Omar El Hilali

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.

Omar El Hilali

El Hilali with Espanyol in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Omar El Hilali Khayat
Date of birth	(2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	L'Hospitalet, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Espanyol
Number	23
Youth career
	Santa Eulàlia
2016–2020	Espanyol
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Espanyol B	61	(0)
2021–	Espanyol	43	(0)
International career‡
2021–2022	Morocco U20	7	(0)
2023–	Morocco U23	3	(0)
Medal record Representing  Morocco U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2023 Morocco
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:07, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

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.^[7][9]

Honours

Espagnol

• Segunda División: 2020–21

Morocco U23

• U-23 Africa Cup of Nations: 2023^[7][8]

References

1. "Omar, 16 años y un sueño" [Omar, 16 years and a dream]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 September 2020.
2. "Omar El Hilali debuta con el primer equipo del Espanyol" [Omar El Hilali debuts with the first team of Espanyol] (in Spanish). Diario La Grada. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
3. "Omar El Hilali renews contract". RCD Espanyol. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
4. "Morocco team list" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
5. "Sei bianconeri con le nazionali". FC Lugano (in Italian). 9 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
6. "تشكيلة المنتخب الوطني لاقل من 23 سنة امام غينيا". Royal Moroccan Football Federation (in Arabic). 24 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
7. "Morocco win maiden TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations title with victory over Egypt | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
8. "Le Maroc remporte la CAN U23 au bout de la prolongation". SO FOOT.com (in French). 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
9. "Le Mali, le Maroc et l'Égypte qualifiés pour les JO 2024". SO FOOT.com (in French). 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.

External links

• Omar El Hilali at BDFutbol
• Omar El Hilali at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
• Omar El Hilali at Soccerway