Al Shahrani completes emotional Al Qadsiah return | OneFootball

Yasser Al Shahrani leaves Al Hilal, closing one of the most decorated chapters in Saudi football, but as one chapter ends another resumes.

While there is considerable emotion attached to his departure from Al Hilal after 13 years and over 400 games, there is also emotion attached to his return to Al Qadsiah.

While he is best known for his career in blue, winning 20 titles in total including six Roshn Saudi League titles and two AFC Champions League crowns, his signing for Al Qadsiah represents a homecoming for the 33-year-old Dammam native.

Yasser Al Shahrani embodied the spirit of Al Hilal

Born and raised in the Eastern Province, Al Shahrani is a product of the Al Qadsiah academy and made his professional debut for the Al Khobar club, playing two seasons between 2010 and 2012 before being lured to the capital by Al Hilal as his career began to blossom.

In announcing his return, Al Qadsiah posted a photo of Al Shahrani standing next to a young boy, sporting a red Al Qadsiah kit bearing his name, with the caption: ‘Welcome back to home’

This is a signing dripping in significance, a fact not lost on Al Shahrani.

“Today, I return to the place where it all began... Al Qadsiah,” he shared on social media.

“The club that nurtured me from the youth team to the first team, and was the reason, after God, for my launch into the professional world. My years at Al Hilal were a journey full of achievements, and today I return to my first home with enthusiasm and a new challenge.

“Thank you to Al Qadsiah for their trust, and thank you to everyone who welcomed my return. I am excited to wear the badge again and give my all to serve this great club!”

Yasser Al Shahrani embodied the spirit of Al Hilal

While there is plenty to look forward to this season, it’s worth pausing to reflect on his significant contribution and achievement with Al Hilal.

He, along with Salman Al Faraj and Salem Al Dawsari, came to define the monster that became the modern version of Al Hilal. His dashing and daring style quickly captured not only everyone’s attention, but also everyone’s heart. With his beaming smile and positive attitude, it was hard not to love Al Shahrani.

Rugged when he needed to be, he was irreverent going the other way, flying forward down the left with what at times seemed reckless abandon. But there was nothing reckless about it.

He quickly established himself as the best left fullback in the country, making his national team debut in the same year he made the switch to Al Hilal, and it was a position he made his own for the best part of the next decade.

Rather unfortunately, one of the most defining images of his career is that of his bloodied face after copping some friendly fire in the form of a knee to the head from goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais in the dying minutes of their historic 2-1 win over Argentina at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Al Shahrani suffered a traumatic injury in Qatar 2022

So severe were his injuries that he required emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding, before being airlifted to Riyadh where he underwent further surgery on his pancreas, followed by reconstructive surgery on his fractured jaw and broken facial bones.

They were injuries normally associated with severe road trauma, not those of an athlete playing football. The then 30-year-old underwent multiple surgeries and a lengthy, and no doubt at times exhausting, recovery process before finally returning to the field some five months later.

While traumatic, it was an act that best defines Al Shahrani; someone who gave everything for the cause. He left nothing out on the field.

And while his playing career might not be over, his time with Al Hilal is and he can now reflect with immense pride at everything he was able to achieve.

“Thank you, Al Hilal... for everything,” he wrote.

“From the day I wore the badge, I lived the most beautiful moments of my life at this great club and achieved all the accomplishments I had dreamed of. I was part of championships and achievements that will remain in history, and I am proud of every moment I lived here.

“Thank you to all the administrations that trusted me, to all the coaches and technical, medical, and administrative staff who were part of my journey.

“And most importantly... Thank you to the great Al Hilal fans, you are the toughest crowd and always the number one supporters.