Saddam Hussain

Saddam Hussain is a Pakistani professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for the Finnish Kolmonen club Kajaanin Haka. He has served as the captain for the Pakistan national team throughout his career. Known for his tackling and ball retention, he is considered a versatile midfielder.

Early life and education

Hussain was born on 10 April 1993 in Karachi. He began his professional football journey within his hometown by playing for Pakistan International Airlines. This early period helped him establish himself as a competitive player in the local circuit.

Career

Hussain started at Pakistan International Airlines, where he helped the team secure third place during the 2010 season. He moved to Khan Research Laboratories between 2012 and 2014. During this tenure, he won the Pakistan Premier League title in both 2012–13 and 2013–14, alongside the 2012 Challenge Cup. He also competed in the AFC President's Cup from 2012 to 2014, reaching the final in 2013 after losing 0–1 to Balkan FT.

In August 2014, he signed a two-year contract with Dordoi Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Premier League. He made his debut on 28 August in a friendly against Ala Too, which resulted in a 3–0 victory. His first season at the club yielded the league title, the league cup, and the super cup.

Hussain moved to Bahrain in 2015 to play for Isa Town FC in the second division, where he made 20 appearances. He returned to Pakistan in February 2016 to join K-Electric for the 2016 AFC Cup. By January 2017, he had transferred to Gençler Birliği S.K. in the Northern Cyprus KTFF Süper Lig on a one-year deal.

He signed with SSGC F.C. in 2018 and eventually captained the side. The club closed following the shutdown of departmental sports in Pakistan in 2021. On 26 August 2022, SSGC terminated the contracts of its players, including Hussain. He later joined Salalah SC in the Oman First Division League on 16 September 2023. On 26 August 2025, he signed a two-year contract with Kajaanin Haka.

Hussain first captained the Pakistan under-19 team for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification in 2009. He represented the under-23 side during the 2010 Asian Games and a test series against Palestine. His senior international debut occurred at the 2011 SAFF Championship against Bangladesh.

In August 2014, he scored his first goal for the under-23 side in a 2–0 win against India. He earned player of the match honors during that second friendly and was named player of the series in Bangalore. During the 2015 period, he started in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Yemen. He also scored in a 3–1 victory over Kyrgyzstan during the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.

International activity was interrupted when FIFA suspended Pakistan from all football activities on 10 October 2017. During this three-year hiatus, Hussain participated in local Leisure Leagues exhibition matches featuring stars such as Ronaldinho and Ryan Giggs. When the national side returned to the international circuit in 2018, he captained the under-23 team at the Asian Games in Indonesia. He also captained the senior team during the 2018 SAFF Championship, leading them to the semi-finals.

Hussain was part of the squad for a friendly tour in Malaysia in January 2020. Following another FIFA suspension on 7 April 2021, he faced further complications. After the suspension ended in June 2022, he and Saadullah Khan were excluded from the national camp because they could not attend trials due to an ongoing court case against SSGC. In September 2025, he was recalled for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification matches but did not make the final squad.

Awards and recognition

Hussain achieved several club honors during his career. With Pakistan International Airlines, he secured third place in the 2010 Pakistan Premier League and was a runner up in the 2009 Challenge Cup. At Khan Research Laboratories, he won the 2012 Challenge Cup and the 2012 and 2013 Pakistan Premier League titles. He also earned a runner up position in the 2013 AFC President's Cup.

His time at Dordoi Bishkek brought success in the Shoro Top League, the Kyrgyzstan Cup, and the Kyrgyzstan Super Cup in 2014. He also won the Ala-Too Cup in 2015. For the Pakistan national team, he achieved third place in the 2013 Philippine Peace Cup.