Najim Haidary

Najim Haidary

Personal information
Full name	Abdul Najim Haidary[1]
Date of birth	(1999-12-26) 26 December 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands[1]
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre back, Left back
Team information
Current team	VV Capelle
Youth career
0000–2018	Excelsior
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Barendrecht	3	(0)
2019–2022	Den Bosch	0	(0)
2022	ASWH	15	(0)
2022–2023	ENAD	2	(0)
2023	Ariana FC
2023	GVV Unitas	8	(0)
2024–	VV Capelle
International career^‡
2019–	Afghanistan	12	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2024

Abdul Najim Haidary (Dari: عبدالنجم حیدری; born 26 December 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for VV Capelle. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Afghanistan national team.

Club career

Having progressed through the academy of Excelsior Rotterdam, Haidary joined Tweede Divisie side BVV Barendrecht in 2018, going on to make his debut for the club later the same year. After three appearances, he joined Eerste Divisie side FC Den Bosch in 2019, but during his time with the club he suffered a serious knee injury which side-lined him for eight months, and he was unable to make his debut.[2]

In February 2022, he returned to the Tweede Divisie with ASWH.[3][4] However, despite making fifteen appearances, he could not help prevent the club being relegated to the Derde Divisie.[2] Ahead of the 2022–23 season, in August 2022, he moved to Cyprus, joining Cypriot Third Division side ENAD.[5]

After only two appearances for ENAD, Haidary moved to Sweden, joining Ettan Fotboll side Ariana.[6]

International career

Haidary was eligible to represent both Afghanistan and the Netherlands at international level, and during his time in the academy of Excelsior Rotterdam, his coach, Marinus Barendregt, was in contact with then-manager of the Afghanistan national football team, Anoush Dastgir, informing Dastgir that Haidary was a player in the team with Afghan roots.[7]

In December 2018, having made his debut in the Tweede Divisie for Barendrecht, but still mostly featuring for their second team, Haidary received a call-up to the Afghanistan national football team for a training camp.[8] The following year, he made his international debut in a 1–1 friendly draw with Tajikistan, and by October of the same year, he had already featured in two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification games.[7]

Following his call-up in November 2021, he stated that he was proud to represent Afghanistan, and that he played for the country, not for the Taliban, who had taken control of the nation earlier in the year, forcing the national team to play their home games in other countries.[9]

Personal life

Though he was born in Amsterdam, Haidary's parents live in Afghanistan, and in August 2021, following the 2021 Taliban offensive, he stated that the situation was "very scary" and that he feared for his family.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 15 September 2023.[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
BVV Barendrecht	2018–19	Tweede Divisie	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
FC Den Bosch	2019–20	Eerste Divisie	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2021–22		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
ASWH	2021–22	Tweede Divisie	15	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
ENAD	2022–23	Cypriot Third Division	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Ariana	2023	Ettan Fotboll	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			20	0	0	0	0	0	20	0

Notes

International

As of matches played 17 October 2023.[12]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Afghanistan	2019	4	0
	2020	–
	2021	2	0
	2022	2	0
	2023	2	0
Total		8	0

References

1. Najim Haidary at WorldFootball.net
2. "Najim Haidary, nu al de ervaring van een veteraan bij ASWH" [Najim Haidary, already the experience of a veteran at ASWH]. voetbaljournaal.com (in Dutch). 28 June 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
3. "ASWH trek ook Najim Haidary aan" [ASWH also sign Najim Haidary]. aswh.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
4. Brink, Peter (9 February 2022). "ASWH haalt Aghaans-international weg bij FC Den Bosch" [ASWH takes Aghaans international away from FC Den Bosch]. voetbal247.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
5. "ΕΚΛΕΙΣΕ και φέρνει Κύπρο τον Νατζίμ" [CLOSED and brings Najim to Cyprus]. tothemaonline.com (in Greek). 27 August 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
6. "Najim Haidary klar för Ariana FC" [Najim Haidary ready for Ariana FC]. arianafc.com (in Swedish). 1 February 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
7. Grol, Sjors (4 October 2019). "Jong Den Bosch-talent mag zich melden bij nationale ploeg Afghanistan: 'Elke keer weer kippenvel'" [Young Den Bosch talent can report to Afghanistan national team: 'Goosebumps every time']. bd.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
8. "BVV-talent Najim Haidary loopt stage bij nationaal team Afghanistan" [BVV talent Najim Haidary is doing an internship with the Afghanistan national team]. bvvbarendrecht.nl (in Dutch). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
9. Martens, Jan (12 November 2021). "'Ik voetbal voor mijn land, niet voor de Taliban', Najim Haidary is opnieuw op pad met het Afghaans elftal" ['I play football for my country, not for the Taliban', Najim Haidary is back on the road with the Afghan national team]. bd.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
10. Martens, Jan (21 August 2021). "FC Den Bosch-voetballer Najim Haidary vreest voor zijn familie in Afghanistan: "Het is echt enorm eng"" [FC Den Bosch footballer Najim Haidary fears for his family in Afghanistan: "It is really scary"]. bd.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
11. Najim Haidary at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
12. Najim Haidary at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

• Najim Haidary at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)