The Asad family name is as synonymous with Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield as the Maldini name is with Italian Serie A giants AC Milan. Former Albiceleste midfielder Julio Daniel Asad represented El Fortín from 1972 to 1977, while his nephew Omar Andrés Asad spent eight years with the club from 1992 to 2000, where the strong, pacey striker wrote his name into Vélez folklore by netting the decisive goal in the club’s incredible 2-0 triumph over AC Milan in the Intercontinental Cup in December 1994. Omar’s son, Yamil Rodrigo Asad, is now the third member of the Asad family to don Vélez colours at the Estadio José Amalfitani, and like his uncle and father before him, also bears the nickname ‘Turco’ because of the family’s Lebanese and Syrian roots.
The young Turco Asad was born in the San Antonio de Padua region of Buenos Aires on July 27, 1994, and joined El Fortín’s youth ranks at a young age, where his father was also a coach of Vélez’ youth teams and reserves respectively from 2003 to 2009. Capable of playing an attacking midfield role or centrally in the heart of midfield, the young Turco’s most notable attribute he shares with his father is his pace and impressive acceleration.
Asad Jr. made his first team debut for Vélez at the age of just 18 on April 14, 2013, entering the field as a 76th minute substitute for Brian Ferreira in a 2-1 loss to Colón at the Estanislao López in the 2013 Torneo Final. Appearances haven’t been frequent in a richly-talented Vélez squad also featuring the likes of Lucas Romero and Maxi Rolón, however Turco’s real breakthrough moment wouldn’t come until almost two years later, on February 21, 2015.
Asad netted his first goal for Vélez at home in a 2-1 win over newly-promoted Crucero del Norte in round two of the new Primera División season. Turco Jr. netted a fine solo goal in the 80th minute to effectively make the points safe for El Fortín, bursting through the heart of the Colón defence before coolly slotting the ball past Germán Caffa. Still only 20 years of age, Turco is gradually beginning to assert himself in Miguel Ángel Russo’s side, and there is little doubt that the third generation Turco Asad has the potential to become a real star at the José Amalfitani.
Like many prodigious young talents, he is still raw, but there is every chance he can become as big a star for Vélez as his father did in the 90’s. Omar Asad was a key figure behind the most successful period in the club’s history, winning the 1994 Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup, the Apertura in 1995 and the Clausura in 1993, 1996 and 1998. If young Asad can win just a fraction of this haul he too will go down in Vélez folklore.
Daniel Gartner
Daniel is a 21-year-old journalism student and aspiring football journalist. He aims to live in Buenos Aires one day as a prominent football journalist, and his favourite leagues include the Argentinean Primera División, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Liga MX and the Brasileirão. Also writes for The Roar and Outside 90.
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