Times. 11 January 1951. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  15. ^ Al-Hammami, Kadhim F. (November 26, 2009). "Hanna Al-Sheikh Cup". wata.cc (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  16. ^ Mubarak, Hassanin. "International Results 1951-1959". Iraqsport.com. Archived from the original on 2006-06-16.
  17. ^ Mubarak, Hassanin. "Three Lions: The birth of the Lions of Mesopotamia". Ahdaaf.me. Archived from the original on 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  18. ^ Homaidi, Karim Allawi. "Basra in the memory of its people" (PDF). Basra Heritage Center in The Holy Abbasid Shrine; Basra 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  19. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1956) chapter. Friendly Matches". niiiis.com (in Arabic). July 31, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  20. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1957) chapter. Matches results recorded". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 2, 2009. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  21. ^ a b c Homaidi, Karim Allawi. "Basra in the memory of its people" (PDF). Basra Heritage Center in The Holy Abbasid Shrine; Basra 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  22. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1961) chapter. Matches results recorded". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  23. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1962) chapter. The first Romanian club to visit Iraq". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  24. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1963) chapter. The second Romanian club to visit Iraq". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 8, 2009. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  25. ^ "Al-Minaa are champions of Basra clubs" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  26. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1965) chapter. Matches results recorded". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 11, 2009. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  27. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1968) chapter. Al-Minaa club travels to Syria". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 19, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  28. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1969) chapter. Neftçi Club in Iraq". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 21, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  29. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1970) chapter. Sarajevo Club in Iraq". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 26, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  30. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1971) chapter. Matches results recorded". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 27, 2009. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  31. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1972) chapter. China national football team to visit Iraq". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 24, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  32. ^ "Distinguished events in the history of the Iraqi league". ina-iraq.net (in Arabic). September 27, 2015. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  33. ^ "The history of Iraqi League (1977–78 season)". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  34. ^ a b c d Al-Nahi, Rawan (April 13, 2006). "Interview with Iraqi football legend Jalil Hanoon". kooora (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  35. ^ "The story of the final 1977/78 season". kooora (in Arabic). November 25, 2016. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  36. ^ "On the anniversary of the founding of Al-Minaa club". kooora.com (in Arabic). November 22, 2005. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  37. ^ "Mohammed Abdul-Hussein Interview" (in Arabic). Kooora. May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  38. ^ "The effects of the sanctions against Iraq" (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. October 3, 2004. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  39. ^ "Review of Iraqi league scorers". almutmar.com (in Arabic). June 5, 2014.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ "Maysan Stadium". iraqifs.com (in Arabic). February 21, 2011. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  41. ^ "Director Security of Stadiums : Dirjal shot the Al-Minaa supporters, and I saw him do it,". basraelc.com (in Arabic). April 6, 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  42. ^ "Interview with Mohammed Abdul Hussein, Dirjal broke my dream for playing in international matches". kooora.com (in Arabic). May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  43. ^ "Hadi Ahmed, the legend of Iraqi football". aladalanews.net (in Arabic). December 18, 2015. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  44. ^ "Legends of Iraqi football: Hadi Ahmed". balidy-news.org (in Arabic). March 25, 2018.
  45. ^ "History of Iraqi league, 1998–99 season". niiiis.com (in Arabic). June 22, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  46. ^ "History of Iraq FA Cup,in 1999 1999–00 season". niiiis.com (in Arabic). June 29, 2006. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  47. ^ "History of Iraq FA Cup, 2002–03 season". niiiis.com (in Arabic). June 30, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  48. ^ "The history of Iraqi League (2004–05)". niiiis.com (in Arabic). September 24, 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  49. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (2004) chapter. Al-Minaa & Naft Al-Junoob participate in Khuzestan Tournament". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 30, 2009. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  50. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (2005) chapter. Al-Minaa wins Khuzestan championship". niiiis.com (in Arabic). September 3, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  51. ^ "Al-Hilal coach and Al-Minaa coach talk about the match today". vb.eqla3.com (in Arabic). March 22, 2006. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  52. ^ "Al-Mansi: Our determination to win is what made us win against Al-Minaa". alittihad.ae (in Arabic). April 28, 2006. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  53. ^ Al-Mahdawi, Majed (May 4, 2006). "Al-Minaa stops Mash'al". kooora.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  54. ^ Al-Otaybi, Mohammed (May 17, 2006). "Al-Ain decide to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League". kooora.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  55. ^ "The migration of players from the big clubs in Iraq". alittihad.ae (in Arabic). August 26, 2007. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  56. ^ "Asaad Abdulrazak as coach of Al-Minaa". ninanews.com (in Arabic). October 26, 2006. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  57. ^ "Iraqi league 2006/2007 - Group Stage - league table". uk.soccerway.com. June 7, 2007. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  58. ^ "Iraqi league 2006/2007 - Final Stage - league table". uk.soccerway.com. July 6, 2007. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  59. ^ "Iraqi league 2007/2008 - Group Stage - league table". uk.soccerway.com. May 29, 2008. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  60. ^ "Iraqi league 2007/2008 - Final Stage - league table". uk.soccerway.com. August 8, 2008. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  61. ^ "Adel Nasser as coach of Al-Minaa for the third season". ikhnews.com (in Arabic). October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  62. ^ "Iraqi league 2008/2009 - Group Stage - league table". uk.soccerway.com. July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  63. ^ "Iraqi league 2009/2010 - Group Stage - league table". uk.soccerway.com. August 31, 2010. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  64. ^ "Al Mina meets Naft Al Janoub in the final of Thaghr Al Iraq Football". trcb.com. December 21, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  65. ^ "Al Mina Football team wins Thaghr Al Iraq Championship". trcb.com. December 22, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  66. ^ "Iraqi league 2010/2011 - South Group - league table". uk.soccerway.com. August 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  67. ^ "Younis Al Qattan as coach of Al-Minaa for new season". ikhnews.com (in Arabic). August 24, 2011. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  68. ^ "Al-Minaa coach leaves his post after being threatened". alarabiya.net (in Arabic). December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  69. ^ "Rahim Hameed as coach of Al-Minaa". iraqifs.com (in Arabic). January 10, 2012. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  70. ^ "Aqeel Hato as coach of Al-Minaa, is successor to Hameed". almirbad.com (in Arabic). August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  71. ^ "Ghazi Fahad is appointed coach of Al-Minaa after Hato's dismissal". almadapress.com (in Arabic). February 16, 2013. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  72. ^ "Al-Minaa management appeals to Fahd to stay and swear to protect him". goal.com (in Arabic). May 12, 2013. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  73. ^ Al-Homood, Haider (May 21, 2013). "Al-Minaa management praises Fahd and appoints Abdulrazak as coach to succeed him". almadapaper.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  74. ^ Al-Homood, Haider (May 21, 2013). "Al-Minaa management appoints Asaad Abdulrazak as coach". goal.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  75. ^ "The French player Gnakpa is a fourth professional with Al-Minaa". elaph.com (in Arabic). November 8, 2012. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  76. ^ "Under the supervision of the new coach Jamal Ali starts Al-Minaa training". almirbad.com (in Arabic). September 21, 2013. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  77. ^ "Jamal Ali resigns from Al-Minaa and says the bad results are due to bad luck". alghadpress.com (in Arabic). December 29, 2013.
  78. ^ Madjeed, Hameed (May 14, 2014). "Ammar Hussein resigns and Hassan Mawla replaces him". basra.gov.iq (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  79. ^ "Hassan Mawla is the third coach of Al-Minaa after the resignation of Ammar Hussein". alkass.net (in Arabic). May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  80. ^ "The Football Federation issues a statement about the termination of the Iraqi Premier League and the announcement of Al-Shorta as its hero". mustaqila.com (in Arabic). June 18, 2014. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  81. ^ "Asaad Abdulrazak as a coach for Al-Minaa club". altaakhipress.com (in Arabic). July 6, 2014. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  82. ^ "Al-Minaa club helps coach Hussam Al-Sayed". alghadpress.com (in Arabic). January 5, 2015.
  83. ^ Al-Maliki, Saif (May 28, 2015). "The disastrous mistakes of football referees". albayyna-new.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  84. ^ "Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya qualified for the final with a goal difference at the expense of Al-Minaa". almadapress.com (in Arabic). July 5, 2015. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  85. ^ Ezzat, Omro (July 10, 2015). "Al-Minaa's withdrawal makes Al-Shorta third in the league". masralarabia.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  86. ^ "Al-Zawraa tops Group A and Al-Minaa tops Group B in the league". fk-news.com (in Arabic). November 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  87. ^ "Al-Minaa complains to the referees over the catastrophic mistakes that have caused the results to decline of the team". sportgram.com (in Arabic). May 16, 2016. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  88. ^ Ali, Mujtaba (October 13, 2016). "Abdullah Mohsin: The frequent mistakes of football referees have caused our loss of the league title". almarsa-news.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  89. ^ "Al-Minaa management is punish four players". alkass.net (in Arabic). February 3, 2016. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  90. ^ "Al-Minaa deducts 10% of its players' contracts". sportgram.net (in Arabic). May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  91. ^ "Reasons for the decline of the level of Al-Minaa club". fanarnews.org (in Arabic). February 9, 2016. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  92. ^ "Iraqi league 2015/2016- league table". uk.soccerway.com. May 22, 2016. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  93. ^ "Al-Minaa management appoints the Romanian, Marin Ion, as coach". almirbad.com (in Arabic). July 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  94. ^ "Al-Minaa offers their Romanian coach Marin Ion to the media". alkass.net (in Arabic). July 26, 2016. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  95. ^ "Al-Minaa are looking for a new coach after the dismissal of the Romanian coach Marin". alkass.net (in Arabic). April 18, 2017. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  96. ^ "Again; Ghazi Fahad is the coach of Al-Minaa". aynaliraqnews.com (in Arabic). April 9, 2017. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  97. ^ "Officially; Ghazi Fahad is the Al-Minaa coach". ikhnews.com (in Arabic). April 24, 2017. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  98. ^ "Al-Minaa defeated Al-Shorta and away from second place, and Al-Naft win that position". almirbad.com (in Arabic). August 10, 2017. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  99. ^ "Al-Naft won the runner-up title in league for first time in its history". awajelpress.com (in Arabic). August 10, 2017. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  100. ^ "Al-Minaa failed to qualify for the Iraq FA Cup final after losing to Naft Al-Wasat". almirbad.com (in Arabic). August 20, 2017. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  101. ^ Al-Rikabi, Bassim (September 20, 2017). "Administrative and technical problems lead Al-Minaa to futile mathematical participation". azzaman.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  102. ^ Al-Rikabi, Bassim (May 14, 2018). "Al-Minaa Club .. Administrative conflict and successive crises". alghadpress.com (in Arabic).
  103. ^ "رئيس ادارة الميناء المؤقتة لشفق نيوز: تسلمنا تركة ثقيلة وهدفنا الأول البقاء في الدوري الممتاز". shafaq.com (in Arabic). June 7, 2022. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  104. ^ "الميناء العراقي يهبط إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). June 9, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  105. ^ "رسميًا – هبوط أعرق أندية العراق من الدوري الممتاز". 365scores.com (in Arabic). June 9, 2022. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  106. ^ "تراخيص الأندية في العراق.. ثلاثة أبطال خارج مسابقة الدوري حتى الآن". ultrairaq.ultrasawt.com (in Arabic). August 13, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  107. ^ "أمل بالتراخيص وصراع مرتقب مع الديوانية.. هل يبقى الميناء في الدوري الممتاز؟". ultrairaq.ultrasawt.com (in Arabic). September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  108. ^ "تطمينات بمشاركة الميناء في الدوري الممتاز الموسم المقبل". almaalomah.me (in Arabic). September 27, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  109. ^ "أمانة بغداد ينتقد «خداع وتضليل» الاتحاد العراقي". alkhaleej.ae (in Arabic). October 1, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  110. ^ "الاتحاد العراقي يعتمد 19 فريقا للمشاركة في الدوري الممتاز". kooora.com (in Arabic). October 4, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  111. ^ "الأندية المبعدة من الممتاز تلجأ لـ"كاس" بحثاً عن قرار ولائي". shafaq.com (in Arabic). October 5, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  112. ^ "Al Minaa team pic. that won Iraqi league in 1977–1978 season". iraqsp.net. Archived from the original on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  113. ^ "Al Minaa team pics. for some seasons". iraqsp.net. Archived from the original on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  114. ^ "Fuchs Petrolub wins Al Minaa sponsorship contract for one year". iraqi-sn.com (in Arabic). September 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  115. ^ "On the anniversary of the founding of Al-Minaa club". kooora.com (in Arabic). November 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  116. ^ "On the anniversary of the founding of Al-Minaa club". kooora.com (in Arabic). November 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  117. ^ "Start the demolition of Al-Minaa Stadium to build a new stadium". iraqnews.com (in Arabic). March 29, 2011. Archived from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  118. ^ "Laying the foundation stone for Al-Minaaa's new stadium". kooora.com (in Arabic). October 22, 2011. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  119. ^ "The construction of Al-Minaa stadium has stopped because it needs a lot of money". almasalah.com (in Arabic). March 10, 2016. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  120. ^ "A ministerial meeting to resolve the crisis of the stadium that Al-Minaa is trying to conduct training". alsumaria.tv (in Arabic). March 29, 2016. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  121. ^ "Al-Safana continues its preparations". Al-Minaa Website (in Arabic). October 29, 2013. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  122. ^ "Al-Minaa club rents Basra Sports City". aljournal.com (in Arabic). June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  123. ^ "Al-Minaa officially rents Al Fayhaa Stadium". almirbad.com (in Arabic). June 24, 2017. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  124. ^ ملعب الميناء الأولمبي.. صرح رياضي يرى النور بعد طول انتظار (in Arabic). ina.iq. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  125. ^ العراق يكشف تفاصيل افتتاح «ملعب الميناء الأولمبي» اليوم (in Arabic). aawsat.com. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  126. ^ بدء حفل افتتاح ملعب الميناء الاولمبي (in Arabic). baghdadtoday.news. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  127. ^ الكويت الكويتي ضيفًا في افتتاح ملعب الميناء الدولي (in Arabic). ultrairaq.ultrasawt.com. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  128. ^ في إفتتاح ملعب الميناء.. أصحاب الأرض يخسرون من الكويت الكويتي (in Arabic). alforatnews.iq. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  129. ^ الميناء يخسر امام الكويت الكويتي في افتتاح الملعب الاولمبي في البصرة (in Arabic). almarsa-news.com. 26 December 2022. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  130. ^ افتتاح ملعب الميناء استعداداً لـ «خليجي 25» (in Arabic). alittihad.ae. 27 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  131. ^ "The Organizing Committee of the Iraqi league matches announces the success of their plan". almirbad.com (in Arabic). May 23, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  132. ^ "The final of Iraqi league 2004–05". almadapaper.net (in Arabic). July 16, 2005. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  133. ^ "The founding of Ultras Safana and his first appearance". Ultras Safana (in Arabic). June 1, 2014. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  134. ^ a b "ISN referendum". iraqi-sn.com (in Arabic). December 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  135. ^ "ISN referendum". forum.alminaaclub1931.com (in Arabic). June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  136. ^ "Al-Aalam referendum". alaalem.com (in Arabic). July 29, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  137. ^ "Kooora referendum". forum.kooora.com (in Arabic). July 28, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  138. ^ "The Basra Derby". iraqifs.com (in Arabic). June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  139. ^ "The Basra Derby". iraqi-sn.com (in Arabic). December 26, 2016. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  140. ^ "Naft Al-Janoob Club officially changed the name to Naft Al-Basra". alrafidain.news (in Arabic). October 23, 2020. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  141. ^ "Al-Minaa Vs Naft Al-Junoob history". kooora.com (in Arabic). July 6, 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  142. ^ Al-Minaa retire No 20 shirt in honour of Karrar Ibrahim. (in Arabic). mawazin.net. 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  143. ^ "الأولمبية العراقية تشكل هيئة مؤقتة لنادي الميناء". shafaq.com (in Arabic). January 12, 2024.
  144. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1959)". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 24, 2009. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  145. ^ "The history of Iraqi football (1972) chapter. China national football team to visit Iraq". niiiis.com (in Arabic). August 24, 2009. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  146. ^ "Al-Minaa draw with Bahrain national team". alsabaah.iq (in Arabic). August 23, 2015. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  147. ^ "Al-Minaa (Basra club) wins Libya national team in a friendly match in Turkey". alkass.net (in Arabic). August 23, 2015. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  148. ^ "Al-Minaa wins Turkmenistan national team in a friendly match". aynaliraqnews.com (in Arabic). March 25, 2017. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  149. ^ "Al-Minaa draw with Iraq national team". almirbad.com (in Arabic). February 25, 2018. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  150. ^ Ahmed Al-Diwan (8 April 2005). "Presidents - Al Minaa Iraqi Club". kooora.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  151. ^ Mubarak, Hassanin. "Al-Minaa Al-Riyadhi - Coaches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  152. ^ Stanley, Michael (24 December 1948). "Basrah plays its part". The Iraq Times. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  153. ^ Stanley, Michael (24 December 1949). "Football is "King of Sports" in Basrah". The Iraq Times. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  154. ^ Stanley, Michael (21 December 1950). "Basrah had notable sporting year". The Iraq Times.
  155. ^ "الميناء يحرز بطولة المرحوم صبيح عبد علي". almadapaper.net. 28 December 2004. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  156. ^ "B.P.C. beats Port 2–0 in Industries Exhibition Football Cup Final". The Iraq Times. 10 March 1954. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  157. ^ "All-Time Club World Ranking, Pos. 2001-3000". Club World Rankings.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-24. Retrieved 2017-07-08.

External links