Haitham Zein

Haitham Ali Mohamad Al Haj Ali Zein (هيثم علي محمد الحج علي زين; born 6 January 1979), or simply Haitham Zein, is a Lebanese former footballer who played as a forward. He played for numerous Lebanese Premier League clubs, mainly at Tadamon Sour, and represented Lebanon internationally.

Early life
Zein was born in Iraq to parents from Borj Ech Chemali, Lebanon; he began playing football aged 11 in the streets of the Al-Anbar Governorate. He then moved to Lebanon with his family due to the Gulf War.

Tadamon Sour
Zein signed for Tadamon Sour's youth team in 1994. He made his senior debut in 1995, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute against Bourj at the Saida Municipal Stadium; trailing 2–1, Zein scored a goal and assisted two, helping his side overturn the result to 4–2. He played with Tadamon until 2005, scoring 94 league goals.

Nejmeh
On 9 November 2005, Zein moved to Nejmeh, spending half a season. He described his short experience at Nejmeh as negative.

Bahrain SC
He moved abroad to Bahrain SC in 2006.

Return to Lebanon
He returned to Lebanon in 2008, signing for Chabab Ghazieh, before moving to Islah Borj Shmali the following season. Zein was among the league's top scorers in the 2010–11 Lebanese Premier League, scoring eight goals. In October 2011, he signed for Salam Sour, making 15 appearances for the side and scoring three goals. He retired that season.

Zein scored 113 goals in the Lebanese Premier League – 138 considering his goals scored in the cancelled 2000–01 season.

International career
In 2002, Zein played for the Lebanon Olympic team at the 2002 Asian Games, scoring a goal in an 11–0 win against Afghanistan. He played for the senior team between 1998 and 2004. He played 50 international matches, scoring 16 goals.

Managerial career
Between 2016 and 2017, Zein was part of the technical staff of his former club Islah Borj Shmali.

Personal life
Zein's nephew, Mahdi Zein, also plays football.

Honours
Tadamon Sour
 * Lebanese FA Cup: 2000–01

Individual
 * Lebanese Premier League top scorer: 1998–99, 2000–01
 * Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season: 1998–99