Tarek Salman
Tarek Salman Suleiman Odeh was born on the 5th of December 1997, and started out in his hometown club, Al-Wakrah SC, playing as a striker. Today he lines up as a center-back for Al-Sadd in the Qatar Stars League and turns out for the Qatar national team. Somewhere between the two, an attacking schoolboy became a defensive anchor. What reshaped his game, and what did a run of Spanish clubs add along the way?
Aspire Academy brought him in for the 2008-09 season and had him learn the game as a defender instead of a forward. During those same youth years he also turned out for Lekhwiya, broadening his experience within Qatar's academy system.
Salman then crossed to Spain, training with both Deportivo Alaves and Real Sociedad C while still a teenager. That Spanish education would soon carry him onto a senior roster far from Qatar.
In November 2016, Salman signed with Spanish club Cultural Leonesa, marking the start of his senior career. The following year, he moved to Atletico Astorga, a side in Spain's fourth-tier Tercera Division.
On the 23rd of September 2017, he featured in a Tercera Division fixture against Almazan that finished 1-1. His path from there led back to Qatar, where trophies awaited on a different stage.
Salman's first taste of a major international tournament came in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. There, he made a single appearance for Qatar's youth team.
With Al-Sadd, Salman claimed the Qatar Stars League title in the 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He added the Qatar Cup in 2020 and 2021, plus the Emir of Qatar Cup in those same two years. The Qatari Stars Cup followed in the 2019-20 season.
With the Qatar national team, Salman has been part of AFC Asian Cup-winning squads in 2019 and 2023. With his contract at Al-Sadd ongoing and Qatar still competing internationally, more entries could yet be added to that list of honours.
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Common questions
When was Tarek Salman born?
Tarek Salman Suleiman Odeh was born on the 5th of December 1997.
What position does Tarek Salman play for Al Sadd and Qatar?
Tarek Salman plays as a center-back for Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd and for the Qatar national team.
Which Spanish clubs did Tarek Salman play for?
Salman started his senior career in November 2016 with Cultural Leonesa, then joined Tercera Division club Atletico Astorga in 2017. As a youth player he had earlier trained in Spain with Deportivo Alaves and Real Sociedad C.
What trophies has Tarek Salman won with Al-Sadd?
With Al-Sadd, Salman has won the Qatar Stars League in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22, the Qatar Cup in 2020 and 2021, the Emir of Qatar Cup in 2020 and 2021, and the Qatari Stars Cup in 2019-20.
Has Tarek Salman won the AFC Asian Cup with Qatar?
Yes, Salman has been part of Qatar's AFC Asian Cup-winning squads in 2019 and 2023. He also made one appearance for Qatar's youth team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Where did Tarek Salman begin his youth career?
Salman started out at his hometown club, Al-Wakrah SC, where he played as a striker before joining Aspire Academy for the 2008-09 season and switching to defense.
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7 references cited across the entry
- 1FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019: List of Players: Al-Sadd SCFIFA — 5 December 2019
- 2MagazineHeadwayAspire Academy — September 2016
- 3Abdullah abre camino a TarekPablo Campos — Cadena SER — 9 November 2016
- 4Abdullah Al Ahrak y Tarek Salman, mediocentros para la CulturalJesús Coca Aguilera — 2 June 2016
- 5El Atlético Astorga sigue a la espera de nuevos fichajesR. Arias — Diario de León — 5 August 2017
- 6El Almazán frena la euforia del comienzo de liga del AstorgaAstorga Redacción — 23 September 2017