Yaser Kasim

DOB: 10th May 1991

Position: Central midfielder

Season of first appearance: 2022/23

Season of last appearance: 2023/24

Full Appearances: 24

Substitute: 2

Goals: 1

Also played for:

Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town, Macclesfield Town, Swindon Town, Northampton Town, Orebro SK (Sweden), Erbil (Iraq), Zakho (Iraq), Welling United, Gloucester City, Eastbourne Borough

Player Profile:

Central midfielder born in Baghdad, Iraq. His family left for Jordan when he was aged six before coming to England.

His football career started as a youth with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur before Yaser joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2010. On 7.5.11, he made his debut for Brighton in a 1-1 draw at Notts County in League One.

In July 2012, Yaser joined Conference Premier side Luton Town on a six-month loan deal. He went on loan to another Conference Premier side, Macclesfield Town, in February 2013. Yaser was released by Brighton at the end of 2012-13.

Yaser then spent four seasons with Swindon Town, making more than 120 first-team appearances. During his time at Swindon, Yaser was linked with a transfer to Premier League Swansea City but the move fell through.

In summer 2017, Yaser joined Northampton Town but only made a handful of appearances before leaving the Cobblers in January 2019.

He spent summer 2019 playing in Sweden for Orebro SK. In January 2020, he joined Iraqi club Erbil but left in June 2020 claiming he had not been paid. He then appeared for another Iraqi side, Zakho.

Yaser went on trial with National League side Notts County in July 2022 but, in September 2022, announced his retirement from professional football.

In October 2022, Yaser signed for National League South side Welling United but left in January 2023. Yaser then joined National League North club Gloucester City. However, he announced his departure to take up a coaching role after playing just one game.

In February 2023, Yaser signed for Margate having previously played with assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh at Brighton. His debut was as a sub in a 0-0 draw at Enfield Town on 25.2.23. He made 14 appearances before the end of the season and scored one goal, in a 3-1 win at home to Ramsgate in the Kent Senior Cup on 18.4.23.

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Yaser signed for National League South club Eastbourne Borough but returned to Margate in January 2024, his ‘second debut’ being a 4-2 defeat at Lewes on 27.1.24. He made 12 appearances before the end of the season when he again announced his retirement.

He made his debut for Iraq in a 3-1 win against China in the Asia Cup on 5.3.14. He went on to make more than 20 appearances for his country, though his international career was not without controversy. 

Ahead of the 2016 Olympics, Yaser went to Spain to train with the Iraqi Under-23 side where he was expected to be named one of the three over-aged players in Rio. However, he went AWOL from the squad and officials from the Iraq FA were unable to contact him. He also refused to play for Iraq on several other occasions having been selected.