Mohamed Mallahi

Mohamed Mallahi (Arabic: محمد ملاحي; Berber languages: ⵎⵓⵃⴰⵎⴷ ⵎⴰⵍⵍⴰⵀⵉ; born 13 February 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger for Eerste Divisie club Helmond Sport.[3]

Mohamed Mallahi
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-02-13) 13 February 2000
Place of birth Utrecht, Netherlands[1]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1][2]
Position(s) Winger[1]
Team information
Current team
 Helmond Sport
Youth career
Zwaluwen Utrecht 1911
0000–2011 USV Elinkwijk
2011–2017 Utrecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2023 Jong Utrecht 123 (15)
2018–2023 Utrecht 5 (1)
2022–2023 → Roda JC (loan) 18 (0)
2023– Helmond Sport 0 (0)
International career
2015–2016 Netherlands U16 10 (0)
2016–2017 Netherlands U17 15 (0)
2017–2018 Netherlands U18 6 (0)
2018 Netherlands U19 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:10, 9 April 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Utrecht

Mallahi grew up playing football on the playgrounds of Kanaleneiland and Transwijk, Utrecht, Netherlands, before moving to organised association football.[4] He initially played for Zwaluwen Utrecht 1911 and USV Elinkwijk before joining FC Utrecht's academy in 2011 at age 11.[5][6] In 2016, Mallahi signed his first professional contract with the club.[7][8] Early on in his career, Mallahi attracted interest from clubs such as Chelsea, Leeds United, PSV and Ajax, but chose to stay at Utrecht.[4]

He made his debut for the reserve team Jong FC Utrecht on 24 November 2017 in a 4–2 loss to Almere City in the Eerste Divisie, after coming on for Nick Venema in the 73rd minute.[9] He scored his first goal in professional football on 23 December 2017 in a match against Fortuna Sittard.[10] On 13 March 2018, his contract was renegotiated and extended until 2022, with technical director Jordy Zuidam expressing his confidence in Mallahi's potential, as well as emphasising that the club had high hopes for his future development.[11] On 30 March 2018, he put in a man of the match performance in a 3–1 win over Jong AZ, despite Nick Venema scoring a hat-trick.[12]

As of the 2018–19 season, Mallahi was officially promoted from the youth academy to Jong FC Utrecht.[5] On 27 September 2018, Mallahi was on the bench of FC Utrecht for the KNVB Cup match against MVV. Head coach Dick Advocaat did not substitute him on during the match.[13]

Approximately two and a half years later, he was included in the first-team squad for the second time on 27 January 2021 under head coach René Hake.[5] Mallahi's debut in the first team took place on 25 September 2021, during a 5–1 league victory against PEC Zwolle in which he replaced Moussa Sylla in the 78th minute.[14] Mallahi expressed his excitement and gratitude after making his debut for Utrecht, mentioning that he had always dreamt of it and that it was a significant achievement for him as a player from the club's academy and a native of the city.[4] After making three substitute appearances in the league and one in the cup, Mallahi scored his first goal for the first team on 31 October 2021, coming off the bench to add to a 5–1 win over Willem II.[15]

Roda JC (loan)

On 12 July 2022, Mallahi was sent on a one-season loan to Eerste Divisie club Roda JC.[16] On 5 August 2022, during the first matchday of the 2022–23 campaign, Mallahi made his debut for the club as a starter in a 2–0 away victory against Dordrecht at the Krommedijk, before being replaced by Arjen van der Heide in the 81st minute of the match.[17][18] He provided one assist in 19 competitive appearances for Roda and returned to Utrecht at the end of the season.[19]

Helmond Sport

On 16 August 2023, Mallahi signed a two-year contract with Helmond Sport.[20]

International career

Mallahi is a Netherlands youth international, and was part of the Netherlands under-17 team during the qualifiers for the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[21] Mallahi played alongside several other renowned players in the Dutch national youth teams, including Orkun Kökçü, Ryan Gravenberch, Jurriën Timber, Lutsharel Geertruida, Mohamed Ihattaren, Myron Boadu, and Sven Botman.[4]

Style of play

Mallahi is a technically skilled and fast winger with an excellent ability to deliver crosses, which makes him a direct threat in the opponent's penalty area.[16] FC Utrecht's former head coach, Erik ten Hag, who would go on to manage Ajax and Manchester United, stated in connection with Mallahi's contract extension in 2016 that he plays with confidence and creativity, and he is a typical winger who takes risks to make an impact in the game.[7]

In 2021, Mallahi stated that he had evolved as a leader for Jong FC Utrecht, due to his experience as one of the oldest players. He explained that he helped and guided younger players to adapt to the level of play in the Eerste Divisie, a role for which he thanked manager Darije Kalezić for giving him.[4]

Personal life

Mallahi was born in the Netherlands and is of Moroccan descent.[22]

Career statistics
As of match played 24 February 2023[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League KNVB Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Utrecht 2017–18 Eerste Divisie 193——193
2018–19 Eerste Divisie 331——331
2019–20 Eerste Divisie 161——161
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 285——285
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 275——275
Total 12315——12315
Utrecht 2021–22 Eredivisie 5120—71
Roda JC (loan) 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 1801000190
Career total 14616300014916

    References
    1. Mohamed Mallahi at WorldFootball.net
    2. "27 Mohamed Mallahi". Roda JC Kerkrade (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    3. Mohamed Mallahi at Soccerway
    4. "Talentscout – Mohamed Mallahi". Keuken Kampioen Divisie (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    5. Meijer, Chris (22 October 2021). "Mohamed Mallahi liet Ajax en PSV schieten voor een doorbraak in zijn stad". Voetbalzone (in Dutch).
    6. "Utrechter Mohamed Mallahi langer bij FC Utrecht". RTV Utrecht (in Dutch). 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    7. "Driejarig contract voor Mohamed Mallahi (16)". FC Utrecht (in Dutch). 13 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    8. "Acht talenten tekenen eerste contract". FC Utrecht (in Dutch). 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    9. "Utrecht II vs. Almere City - 24 November 2017". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    10. "Fortuna Sittard vs. Utrecht II – 23 December 2017". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
    11. "Mohamed Mallahi tekent bij tot medio 2022". FC Utrecht (in Dutch). 13 March 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    12. Tempelman, Chris (2 April 2018). "Utrecht-belofte Mallahi: 'Soms speel ik tegen mannen van twee keer zo oud'". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    13. "Utrecht vs. MVV – 27 September 2018". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    14. "FC Utrecht boekt geflatteerde zege en duwt PEC Zwolle dieper het moeras in". NOS (in Dutch). 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    15. "Wervelende winst in waterballet". FC Utrecht (in Dutch). 31 October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
    16. "Mallahi op huurbasis naar Roda JC". Roda JC Kerkrade (in Dutch). 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
    17. Visser, Emil (5 August 2022). "Roda JC wint eerste competitiewedstrijd simpel van FC Dordrecht". De Limburger (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
    18. "FC Dordrecht – Roda JC Kerkrade 0:2 (Eerste Divisie 2022/2023, 1. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
    19. "Roda JC neemt afscheid van elf spelers". Roda JC Kerkrade (in Dutch). 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
    20. "Aanvaller Mohamed Mallahi naar Helmond Sport" [Forward Mohamed Mallahi to Helmond Sport] (in Dutch). Helmond Sport. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
    21. "Under-17 – Mohamed Mallahi". UEFA. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
    22. LDA. "UEFA U17 - Oranjes : El-Bouchataoui Achraf en vrai leader".
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