Awer Mabil
Mabil playing for Australia at 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Personal information
Full name Awer Denis Bul Mabil[1]
Date of birth (1995-09-15) 15 September 1995
Place of birth Kakuma, Kenya
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Grasshoppers
Number 21
Youth career
St Augustines
Playford City
Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club
2010–2011 SA NTC
2012–2015 Adelaide United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012 Campbelltown City 14 (1)
2013–2015[3][4] Adelaide United 47 (8)
2015–2022 Midtjylland 108 (16)
2016–2017 → Esbjerg fB (loan) 25 (4)
2017–2018 → Paços de Ferreira (loan) 26 (2)
2022 → Kasımpaşa (loan) 11 (2)
2022–2023 Cádiz 5 (0)
2023 → Sparta Prague (loan) 14 (2)
2023– Grasshoppers 12 (4)
International career‡
2014–2015 Australia U20 9 (4)
2015 Australia U23 6 (0)
2018– Australia 32 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2023

Awer Bul Mabil (born 15 September 1995) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Grasshoppers.[5] Born as a South Sudanese refugee in Kenya, he plays for the Australia national team.

Mabil played youth soccer at the South Australian National Training Centre and with Adelaide United. He made his senior debut for Campbelltown City, before making his debut in the A-League for Adelaide United in 2013.

He is co-founder of the humanitarian charity Barefoot to Boots, which aims to improve health, education, and gender equality among refugees, as well as equipping young refugees with sports equipment. In January 2023 he was named Young Australian of the Year.

Early life and education

Mabil was born on 15 September 1995[3] to South Sudanese parents in Kakuma, located in northwestern Kenya. He lived with his family in the Kakuma Refugee Camp until the age of 10[6] when they moved to Australia and settled in Adelaide.[7] He first began playing football at the Kenyan refugee camp at around the age of five, stating: "We would just go outside and start kicking around. It was not structured and there was little else to do".[8] They played with bare feet and used a rolled-up sock as a football.[9] During a 2022 World Cup qualifier, Mabil said "I was born in a hut, a little hut. My hotel room here is definitely bigger than the hut, the room we had as a family in that refugee camp".[10]

Mabil attended St Columba College throughout his teenage years in Adelaide,[11] graduating in 2013.[12]

Club career

Youth

Mabil played in youth teams at St Augustines;[13] Playford City;[4] SA NTC (2010–2011);[3] and Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club.[4][14]

Adelaide United

Mabil made his senior debut at Campbelltown City (in the FFSA National Premier League) in 2012.[3][15] Later that year he was signed by Adelaide United in the A-League, after he had displayed a number of performances showing his pace and dribbling skills to outwit many defenders in the FFSA National Premier League.[16]

He made his Adelaide United senior debut on 11 January 2013 in a 2012–13 A-League match against Perth Glory. He scored his first goal in a 2–1 away loss to Wellington Phoenix in Round 17 of the 2013–14 A-League season, after coming on as a substitute in the second half.

FC Midtjylland

In July 2015, Mabil secured a move to Danish Superliga club, FC Midtjylland for a reported transfer fee in excess of AU$1,300,000[17][18] Awer Mabil made his Danish Superliga debut for FC Midtjylland on 16 October 2015 against Randers FC at the MCH Arena in Herning as an 83rd-minute substitute for Daniel Royer. On 22 October 2015, Mabil made his UEFA Europa League debut at home to Napoli FC, coming on for Mikkel Duelund in the 73rd minute.

He has said that when he went to FC Midtjylland he began to appreciate the seriousness of the game, and to develop a winning mentality. Initially he was not getting much game time, and the club sent him to two clubs on loan to help develop his skills and a winning mindset.[19]

Loan to Esbjerg fB

In August 2016, Mabil was loaned to Esbjerg fB to allow him to get more game time and develop.[20][21] Mabil made his debut on 8 August 2016, starting the match against AGF but was sent off in the 44th minute.[22] Esbjerg was relegated to the Danish 1st Division, and Esbjerg announced that Mabil was one of nine players who would be leaving the club.[23]

Loan to Paços de Ferreira

In July 2017, Mabil was loaned to Paços de Ferreira to allow him further first-team opportunities.[24] Paços de Ferreira were relegated at the end of the 2017–18 Primeira Liga season; however, Mabil impressed while on loan, scoring twice and providing a further three assists in 26 league appearances.[25] He still follows the club.[19]

Return to Midtjylland

Mabil returned to Denmark in 2018 a more mature player,[19] and had a strong start, scoring a goal and registering two assists in his first six appearances of the season.[26] On 11 November 2018, Mabil scored two and set a further two up in Midtjyllands 5–0 win over Vejle, taking his season tally to four goals and eight assists.[27] He worked his way into the first team squad.[19]

On 30 September 2020, he assisted Sory Kaba's headed goal with a cross in a 4–1 home win over Slavia Prague in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League play-off round that qualified Midtjylland for their first UEFA Champions League.[28] He scored his first Champions League goal on 25 November that year against Ajax from the penalty spot in a 3–1 defeat.[29]

Loan to Kasımpaşa

In February 2022, after being sidelined at Midtjylland owing to his unwillingness to sign a further contract after seven years in Denmark, Mabil was loaned to Kasımpaşa in Turkey until the end of the season.[30]

Cádiz

In May 2022, it was confirmed that Mabil had signed to Spanish La Liga club Cádiz for four seasons.[31][32] However in his first half season for the Andalusian club he only made six appearances, averaging merely 40 minutes of playing time per game.[5]

Loan to Sparta Prague

In January 2023, Mabil was loaned to Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic.[33] He made a total of 14 appearances for Sparta, scoring two goals and assisting for three,[5] contributing to Sparta becoming Czech champions.[34]

Grasshopper Club Zürich

On 21 August 2023, he joined Swiss record champions Grasshopper Club Zürich on a two year contract with an option to extend for a further year.[35] He made his debut for the club on 2 September, replacing Dorian Babunski at half-time of a 2–1 away loss to Stade Lausanne Ouchy.[36] On 7 October 2023, he received his first starting lineup nomination and repaid that trust with a brace, scoring the first two goals and assisting for the third in a 3–0 away win against Yverdon-Sport.[37] For this achievement, he was named the Man of the Match.[38]

International career

In August 2013, Mabil was called up by Australia for COTIF Tournament in L'Alcúdia, Spain.[39] The tournament was used by the FIFA to prepare players for their successful 2014 AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign.

A citizen of South Sudan by birth, he was cleared by FIFA to play for Australia in March 2014 after a year-long process to obtain a birth certificate and gain exemption from FIFA eligibility rules due to his refugee status.[40][41]

He featured for Australia in the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship, playing in all three of their games, the opponents were Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.[42][43][44]

After showing impressive form with FC Midtjylland, Mabil was called up to the senior team for the first time. Participating in the Socceroos first training camp under new coach Graham Arnold.[45]

On 16 October 2018, Mabil made his debut for the Australia senior national team against Kuwait in an international friendly match at the Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium. He came on as a second-half substitution for Mathew Leckie and scored his maiden goal for the senior national team in the 88th minute to give Australia their fourth and final goal in a 4–0 win over Kuwait in Graham Arnold's first match of his second stint with the Australian national team.[46][47] Mabil's goal was assisted by Tomi Juric and Thomas Deng.[48] Mabil celebrated the goal with childhood friend and fellow South Sudanese refugee Deng, who was also making his international debut for Australia.[49] Awer dedicated the goal, post-match, to his mother.[50]

Mabil played in qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup. In the final "must-win" game against Peru, he scored one of the penalties that secured a place in the competition for the Socceroos. He said that scoring the crucial goal was "the only way to say thank you to Australia on behalf of my family".[10][51]

On 22 September 2022, Mabil scored his first home international goal against New Zealand in a 1–0 win in a friendly at Lang Park.

Other activities

Barefoot to Boots

Mabil helped to establish the humanitarian charity Barefoot to Boots with his elder brother[9] Awer G. Bul, and Ian Smith[52] to ensure better "health, education, and gender equality" outcomes for refugees. Mabil returned to Kakuma with the organisation, with the aim of promoting football as well as helping refugees in other ways.[9]

Recognition and honours

In 2018, Mabil was awarded the FIFPRO Merit Award, presented by the International Federation of Professional Footballers at a ceremony in Rome. The award is worth worth US$25,000, to be donated to his charity to continue his work.[53]

In June 2022, on a visit to his old school, St Columba College, Mabil was presented with the 2022 Alumni of the Year Award, in recognition of his high level of achievement in football as well as his service to the community with his Barefoot to Boots charity.[12]

In November 2022, Mabil was announced as recipient of the 2023 Young Australian of the Year award for his home state of South Australia.[54][55] On 25 January 2023, he was named the national Young Australian of the Year.[56]

Personal life

His elder brother is Awer G. Bul, who is director of Barefoot to Boots, which he co-founded.[9]

Mabil's 19-year-old sister Bor was killed in a car crash in Adelaide in 2018.[9]

He went to school with good friend, fellow-refugee and Socceroo Thomas Deng.[57]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 September 2023[5][58]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Adelaide United 2012–13 A-League 50———50
2013–14 A-League 202——1[lower-alpha 2]0212
2014–15 A-League 19531—2[lower-alpha 2]1247
Total 44731—31509
FC Midtjylland 2015–16 Superliga 601020—90
2018–19 Superliga 306105[lower-alpha 3]0—366
2019–20 Superliga 348002[lower-alpha 4]0—368
2020–21 Superliga 2113010[lower-alpha 5]2—343
2021–22 Superliga 31003[lower-alpha 5]1—62
Total 941650223—12119
Esbjerg fB (loan) 2016–17 Superliga 25400—4[lower-alpha 6]0294
Paços de Ferreira (loan) 2017–18 Primeira Liga 262——3[lower-alpha 7]1293
Kasımpaşa (loan) 2021–22 Süper Lig 11200——112
Cádiz 2022–23 La Liga 5010——60
Sparta Prague (loan) 2022–23 Czech First League 14220——162
Grasshopper 2023–24 Super League 5210——62
Career total 2243511122310227241
  1. ↑ Includes Australian FFA Cup, Danish Sydbank Pokalen, Portuguese Taça de Portugal, Turkish Cup, and Czech Cup.
  2. 1 2 Appearances in finals series
  3. ↑ Includes four appearances in the Europa League third qualification and play-off rounds and one appearance in the Champions League second qualification round
  4. ↑ Appearances in the Europa League
  5. 1 2 Appearances in the Champions League
  6. ↑ Appearances in Superliga relegation play-offs
  7. ↑ Appearances in the Portuguese Taça da Liga

International

As of 24 March 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia 201842
2019102
202192
202282
202311
Total329
As of match played 21 September 2022
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mabil goal.
List of international goals scored by Awer Mabil
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 October 2018Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait1 Kuwait4–04–0Friendly
2 30 December 2018Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates4 Oman3–05–0Friendly
3 11 January 2019Rashid Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates6 Palestine2–03–02019 AFC Asian Cup
4 15 January 2019Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates7 Syria1–03–22019 AFC Asian Cup
5 2 September 2021Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar17 China1–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 7 October 2021Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar19 Oman1–03–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 1 June 2022Al Janoub Stadium, Al-Wakrah, Qatar26 Jordan2–12–1Friendly
8 22 September 2022Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia29 New Zealand1–01–0Friendly
9 24 March 2023Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia32 Ecuador2–13–1Friendly

Honours

Adelaide United

Midtjylland

Sparta Prague

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Awer Mabil - Player Profile - Football". Eurosport. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Awer Mabil". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "News - Reds provide opportunity exciting young duo". Adelaide United. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Awer Mabil at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Awer Mabil used to make footballs from plastic bags. Now he's an Australian hero". SBS News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Awer Mabil's journey from refugee camp to the World Cup is the stuff that dreams are made of". ABC News. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Returning to the refugee camp". FIFA. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Keane, Daniel (15 June 2022). "Awer Mabil's journey from refugee camp to the World Cup is the stuff that dreams are made of". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 "From a Kenyan refugee camp to the World Cup". BBC Sport. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Socceroo Awer Mabil goes back to school at St Columba at Andrews Farm". Adelaide Now. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  12. 1 2 McNamara, Lindy (23 June 2022). "School honour for Socceroo". The Southern Cross. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "About us". Saint Augustines Soccer Club. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club". SAcommunity. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "Awer Mabil - Player Statistics". GameDay. Campbelltown City, Seniors. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Young Adelaide United gun Awer Mabil up for attack". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "Awer Mabil to join Danish champion side FC Midtjylland after United deal all but done". The Advertiser. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Mabil signs with Danish Club". Adelaide United FC. 20 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "How back-to-back relegations made Awer Mabil the player he is today". Socceroos. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "Esbjerg lejer kantspiller i FCM" (in Danish). bold.dk. 3 August 2016.
  21. ↑ Somerford, Ben (5 August 2016). "Mabil seals Esbjerg move". Inside Sport.
  22. ↑ Stoll, Nick (9 August 2016). "Amini scores while Mabil is sent-off as Aussies clash in Denmark". The World Game. SBS.
  23. ↑ Ni spillere på vej ud i Esbjerg, bold.dk, 30 May 2017
  24. ↑ Somerford, Ben (6 July 2017). "Mabil joins Portuguese club". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017.
  25. ↑ "2017–2018 Paços de Ferreira Stats". 13 June 2018.
  26. ↑ Windon, Jacob (20 September 2018). "Progress Report: Awer Mabil". Socceroos.
  27. ↑ "Aussies Abroad: Mabil masterclass leads five-star Midtjylland to victory". Socceroos. 12 November 2018.
  28. ↑ Rosengarten, Jake (1 October 2020). "Awer Mabil's beautiful reaction to qualifying for Champions League". sport.optus.com.au.
  29. ↑ "Mabil scores maiden Champions League goal, Liverpool lose, City advance". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 November 2020.
  30. ↑ Lewis, Dave (20 February 2022). "Exclusive: Socceroos star seals top-flight Spanish deal". FTBL. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  31. ↑ "Cádiz has closed its first signing: Awer Mabil". Sportz. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  32. ↑ "Cádiz confirms Awer Mabil as its first signing". Spain La Liga News. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  33. ↑ Blejštil, Petr (4 January 2023). "Sparta hlásí čtvrtou posilu. Přivedla účastníka MS v Kataru". sport.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  34. 1 2 "Sparta v euforii! Remíza na Slovácku odstartovala mistrovské oslavy". Sport.cz (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  35. ↑ "Grasshopper Club Zürich signs Awer Mabil". Grasshopper Club Zürich. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy vs. Grasshoppers: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  37. ↑ "GC gelingt in Yverdon der Befreiungsschlag". www.bluewin.ch (in German). Bluewin. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  38. ↑ "Match Report". www.sflT.ch (in German). Swiss Football League. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  39. ↑ "Young Socceroos announced for COTIF tournament". footballaustralia.com.au. 5 August 2013.
  40. ↑ Migliaccio, Val (13 March 2014). "FIFA gives Mabil the green light". The Australian. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  41. ↑ Burgess, Michael (22 August 2015). "Football: Oz up with eligibility play". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  42. ↑ "Australia vs. United Arab Emirates". the-afc.com. 10 October 2014.
  43. ↑ "Indonesia vs. Australia". the-afc.com. 12 October 2014.
  44. ↑ "Uzbekistan vs. Australia". the-afc.com. 14 October 2014.
  45. ↑ "Graham Arnold has named his first Socceroos squad since taking over as head coach". foxsports.com.au. 30 August 2018.
  46. ↑ "Kuwait vs Australia". The World Game. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  47. ↑ "Socceroos comfortably defeat Kuwait in Graham Arnold's first game in charge". ABC News. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  48. ↑ Davidson, John (16 October 2018). "Graham Arnold off to a flyer as Socceroos thrash Kuwait in friendly". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  49. ↑ Bossi, Dominic (16 October 2018). "Sudanese refugees share special Socceroo debuts". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  50. ↑ "Mabil's moment nine years in the making". www.ftbl.com.au. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  51. ↑ "'Thank you Australia': Socceroo Awer Mabil dedicates sudden-death goal to the nation". SBS News. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  52. ↑ "Board". Barefoot to Boots. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  53. ↑ Hytner, Mike (30 November 2018). "Barefoot to Boots: Socceroo Awer Mabil recognised for refugee work". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  54. ↑ "Awer Mabil". Australian of the Year. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  55. ↑ Wilson, Rebecca (11 November 2022). "Winners of 2023 SA Australian of the Year Awards announced". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  56. ↑ Mannheim, Markus (25 January 2023). "Body-image campaigner Taryn Brumfitt, who directed Embrace, named 2023 Australian of the Year". ABC News. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  57. ↑ "Thomas Deng". Perth African Nations Sports Association. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  58. ↑ "Awer Mabil » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  59. ↑ Rojas makes FFA awards history WAToday.com.au
  60. ↑ Lewis, Samantha (26 January 2023). "The moment of kindness that set Socceroo Awer Mabil on his path to 2023 Young Australian of the Year". ABC News). Retrieved 1 February 2023.
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