Moussa Ali Hojeij (Arabic: موسى علي حجيج; born 6 August 1974) is a Lebanese football manager and former player.[2]
![]() Hojeij with Nejmeh in 2020 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Moussa Ali Hojeij[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1974-08-06) 6 August 1974 (age 47) | ||
Place of birth | Chyah, Lebanon[1] | ||
Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1993–1994 | Nejmeh | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1994–2006 | Nejmeh | (75) | |
2006–2008 | Mabarra | (2) | |
2008–2009 | Khoyol | ||
2009–2011 | Shabab Sahel | (1) | |
2011–2013 | Nejmeh | 30 | (4) |
Total | ? | (82) | |
National team | |||
1996–2002 | Lebanon | 39 | (6) |
Teams managed | |||
2012–2014 | Nejmeh | ||
2014 | Nabi Chit | ||
2015 | Racing Beirut | ||
2015–2016 | Shabab Sahel | ||
2016–2017 | Racing Beirut | ||
2017 | Ahed | ||
2017–2018 | Tripoli | ||
2018 | Nejmeh | ||
2020–2021 | Nejmeh | ||
2022 | Nejmeh | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Hojeij was the best player in the Al-Manar Football Festival several times,[3] and was captain of the national team.[4] He is also a match analyst for Lebanese national team matches on beIN Sports.[5]
Hojeij joined Nejmeh's youth team on 26 February 1993.[6] In 2000, Hojeij became the first captain to win the Lebanese Premier League title for Nejmeh after the civil war.[citation needed]
In 2006 he was released by Nejmeh after scoring a total of 75 league goals,[7] and signed with Mabarra.[8] In 2008 Hojeij signed for Lebanese Second Division club Khoyol,[8] and in the summer of 2009 he signed with Shabab Sahel.[8] Hojeij returned to Nejmeh in 2011, retiring in 2013.[8]
Hojeij equalised in the 76th minute against Iraq at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup through a free kick, to bring the score to 2–2.[8]
Hojeij began his managerial career in 2012, as a player-coach for Nejmeh.[8] He became head coach of Nabi Chit in 2014, who terminated his contract after matchday four.[8] Hojeij was then appointed head coach of Racing Beirut in the second half of the season, saving them from relegation.[8]
In the 2015–16 season, he took charge of Shabab Sahel, before returning to Racing the following season, with whom he won the Lebanese Challenge Cup.[8]
In 2017, Ahed appointed Hojeij as head coach; he most notably helped them beat Zamalek of Egypt in the 2017 Arab Club Championship, and winning the Lebanese Super Cup against Ansar.[8] On 18 December 2017, Hojeij was appointed head coach of Tripoli for the second leg of the season, finishing in eighth place after six wins, seven draws and nine defeats.[9]
Hojeij returned as head coach of Nejmeh in 2018.[8] On 29 June 2020, Hojeij was appointed manager of Nejmeh for the third time, after having coached them between 2011 and 2013, and in 2018.[10]
He returned to the helm of Nejmeh once again, in February 2022.[11] After insulting the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) and its president, following a red card received by Nejmeh during a league match against Safa on 3 April, the LFA suspended Hojeij for one year, and fined him £L25 million.[12] The LFA extended the suspension to two years on 11 April.[13]
On 10 June 2021, Hojeij announced his candidacy to become president of the Lebanese Football Association; the only other candidate was incumbent president Hashem Haidar.[14] The elections took place on 29 June in Beirut,[14] with Haidar winning by 40 votes to 4.[15]
Nejmeh
Mabarra
Individual
Shabab Sahel
Racing Beirut
Nejmeh
Individual
Lebanon squad – 2000 AFC Asian Cup | ||
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