Ibanez sets his sights on 200 more Al Ahli appearances after 101st cap

Ibanez eyes 200 more appearances for Al Ahli

The Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez, captain of Al Ahli Jeddah’s backline, unveiled his wish to add 200 more appearances to his tally with the club after reaching a century of games.

The centre-back marked his 101st appearance in a 4-1 win over Al Khaleej on Tuesday at the Enmaa Stadium, during the Saudi Pro League’s 17th round.

Speaking after the match on the Eight channels, Ibanez said: "We were not at our best in the first half, but we fixed what needed fixing in the locker room, and in the second half we put in a big performance. Most importantly, we took the three points."

He added: "We corrected the things that had to be corrected; in the first half their second balls often went to them, but in the second half we won the duels and the second balls, and that was the real difference."

He continued: "We’ve got six straight wins, which reflects the team spirit we have. We trailed at one stage but bounced back in the second half; that’s the main thing, and we must keep this approach."

He concluded: "I’m very happy and proud to have reached 100 appearances for Al Ahli; it’s a great honor to be part of this team, and I hope to play 100 or 200 more as long as I can stay here with them."

Ibanez joined Al Ahli in the summer of 2023, coming from Roma, and has established himself as a defensive stalwart, helping the club win the AFC Champions League for the Elite for the first time in its history last season, followed by the Saudi Super Cup after a 10-year gap.

Caption credit: Getty Images

Punchline: If Ibanez keeps this pace, the trophy cabinet will need a mortgage to accommodate all those medals.

Punchline: And while the ball learns to love him, Ibanez might have to start charging the fans for autographs at kickoff.