Iraqi Assyrian soccer Ammo Baba David legend Dies

Dohuk, North Iraq - AINA ++ Iraqi Assyrian soccer legend Emmanuel Baba David, born November 27, 1934 in Baghdad Iraq, died yesterday in Duhok, Iraq. Better known as "Ammo Baba" (uncle Baba), he was coach of the Iraqi National Football Team.

He scored the first international goal for Iraq in 1957 against Morocco at the 2nd Pan Arab Games in Beirut. In 1978 Emmanuel David was appointed as Iraq’s military national football team coach. He lead the team to its third CISM World Military Championship title a year later, beating nations such as Austria, Morocco and Greece, on the way to the final where the team defeated Italy on penalties.

Emmanuel David was Iraq’s Olympic team head coach, where he lead the team to two Olympic appearances in Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul in 1988. He was appointed and re-appointed as Head Coach of Iraqi’s National team on seven different occasions during the 1980s and 1990s. Iraqis often call the 1980s as the "golden years" of Iraq football, where he led the national team to numerous tournaments and many titles.

Emmanuel David led Iraq to three titles in the Gulf Cup (1979, 1984, 1988), the Asian Games, 1984, and the Arab National Cup in 1988. He was also successful in the Iraqi League, where he led Al Tabala to a title in 1981. After leaving the national scene he was hired by Al Zawraa, and led them to a title in 1994. Emmanuel David divorced his wife because he refused to leave the country.

All of his family, including his children, currently live in Chicago. On January 20th 2006, the 71-year-old legend was attacked by an Iraqi insurgent group in his home, where he was tied, blind-folded, beaten, and then robbed. Iraq’s President, Jalal Talabani, paid all his medical expenses.

Emmanuel David had requested to be interned in Baghdad, under the "Malaab AlShaab", the main soccer stadium in Baghdad.