Tarak Dhiab
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tarak Dhiab | ||
| Date of birth | January 15, 1954 | ||
| Place of birth | Tunis, Tunisia | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| ES Tunis | |||
| Al-Ahli SC | |||
| ES Tunis | |||
| National team | |||
| 1978–1989 | Tunisia | 101 | (17) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Tarak Dhiab (Arabic: طارق ذياب, born January 15, 1954 in Tunis) is a former footballer from Tunisia. The African Footballer of the Year in 1977, he is listed by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football as having 107 caps for the Tunisian national football team,[1] although this number has not been ratified by FIFA. At the 1978 FIFA World Cup, he was a member of the Tunisian national team that was the first national team from African to win a World Cup match. Tarak Dhiab was chosen The Tunisian footballer of the 20th century.
He has served as Minister of Youth and Sports under Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali since December 24, 2011.
Biography
Early life
Dhiab's football talent was discovered by his uncle, Hedi Dhiab, who developed Tarak's ambidexterity. Dhiab joined the Tunisian club team Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
Soccer career
Dhiab assumed the midfield role with superb passing skills and an excellent scoring record from midfield. He formed a sound understanding with winger Témime Lahzami both at Espérance and on the Tunisian national team.
Dhiab was awarded the African Footballer of the Year title in 1977 and played a pivotal role in helping Tunisia qualifying for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. At the World Cup, Tunisia won a group stage match 3–1 against Mexico, becoming the first national team from Africa to win a match at the World Cup.[2] In coverage relating to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Dhiab was mentioned as Tunisia's "World Cup legend" by the BBC[3] and as one of Tunisia's greatest World Cup players by the CBC.[4]
He is widely regarded as one of Tunisia's all-time greats, and arguably the greatest midfield playmaker the country has produced. Though he never played in a major European league, many believe he was able to hold his own among international playmakers in this period. Dhiab's international career spanned 15 years; his final international match came against England in 1990.
Personal life
Dhiab's younger brother Lassad Dhiab also followed his footsteps and joined Esperance, having a productive career.
Dhiab is now a television football analyst. He is also a businessman,[2] and Tunisian magazine Réalités reported in 2004 that he was trying to start his own satellite sports channel.[5]
Honours
Personal
- Best African Footballer of the Year in 1977
- Best player of the Saudi Professional League in 1983
- Best Tunisian player of the century
Clubs
- Win the Tunisian Ligue six times in 1975, 1976, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989 with ES Tunis
- Win the Tunisian President Cup five times in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1989 with ES Tunis
- Win the Saudi King's Cup in 1983 with Al-Ahli SC
- Runner-up in the 1986 Arab Club Champions Cup with ES Tunis
National team
- Participation 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina
- Participation in the 1988 Summer Olympics Games in Seoul
References
- ↑ "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008. External link in
|publisher=(help) - 1 2 Huesu, Emmanuel (May 24, 2002). "1978: Tunisia break the jinx". BBC Sport Online. Retrieved March 24, 2008. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ "Tunisia team guide". BBC Sport Online. May 22, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2008. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ "World Cup 2006 – Teams – Tunisia". CBC Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2008. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ "4 New TV Stations for Tunisia". February 25, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
External links
- Tarak Dhiab at National-Football-Teams.com
 | ||
| ||