Areej Ahmed Mohammed Salim Al Hammadi (born 13 February 1986) often known mononymously as Areej, is an Emirati association football player who plays as a midfielder, forward and winger currently for Precision Football . She has previously played for Al Wahda and Abu Dhabi Country Club and has represented the United Arab Emirates women's national football team.[1] Having on all major national club awards as a player she is widely regarded as one of the most influential women's footballers in the United Arab Emirates.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Areej Ahmed Mohammed Salim Al Hammadi | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, Forward, Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Precision Football | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004-2009 | American University in Dubai | ||
| 2009-2011 | Dubai Waves | ||
| 2011-2013 | Dubai SandStorm | ||
| 2013–2016 | Al Wahda | ||
| 2016–2021 | Abu Dhabi Country Club | ||
| 2021–2022 | La Liga HPC | 14 | (4) |
| 2022–2023 | Onyx FC | 12 | (3) |
| 2023– | Precision Football | 11 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017– | United Arab Emirates | 41 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024 | |||
Club career
editAl Hammadi began her career playing with her family and in tournaments that allowed for women's participation. She then played for her university's women's team, before playing in seven-a-side community leagues, such as the Dubai Women's Football Association where she was scouted for the national team.[3]
She began her professional career with Al Wahda before moving to Abu Dhabi Country Club in July 2016. She appeared at the 2019 WAFF Women's Clubs Championship in Aqaba, Jordan with the Abu Dhabi Country Club, scoring a brace to lead the team to victory in its final group game.
She played with the Fuelees team in Neymar Jr's Five, a five-a-side tournament.[4]
In 2022, she played with Onyx FC in the UAE Women's Football League, finishing second.
In 2023-2024 season, she played with Precision Football finishing second in the UAE Women's Football League.
International career
editIn August 2015, Al Hammadi won her first cap for United Arab Emirates. She participated in the 2015 Aphrodite Cup in Cyprus, the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification in Tajikistan, and the 2019 WAFF Women's Championship in Bahrain.
She participated in qualifying for the 2022 Asian Cup, though the UAE failed to make the finals.[5]
Al Hammadi has also trained and played for the UAE national futsal team.
Records
editShe holds two Guinness World Records in sports. One of which in Hotstepping in 2020.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ https://www.areejalhammadi.com/company
- ^ https://aeworld.com/lifestyle/meet-emirati-footballer-areej-al-hammadi/
- ^ https://me.mashable.com/culture/39577/areej-al-hammadi-breaking-barriers-bouncing-high-womenofprogress
- ^ https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/neymar-tournament-inspires-emirati-player-to-expand-women-s-football-1.1201047
- ^ https://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/20831
- ^ https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/watch-female-emirati-footballer-smashes-hotstepping-world-record-1.1057895
- ^ https://en.vogue.me/culture/areej-al-hammadi-breaks-hotstepper-guinness-world-record/