Abde Ezzalzouli
Ezzalzouli playing for Morocco in 2022
Personal information
Full name Abdessamad Ezzalzouli[1]
Date of birth (2001-12-17) 17 December 2001[1]
Place of birth Beni Mellal, Morocco
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Betis
Number 7
Youth career
2008–2010 Peña Ilicitana Raval
2010–2013 Pablo Iglesias
2013–2014 Kelme
2014–2015 Pablo Iglesias
2015–2016 Promesas Elche
2015–2016 Cultural Carrús
2016–2019 Hércules
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Hércules B 25 (5)
2019–2021 Hércules 21 (2)
2021–2022 Barcelona B 21 (3)
2021–2023 Barcelona 12 (1)
2022–2023 → Osasuna (loan) 28 (4)
2023– Betis 14 (1)
International career‡
2019–2021 Morocco U20 5 (2)
2023– Morocco U23 4 (3)
2022– Morocco 11 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Morocco
U-23 Africa Cup of Nations
Winner2023 Morocco
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:08, 30 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:35, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Abdessamad "Abde" Ezzalzouli (Arabic: عبد الصمد الزلزولي; born 17 December 2001), sometimes known as Ez Abde, is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a winger for La Liga club Real Betis and the Morocco national team. He began his professional career playing for Hércules.

Ezzalzouli made his international debut in 2022, after previously being capped by the nation's youth teams at under-20 level. He was chosen in Morocco's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Early life

Born in Morocco, Ezzalzouli moved to Spain with his family at the age of seven to live and started his football youth career in the neighborhood of Carrús, in the city of Elche.[2]

Club career

Hércules

Ezzalzouli was part of the youth academies for Peña Ilicitana Raval CF, CD Pablo Iglesias, Kelme CF, Promesas Elche CF, and CD Cultural Carrús.[3] He trialled at Elche CF, the main club in his hometown, but was not offered a place in their academy.[4]

Ezzalzouli continued to play for neighbourhood clubs in Elche until Hércules CF coach Antonio Moreno Domínguez offered him a contract, and Ezzalzouli subsequently joined the main club in the neighbouring city of Alicante. He moved to Hércules CF' youth sides in 2016, and began his senior career with the B-team in 2019.

Ezzalzouli training with Barcelona in 2022

Barcelona

Ezzalzouli transferred to Barcelona B on 31 August 2021.[5] He made his professional debut with Barcelona in a 1–1 La Liga draw with Alavés on 30 October 2021, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. Ezzalzouli thus became the first Moroccan-born player to feature for Barça's first team.[6] He scored his first goal for Barcelona against Osasuna in a 2–2 draw.[7][8]

Loan to Osasuna

“Abde’s game is spectacular".

—Xavi.[9]

In September 2022, he renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2026 and was ensuingly loaned to Osasuna.[10] On 4 September, he made his first appearance for Osasuna against Rayo Vallecano after being subbed in the 81st minute, he managed to assist the winning goal in that game, which ended in a 2–1 victory.[11][12][13]

On 26 January 2023, Ezzalzouli scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 victory against Sevilla FC in the 2022–23 Copa del Rey Quarter-final.[14] He scored his first league goal exactly one month later, in a 3–2 win against the same opponent.[15]

Betis

On 1 September 2023, Ezzalzouli signed a five-year contract with fellow La Liga club Betis,[16][17] with the transfer being reportedly worth €7.5 million, plus a buy-back option in favor of Barcelona.[18] On 9 September 2023, Ezzalzouli made his debut in a 5–0 loss against Barcelona.[19] On 1 October 2023, Ezzalzouli scored his first goal for the team in a 3–0 victory against Valencia.[20][21] On 1 November 2023, Ezzalzouli was nominated for the 2023 African Young Player of the Year by CAF.[22]

International career

Ezzalzouli represented the Morocco under-20 team at the 2020 Arab Cup U-20, scoring two goals in five games.[23] On 20 December 2021, Abdessamad rejected Vahid Halilhodžić invitation to represent Morocco national team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to focus on his club.[24][25]

On 17 March 2022, Ezzalzouli was listed in the 26-man squad to face DR Congo in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round.[26][27]

In September 2022, Ezzalzouli was called up to join the Morocco national team.[28][29] He played his first match in a friendly against Chile at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà de Llobregat, which ended in a 2–0 victory.[30][31]

On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[32][33]

In June 2023, he was included in the squad for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco itself;[34][35] named as the team captain,[36] he went on to score three goals[36][37][38] and three assists in four matches,[36] as the Atlas Lions won their first title and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[36][39][40]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 December 2023[41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Copa del Rey Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hércules B 2019–20 Tercera División 175———175
2020–21 80———80
Total 255———255
Hércules 2019–20 Segunda División B 4010——50
2020–21 17200——172
Total 21210——222
Barcelona B 2021–22 Primera División RFEF 213———213
Barcelona 2021–22 La Liga 10110001[lower-alpha 1]0121
2023–24 20———20
Total 121100010141
Osasuna (loan) 2022–23 La Liga 28462——346
Betis 2023–24 La Liga 141236[lower-alpha 2]1—225
Career total 12116105611013822

International

As of 21 November 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Morocco 202250
202360
Total110

Honours

Osasuna

Morocco U23

Individual

Orders

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Morocco (MAR)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 19. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Apuntan a un supuesto interés por Abde". lagradaonline.com. 23 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Abde pone rumbo a La Masía". El Español. 31 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Abde, el niño rebelde que tiene como referente a Neymar". AS.com. 23 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Abde debuta de la mano de Sergi". Mundo Deportivo. 30 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Barcelona vs. Alaves – 30 October 2021". Soccerway.
  7. ↑ "Nico and Ez Abde score first goals for FC Barcelona". www.fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Moroccan-born EZ Abde scores first goal for Barcelona". Maghreb Magazine. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Heavy, sports. "Xavi Admits He's Surprised By 'Spectacular' Barcelona Teenager". Gill clark. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Batalla, Jordi (1 September 2022). "Abde, renovado y cedido a Osasuna". Mundo Deportivo.
  11. ↑ Sadhan, Srinivas (4 September 2022). "Video: Barcelona youngster grabs stunning assist on debut for loan club". Barca Universal. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "Debut dreamed: Abde took and gives him the triumph to the Osasuna". FCBN (in European Spanish). 4 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "WATCH: Ez Abde conjures up brilliant assist on Osasuna debut". www.barcablaugranes.com. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "Super Osasuna's Copa del Rey fairy tale continues". ESPN.com. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "الزلزولي يمنح أوساسونا الفوز على حساب إشبيلية في مباراة سجل فيها النصيري - هسبورت". هسبورت (in Arabic). 26 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Agreement with Betis for the transfer of Ez Abde". FC Barcelona. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Abde, nuevo jugador del Real Betis" [Abde, new player of Real Betis] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  18. ↑ Lagos, Daniel (1 September 2023). "Oficial: Abde firma por el Betis". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Barcelona crush Betis to go top". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  20. ↑ Real, Mario Reinoso del (2 October 2023). "Real Betis 3-0 Valencia: resumen, goles y resultado". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "Ezzalzouli shines with a wonderful goal against Valencia in the Spanish League - Heba Sport" (in Arabic). 1 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "CAF announces CAF Awards 2023 Nominees for Men's Categories". CAF. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "من مواليد بني ملال.. 5 معلومات عن عبد الصمد الزلزولي الذي التحق بكبار برشلونة - هبة سبور". 29 October 2021.
  24. ↑ "2021 AFCON: Barcelona youngster Abde Ezzalzouli rejects Morocco call-up for tournament". Footballghana. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  25. ↑ "Player Refusing AFCON Call Up To Focus On Club Commitments". Flipboard. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  26. ↑ "Abdessamad Ezzalzouli sélectionné avec le Maroc pour le barrage contre la RDC". SOFOOT.com (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  27. ↑ MATIN, Abderrahmane Ichi, LE. "La liste des 26 joueurs de Halihodzic avec Attiah Allah & Ezzalzouli". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ "Équipe du Maroc". 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Hakim Ziyech makes return to World Cup team under Regragui's preselection". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "Morocco defeats Chili in friendly game 2-0". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  31. ↑ "England booed as World Cup prep hits horror eight-year low; Brazil make huge statement". Fox Sports. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  32. ↑ "Morocco World Cup 2022 squad: Who's in and who's out? | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  33. ↑ "Moroccan coach unveils list of 26 Atlas Lions in 2022 World Cup". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  34. ↑ "Sei bianconeri con le nazionali". FC Lugano (in Italian). 9 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  35. ↑ "تشكيلة المنتخب الوطني لاقل من 23 سنة امام غينيا". Royal Moroccan Football Federation (in Arabic). 24 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 Leiva, Juanma (9 July 2023). "Abde, héroe nacional". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  37. ↑ "Morocco stage late rally to defeat Guinea in TotalEnergies U23 AFCON opener | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  38. ↑ "TotalEnergies U23 AFCON: Morocco secure semi-final berth with impressive win over Ghana | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  39. 1 2 "Morocco win maiden TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations title with victory over Egypt | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  40. ↑ "Le Mali, le Maroc et l'Égypte qualifiés pour les JO 2024". SO FOOT.com (in French). 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  41. ↑ Abde Ezzalzouli at Soccerway
  42. ↑ "Real Madrid 2–1 Osasuna: Rodrygo scores twice as Madrid win Copa del Rey". BBC. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  43. ↑ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Egypt captain Ibrahim Adel named TotalEnergies U-23 AFCON Best Player | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  44. ↑ "ثلاثة مغاربة ضمن تشكيل كأس إفريقيا للشباب". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  45. ↑ "King receives members of national soccer team, decorates them with Royal wissams". HESPRESS English - Morocco News. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
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