Kassem El Zein

Kassem Mohammed El Zein (Arabic: قاسم محمد الزين‎, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ˈʔæːsim mˈħammad zˈzeːn]; born 2 December 1990) is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Kuwaiti club Al-Nasr, on loan from Lebanese club Nejmeh, and the Lebanon national team.[3] While initially starting out as a full-back, El Zein progressed into a centre-back with the years. His main abilities are his tackling and reading of the game.[4]

Kassem El Zein
El Zein with Nejmeh in 2019
Personal information
Full name Kassem Mohammed El Zein
Date of birth (1990-12-02) 2 December 1990
Place of birth Maarakeh, Lebanon[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Al-Nasr (on loan from Nejmeh)
Number 18
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011– Nejmeh 109 (4)
2020 → Al-Mina'a (loan) 0 (0)
2020– → Al-Nasr (loan) 0 (0)
National team‡
2014– Lebanon 18 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 June 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2019

El Zein began his senior career in 2011 at Nejmeh, playing for them in over 100 league matches. In 2020 he was sent on a three-month loan to Iraqi club Al-Mina'a. El Zein made his international debut for Lebanon in 2014, and was part of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup squad. He also works as a part-time chef at a hotel in Beirut.

Club career

On 28 January 2020, El Zein was sent on a three-month loan to Iraqi Premier League side Al-Mina'a.[5][6] He made his debut on 17 February 2020, in a 1–0 home win over Naft Al-Janoob in the first matchday of the season.[7] El Zein played four league games for Al-Mina'a; however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

On 18 June 2020, El Zein was sent on a one-year loan to Kuwaiti club Al-Nasr.[9]

International career

El Zein debuted for the Lebanon national team on 14 October 2014, in a friendly against Saudi Arabia.[3] In December 2018, he was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup,[2] where he played a group stage game against Saudi Arabia.[3]

Personal life

El Zein works as a part-time chef at L'Avenue Du Parc, a restaurant in Beirut. He stated that "while in other countries football can be a full-time job, in Lebanon it’s necessary for a player to have a second job."[10][11]

Honours and achievements

Club

Nejmeh[12]

Individual

Awards

  • Lebanese Football League Team of the Season: 2018–19[13]
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References
  1. "Kassem El Zein - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  2. "AC2019 Final Squads". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  3. "Kassem El Zein". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
  4. "The final 23: who are they?". Lebanese Football Review. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  5. Lebanon, Football. "الزين إلى الميناء العراقي لمدة 3 أشهر". football-lebanon.com. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  6. Nehme, Ale (18 February 2020). "Lebanese abroad: winter transfer window summary". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  7. "الزين يقود الميناء لفوزه الأول". football-lebanon.com. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  8. "الغاء دوري الكرة الممتاز بتوصيات من خلية الازمة". Almaalomah (in Arabic). 3 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  9. "نادي النصر يتعاقد مع قاسم الزين مدافع النجمة اللبناني لمدة موسم على سبيل الاعارة". q8hashtagat.com. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. "Lebanon and Nejmeh player Kassem Zein's second job: Chef of an excellent restaurant in Beirut". @falebanon. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  11. اللواء, جريدة. "السلة ليست وحدها!." جريدة اللواء (in Arabic). Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  12. "Lebanon - Kassem Al Zein - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  13. "معتوق ومرمر الأفضل هذا الموسم بحسب مهرجان المنار الـ 23". Mulhak (in Arabic). Retrieved 12 June 2019.
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