Abdelhakim Omrani
Encyclopedia
Abdelhakim OmraniAbdelhakim Omrani (born 18 February 1991 in Freyming-Merlebach
, France
) is an Algeria
n footballer
who currently plays for the Ligue 1
side RC Lens
, as an attacking midfielder
.
in the Moselle
department to parents of Algerian descent. He comes from an athletic family, which consists of six children. The eldest, Yasmina, is a professional athlete in athletics. Omrani also has two younger brothers who play football. Billel, 17, currently plays for the under-19 team of Marseille
and is a French youth international
while Nabil, 10, currently plays in the youth system of a local club in Marseille
.
. He later left the club for Nancy
, where he spent six years before heading north to RC Lens
. Omrani received his first call up to the senior squad for the team's match against Angers
on 6 March 2009. He made his professional debut in that match appearing as a substitute in the 72nd minute. The match finished 2–2 with Lens scoring their goals in the 88th minute and the 92nd minute, respectively. The following week, Omrani made another substitute appearance in a 1–0 defeat to Ajaccio
. In August 2011, Omrani went on trial to German
club Bayern Munich
. However, despite impressing, the two clubs could not agree to terms and Omrani remained at Lens.
, Omrani switched his allegiance to Algeria
in September 2011 after being called up to the Algerian Under-23 National Team by coach Azzedine Aït Djoudi
for a four day training camp in Sidi Moussa
. He was convinced to make the switch by Algeria
n international Antar Yahia
.
Freyming-Merlebach
Freyming-Merlebach is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is an Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who currently plays for the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
side RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, as an attacking midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Personal life
Omrani was born in Freyming-MerlebachFreyming-Merlebach
Freyming-Merlebach is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
in the Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
department to parents of Algerian descent. He comes from an athletic family, which consists of six children. The eldest, Yasmina, is a professional athlete in athletics. Omrani also has two younger brothers who play football. Billel, 17, currently plays for the under-19 team of Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
and is a French youth international
France national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
while Nabil, 10, currently plays in the youth system of a local club in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
Football career
Omrani began his career playing for MetzFC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
. He later left the club for Nancy
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
, where he spent six years before heading north to RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. Omrani received his first call up to the senior squad for the team's match against Angers
Angers SCO
Angers Sporting Club de l'Ouest is a French association football club based in Angers. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second division of French football having achieved promotion to the league in 2007. Angers play its home matches at the Stade Jean Bouin located...
on 6 March 2009. He made his professional debut in that match appearing as a substitute in the 72nd minute. The match finished 2–2 with Lens scoring their goals in the 88th minute and the 92nd minute, respectively. The following week, Omrani made another substitute appearance in a 1–0 defeat to Ajaccio
AC Ajaccio
Athletic Club Ajaccio is a French association football club based in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2. The club president is Alain...
. In August 2011, Omrani went on trial to German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
. However, despite impressing, the two clubs could not agree to terms and Omrani remained at Lens.
International career
After previously representing France at the under-19 levelFrance national under-19 football team
The France national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the annual UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. They were the 2010 champions of the competition having won on home soil...
, Omrani switched his allegiance to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
in September 2011 after being called up to the Algerian Under-23 National Team by coach Azzedine Aït Djoudi
Azzedine Aït Djoudi
Azzedine Aït Djoudi is an Algerian football manager currently managing the Algerian Olympic football team.-Managerial career:...
for a four day training camp in Sidi Moussa
Sidi Moussa
Sidi Moussa is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria....
. He was convinced to make the switch by Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n international Antar Yahia
Antar Yahia
Antar Yahia is an Algerian professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Saudi side Al Nassr and the Algerian national team....
.