Zakaria El Azzouzi (Arabic: زكريا العزوزي; born 7 May 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward.[1] Born in the Netherlands, he has represented Morocco at youth level.

Zakaria El Azzouzi
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-05-07) 7 May 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
DWS
2009–2015 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Ajax 0 (0)
2015–2017 Jong Ajax 11 (6)
2016Twente (loan) 13 (4)
2016–2017Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 21 (5)
2017–2018Excelsior (loan) 17 (2)
2019 Emmen 0 (0)
2019–2021 Volendam 35 (8)
2021–2022 Brașov 18 (5)
2022–2023 Al Kharaitiyat
International career
2013 Morocco U17 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:11, 26 March 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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El Azzouzi was born in Rotterdam. He is a youth exponent from AFC Ajax. He made his professional debut at 21 August 2015 with Jong Ajax against NAC Breda. He played the full game, a 3–0 loss.[2] On 22 January 2016, El Azzouzi was sent on loan to FC Twente for the rest of the season[3] and he joined newly promoted Sparta on loan for the 2016–17 season.[4]

He was without a club after his contract with Ajax was dissolved in December 2018.[5]

On 7 March 2019, El Azzouzi signed a six-month contract with an option for an additional year with Emmen after being a free agent for two months.[6] However, the club failed to register him, which meant that he did not make an official appearance during his stint at the club.[7]

On 20 June 2019, Volendam announced that they had signed El Azzouzi as their first new addition ahead the 2019–20 season.[8] He signed a two-year contract with an option for another year. During his unofficial debut, on 6 July against Hoofdklasse club VPV Purmersteijn, he also scored his first goal for the club.[9]

International career

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El Azzouzi was born in the Netherlands to parents of Moroccan descent. He represented Morocco in the 2013 African U-17 Championship.[10] On May 17, 2016, El Azzouzi was called up by national coach Hervé Renard for the practice international against DR Congo (May 27) and the Africa Cup qualifier with Libya (June 3). For El Azzouzi, this was the first time he had been part of Morocco's national team.[11]

Personal life

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On 12 March 2015, when El Azzouzi played in the youth academy of Ajax, he was arrested along with teammates Samet Bulut and Aschraf El Mahdioui for assaulting a plainclothed policewoman. The officer suffered shoulder injuries and various bruises. She later filed charges against the three players.[12] A day later, Ajax announced in an official message that they had suspended the players.[13] Later that week, El Azzouzi remained the only suspect in the case. They were, however, allowed make appearances for the Ajax A1 youth side again after serving a month suspension. As punishment, he had to inform the youth players of Ajax together with Bulut and El Mahdioui.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ Zakaria El Azzouzi at Soccerway
  2. ^ "NAC Breda vs. Jong Ajax - 21 August 2015 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ FC Twente huurt Ajax-aanvaller El Azzouzi - AD (in Dutch)
  4. ^ Sparta Rotterdam huurt El Azzouzi van Ajax - Voetbal International (in Dutch)
  5. ^ Ajax en El Azzouzi per direct uit elkaar (Dutch). Voetbal International. 22 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Welkom, Zakaria El Azzouzi! – FC Emmen". FC Emmen (in Dutch). 7 March 2019.
  7. ^ Dijkhuizen, Niels (8 April 2019). "El Azzouzi niet speelgerechtigd: Dan maar trainen bij Feyenoord". RTV Drenthe (in Dutch).
  8. ^ "Zakaria El Azzouzi kiest voor FC Volendam". FC Volendam (in Dutch). 20 June 2019.
  9. ^ Dekker, Edward (6 July 2019). "Samenvatting: FC Volendam overklast Purmersteijn in eerste duel van het seizoen". NH Nieuws (in Dutch).
  10. ^ "CAN U 17 : La liste du Maroc". 7 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Bouy en El Azzouzi debuteren in Marokkaanse selectie". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ van Sluis, Hilbert (13 March 2015). "Jeugdspelers Ajax mishandelen agente" (in Dutch). Metro International. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Ajax schorst jeugdspelers na mogelijke mishandeling" (in Dutch). NU.nl. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Ajax houdt geschorste talenten binnenboord" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  15. ^ Ajax laat A-junioren blijven - Telegraaf (in Dutch)
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