Omar Elabdellaoui

Omar Elabdellaoui

Elabdellaoui in action for Olympiacos
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-12-05) 5 December 1991
Place of birth Oslo, Norway
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Right back, Right midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Olympiacos
Number 14
Youth career
Skeid
2008–2011 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Manchester City 0 (0)
2011 → Strømsgodset (loan) 12 (1)
2012 → Feyenoord (loan) 5 (0)
2013 → Eintracht Braunschweig (loan) 14 (0)
2013–2014 Eintracht Braunschweig 29 (1)
2014– Olympiacos 46 (3)
National team‡
2008 Norway U17 8 (1)
2009–2010 Norway U19 11 (1)
2010–2013 Norway U21 13 (1)
2012–2013 Norway U23 1 (1)
2013– Norway[1] 23 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 November 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2016

Omar Elabdellaoui (born 5 December 1991) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays for Greek club Olympiacos.[2] He plays primarily as a right back but can also play as a right midfielder.[1]

Elabdellaoui began his career with Skeid before signing with Manchester City in 2008; he made his professional debut while on loan at Strømsgodset. He has also spent a loan spell in the Netherlands with Feyenoord. After spending a half season on loan with Eintracht Braunschweig in 2013, Elabdellaoui joined the German side permanently in May 2013. He signed for current club Olympiacos in June 2014.

Elabdellaoui represented Norway at youth international level, and was a part of the Norwegian team in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He made his debut for the senior national team in August 2013.

Club career

Manchester City

After playing for the Norwegian club Skeid, Elabdellaoui joined the English club Manchester City when he was 16 years old.[3] Scott Sellars, coach of the City's U18 team, stated in an interview with Norwegian TV 2 in January 2010 that Elabdellaoui had "a big future".[4] Elabdellaoui made an impressive effort at the academy and was awarded a first-team number for the 2010–11 season,[5] but sat on the bench during City's Europa League match against Juventus on 16 December 2010.[6]

Strømsgodset

On 31 March 2011, the last day of the Norwegian transfer window, Elabdellaoui was loaned out to Strømsgodset in Norway until City's pre-season started in July. In Strømsgodset he was reunited with his teammates from City, Mohammed Abu and Razak Nuhu.[7] He played eight league matches before fracturing his foot in the league match against Fredrikstad on 28 May 2011, and returned to Manchester for surgery.[8] On 1 September, he returned to Strømsgodset where he played until the end of the 2011-season, in a total of 12 matches, scoring one goal and giving one assist.[9]

Strømsgodset wanted Elabdellaoui for another loan-spell for the 2012 season,[10][11] but Elabdellaoui was reluctant to play at Godset's home ground Marienlyst Stadion because he was concerned that its artificial turf would re-injure him.[12]

Feyenoord

In June 2012, Elabdellaoui signed a two-year contract with City, and was loaned to the Dutch club Feyenoord for the 2012–13 season.[13][14] His teammate at City, John Guidetti, who was loaned to the same club in the 2011–12 season, both recommended Elabdellaoui to Feyenoord and advised Eladbellaoui to accept Feyenoord's offer if Manchester City let him go.[15][16] Guidetti said that Elabdellaoui was a perfect fit for Feyenoord because he was physically strong, technically well-equipped and a fast player.[17] According to Feyenoord's technical director Martin van Geel, Elabdellaoui was to mostly play as a left or right winger, but would also play as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards.[18] He also said that Feyenoord wanted Eladbellaoui on their team for a couple of years, but were unable to sign him previously.[18]

Elabdellaoui played five matches for Feyenoord, four as a substitute, until he in January 2013 requested to be released from the club.[19] He wanted to play regularly and realized that his chances at Feyenoord would be limited, where he were competing against the right back and the right wing at the Netherlands national team.[20]

Eintracht Braunschweig

In January 2013, Elabdellaoui was loaned to German club Eintracht Braunschweig for the second half of the 2012–13 2. Bundesliga season.[21] Elabdellaoui became a regular from the start and won promotion to the Bundesliga with his team. On 10 May 2013, Eintracht Braunschweig announced that the loan deal had been made permanent.[22] Following Eintracht Braunschweig's promotion, Elabdellaoui made his debut in the Bundesliga in the match against Werder Bremen on 10 August 2013.[23] He started the first three matches of the season as a right back,[24] but sat on the bench in the next match against Hamburg.[25]

Olympiacos

On 17 June 2014 he was offered a contract by Greek club Olympiacos.[26] He signed for the club the next day, stating that he was very excited to be a part of the club.[27][28]

On 23 August 2014, he made his debut with the club, in a Super League 3-1 win home game against Niki Volos, and scored his first goal three months later, in a 4-0 away win against Kerkyra. On 4 March 2015, the 23-year-old Norwegian felt pain in his thigh and did not complete practice. He has possibly pulled a muscle, which means that he will definitely miss the game against Panthrakikos, but if the injury is more serious he could also be ruled out of the Cup game against AEK.[29] Despite the rumors of a possible transfer Elabdellaoui spoke to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet denying that he is thinking a move during the next transfer window. “Everything at Olympiakos is great and that's the most important for me. The interest on me is really faltering but I'm focused on playing football with Olympiakos. It's better not to get into further details of which clubs are interested,” the Norwegian right-back quoted.[30]

At the end of his remarkable season, Olympiakos right back Omar Elabdellaoui is attracting a lot of interest from several European clubs according to reports in Norway and Beşiktaş reportedly interested in his services lately.[31] On 13 July, Olympiakos have turned down a bid from Benfica in the region of €5,5 million.[32] In February 2016 he was linked with a summer move to English club Manchester United.[33] On 7 February 2016, Elabdellaoui gave Olympiakos its 20th victory in 21 Super League matches this season, by beating 1-0 rivals PAOK at Karaiskaki Stadium in an episodic match as both teams ended it with 10 players.[34] On 11 April 2016, the Norwegian right defender wore captain's armband for the first time on a 5-2 away victory against Panetolikos.[35]

International career

Elabdellaoui playing for Norway U21 in 2011

Elabdellaoui made his debut for Norway when he played for the under-15 team in the 0–0 draw Poland U15 on 8 August 2006, in a match where Stefan Johansen also made his debut at youth international level.[36] Elabdellaoui played one more match for the under-15 team before he scored one goal in ten matches for the under-16 team. He later scored one goal in eight matches for the under-17 team, before he made six appearances for the under-18 team and eleven for the under-19 team, where he scored one goal.[37]

Elabdellaoui made his debut for the Norway national under-21 football team against Greece U-21 on 17 October 2010.[37] He featured heavily in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification as a right-back.[38][39]

He made his debut for the Norway under-23 team in a game against Wales in June 2012, with Elabdellaoui as the first goalscorer in the 4–0 victory.[40]

Elabdellaoui was first called up for the Norwegian national team for the friendly match against Sweden in August 2013,[36] and made his debut for the senior team when he started the match and played 72 minutes as a right back.[41]

Career statistics

As of 11 November 2016[2]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester City 2010–11 0000000000
2011–12 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Strømsgodset (loan) 2011 12110—00131
Total 12110—00131
Feyenoord (loan) 2012–13 5010—1070
Total 5010—1070
Eintracht Braunschweig (loan) 2012–13 14000—00140
Total 14000—00140
Eintracht Braunschweig 2013–14 29110—00301
Total 29110—00301
Olympiacos 2014–15 24100—80321
2015–16 20230—70302
2016–17 1000—1020
Total 45330—160643
Career total 105560002101285

Personal life

Elabdellaoui is of Moroccan descent[42] and is the cousin of Mohammed Abdellaoue and Mustafa Abdellaoue.[43]

References

  1. 1 2 Omar Elabdellaoui at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. 1 2 Omar Elabdellaoui profile at Soccerway
  3. ↑ "Disse 17 ungguttene lever proffdrømmen". vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "City-trener hyller norsk unggutt". tv2.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Enda et City-talent til Godset". dt.no (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Ny norsk unggutt kan debutere for Manchester City". vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Godset henter enda et City-talent". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Omar på vent". dt.no (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Omar Elabdellaoui" (in Norwegian). Strømsgodset IF official website. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "Godset vil ha Elabdellaoui også i 2012". Norwegian News Agency (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Sankoh ferdig i Godset". dt.no (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Nå kan Omar glippe". dt.no (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "Akkoord over komst Elabdellaoui naar Feyenoord" (in Dutch). FR 12. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  14. ↑ "Norsk unggutt takket ja til Manchester City". vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "Feyenoord loan Elabdellaoui from Manchester City following Guidetti advice". goal.com. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "Guidetti helpt Feyenoord aan Elabdellaoui" (in Dutch). FR 12. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  17. ↑ "Guidetti: Elabdellaoui past perfect bij Feyenoord" (in Dutch). Soccernews. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  18. 1 2 "Audio: Martin van Geel over Omar Elabdellaoui" (in Dutch). FR-Fanatic. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  19. ↑ van Leeuwen, Gerrit (14 January 2013). "Feyenoord have released Manchester City's Omar Elabdellaoui from his loan deal". Sky Sports.
  20. ↑ Bakkehaug, Wegard (19 January 2013). "Omar Elabdellaoui på klubbjakt: – Jeg er klar for større utfordringer enn Tippeligaen" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  21. ↑ "Eintracht verpflichtet Omar Elabdellaoui" (in German). eintracht.com. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Eintracht zieht Kaufoption" (in German). eintracht.com. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Elabdellaoui debuterte i Bundesliga" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Norwegian News Agency. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  24. ↑ Larsen, Anders Bakkerud (25 August 2013). "- Føler jeg har mer å gå på" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  25. ↑ Botnen, Sverre Olav (31 August 2013). "– Vi er den lille pissklubben som aldri får gehør hos dommeren" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  26. ↑ "Norsk landslagsback nærmer seg Olympiakos" (in Norwegian). NRK.no. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  27. ↑ "Elabdellaoui klar for Olympiakos" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  28. ↑ Παίκτης του Ολυμπιακού ο Ελαμπντελαουί (in Greek). Olympiacos.org. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  29. ↑ "Elabdellaoui injured in training". www.sdna.gr. 4 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "Elabdellaoui not get carried away despite transfer talk". www.sdna.gr. 18 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Interest mounts on Elabdellaoui". www.sdna.gr. 8 May 2015.
  32. ↑ "Olympiakos reject Benfica bid for Elabdellaoui". www.sdna.gr. 13 July 2015.
  33. ↑ "Manchester United keen on summer Omar Elabdellaoui transfer". metro.co.uk. 3 February 2016.
  34. ↑ "Referee's mistaken decisions help Olympiakos beat PAOK". www.sdna.gr. 7 February 2016.
  35. ↑ "Proud moment for me to be captain of Olympiakos". www.sdna.gr. 11 April 2016.
  36. 1 2 Hoel, Yasmin Sunde (12 August 2013). "- Johansen var stjernen, Elabdellaoui var best" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  37. 1 2 "Omar Elabdellaoui's profile". fotball.no (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  38. ↑ "Elabdellaoui og Singh om U21-suksessen: – Vi kjenner hverandre ut og inn" (in Norwegian). TV2. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  39. ↑ Christian Wulff (14 September 2012). "Long-term vision should not be sacrificed by Norway boss Egil Olsen". stv.tv. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  40. ↑ "Elabdellaoui: – Moro å spille på dette laget". fotball.no (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  41. ↑ "Elabdellaoui høstet ros etter debuten" (in Norwegian). ABC Nyheter. Norwegian News Agency. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  42. ↑ "Disse 17 ungguttene lever proffdrømmen". vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  43. ↑ "Hvem klemte fingrene da overgangsvinduet lukket?". dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
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