Wagdan Mahmoud Shadli (Arabic: وجدان الشاذلي; born 19 August 1964) is a former Yemeni international footballer.

Wagdan Shadli
Personal information
Full name Wagdan Mahmoud Shadli[1]
Date of birth (1964-08-19) 19 August 1964 (age 60)
Position(s) Right-winger
Youth career
1979–1982 Al-Shorta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1988 Al-Shorta
1988–1999 Al-Wehda (Aden)
International career
1980–1982 South Yemen youth
1984–1989 South Yemen
Yemen
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Shadli began his career with Al-Shorta, joining the club in 1979 before going on to make his debut in 1982.[2][3] He went on to join Al-Wehda, and spent eleven years with the club before retiring in November 1999.[2] Former teammate Munif Shaif stated that his decision to retire was partly due to a lack of gratitude shown to him by some Yemeni football fans, who questioned his patriotism and loyalty.[2]

After conceding a penalty in a game against Al-Wehda (Sanaa), the crowd began throwing cans and bottles onto the pitch, leading to the security forces using tear gas against the spectators. Shadli's reaction to the penalty decision, and remonstrating with the referee, were seen as the "cause" of the riots, and he was blamed in Yemeni media for the event.[3]

Following his retirement, he moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, citing his inability to find a job to be able to support himself and his family in Yemen.[3]

International career

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Shadli represented both the South Yemeni national football team, as well as the unified Yemen football team from 1990. In total, he scored over 16 goals in over 50 appearances at international level.[2]

Personal life

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Shadli has two sons, Adel and Wajd Al Chadli, both of whom played for Swiss club Sion, with Adel going on to forge a career in the United Arab Emirates.[4]

He has worked as an advisor to the Yemeni Ministry of Youth and Sports, Nayef al-Bakri.[5] In November 2022, he was appointed the Director General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Aden by the governor of Aden, Ahmed Lamlas.[6]

In January 2023, he criticised the Yemeni government for failing to instil a footballing culture in the country, following losses to Saudi Arabia and Oman.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Wagdan Shadli at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ a b c d "غزال اليمن الكابتن .. وجدان شاذلي .. بدأ كناشيء في نادي اتحاد الشرطة وتدرج في فئاته العمرية ثم لعب لوحدة عدن والمنتخبات حتى اعتزاله" [Ghazal Al-Yaman, Captain Wagdan Shadli, started as a youth in the Police Union club, and progressed through his age groups, then played for the Aden unit and the national teams until his retirement.]. alayyam.info (in Arabic). 4 November 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "الغزال اليمني المهاجر في سويسرا وجدان شاذلي،:هذه أسباب هجرتي من بلدي.. والوطن غالٍ على الجميع" [The Yemeni deer migrating to Switzerland, Wijdan Shazly: These are the reasons for my emigration from my country.]. yemeress.com (in Arabic). 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  4. ^ "المنتخب السويسري لكرة القدم يخطف اليمني عادل وجدان الشاذلي" [The Swiss national football team kidnaps Yemeni Adel Wgdan Al Chadli]. yemeninews.net (in Arabic). 30 November 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. ^ "المستشار وجدان الشاذلي ينعي وفاة زميله كابتن اخالد العسل" [Counselor Wagdan Shadli mourns the death of his colleague, Captain Khaled Al-Assal]. adengad.net (in Arabic). 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  6. ^ "محافظ عدن يكلف اسطورة الكرة العدنية وجدان الشاذلي مديرا عاما لمكتب الشباب والرياضة" [The Governor of Aden assigned the legend of Aden football, Wijdan Al-Shazly, as Director General of the Youth and Sports Office]. pressbee.net (in Arabic). 12 November 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  7. ^ "وجدان الشاذلي: لدينا مواهب كروية رائعة فمتى يستفيق مسؤولينا؟" [Wagdan Shadli: We have great football talents, so when will our officials wake up?]. aden-hura.com (in Arabic). 10 January 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.