Charbel Shamoon’s journey from a promising young talent to an international footballer has been nothing short of astonishing, though it nearly took a different trajectory. The Western United standout opens up to aleagues.com.au about his incredible path leading up to his memorable debut for the Iraq national team.
Football and life often unfold in unexpected ways.
Now a capped international for Iraq, Shamoon’s career with Western United could have diverged dramatically.
Last January, on a Saturday afternoon, he was set to bid farewell to his Isuzu UTE A-League club. In fact, the promising player was on the verge of a move down to the NPL in Victoria, with a contract ready for him to sign.
“I recall saying goodbye to everyone—the coach, teammates, everyone,” the 21-year-old shared with aleagues.com.au.
“As I was saying my farewells, I started to think maybe this path wasn’t meant for me. Football is unpredictable like that.”
At the time, Shamoon was competing in youth football with Western United while training intensively with the A-League squad. He had received an offer from NPL giants Heidelberg United, managed by John Anastasiadis, a former assistant to the Green and Black.
Then, a pivotal conversation with Andrew Durante made all the difference.
Shamoon recounted, “I walked in and spoke with one of the coaches here, and he said, ‘Why not give it another year? You can always move to NPL later.’”
“Initially, I still thought I would head to the NPL, but after speaking with Dura (Durante), I reconsidered. It wasn’t just him—Diogo (Ferreira) and the rest of the staff encouraged me too. I’m grateful they did.”
That moment was a turning point for Shamoon.
Just a month after bidding everyone farewell, he made his A-League debut with Western United.
That off-season, he secured his first professional contract.
Since then, he has never looked back.
Following a breakout 2023-24 season, Shamoon has reached even greater heights this term.
His impressive performances for title contenders Western United earned him his first international cap with Iraq.
Having been born in Syria to Iraqi parents who fled the conflict, Shamoon cherishes his cultural heritage. This makes his debut during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers particularly significant.
Shamoon entered the field as a substitute in Iraq’s 2-1 defeat against Palestine.
“Being called up to the national team was a surreal experience; I didn’t expect it to come my way so quickly,” he noted.
“When I got there, I wasn’t anticipating to play. I aimed to showcase my skills during training. In the sessions before the match against Palestine, I performed well, and the coach decided to include me in the squad.”
“Late in the 70th minute, a left-back got injured, and I was called upon—what a surreal moment that was. The atmosphere was indescribable; it’s something you need to experience on the pitch.”
“That truly was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
In a moment reminiscent of the beloved US sitcom The Office, Shamoon embraced his inner Michael Scott as he prepared to make his debut for Iraq in Jordan.
“It’s happening,” he recalled after being informed that he was coming on.
“I really didn’t know if I’d play, and then when the other player was injured, the coach looking after our warm-ups glanced back, and I heard my name called. I thought, right, it’s time to be ready and deliver.”
Shamoon’s ascent has been remarkable—something that even the young player himself finds hard to fathom.
“I have a tendency to not take anything for granted, but I do struggle to appreciate how far I’ve come,” he admitted.
“My sister reached out to me after my debut, telling me, ‘While I know you didn’t win, just reflect on your journey. Less than two years ago, you weren’t even signed to an A-League team, and here you are now, having made your international debut and played numerous matches in the A-League.’”
“That was a real eye-opener for me, recognising just how far I’ve progressed in the last two years.”
Shamoon received a call-up for Australia’s Under-23 team at a training camp last November. Although it “wasn’t always about Iraq,” he found it hard to decline the opportunity to represent the Lions of Mesopotamia.
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“I hadn’t heard much from Iraq for a year or two, but I knew that the Iraq coach was reaching out to relatives and acquaintances regarding my status, as it’s not as straightforward as with Australia,” explained Shamoon.
“While Australia deals directly with clubs, Iraq’s process involves significant media outreach. I had heard about the Iraq coach trying to gather information about me before the Australia U23 offer came in. Naturally, I couldn’t turn that down. It was an extraordinary experience that I’m grateful for. Even though it wasn’t a competition, it exposed me to Australian talent and a different style of football, which I truly appreciated.”
“It wasn’t always about Iraq for me; I had to consider both options. Ultimately, Iraq reached out, and I wasn’t going to say no to that, especially given it’s the national team.”
Shamoon’s journey has been lengthy; he “never” thought he’d leave Melbourne City’s youth programme, especially after their relocation caused upheaval. Growing up, his sister drove him from Roxburgh Park to training in Cranbourne, which became quite demanding.
Advice from Alou Kuol, a former teammate of Shamoon’s brother at Goulburn Valley Suns in the NPL, helped him make the transition to a club nearer to home.
“He told me, ‘If I were you, I’d go to Western. You’d save three to four hours on travel, and that’s time you could spend training,’” he recounted. “So, I made the decision to switch.”
Now, everything is falling into place for Shamoon as John Aloisi’s Green and Black pursue both the Premiership and Championship this season.
After making five appearances in 2023-24, he has featured in 14 league games this term, with 13 starts.
“It all boils down to confidence,” Shamoon, whose father still plays indoor football weekly as he approaches his 60th birthday, highlighted as the key factor in his current form.
“Looking back, I can see I’m a vastly different player from who I was before. Since embarking on my international journey and returning, my development has accelerated. It’s hard to pinpoint whether it’s the experience or something else, but I feel like I’m consistently improving.”
“After my first match against Wellington this season, I realised that my body could physically hold its ground against others. I inherently know my technical ability is strong, so I can perform well.”
“Ultimately, it’s confidence, along with getting more game time. The first match this season was a pivotal moment for me.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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