Issam El Maach (Arabic: عصام المعاش; born 1 February 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club FC Twente.[2] Born in the Netherlands, he represents Morocco at under-23 international level.

Issam El Maach
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-02-01) 1 February 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Heerlen, Netherlands
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
FC Twente
Number 16
Youth career
RKSV MULO
0000–2016 VVV-Venlo
2016–2017 Vitesse
2017–2019 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Jong Ajax 4 (0)
2018–2020 Ajax 0 (0)
2021–2022 RKC Waalwijk 1 (0)
2022– FC Twente 0 (0)
International career
2016 Morocco U17 1 (0)
2017 Netherlands U18 1 (0)
2018 Morocco U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 May 2019

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Heerlen and raised in Helmond to Moroccan parents, El Maach began his football career with local club RKSV MULO before being recruited to the youth ranks of VVV-Venlo.[3] In 2016 he moved to the youth academy of SBV Vitesse, from where he was scouted and joined the Ajax Youth Academy a year later.[4]

Ajax

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El Maach signed a two-year contract with Ajax in 2017 with an option for an additional year.[5] He made his professional debut with the reserves team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 18 January 2018 in a 4–1 loss to RKC Waalwijk. Jong Ajax ended the season as champions of the second division, becoming the first reserves team to win a championship since the introduction of reserves teams in professional football in the Netherlands.[6]

He made his first team debut on 11 January 2019 in a friendly game against Brazilian club Flamengo in the Florida Cup.[7]

On June 26, 2020, it was announced that El Maach contract was not going to be extended leaving him eligible to find a new club.[8]

RKC Waalwijk

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On 14 July 2021 it was announced that El Maach had signed with Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk as a free transfer on a 1-year contract.[9]

FC Twente

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On 25 July 2022, El Maach signed with FC Twente on a two-year deal, with an optional year.[10]

International career

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El Maach is a youth international for Morocco.[11]

Honours

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Jong Ajax[12]

Ajax[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Issam el Maach".
  2. ^ Issam El Maach at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Ajax contracteert Heerlense doelman". 1 Limburg. 29 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Ajax contracteert Isaam El Maach". Ajax.nl.
  5. ^ "Issam El Maach: geboren leider die bij Ajax op zijn kans wacht". ELF Voetbal.
  6. ^ "Jong Ajax kampioen in Jupiler League, Fortuna Sittard promoveert". NU.nl. 28 April 2018.
  7. ^ Ajax verliest eerste wedstrijd Florida Cup na penaltys, AjaxShowtime, 11 January 2019
  8. ^ "Exit El Maach en Van Leer bij Ajax" (in Dutch). 1 Limburg. 26 June 2020.
  9. ^ El Maach tekent contract bij RKC Waalwijk, AjaxShowtime, 14 July 2021
  10. ^ Twente, F. C. "El Maach tekent contract bij FC Twente" [El Maach signs contract with FC Twente]. FC Twente (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  11. ^ "El Maach debuteert voor Marokko onder 23". Ajax1.nl. 2 June 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Issam El Maach - Career Honours". Soccerway.
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