After Al-Minaa Club entered into an administrative crisis last season, as FIFA imposed a ban on contracting players, it was forced to play with the academy players.[1] Despite all the difficulties, it was able to ensure its survival in the Iraq Stars League since the 35th round[2] and finished the league in 12th place,[3] which was considered a football miracle.[4] However, coach Hassan Ahmed apologized for continuing with the team and withdrew after the end of the season.[5][6] So the club's newly elected management[7][8] began contracting with Spanish coach Pablo Grandes in 29 July to prepare a team that would compete for the league.[9][10][11][12]
The Iraq Stars League summer transfer window runs from 2 August to 2 September 2024.[13] Al-Minaa announced from the first day the renewal of the contract of right back Hameed Ali Hameed.[14]
On 10 August, coach Pablo Grandes arrived in Basra from Spain with his assistant Iván McCarroll to officially lead the Al-Minaa team.[26] He was introduced to the media as the coach of Al-Minaa, and he said in the press conference that he wanted to compete for advanced positions in the league and that he chose Al-Minaa because it is the oldest club among the Iraqi clubs and that he would work to create a competitive team.[27][28]
On 13 August, the club announced the signing of 29-year-old Zimbabwean international centre back Gerald Takwara from Saudi club Ohod.[33][34] Centre back Mohammed Ghaleb's contract was also renewed, as was goalkeeper Abed Saleem Hammad's contract after he returned from loan to Amanat Baghdad.[33] On August 15, 16 and 17, the contracts of defenders Mojtaba Ali and Abbas Yas and striker Salem Ahmed were renewed.[35][36] On 18 August, the club renewed the contracts of left-back Muslim Mousa and left-winger Karrar Jaafar, and a day later announced the signing of 23-year-old midfielder Amir Ahmed from Al-Naft.[37] On 21 August, the club renewed the contract of right-back Karrar Al-Amir Ali.[38]
On 26 August , the club announced the signing of 30-year-old striker Mohannad Abdul-Raheem from Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.[39][40] It also announced the signing of 24-year-old Spanish right-back Raúl Parra from Portuguese club Estoril.[41][42][43] Thus, the club announced the completion of the six professional players,[44] according to the IFA regulations, which requires that the number of professional players not exceed six players.[45]
On 27 August, the club announced the signing of 36-year-old striker Alaa Abdul-Zahra from Al-Shorta.[46][47] On 28 August, the club announced the signing of 28-year-old Swedish defensive midfielder of Iraqi origin, Sumar Almadjed, from the Swedish club Helsingborgs IF.[48][49] On 30 August, the club announced the signing of 24-year-old Swedish defensive midfielder of Iraqi origin, André Alsanati, from the Swedish club IK Sirius.[50]
The 2024 WAFF U-16 Championship took place in Jordan from 2–11 September. Two Al-Minaa first-team players were named in squads for the tournament, Ammar Ali and Zain Al-Abidin Jassim. They played in the starting lineup in the first match against Lebanon in 4 September, and Jassim scored two goals.[51]
The Iraqi U-20 team left for China in 1 September to play two friendly matches against China in preparation for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification.[52] The travelling delegation was joined by three Al-Minaa first-team players who had previously been named in the squad: Karrar Jaafar, Muslim Mousa and Mohammed Ghaleb.[53]
On 1 September, Al-Minaa announced a pre-season tour to Antalya, and the following day it was also announced that Spanish match analyst Daniel Casas Trillo had joined the coaching staff, as he joined the team in Antalya with player Raúl Parra.[55]
On 7 September, Tunisian Abdallah Amri and Gabonese Clech Loufilou joined the team’s training in Antalya, along with 20-year-old goalkeeper Abbas Karim, who officially signed Al-Minaa from Al-Shorta.[57]
On 10 September, Al-Minaa played against the Iraq Stars League club Al-Zawraa in their second friendly match. Sajjad Alaa gave Al-Minaa an early lead. Lolo Plá scored a second goal, while Ibrahim Ghazi scored for Al-Zawraa. In the second half, Hasan Abdulkareem scored for Al-Zawraa to end the match 2–2.[58]
On 14 September, Al-Minaa played their third friendly match against Turkish Regional Amateur League club Kumluca Belediye Spor, with Hameed Ali Hameed scoring the only goal of the match in the second half to help Al-Minaa win 1-0, and with that the team ended their 14-day pre-season tour in Turkey and returned to Iraq the following day.[59]
Starting XI for the Iraq Stars League home match against Al-Hudood on 22 September 2024
Grandes's side kicked off their Iraqi Star League campaign with a 2–1 win over Al-Hudood at home on 22 September. Al-Hudood's Hussein Jabbar in a 19th-minute opener with an own goal after Parra's free kick hit Jabbar's head and changed direction, deceiving the goalkeeper. Almadjed added the second goal in the 51st minute after an assist from Lolo, while Atheer Saleh scored the only goal for the visiting team after three minutes from a free kick.[60] Three first-team players missed the match, as the U-20 coach, Emad Mohammed, selected them to participate in the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification in Thailand, which will be played from September 25 to 29. They are Muslim Musa, Mohammed Ghaleb and Karrar Jaafar.[61] They played in the starting lineup in the first match against Brunei and Karrar Jaafar scored two goals in this match.[62]
Al-Minaa travelled to the capital to face Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya at Al-Shaab Stadium in second round. Lolo opened the scoring from long range in the 23th minute. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya drew level with a penalty kick scored by Saad Abdul-Amir on 88 minutes. Mustafa Saadoon completed the turnaround for Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in the extra time. The 2–1 loss left the Al-Minaa sitting sixth in the league table.[63]
Updated to match(es) played on 20 September 2024. Source: IPFL Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) number of wins.
The following two players scored for Al-Minaa's first team during the season.
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by squad number when season-total goals are equal. Players with no goals not included in the list.
The following one player registered their assists for Al-Minaa's first team during the season.
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by squad number when season-total assists are equal. Players with no assists not included in the list.
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by red cards, then yellow cards (and by squad number when total cards are equal). Players with no cards not included in the list.
Includes all competitions for senior teams. The list is sorted by squad number when season-total number of games where a player started as captain are equal. Players with no games started as captain not included in the list.
Sur
Rosengård
RS Berkane
Ohod
Estoril
Dare Olatunji
William Jebor
Habib Omar Fofana
Sebastian Baltateanu
