Yussef Suleiman

Yussef Suleiman

Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-09-17)17 September 1986
Place of birth	Homs, Syria
Date of death	20 February 2013(2013-02-20) (aged 26)
Place of death	Baramkeh, Damascus, Syria
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Centre forward
Youth career
	Al-Karamah
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2013	Al-Karamah
2013	Al-Wathba SC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yussef Suleiman (Arabic: يوسف سليمان, also transcribed as Sleman; 17 September 1986 – 20 February 2013) was a Syrian football player.

Suleiman was born in Homs and last played for Al-Wathba SC. He was killed by a mortar shell fired by the armed opposition during the Syrian civil war, while preparing for training practice inside a hotel in Baramkeh, Damascus.^[1] The attack occurred a few hours before the team was to play a league game against the Hama-based Nawair club at Tishreen Stadium in Damascus.^[2]

Suleiman's teammates reported that he was the father of a six-month-old baby. FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed his condolences in an open letter to the Syrian Football Association.^[3]

Suleiman played for Al Karamah in the 2008 AFC Champions League knockout stages.^[4][5][6]

Notes

According to some sources, Suleiman was 19 years old at the time of his death.^[7][8]

References

1. "Syrian footballer killed in Damascus mortar attack". the Guardian. Associated Press. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
2. "صحيفة تشرين • والد اللاعب الشهيد يوسف سليمان لـ"تشرين": ربيته ليصبح لاعباً ومهندساً فكان ما أردت". Retrieved 26 October 2014.
3. "Blatter sends condolences after Syria youth international is killed". Goal.com. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
4. "AFC Champions League 2008 MATCH SUMMARY". AFC Champions League. 17 September 2008.
5. "Official ACL Media Guide 2008" (PDF). the-afc.com. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
6. "BBC News – Syria footballer 'killed in Damascus stadium attack'". BBC News. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
7. "Blatter sends condolences after Syria youth international is killed". Goal.com. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
8. "Syrian footballer killed in Damascus mortar attack". the Guardian. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2014.