Oussama El Azzouzi Explained

Oussama El Azzouzi
Full Name:Oussama El Azzouzi
Birth Date:29 May 2001
Birth Place:Veenendaal, Netherlands
Height:1.89 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Bologna
Clubnumber:17
Youthclubs1:Vitesse Arnhem
Youthclubs2:Groningen
Years1:2021–2022
Clubs1:Emmen
Caps1:34
Goals1:1
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Union SG
Caps2:23
Goals2:0
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Bologna
Caps3:18
Goals3:2
Nationalyears1:2023–2024
Nationalteam1:Morocco U23
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2023–
Nationalteam2:Morocco
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:23:41, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:21:16, 5 August 2024 (UTC)

Oussama El Azzouzi (Arabic: أسامة العزوزي; born 29 May 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Bologna. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Morocco national team.

Club career

El Azzouzi had been in the youth set ups in the Netherlands for Groningen and Vitesse and played for Emmen in the Eerste Divisie for one season, helping them gain promotion as champions to the Eredivisie at the end of the 2021–22 season. He signed a three-year contract in Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2022, with the option of an extra year.[1] [2] He made his debut for Union SG on 6 August 2022 starting a 3–0 away defeat against K.V. Mechelen.[3]

On 20 July 2023, El Azzouzi signed with Bologna in Italy.[4]

International career

Born in the Netherlands, El Azzouzi is Moroccan by descent.[5] He was called up to the Morocco U23s in March 2023.[6]

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,[7] [8] where the Atlas Lions won their first title[9] [10] and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[11]

In October 2023, he was called up to the Morocco senior national team for the first time.[12] He made his senior debut for Morocco on 17 October 2023, starting a 3–0 home win against Liberia in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match.[13]

Personal life

He is the twin brother of the footballer Anouar El Azzouzi.[14]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Emmen2021–22Eerste Divisie34120361
Union SG2022–23Belgian Pro League2304270342
BolognaSerie A18220202
Serie A00000000
Total1822000202
Career total9338270001105

Honours

FC Emmen

Morocco U23

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Confusion surrounds USG signing as UEFA website drops Rangers hint. Rangersnews.uk.
  2. Web site: Oussama el Azzouzi signs contract in Belgium. ad.nl.
  3. Web site: MECHELEN VS. RUSG 3–0. Soccerway.
  4. Web site: Bologna. Oussama El Azzouzi joins Bologna. 20 July 2023. 8 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Union vindt defensieve versterking met Oussama El Azzouzi. www.bruzz.be.
  6. Web site: منتخب أقل من 23 سنة يدخل تجمع اعدادي للمنافسة بالدوري الدولي بالرباط — يسبريس 7. 21 March 2023.
  7. Web site: 9 June 2023 . Sei bianconeri con le nazionali . 27 June 2023 . . it-CH.
  8. Web site: 24 June 2023 . تشكيلة المنتخب الوطني لاقل من 23 سنة امام غينيا . 27 June 2023 . . ar.
  9. 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.
  10. Web site: 9 July 2023 . Le Maroc remporte la CAN U23 au bout de la prolongation . 9 July 2023 . SO FOOT.com . fr-FR.
  11. 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.
  12. Web site: Veenendaler Oussama el Azzouzi for the first time in the Morocco national selection. regiosportveenendaal.nl. 18 October 2023. 5 October 2023.
  13. Web site: MOROCCO VS LIBERIA 3-0. 17 October 2023. 18 October 2023. Soccerway.
  14. News: Bomgaars. Arco. Anouar El Azzouzi kijkt met trots naar broer Oussama: 'Ik hoop in zijn voetsporen te treden'. Algemeen Dagblad. 2023-10-29. 2022-08-08. nl.
  15. Web site: 8 August 2024 . Egypt U23 vs Morocco U23: Olympics . 9 August 2024 . BBC Sport .