Mahdi Karim

Mahdi Karim Ajeel (, born December 10, 1983) is an Iraqi former footballer. He last played as a winger for Al-Talaba and the Iraq national football team.

Player info Mahdi Kareem Ajeel's successful conversion to a right winger initially came as a result of his failure claim a more central striking role in the face of competition from the likes of Younis Mahmoud. Kareem's club career began with Al Naft, where he displayed his predatory instincts by scoring regularly for the local powerhouse. However, his career as a centre-forward effectively ended when he moved to Al Talaba in 2002.

With Alaa Kadhim, Younis Mahmoud, and Ahmed Salah prioritised over Kareem, the younger player found himself switched to the right wing. He adapted quickly to his new position; it was on the wing that Kareem really came into his own.

Having thrived in his new role at the club level, he quickly broke into the Iraqi Olympic team under Adnan Hamad. There, he formed one half of a dynamic wing duo with Hawar Mulla Mohammed, whose surging down the left flank were as significant as Kareem's in breaking down opposition defences. Both figured prominently with the Iraq junior side as they came through Asia's hard-fought qualifying round to book an appearance at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where they would stun the watching world by storming into the last four.

The high point of Kareem's international career arrived later in the year when Iraq won their first continental title at year's AFC Asian Cup. He also figured prominently in Iraq's qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, scoring four times in the 7–0 victory over Pakistan. This display helped earn him a move to Al Ahly Tripoli, where he has scored 11 times in 18 appearances. Then he went to the Qatari Club Al-Khor, where he had a great season. In 2009, Iraq played disastrous Gulf Cup. After that he moved to the Iraqi club Arbil FC. He made great matches in the AFC Cup against Al-Kuwait, where he also scored a goal.

International goals Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 8 June 2005 King Abdullah Stadium, Amman 1–0 1–0 Friendly 2. 1 March 2006 Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain 1–0 2–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 3. 11 October 2006 Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain 2–1 4–2 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 4. 22 October 2007 Punjab Stadium, Lahore 2–0 7–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 5. 3–0 6. 6–0 7. 7–0 8. 17 May 2008 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus 1–2 1–2 Friendly 9. 9 June 2009 University of the Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town 1–0 1–1 Friendly 10. 18 November 2009 Tahnoun bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain 1–0 1–0 2009 UAE International Cup 11. 11 November 2010 Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah 2–0 2–0 Friendly

Honours

Club Iraqi Premier League Winner: 1 2011–12 with Erbil Iraq FA Cup Winner: 1 2002–03 with Al-Talaba Iraqi Super Cup Winner: 1 2002 with Al-Talaba Cypriot First Division Winner: 1 2005–06 with Apollon Limassol Cypriot Super Cup Winner: 1 2006 with Apollon Limassol

Country 4th place in 2004 Athens Olympics 2007 Asian Cup winner 2012 Arab Nations Cup Bronze medallist

Individual Champion with Apollon Limassol FC (CYP) in 2005–2006 Best Foreign Player (Libyan Premier League 2007–08) (voting sponsored by Libyana and Al-Madar) Goal of the Season (Libyan Premier League 2007–08, against Al-Madina) (voting sponsored by Libyana and Al-Madar)