Jasem Yaqoub


Jasem Yaqoub Sultan Al-Besara is a Kuwaiti former professional footballer. 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. In the 1979/1980 season, he became to first player to win the Arabian Golden Boot with 31 goals in 26 matches.
He also helped his team win the Emir Cup several times, 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