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Hassan Ali "Soony" Saad (born August 17, 1992) is an American-Lebanese soccer player who plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.
Youth and College
Saad set a state single-season record with 76 goals in his 2009 season while concluding his high school career with a state record 172 goals, plus 51 assists; breaking previous state high school single-season goals record of 69 set in 2000, and previous state high school career goals record of 169 set in 1995.[2] He also earned the 2009 Michigan Soccer Coaches Association "Mr. Soccer" Title and was named the 2009-10 Gatorade National Player of the Year.[3]
Saad had a very successful freshman season, scoring 19 goals, smashing the previous record of 14 for most goals by a freshman at the University of Michigan, while setting records for shots and overall points.[4] He played on the team with his brother Hamoody Saad. He helped the team win their first Big Ten Championship and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.[4] Saad left school after his freshman year to seek a professional contract with a European team.[5]
[edit]Professional
Saad opted to leave college early and sign a professional contract with Major League Soccer. On July 5, 2011 Sporting Kansas City won his services in a weighted lottery system utilized by the league to distribute players who sign with the league after the MLS SuperDraft.[6]
Saad made his MLS debut on August 17, 2011, which was his 19th birthday.[7] He scored a debut goal in the 72 minute, just nine minutes after he came on. Soony also logged 2 more goals for Sporting in reserve games against Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas, and scored once in a friendly against Guadalajara on October 12, 2011.
[edit]International
Soony Saad received his first callup to join the United States U-20 men's national soccer team in December 2010, and played in one game against Canada, scoring once.Soony Saad has also received Lebanese citizenship which means he is eligible to represent the Lebanon national football team
