Omar Abdulrahman

Omar Abdulrahman Ahmed Al Raaki Al Amoudi (عمر عبد الرحمن أحمد الراقي العمودي; born 20 September 1991) is an Emirati professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Al Wasl and the United Arab Emirates national team.

In 2000, he went on a trial with Al Hilal who were interested in signing him.

However, as full Saudi nationality was only offered to him and not his entire family, his father rejected the offer.

Then a call came to Abdulrahman Eissa's friend Ahmed Al Garoon from Honorary member of Al Ain, Nasser bin Thaloub who was searching for young talented players.

Abdulrahman Eissa told him about Abdulrahman's talent and his brothers Mohammed and Khalid.

He asked for their passports and they joined the external Al Ain camp in Germany.

Al Ain agreed to grant citizenship to his whole family who then moved to the United Arab Emirates.

Abdulrahman joined the club with two of his brothers and enrolled in the club's youth academy.

Abdulrahman joined Al Ain Academy in 2007, and has played for Al Ain's under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and reserve team.

Coming through the youth system, Abdulrahman made his senior debut for Al Ain in the 2008–09 season.

In his first season, he won the Etisalat Cup, President's Cup and Super Cup.

He was promoted to the first team by coach Winfried Schäfer after he saw him at the Al Ain International Under-17 Football tournament in 2009.

His official debut with the first team was against Al Ahli on 24 January 2009 in Etisalat Cup.

Despite being promoted to the first team, Abdulrahman continued to play for the reserve team.

Abdulrahman made his official debut for the first team on 24 January 2009 at the age of 17 years, in the Etisalat Cup against Al Ahli when he came on as a substitute for Ahmed Khamis in the 77th minute.

On 27 March 2009, two months after his debut, he replaced Faisal Ali in the 70th minute in the second leg of the Etisalat Cup semi-final against Al Jazira.

Abdulrahman shot the ball on the goal but hit the crossbar, before Dias converted the rebound scoring the only goal in the match.

On 3 April 2009, Abdulrahman won his first club honour when Al Ain defeated Al Wahda in the Etisalat Cup final.

A week later, on 13 April, he won his second club honour, President's Cup in a 1–0 win against Al Shabab.

On 18 April 2009, Abdulrahman made his league debut in a 5–0 victory over Ajman.

On 11 May 2009, he scored his first Pro-League goal in a 2–2 draw with Al Ahli, to become the youngest player to score a goal in this season.

On 24 May 2009, he scored his third league goal in a 2–0 win over Al Shaab.

Before the start of the season, on 26 July 2009, Abdulrahman suffered a cruciate ligament injury during a friendly match against FC Lausanne-Sport with UAE U-20.

On 26 February, Abdulrahman played in his first game back from injury in the under-19 youth league against Bani Yas and it ended 4–2 in Al Ain's favor.

Despite suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the following season which sidelined him for over six months, he became a first team regular and helped his club to avoid relegation in the 2010–11 season.

He finished the season with 11 goals in 29 appearances, and was voted the most promising player of the year.

In the 2011–12 season, Abdulrahman suffered the same injury again and was out for six months, he returned from the injury to see his club crowned champions of the league.

After a two-week trial with Manchester City, he returned to Al Ain to become a key player in the 2012–13 season and was voted Emirati Player of the Year, as his side achieved the 2012 Super Cup and league title.

ESPN FC ranked Abdulrahman first in the Top ten Asian players of 2012.

Abdulrahman was ranked thirty-nine on the Goal 50 list for the best 50 players of the 2012–13 season.

Omar Abdulrahman was born in Riyadh, growing up there in a working-class environment, with origin nationality of Yemen.

His father Abdulrahman Ahmed was a former player, he has two older sisters and three older brothers, Ahmad, Khaled and Mohammed.

He spent sometimes playing soccer in Riyadh neighborhoods.

He drew attention from scout Abdulrahman Eissa who saw him by chance at Al Malaz yard near Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium and asked about the club that he played for.

The answer was that he was not playing for any club and also did not hold Saudi nationality.

After Abdulrahman Eissa began to contact him and his brother, he then began participating in tournaments and courses alongside Yahya Al-Shehri.

His last match with the reserve team was against Al Nasr on 24 January 2012.

He scored 6 goals and Assists 3 in 10 matches over 5 seasons with the reserve.

In 2013, Abdulrahman was listed by FIFA in the most promising future stars in Asia.

Followed with another goal against Al Wasl on 15 May, scored the 101st goal for Al Ain in the two clubs matches history.