Jasem Yaqoub

Jasem Yaqoub Sultan Al-Besara (; born 25 October 1953) is a Kuwaiti former professional footballer who played as a forward. He represented the Kuwait national team at both the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Club career Yaqoub initially played for the Al-Qadsia youth team as a volleyball player, before joining their youth football team in 1967, where he rose up the ranks and got promoted to their senior squad in 1970. He initially signed with Kazma before getting signed by Al-Qadsia.

Yaqoub made his debut with the first team on October 2, 1970, in a 5–0 win against Al-Shuhada, coach Ron Lewin subbed him on for an injured player in the game, the game would end with Jassim scoring four goals.

One of his memorable goals came against Pelé's Santos, where he scored to enable a 1–1 draw.

Jassim was the top goal-scorer in the Kuwaiti League five times (1972/1973, 1974/1975, 1975/1976, 1976/1977 and 1979/1980). even scoring a bicycle kick in the final of the 1978/1979 Emir Cup final.

International career Jassim represented Kuwait from 1972 to 1982 scoring 36 goals in 49 appearances. He scored on his debut at the 1972 Gulf Cup against Saudi Arabia. He went on to participate in the 1974, 1976, 1979 and 1982 editions of the tournament, he was the top goal-scorer in 1974 and 1976 scoring 6 and 9 goals. He also is the highest goal-scorer in the history of the Gulf Cup with 18 goals to his name.

In 1980, He won the 1980 Asian Cup with Kuwait scoring four goals in the tournament and being named in the Team of the Tournament.

Jassim appeared in the 1974 Asian Games and the 1978 Asian Games, He also participated in 1982 World Cup.

Honours

Club Kuwaiti League: 1970–71, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78 Emir Cup: 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1978–79

International Asian Cup: 1980 runners-up: 1976 Arabian Gulf Cup: 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982

Individual Kuwaiti League top goal-scorer: 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1979–80 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 1980

Career statistics