The Bundesliga and Egypt’s next big star – DW – 11/08/2024

Omar Marmoush is tearing the Bundesliga apart.

The Egyptian has proven indispensable for the resurgent Eintracht Frankfurt, with his dynamic footwork and finishing talent bringing many defenders to their knees.

“The way he has managed to hold his own and win over the crowd, not to mention how decisive his goals and assists are, makes it clear that he feels at home here,” Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller told the German sports magazine. kicker.

While it is now difficult to imagine the Bundesliga without Marmoush’s name in the headlines, the 25-year-old’s first years in Germany were anything but easy.

Marmoush’s Egyptian education

“As a child I dreamed of becoming a professional football player. And sometimes I wasn’t exactly the best at school, so it was my only way,” Marmoush told the DFL.

Born and raised in Cairo, Marmoush, like many, dreamed of a life in football from an early age. Although he says his parents were initially skeptical of his love for the sport and hoped he would focus more on his education, he soon won them over.

“After I started taking bigger steps, they saw the potential and said, ‘Okay, you can do this.’ They support me every day, they are the biggest thing in my life,” Marmoush said.

The Egyptian first started playing at the American International School in Cairo, where he also took lessons. The school’s football coach, Ahmed Elagroudy, remembers him vividly as a youngster.

“Ever since Marmoush was in seventh grade, it was clear that he was going to be a brilliant football player. I could see this on the field, he was one of our most important players,” Elagroudy told the DFL.

The strengths that set Marmoush apart today were already evident in Cairo. “As he got older it got even better. It started to become clear that he is a great goalscorer, it’s like his foot always knew the way to the goal.”

Elagroudy encouraged his student to make the jump to nearby Egyptian Premier League team Wadi Degla. After just a few weeks in their youth set-up, he was promoted to the first team and impressed enough to score a ticket to represent Egypt at the U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2017.

A bumpy start in the Bundesliga

Marmoush’s AFCON performance caught the attention of Wolfsburg, and the Bundesliga side lured the 18-year-old striker to Germany and signed him to their reserves. As exciting as the jump to Europe was, it was a difficult transition.

“It was not an easy step to leave my family, friends and country to come and live here in Germany, where I honestly don’t know the language, the food, everything,” Marmoush said. “And this was the biggest challenge, not only playing in these European conditions and how fast the football is, but also mentally. It took me some time to learn how to live here.”

Three years later, at the age of 21, Marmoush broke into Wolfsburg’s first team and made his Bundesliga debut.

Loans to then second division St. Pauli and later Stuttgart showed flashes of brilliance, but he was far from a household name. Despite a few spectacular goals, the 2022/23 season proved to be Marmoush’s last in Wolfsburg as he moved freely south to Frankfurt that off-season.

Frankurt fan favorite and impact on Egypt

Dino Toppmöller’s Eintracht – where high pressure and fast, direct play are king – turned out to be a perfect fit for Marmoush. Last season he scored a career-best 16 goals in all competitions, laying the foundation for this season’s stunning form. Marmoush’s achievements have also led to a partnership with strike partner Hugo Ekitike coming to fruition. All in all, it is no surprise that there are reports that Premier League side Liverpool are interested in signing the Egyptian.

His excellent form has also cemented Marmoush’s role for the Egyptian national team. Although he was eligible to play for Canada because his parents worked there long enough to earn citizenship, he opted to represent his native country and made his full team debut in 2021. He played in every match at the postponed AFCON of 2022, in which Egypt finished second. up, before scoring in the tournament two years later, as Egypt went down on penalties in the round of 16.

Marmoush is now an established international and regularly performs alongside personal hero Mo Salah.

“It’s a great pleasure. I’m so happy when I’m in the national team and playing with one of the best players in the world. To learn from him, both on and off the pitch, and how he works and his professionalism ( Salah) is like an older brother to me,” said Marmoush.

At the age of 32, Salah’s time leading the Egyptian team is coming to an end, opening the door for Marmoush to become the next attacking focal point. He has already established himself as such in Frankfurt, who are now enjoying his form and at the same time wondering how they are going to keep their Egyptian star in Frankfurt colors for as long as possible.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding