The MAESTRO
YOURA ESHAYA
Residence: Gottenberg, Sweden
In 1953 he left for the U.K. and played there in the professional league for a period of two years.
In 1955 he was brought back to Iraq by a request from Brigadier Kadhum Abbadi, then the Iraqi Air Force Commander (A.O.C.), and joined the Iraqi Air Force team.
His naturalization went through speedily and in no time at all he was selected to play for the Iraqi National team. Youra played for the Iraqi Air Force team until 1971 when he retired for good. Youra was unquestionably one of the greatest forwards of all time.
To his technical brilliance, he adds a quality rare among Iraqi soccer artists, i.e. incredible stamina. The field was his preserve, as he was capable of having a shot at the goal one minute, and pulling back the next, to slide tackling an opponent near his own penalty area.
It is to him, more than any other player the Iraqi Air Force teams owe their astonishing successes and championships. He has been their team leader and star.
He was also a maestro in the Iraqi National team and the combine Assyrian teams as well. He maintained his remarkable stamina through his cross country running.
Youra played quite a number of championship games for the Iraqi National teams, which were played in the Middle East, Europe, and in Africa. During his career, he was a real soccer-minded master.
He was the one directs the plan and bestrides the field, and it would not be exaggerating if we say that no greater center forward was ever known in Iraq, such as Youra. He is at present working as a coach in Sweden
Number of games played against foreign teams: 75?
