THE ASSYRIAN ATHLETIC CLUB

OF TORONTO

Proud Home of the Winged Bull Soccer Teams

Brief History

(1939 - 1990)

 
Like his fellow Assyrian players of that era, he was an amazing and outstanding soccer player who started playing soccer in his early teens in his place of Birth, Habbaniaya. He was 10 years old when he started playing, to follow in his late father's steps, Sami Tittouna, who was one the top talents in 1930's-40's .

 
After moving to Baghdad and playing with the Assyrian Athletic Club from 1955-1958 as a left back and Centre Back. He was a highly talented and skilled footballer of a rare defensive breed with great confidence on and off the ball.

 
He joined the Iraqi Air Force team (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya) in 1958 where he played for two years.  He then moved to the Police Soccer Club (Al-Shorta) where he played from 1960-1973 where he helped them to the Iraqi 1st Division Championship 5 times and the Republic Cup twice.

 
He was selected in 1958 for the Iraqi Military team and made his debut against the Syrian Army team, a game which Iraq lost 3-2, and later on his 2nd game Iraq beat the Egyptian Military  team in Halab (Aleppo) for the first time in the history of Iraqi football.

 
He played his first international game in 1960 with the Iraqi National Team joining other Assyrian Stars like Ammo Baba, Youra Eshaya, & Khoshaba Lawo just to name few.

 
In 1973 he moved to playing with Al-Istiqlal team in Lebanon and was appointed the coaching duties at the same time. from 1973-1975, he lifted the team from the 2nd Division to the 1st Division, winning against the giants of Lebanon like the Raising Club of Beirut and the Armenian Homenetment Club.
 
In 1975, he moved to Chicago, USA were he took on coaching the Assyrian Winged Bull team of Chicago and took the team to greatness by winning the Major division of Illinois. Soon Gilbert the Great was designated to head coach this almost unknown soccer team and by his continuous effort, valuable instruction and professional coordination, the Winged Bull went to the second division, first division and finally the major division title of the soccer league of Illinois.

 
Countries visited: England, Russia, China, N. Korea, Vietnam, Italy, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Burma, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan.

 
Total International games played: 82.