Omar El Hilali Explained

Omar El Hilali
Full Name:Omar El Hilali Khayat
Birth Date:12 September 2003
Birth Place:L'Hospitalet, Spain
Height:1.83 m
Position:Right-back
Currentclub:Espanyol
Clubnumber:23
Youthclubs1:Santa Eulàlia
Youthyears2:2016–2020
Youthclubs2:Espanyol
Years1:2020–2023
Clubs1:Espanyol B
Caps1:61
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–
Clubs2:Espanyol
Caps2:43
Goals2:0
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:Morocco U20
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2023–
Nationalteam2:Morocco U23
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:6 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:19:07, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

Omar El Hilali Khayat (born 12 September 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for RCD Espanyol. Born in Spain, he represents Morocco at youth level.

Club career

Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, El Hilali joined RCD Espanyol's youth setup at the age of 13, from hometown side CF Santa Eulàlia.[1] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 18 October 2020, starting in a 2–1 Segunda División B home win against AE Prat.

El Hilali made his first-team debut at the age of just 17 on 4 April 2021, coming on as a second-half substitute for injured Óscar Gil in a 3–0 away success over Albacete Balompié in the Segunda División.[2] On 14 December 2023, after establishing himself as a first team regular, he extended his contract with the club until 2027, being definitely promoted to the main squad.[3]

International career

El Hilali was born in Spain to a Moroccan family, with roots in Tangier.[1] He represented the Morocco U20s at the 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.[4]

In June 2023, he was included in the final squad of the under-23 national team for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco itself,[5] [6] where the Atlas Lions won their first title[7] [8] and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[9]

Honours

Espagnol

Morocco U23

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Omar, 16 años y un sueño. Omar, 16 years and a dream. 1 September 2020. es. Diario AS.
  2. Web site: Omar El Hilali debuta con el primer equipo del Espanyol. Omar El Hilali debuts with the first team of Espanyol. Diario La Grada. es. 4 April 2021. 30 May 2021.
  3. Web site: 14 December 2023 . Omar El Hilali renews contract . 15 December 2023 . RCD Espanyol.
  4. Web site: Morocco team list . Confederation of African Football . 16 February 2021.
  5. Web site: 9 June 2023 . Sei bianconeri con le nazionali . 27 June 2023 . . it-CH.
  6. Web site: 24 June 2023 . تشكيلة المنتخب الوطني لاقل من 23 سنة امام غينيا . 27 June 2023 . . ar.
  7. Web site: 8 July 2023 . Morocco win maiden TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations title with victory over Egypt Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023 . 9 July 2023 . CAFOnline.com.
  8. Web site: 9 July 2023 . Le Maroc remporte la CAN U23 au bout de la prolongation . 9 July 2023 . SO FOOT.com . fr-FR.
  9. Web site: 8 July 2023 . Le Mali, le Maroc et l’Égypte qualifiés pour les JO 2024 . 9 July 2023 . SO FOOT.com . fr-FR.