| Omri Gandelman | |
| Birth Date: | 16 May 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Hod HaSharon, Israel |
| Height: | 1.88 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Gent |
| Clubnumber: | 6 |
| Youthyears1: | 2008–2011 |
| Youthyears2: | 2011–2014 |
| Youthyears3: | 2014–2017 |
| Youthyears4: | 2017–2018 |
| Youthyears5: | 2018 |
| Youthyears6: | 2018–2020 |
| Years1: | 2020–2023 |
| Caps1: | 100 |
| Goals1: | 9 |
| Years2: | 2023– |
| Clubs2: | Gent |
| Caps2: | 31 |
| Goals2: | 11 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2021 |
| Nationalteam1: | Israel U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 14 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 4 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2024 |
| Nationalteam2: | Israel Olympic |
| Nationalcaps2: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2021– |
| Nationalteam3: | Israel |
| Nationalcaps3: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 21 April 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 30 July 2024 |
Omri Gandelman (Hebrew: עמרי גנדלמן also spelled Hebrew: עומרי גאנדלמן; born 16 May 2000) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian Pro League club KAA Gent and the Israel national team.
Gandelman was born and raised in Hod HaSharon, Israel,[1] to an Israeli family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and of Sephardi Jewish descent. His father is Israeli former basketball player Shmuel "Shmulik" Gandelman,[2] and grandson of Rami Gandelman who was a basketball manager and a sports personality in Jerusalem.[3]
He also holds a Portuguese passport, on account of his Sephardi Jewish ancestors,[1] which eases the move to certain European football leagues.
Gandelman is a youth product of the academies of the Israeli clubs Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hapoel Ra'anana. In 2018, he was scouted by the German academy of Wehen Wiesbaden and had a stint there, before returning to Israel for military service after his performances in the European Sub 21 he has just signed a pre-agreement for Arsenal FC of the Premier League.[4] He made his professional debut with Maccabi Netanya in a 3–1 Israeli Premier League win over Ironi Kiryat Shmona on 2 June 2020.[5]
He has been a crucial member of the Israel U21, ever since the debut of his in 2021.
Coming on as a substitute within the first half, Gandelman debuted with the seniors' Israel national team in a 4–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification away loss against Austria on 12 November 2021.[6]
Gandelman was selected for Israel's squad to compete in the men's football at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[7] He played Israel whole three games[8] [9] [10] as they were knocked out in the group stage. He scored an equalizing goal against Paraguay (1-1), but Israel nonetheless lost the game.[11]
Maccabi Netanya