Majed Naser’s career seems doomed to the melancholy repository of “what might have been”.
He might have been the country’s greatest goalkeeper since Muhsin Musabah. He might have been the man to lead the UAE back to the World Cup. He might have won championships for club and country.
Instead, he is the player whose lack of self control led to so many regrettable episodes that his CV is more about bans and fines than the skill, athleticism and ferocious will to win that, at times, made him the best player in the country.
In 2011, Naser in the net was the linchpin of UAE coach Srecko Katanec’s Asian Cup strategy. He was that good.
The Slovenian had no idea who would score for the Emiratis, but he was confident Naser would concede grudgingly, and he was proved right. A 0-0 draw with North Korea. Another 0-0 on the cards until Walid Abbas’s own goal in the third minute of added time. Then a 3-0 loss to Iran that included another Abbas own goal.
It was Naser in net as the 2014 World Cup qualifying third round began. He was beaten for three by Kuwait and Lebanon, but Katanec had lost the team by then and the goalkeeper was not the problem.
Soon after that, Naser's renewed bad behaviour with his club side, Al Wasl, derailed his career. He slapped Al Ahli coach Quique Sanchez Flores after a game, was handed a 17-match ban, announced his retirement, then changed his mind.
He came back in time to butt an Al Muharraq player in the 10th minute of the Gulf Clubs Cup final and was sent off, dooming Diego Maradona's club to defeat.
He moved to Ahli, snapped his Achilles' tendon while celebrating a victory over Dubai, which ended his season after one match, and now this – a six-month ban and a Dh200,000 fine for spitting at a referee.
Will he play again? At 31, he could. Given his history of rage, he should not.
poberjuerge@thenational.ae
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