The musician.. The career of one of the best stars of Black Mesopotamia

One of the most important Iraqi football stars throughout the ages, titled as the musician, and a midfield maestro, a playmaker who was distinguished by his exceptional vision and his passes that penetrate the opponents’ defenses, and the ability to score from long distances, one of the most important reasons why Iraq won the first historical title in the 2007 Asian Cup, after winning against the Saudi giant, and won the award for the best player in the final match, and also came third in the award for the best Asian, and when he was 17 years old, he contributed greatly to the achievement of the youth of Iraq in the Asian Cup in 2000, and also had an active role in qualifying Iraq for the Asian Cup 2004, and the 2004 Athens Olympics.

He is the son of Hilla (Babylon), Akram Abdul Ali Al-Issa, who was born on September 12, 1984, and began his football career in Salah El-Din Club, and appeared for the first time in the 1999/2000 season, under the leadership of the great coach Amo Baba, and scored his first goal for the team in front of Samawa in the local cup, during a match that ended in favor of Salah El-Din 6/1.

In 2000, Akram moved to Al-Shurta Club at the age of 16, and attracted great attention. In 2001, he was loaned to Al-Zawraa to participate with them in the Asian Club Championship, then returned to the team’s starting line-up, and led it to win the Iraqi Elite Cup, and reach the final of the Iraqi Federation Cup, At the time, he was called up to the youth team, and was later nominated for the Best Asian Young Player award.

After a more than wonderful performance in the Friendship Cup, the Yugoslavian coach Ljubisha Tombakovic chose him to join the Saudi team, but he spent only one season in which 3 coaches chased after him, then he moved to the Saudi Al-Shabab in the 2004 season, and achieved with it the league title, and achieved it again in 2006, and won the award of Best foreign player.

In August 2008, Nashat Akram signed a one-year contract with the Emirati Al Ain for one million dollars, and he was just around the corner from playing in the English Premier League, which was like a big dream for Akram, through Manchester City, when Goran Eriksson chose him, who was amazed by his capabilities, in a contract that was offered to him for a period of two and a half years, but he faced a big problem by FIFA’s refusal to obtain a work permit, because of Iraq’s classification outside the top 70 in the world, to return to Al-Ain, then he moved to Al-Gharafa in April 2008, and he won the league with it in the 2008/2009 season, And the 2009 Emir of Qatar Cup, with which he scored 10 goals.

While he was with Al-Gharafa, Nashat Akram received an invitation from the Saudi Al-Nasr to participate in honoring the legend Majed Abdullah against Real Madrid stars. He participated in the meeting for 75 minutes, assisted the first goal, and scored the second, and the meeting ended with the victory of Al-Nasr 4/1.

On May 19, 2009, Akram signed a three-year contract with the Dutch FC Twente, which was a compensation for his Man City dream, and he and the Dutch league with it in the 2009/2010 season, but he faced many difficulties within the club, especially his injury and his departure from playing, so that the contract was canceled and he moved to Al-Wakra Club in November 2010, and for only one season, after which he left for the league title holder, Lekhwiya in July 2011, he faced some problems, and in January 2012 he returned to Al-Wakra again, to play alongside the Iraqi stars, Younis Mahmoud, Alaa Abdel-Zahra, and Ali Rahima, to win the Qatar Stars Cup with them, and he scored the winning goal against his former club Lekhwiya in the semi-finals.

In 2012, Nashat Akram contracted with Al-Nasr Dubai, and in February 2013 he returned to his homeland Iraq through the gate of his former club Al-Shurta, after 10 years away from home, and in the return season he won the Iraqi League title for the third time.

In February 2014, Nashat moved to the Chinese Super League with Dalian Arpin. He played 3 matches for it and then stopped for an injury. Later he did not adapt to the lifestyle in China. He terminated his contract and returned to Al-Shurta in August 2014, and played only two matches, after which he left the club for administrative reasons, and in February 2015, he moved to Erbil, to play the AFC Cup matches only, then announced his retirement in April 2015.

At the international level, Nashat Akram made his name as the star of the Iraq U-17 team under the supervision of Amo Baba, who finished second in the AFC Asian Cup qualifying group in July 2000. Adnan Hamad later called him up to the Iraq U19 team, and he was instrumental in defeating Pakistan 6-0, he scored two goals in 6 minutes, and was a regular player until he was substituted in the first half against South Korea due to a tactical change, later appeared late in the games and created openings through his inspirational play. Due to his efforts Iraq won the 2000 Asian Youth Championship and qualified for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, and later he was nominated for Asian Footballer of the Year.

He also made his international debut with the first team on October 5, 2001 in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in Oman at the age of only 17 years and 23 days. On June 15, 2008, Nashat Akram scored a goal against China in China, to achieve an important 2-1 victory for Iraq and give hope To qualify for the next stage.

In the 2014 Asian World Cup qualifiers, he provided a crucial assist for Younis Mahmoud against China, and in the next match he scored two goals in Iraq’s 3-1 victory over Jordan to allow Iraq to advance to the last round of the 2014 Asian World Cup qualifiers, and also scored a penalty kick in Iraq’s victory 7- 1 over Singapore which helped take the group lead, then scored again in Iraq’s opening match in the final round of the 2014 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Jordan, although the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Before that and after the 2003 war, although he was one of the youngest players in the team, he was named the captain of the Olympic team by Adnan Hamad. During the Friendship Cup, Nashat Akram helped his team qualify for the 2004 Olympics and was part of the team in the finals. The Iraqi Olympic team finished fourth and lost to Italy 0-1

In the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, Nashat Akram was a key factor, his unique vision and mentality helped the team win the cup, and he was part of almost all of Iraq’s goals in the AFC Asian Cup, scoring the opening goal against Australia 3-1 in the 23rd minute, and assisting the second goal, and contributed to the third goal.

Nashaat Akram won the best player award in two matches, the first against Australia and the second against Saudi Arabia in the final match, and in the same year he was ranked third for the best football player in Asia.