Back at Al-Wehda, Craig Goodwin enjoying being part of Saudi football’s revolution

Australian World Cup star Craig Goodwin was expecting to wear red this season. What he was not expecting was the badge that would adorn his red kit.

Instead of his hometown club, Adelaide United, where he scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists last season as one of the A-League Men’s best players, he is instead wearing the red of Al-Wehda. This comes after the Makkah-based club bought the 32-year-old winger late in the transfer window.

Goodwin, who scored against France at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is no stranger to Saudi football, having played for Al-Wehda and Abha between 2019 and 2021.

Such has been the revolution in Saudi football, however, that despite being only a few years ago, that period feels like a very different time in the Kingdom’s football. While he has been back in the country for only a matter of weeks, Goodwin has noticed the change after the recent spate of investment and headline-grabbing signings.

“First and foremost, just the publicity and the hype about it from outside of the country, there’s just a lot more eyes watching the league now with the ridiculous quality of player that’s coming here,” he told Arab News.

“It’s a nice change, and it’s definitely, from the football perspective, good being able to test myself against not only some good players, but some of the best players in the world.”

Having experienced elite football at the World Cup — where the late bloomer was one of Australia’s best performers as the Socceroos made the Round of 16 and almost pulled off a stunning upset against eventual champions Argentina — the opportunity to play with some of the best footballers in the world was a deciding factor in choosing to pursue a second chance in the Saudi Pro League.

“It was