When Al Ittihad qualified for their first ever FIFA Club World Cup™ in 2005, they were not just there to make up the numbers. The Tigers had high hopes, and their matches showed exactly why, with a win over Al Ahly before a hard-fought 3-2 loss against eventual champions Sao Paulo.

They looked set to achieve their aim of a third-place finish, leading 2-1 late into the match against Saprissa, only for the Costa Ricans to equalise from the spot in the 85th minute, which they quickly followed up with the winner.

With the Saudi giants set to make their global-finals return, FIFA sat down with Hamzah Idris. He is Al Ittihad’s all-time leading marksman with 138 goals, and ninth on the list of the top scorers in Saudi Pro League history with 96. In his exceptional 1999/2000 campaign, Idris netted 43 goals in all competitions, helping Ittihad to the domestic title, and he was also part of the side that competed at Japan 2005.

FIFA: Al Ittihad beat Al Ahly, played superbly against Sao Paulo and came very close to seizing bronze in 2005. Did you expect to do that well going into the tournament, or did you hope to do even better?
Hamza Idris: Honestly, at the time, Al Ittihad had a squad full of star players. We were the best team in Asia, with the best local players and some fantastic overseas talent like Mohamed Kallon and Tcheco. Because of that, we knew we’d put in a good performance at the Club World Cup, but we hoped to reach the final or at least secure third place.

Eighteen years on, Ittihad are set to make their Club World Cup return. What do you make of the club’s chances this year? Do you think they can achieve even more than you did in 2005?
I think Al Ittihad have a really good chance this year. They’ve added some exceptional talent to the squad, and the league has grown to be much more competitive, so I’m sure they’re capable of going even further than we did in 2005.

Coach Marcelo Gallardo has Club World Cup experience thanks to his Copa Libertadores successes with River Plate. What have you made of his appointment?
In my opinion, Gallardo was an excellent choice for Al Ittihad because he has a lot of experience as a coach, both technically and as a man-manager. He achieved a lot with his former club, and he’s a perfect fit for Al Ittihad, so I expect them to improve as time goes on, especially when the players get the hang of his ideas and the squad gets back to full strength.

What do you think of the recent developments in the Saudi Pro League? Do you think the influx of international stars, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, will have an impact on local players in the future?
It will definitely have a positive impact. The Saudi Pro League has developed a lot with so many stars of the world game moving there in such a short space of time. That’s raised the level of the league and made it much more competitive. Now local players will be able to gain more experience. It will also have a positive impact on the development of young talent.