1. Early Life and Background
Adnan Haidar was born on 3 August 1989 in Drammen, Norway. He spent his formative years growing up in the capital city of Oslo, specifically residing in the Klemetsrud neighborhood. This upbringing in a diverse urban environment shaped his early experiences and laid the foundation for his future in football.
2. Club Career
Adnan Haidar's club career spanned several teams in Norway and one in Lebanon, marking his progression from a promising youth talent to a seasoned professional.
2.1. Youth Career
Haidar began his football journey in the youth sector of Klemetsrud, his local club. In 2001, he transitioned to the youth department of Vålerenga, a prominent club in Norwegian football, where he continued his development and honed his skills.
2.2. Vålerenga
Haidar signed his first professional contract with Vålerenga in 2008, marking the beginning of his senior club career.
2.2.1. 2008 Season
Haidar made his professional debut for Vålerenga on 15 September 2008, coming on as a substitute against Lyn. In his inaugural professional season, he made three appearances across all competitions. A significant achievement in his debut year was winning the Norwegian Football Cup with Vålerenga.
2.2.2. 2009: Loan to Skeid
For the entire 2009 season, Haidar was loaned out to Skeid. During his spell at Skeid, he gained valuable first-team experience, making 11 appearances in the Norwegian First Division.
2.2.3. 2010 Season
Haidar returned to Vålerenga for the 2010 season. He scored his first and second senior goals for the club in his first game back from loan, in a Norwegian Cup match against Oppsal. He then made his first Tippeligaen appearance of the season in an emphatic 8-1 victory against Start. He concluded the 2010 season with a total of six appearances and two goals across all competitions.
2.2.4. 2011 Season
In his final season with Vålerenga in 2011, Haidar featured in ten Tippeligaen matches, one Norwegian Cup game, and one UEFA Europa League fixture before sustaining an injury late in the season. This injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. At the end of the season, Vålerenga offered him a new contract, but Haidar chose to reject it, seeking more opportunities for first-team football. He subsequently became a free agent. In total, he made 21 appearances and scored two goals over three seasons for Vålerenga. Following his departure, he went on trial with English club Burnley but did not secure a contract, and later declined a second trial offer from the club.
2.3. Stabæk
In January 2012, Adnan Haidar signed with Stabæk as a free agent and was assigned the number 10 shirt.
2.3.1. 2012 Season
Haidar made his debut for Stabæk on the opening day of the 2012 season, on 25 March, in a 0-0 draw against Aalesund. He played a significant role for the club during this season in the Tippeligaen.
2.3.2. 2013 Season
After Stabæk was relegated to the Norwegian First Division, Haidar remained with the team for the 2013 season. He was an integral part of the squad that successfully secured promotion back to the Tippeligaen after just one season in the second tier. Following the team's promotion, Haidar was released from his contract and became free to seek a new club.
2.4. Later Club Career
Following his departure from Stabæk, Haidar continued his career with several clubs. In 2014, he joined Bryne, playing in the Norwegian First Division. For the 2015 season, he moved to HamKam in the Norwegian Second Division. In 2016, he signed with Moss, also in the Norwegian Second Division. He then played for KFUM in the Norwegian Second Division in 2017.
In the 2017-18 season, Haidar moved to Lebanon, joining Ansar in the Lebanese Premier League. He remained with Ansar until the 2019-20 season. In the summer of 2021, Haidar returned to Norway, joining Holmlia in the 4. divisjon.
2.5. Current Club
On 22 February 2022, Adnan Haidar joined Klemetsrud IL, the club where he started his youth career, taking on the role of a player-assistant coach. He continues to play for Klemetsrud in the Norwegian Sixth Division while contributing to the team's development from a coaching perspective.
3. International Career
Adnan Haidar has represented both Norway at the youth level and Lebanon at the senior international level, showcasing his talent on the international stage.
3.1. Norway Youth National Team
Haidar represented Norway at various youth international levels. In 2005, he played nine matches for the under-16 team. He continued his youth international career in 2008, making seven appearances for the under-19 team.
3.2. Lebanon National Team
In October 2012, Haidar received his first call-up to represent the Lebanon national football team. He made his senior international debut for Lebanon in a friendly match against Yemen on 16 October 2012. Haidar scored his first goal for Lebanon on 8 December 2012, in a 2012 WAFF Championship match against Oman, securing a 1-0 victory for his team.
In December 2018, Haidar was included in Lebanon's squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. During the tournament, he made an appearance against North Korea on 17 January 2019, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute in a match that Lebanon won 4-1.
4. Player Style
Adnan Haidar is recognized as an all-round midfielder. His playing style is characterized by a strong physical presence on the pitch, which he combines effectively with excellent ball control. These attributes allow him to contribute significantly in both defensive and offensive aspects of the game.
5. Career Statistics
The following table provides a comprehensive statistical breakdown of Adnan Haidar's performances across his club and international career. The "National cup" column includes appearances in the Norwegian Football Cup and Lebanese FA Cup. The "Continental" column includes appearances in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds and the AFC Cup. The "Other" column includes appearances in the OBOS Cup (Oslomesterskapet).
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Vålerenga 2 | 2010 | Norwegian Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Vålerenga | 2008 | Tippeligaen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2010 | Tippeligaen | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||||
| 2011 | Tippeligaen | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||||
| Skeid (loan) | 2009 | Norwegian First Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Stabæk 2 | 2012 | Norwegian Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | Norwegian Third Division | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||||
| Stabæk | 2012 | Tippeligaen | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2013 | Norwegian First Division | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 20 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 43 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||||
| Bryne 2 | 2014 | Norwegian Third Division | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 2 | ||||
| Bryne | 2014 | Norwegian First Division | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 20 | 0 | ||||
| HamKam | 2015 | Norwegian Second Division | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 1 | ||||
| Moss 2 | 2016 | Norwegian Fourth Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Moss | 2016 | Norwegian Second Division | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 1 | ||||
| KFUM 2 | 2017 | Norwegian Fourth Division | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 2 | ||||
| KFUM | 2017 | Norwegian Second Division | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 3 | ||||
| Ansar | 2017-18 | Lebanese Premier League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 21 | 0 | |||||
| 2018-19 | Lebanese Premier League | 21 | 1 | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||||||
| 2019-20 | Lebanese Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | ||||||
| Holmlia | 2021 | Norwegian Fourth Division | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |||
| Klemetsrud | 2022 | Norwegian Sixth Division | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 227 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 245 | 19 | ||||
International goals
Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Haidar goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 December 2012 | Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, Al Farwaniyah, Kuwait | Oman | 0-1 | 0-1 | 2012 WAFF Championship |
6. Honours
Adnan Haidar has earned several team and individual honours throughout his career:
Vålerenga
- Norwegian Football Cup: 2008
- Tippeligaen runner-up: 2010
Ansar
- Lebanese Premier League runner-up: 2018-19
- Lebanese FA Cup runner-up: 2018-19
- Lebanese Elite Cup runner-up: 2019
- Lebanese Super Cup runner-up: 2017, 2019
Individual
- Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season: 2018-19
7. Coaching Career
Adnan Haidar transitioned into coaching while continuing his playing career. On 22 February 2022, he joined Klemetsrud IL as a player-assistant coach. In this role, he contributes to the team's strategic development and player guidance while still actively participating on the field. This move signifies his commitment to nurturing new talent and contributing to the club's growth, particularly in the community where his football journey began.