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)
2019 → Wydad (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 332500–––3325
RS Berkane 2017–18 Botola 241265–8[lower-alpha 3]6–3823
Hebei 2018 Chinese Super League 13500–––135
2019 15400–––154
Total 28900–––289
Wydad AC 2019–20 Botola 9411–4[lower-alpha 4]44[lower-alpha 5]11810
2020–21 291844–10[lower-alpha 4]4–4326
Total 382255–148416136
Hatayspor 2021–22 Süper Lig 321820–––3418
2022–23 21800–––218
Total 532620–––5526
Al-Sadd 2022–23 Qatar Stars League 724310–1[lower-alpha 6]1136
Olympiacos 2023–24 Super League Greece 15700–10[lower-alpha 7]5–2512
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

  1. 1 2 "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Hatayspor yeni forvetini buldu: Ayoub El Kaabi". www.sozcu.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Ayoub El Kaabi". Player. Football Database.eu. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "El Kaabi, Ayoub". National Football Teams. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "أيوب الكعبي". areq.net. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "Transfert. Officiel: la RSB s'offre la vedette de la D2 et enflamme le Mercato". Le 360 Sport (in French). 20 June 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "Morocco 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Chinese Club Forced Zamalek to withdraw interest from Morocco striker Ayoub El-Kaabi". 11 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "El Kaabi fires in superb volley for Hebei". beIN SPORTS. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  10. ↑ 李凯至. "An Atlas Lion-- ChinAfrica". www.chinafrica.cn. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Officiel: Ayoub El Kaabi jouera avec le WAC". Le Site Info (in French). 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Botola: Ayoub El Kaabi a signé au Wydad". 2M (in French). Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "El Kaabi hat-trick earns Wydad first group stage win | Total CAF Champions League 2020/21". CAFOnline.com. CAF-Confedération Africaine du Football. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Vidéo. Botola Pro D1 Inwi: El Kaabi, officiellement meilleur buteur". Le360 Sport (in French). Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Ayoub El Kaabi moved to Hatayspor club until June 2023". HESPRESS English - Morocco's leading digital media. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Ayoub El Kaabi joins Turkish club Hatayspor". Morocco Latest News. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "أول هدف للكعبي في الدوري التركي". SNRTnews (in Arabic). Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  18. ↑ "El Kaabi'den hat-trick... Atakaş Hatayspor 5-2 Öznur Kablo Yeni Malatyspor (Maç sonucu)". NTVSpor.net (in Turkish). Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "El Kaabi coştu, Hatayspor uçtu | Mackolik.com". www.mackolik.com. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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  22. ↑ Eltayeb, Mohamed (2 March 2023). "Al Sadd and Umm Salal FC find replacements for star footballers ahead of Amir Cup". Doha News | Qatar. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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  24. ↑ "الكعبي يفتتح التهديف مع نادي السد القطري". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
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  26. ↑ "A compelling Legend against Čukarički". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  27. ↑ "Olympiakos 3-1 Cukaricki Belgrade (24 Aug, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  28. ↑ "They didn't make it at the opening phase of the group stage". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  29. ↑ "Al-Kaabi is the top scorer in Olympiacos". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  30. ↑ "Olympiacos dominates Aris in "G. Karaiskakis"". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Morocco Crushes Mauritania 4-0 in Opening Match of CHAN 2018". Morocco World News. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  32. ↑ "Player to watch: Ayoub el Kaabi". DAWN.COM. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Ayoub El Kaabi brace sends Morocco into CHAN final - 2018 CHAN - Libya". African Football. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "El Kaabi hits ninth goal as Morocco whip Nigeria". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "El Kaabi named Total man of the tournament". CAFOnline.com. CAF-Confedération Africaine du Football. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  36. ↑ "CHAN: Morocco Beats Guinea Thanks to Kaabi's Hat-trick". Morocco World News. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  37. ↑ "Boufal left out of Morocco squad".
  38. ↑ "CHAN hero El Kaabi rewarded with Morocco call-up". ESPN.com. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  39. ↑ "Morocco win second CHAN title after defeating Mali in final". CAFOnline.com. CAF-Confedération Africaine du Football. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  40. ↑ "Mali vs Morocco". FotMob. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
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  42. ↑ "Senegal and Morocco reach World Cup play-offs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
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  45. ↑ ""أسود الأطلس" يتبرعون بالدم في أكادير". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  46. ↑ ""أسود الأطلس" يتبرعون بالدم.. عالم الرياضة يتضامن مع المغرب بعد الزلزال المدمر". www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  47. ↑ قطبي, ماجدة (9 September 2023). "زلزال الحوز.. الركراكي و"أسود الأطلس" يتبرعون بالدم". مشاهد 24 (in Arabic). Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  48. ↑ Ayoub El Kaabi at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  49. ↑ Ayoub El Kaabi at National-Football-Teams.com
  50. ↑ "Morocco 4-0 Nigeria - February 04, 2018 / CHAN 2018".
  51. ↑ "Rankings Moroccan Cup 2021 | BeSoccer". www.besoccer.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  52. ↑ "أيوب الكعبي.. نجم مغربي لمع في "أفريقيا للمحليين"". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  53. ↑ "الكعبي هداف "الشان" التاريخي". الأخبار جريدة إلكترونية مغربية مستقلة (in Arabic). 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  54. ↑ "CHAN 2018: Nigerian duo make 'team of the tournament'". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  55. ↑ "تشكيلة "الشان" المثالية تضم 5 لاعبين مغاربة". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 8 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  56. ↑ "أيوب الكعبي يفض الشراكة مع مالانجو". كووورة. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  57. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  58. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  59. ↑ "Konyaspor'dan Amir Hadziahmetoviç Altın Karma'da". markafutbol.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  60. ↑ "Stoiximan Player of the Month Σεπτεμβρίου ο Αγιούμπ Ελ Κααμπί". Super League (in Greek). 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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  62. ↑ "CHAN 2020: Scorers Classification table". KICK442. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  63. ↑ "Atlas Lions roar again". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  64. ↑ "Ayoub El Kaabi: First Player To Hit Double Digits In CHAN History". MySoccer24. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
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