Ayoub El Kaabi
El Kaabi with Morocco in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-06-25) 25 June 1993[1]
Place of birth Casablanca, Morocco
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
Olympiacos
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 RAC 33 (25)
2017–2018 RS Berkane 24 (12)
2018–2020 Hebei 28 (9)
2019Wydad (loan) 9 (4)
2020–2021 Wydad 29 (18)
2021–2023 Hatayspor 53 (26)
2023 Al Sadd 7 (2)
2023– Olympiacos 15 (7)
International career
2018– Morocco A' 15 (14)
2018– Morocco 26 (10)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Morocco
African Nations Championship
Winner2018 Morocco
Winner2020 Cameroon
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:30, 23 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 November 2023 (UTC)

Ayoub El Kaabi (Arabic: أيوب الكعبي; born 25 June 1993) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Super League Greece club Olympiacos and the Morocco national team.[2] He started his professional career playing for Racing de Casablanca.

A full international for Morocco since 2018, El Kaabi represented the nation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, one Africa Cup of Nations tournament and two African Nations Championship tournaments.

El Kaabi was the top goalscorer of the 2018 African Nations Championship, taking place on home soil, with nine goals. This made him the first player to reach that tally in a single competition, having surpassed the previous record set by Zambia's Given Singuluma of five goals in 2009. After netting a brace in the semi-final against Libya, Morocco made it to the final of the competition for the first time in history, where they won their first title after a big 4–0 win against Nigeria.[3][4]

Early life

Ayoub El Kaabi was born and raised in a disadvantaged environment in Casablanca and precisely in the popular neighborhood of Derb Milla. His family is from Zagora in southern Morocco, but moved to the region of Mediouna near Casablanca. Like all young people in the city, El Kaabi was interested in football from a young age. The El Kaabi family went through difficult times in the 1990s. As a result, Ayoub El Kaabi had to get used to living in a slum with his family. In order to support himself and help his family, El Kaabi left school at the age of 15 and joined a workshop in the Mediouna district as an apprentice carpenter. In an interview with the Moroccan press, he explains about his past: "I was born into a modest family. To support myself, I had to learn a trade. That's how I got into carpentry."

In his free time, El Kaabi plays football with his neighborhood friends. His entourage realizing his unique talent, they did not hesitate to advise Ayoub El Kaabi to join a club in the Hay Khadija district. After having evolved only a few months in this club, the scouts of Racing de Casablanca detected it very quickly and noticed the technical and physical qualities that the young carpenter from Zagora possesses. Ayoub El Kaabi therefore decided to give up carpentry to devote himself to football and signed his first professional contract at the age of 21 with Racing Club de Casablanca in 2014.

Club career

RAC

El Kaabi was loaned by one of the clubs practicing in the Third National Division, to play the large number of matches where he gained experience. He started his professional career playing in the first team of Racing Athlétique Club. He started his career as a left-back due to his speed and stamina ability, he later joined the first team and changed his position from full-back to the center of a defensive field, and then settled in the attacking position, after the coach saw his great finishing ability. He was credited with ascending the Racing Club to the First National Division.[5]

RS Berkane

El Kaabi joined RS Berkane as a transfer from Racing de Casablanca during summer 2017. He was the top scorer in the Botola 2 during the 2016–17 season with 25 goals.[6] El kaabi won the 2018 Moroccan Throne Cup after defeating Wydad de Fès in the finals by penalties.[7]

Hebei F.C.

In 2018, El Kaabi was purchased by Hebei China Fortune for a transfer fee of €6.5 million.[8]

El Kaabi playing for Hebei F.C.

On 2 August, El Kaabi scored his first goal for the club after scoring a volley against Beijing Guoan.[9]

On 30 March, El Kaabi managed to score his third goal of the season against the formidable defense of Shanghai SIPG, though he could not prevent his team from losing the game (2–1). With his efforts, the Moroccan player has won the hearts and minds of the Hebei public, and established himself as a rising star alongside his teammates Argentinians Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Mascherano.[10]

Wydad

In July 2019, El Kaabi joined Wydad AC on a six-month loan.[11]

In September 2020, he returned to Wydad AC as a free agent.[12] He took part in the qualifying stages of the 2019–20 CAF Champions League before signing to the turkish side Hatayspor. During the competition El Kaabi managed to score a hat-trick against Atlético Petróleos de Luanda marking his final match for Wydad.[13] He finished as the top scorer of the Botola in the 2020–21 season with 18 goals.[14]

Hatayspor

In 2021, El Kaabi signed a two-year contract until June 2023 with Hatayspor,[15] after having made the heyday of Wydad in Casablanca.[16]

On 23 August 2021, El Kabbi made his debut for the team, after being substituted in 76th minute for Mame Diouf against Galatasaray, the game ended in a 2–1 loss. On 28 August he scored his first goal with the team after a 5–0 victory against Alanyaspor.[17] On 27 February 2022, El Kaabi scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 5–2 win against Yeni Malatyaspor.[18][19] Due to the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, the club withdrew from the league after the club's quarters in Antakya collapsed.[20] This forced El Kaabi to search for another club.

Al Sadd

On 1 March 2023, Qatari club Al Sadd SC reached an agreement with El Kaabi to join the club until the end of the current season.[21][22][23] On 3 March, he came on in the 81st minute in place of Akram Afif and played his first match against Al-Sailiya SC. On 7 March 2023, El Kaabi scored his first goal in his second appearance for the club.[24] In the league, he received his first start on 17 March against Al-Shamal SC.

El Kaabi ends the season as third in the championship and finalist in the Qatar Cup played on 6 April 2023 against Al-Duhail SC in Doha.

Olympiacos

On 6 August 2023, El Kaabi was set to join Olympiacos.[25] El Kaabi made his debut four days later against K.R.C. Genk in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round. He managed to score a brace in his fourth appearance for the team in a 3–1 victory against FK Čukarički.[26][27] On 21 September 2023, EL Kaabi scored a brace against SC Freiburg in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League Group Stage.[28][29] Six days later, EL Kaabi went on to score another brace against Aris Thessaloniki.[30]

International career

El Kaabi made his international debut for the Morocco national team on 13 January 2018 in a 2018 Africa Nations Championship group stage match against Mauritania, scoring two goals.[31][32] The footballer was named Man of The Match on 31 January after Morocco's match against Libya during CHAN's semi-final match. Morocco won the game 3-1.[33] Morocco was set to face Nigeria in the finals. On 4 February 2018, Morocco defeated Nigeria 4–0, El Kaabi scored a goal in the 73rd minute of the match.[34] The Confederation of African Football (CAF) chose El Kaabi as the best player of the tournament due to the world-class performance and pure talent he displayed throughout the entire tournament scoring 9 goals in 5 matches, making him the top goal scorer in the entire history of the competition.[35]

El Kaabi scored his first international hat trick on 17 January 2018 against Guinea.[36]

In May 2018 he was named in Morocco's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[37][38] He played only 2 matches out of the 3 in the World cup, played the first match as the starting 11 against Iran and coming on the 69th minute as substitute for Khalid Boutaib against Portugal.

El Kaabi vs Iran in the 2018 World Cup

EL Kaabi represented Morocco in the 2020 African Nations Championship, scoring a total of three goals which helped his country to achieve the title and becoming the first and only country to win the Championship back to back.[39] His most appreciated goal is the goal he scored in the final against Mali in the 79th minute that guaranteed them the win.[40]

After his performances with the Moroccan A' for two years achieving two African titles, the newly Bosnian Coach Vahid Halilhodžić was impressed and decided to call him to represent Morocco national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF). In his first six matches with the team, he managed to score five goals allowing him to become the Moroccan top goalscorer; and surpassing the second round qualification with ease.[41][42][43]

El Kaabi with Morocco during the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Playing style

El Kaabi is a strong built attacker who likes to cut in the penalty box area with an excellent finishing.

Personal life

In an interview with the Moroccan press, El Kaabi expressed his admiration for Hakim Ziyech style of play. It was also in 2018 that he set foot on the same pitch as the midfielder to compete together in the 2018 World Cup.

On 9 January 2022, El Kaabi tested positive for COVID-19 alongside his teammate Ryan Mmaee.[44]

On 9 September 2023, El Kaabi along with his national teammates donated their blood for the needy affected by the 2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake.[45][46][47]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 December 2023[48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
RAC 2016–17 Botola 2 3325003325
RS Berkane 2017–18 Botola 2412658[lower-alpha 3]63823
Hebei 2018 Chinese Super League 13500135
2019 15400154
Total 28900289
Wydad AC 2019–20 Botola 94114[lower-alpha 4]44[lower-alpha 5]11810
2020–21 29184410[lower-alpha 4]44326
Total 382255148416136
Hatayspor 2021–22 Süper Lig 3218203418
2022–23 21800218
Total 5326205526
Al-Sadd 2022–23 Qatar Stars League 7243101[lower-alpha 6]1136
Olympiacos 2023–24 Super League Greece 1570010[lower-alpha 7]52512
Career total 182103171310301962251137

International

As of 17 October 2023[49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Morocco 20181411
201920
202011
2021149
202281
202322
Total4124
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each El Kaabi goal.
List of international goals scored by Ayoub El Kaabi for Morocco[4]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
127 March 2018Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Uzbekistan1–02–0Friendly
24 June 2018Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Slovakia1–12–1Friendly
36 October 2021Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco Guinea-Bissau4–05–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
49 October 2021Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Guinea-Bissau1–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
52–0
612 October 2021Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco Guinea1–04–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
716 November 2021Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco3–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
89 June 2022Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco South Africa2–12–12023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
914 October 2023Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast1–11–1Friendly
1017 October 2023Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco Liberia2–03–02023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
List of international goals scored by Ayoub El Kaabi for Morocco A'[4]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
113 January 2018Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Mauritania1–04–02018 African Nations Championship
23–0
317 January 2018Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Guinea1–03–12018 African Nations Championship
42–1
53–1
627 January 2018Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Namibia1–02–02018 African Nations Championship
731 January 2018Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Libya1–03–12018 African Nations Championship
82–1
94 February 2018Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Nigeria4–04–02018 African Nations Championship
101 November 2020Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niger Mali1–01–0Friendly
1112 January 2021Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Morocco Guinea1–01–0Friendly
1226 January 2021Stade de la Réunification, Douala, Cameroon Uganda1–15–22020 African Nations Championship
1331 January 2021Stade de la Réunification, Douala, Cameroon Zambia3–03–12020 African Nations Championship
147 February 2021Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon Mali2–02–02020 African Nations Championship

Honours

RS Berkane

Wydad AC

Al Sadd

Morocco

Individual

Record

References

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