Roda Antar

Roda Abdelhassan Antar (Arabic: رِضَا عَبْد الْحَسَن عَنْتَر; born 12 September 1980) is a Lebanese professional football manager and former player.

Antar started his career with Tadamon Sour, progressing through their youth system to the first-team squad where he made his debut at the age of 17.

In 2001, he was loaned to Germany's Hamburger SV for two seasons, winning the DFB-Ligapokal in 2003, before moving to SC Freiburg in 2003 on a permanent deal.

He scored four league goals for the season, as Tadaman Sour went onto claim a runners-up position in the Lebanese Federation Cup.

[5] Due to Antar's performances during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2001, Lebanon's national team coach, Theo Bücker, had assisted him in a transfer to Bundesliga outfit Hamburger SV, on loan from Lebanese Premier League club Tadamon Sour.

[8] During his two-year stay with the club, Hamburg would claim the 2003 German League Cup, however, after failing to establish himself with the north German side (after he played in the Regionalliga Nord for Hamburg's reserve side for the 2002–03 season), he opted for a free-transfer to SC Freiburg.

[12] In the 79th minute of the match, Antar was deliberately kicked in the face by Hoffenheim midfielder Carlos Eduardo Marques, as confirmed by TV pictures.

The referee, Peter Gagelmann, did not see the incident occur, however, the German FA made subsequent investigations before bringing in a charge which resulted in issuing Marques with a multi-game suspension which restricted him from playing in any competitive fixtures for the duration of the 2007–08 season.

[13] In the second last game of the 2007–08 season, Antar helped Köln gain promotion back into the Bundesliga, scoring a double in the decisive 2–0 home victory against Mainz 05 on 11 May.

[15] In February 2009, he left Köln after disagreements with club sporting director Michael Meier and manager Christoph Daum.

[18] On the opening day of the 2012 Chinese Super League season, Antar scored in the 32nd minute of the first half to give Shandong the lead in a 2–1 away loss against Guizhou Renhe on 10 March.

[21] Wearing the number 6 jersey, Antar debuted for Jiangsu Sainty in first round of the 2014 Chinese Super League in a 1–0 home victory against Guizhou Renhe on 8 March, playing a full 90-minutes of the match.

On 25 March 2013, Antar announced his retirement from international football citing that the constance long-distance traveling had left him physically tired and exhausted.

[29] Antar then featured for Lebanon's 2–2 draw against Iraq on 15 October, when he was substituted onto the field for Michael Reda in the 47th minute.

[30] Antar then played in Lebanon's 1–1 draw against Thailand on 18 October, when he was again substituted onto the field for Jamal Taha in the 63rd minute.

[32] Under German coach Theo Bücker, Antar played a vital role for Lebanon during the first round qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring five goals in five appearances.

[37] The result meant that Lebanon finished in second position of their respective group, with 13 points, but failed to advance to the second round of qualifiers.

Antar was named captain in 2004 for the second round qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals in four appearances.

[51] Antar had received his second yellow card of the third round against South Korea and therefore did not take part in Lebanon's 4–2 away loss against the UAE on 29 February 2012.

Antar scored in the 27th minute from a header off a Mohamad Haidar free-kick, upon his return to the team, having missed the opening three games due to injury.

[56] On 12 November 2015, Antar scored his 20th international goal for Lebanon in a 7–0 home victory against Laos during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match.

[57] During a press conference on 31 March 2016, Antar announced that he would retire from international football after Lebanon's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Myanmar.

[62] On 3 January 2021, Antar submitted his resignation; in the first phase of the 2020–21 season, Ahed won four games, drew five, and lost two.

Antar with 1. FC Köln in 2008
Antar with Shandong Luneng Taishan in 2009
Antar with Lebanon in 2015