Omar Abdulrahman

Early life

Omar was born in Riyadh, growing up there in a working-class environment, to a family of Hadhrami descent from the Hadhramaut Governorate. His father Abdulrahman Ahmed was a former player, he the youngest of two sisters and three older brothers, Ahmad, Khaled and Mohammed. He began playing football at a very young age and was playing most of his time 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 admired his talent 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. In 2000, he went on a trial with Al Hilal who were very 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 Omar'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. Omar joined the club with two of his brothers and enrolled in the club's youth academy.

Al Ain

Omar joined Al Ain Academy in 2007, and has played for Al Ain's under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, and reserve team. 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 January 24, 2009 in Etisalat Cup. Despite being promoted to the first team, Omar continued to play for the reserve team. His last match with the reserve team was against Al Nasr on January 24, 2012. He scored 6 goals and Assists 3 in 10 matches over 5 seasons with the reserve.

2008–09 season

Omar made his official debut for the first team on the 24th of 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. Omar 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, Omar 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, Omar 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. Followed with another goal against Al Wasl on 15 May, scored the 101st goal for Al Ain in the two clubs matches history. On 24 May 2009, he scored his third league goal in a 2–0 win over Al Shaab.

2009–10 season

Before the start of the season, on 26 July 2009, Omar suffered an cruciate ligament injury during a friendly match against FC Lausanne-Sport with UAE U-20. 26 February, omar recovered from injury and play in a match during under-19 youth league against Bani Yas and ended 4–2 to Al Ain. 19 March, in a 2–3 win against Al Dhafra scored his first goal this season in the reserve league and helped in two. 23 April, he scored and helped in another in a 0–5 victory over Al Wasl. Omar made his Champions League debut in a 2–0 home victory over Sepahan Isfahan. he scored his first Pro-league goals for this season in a 5–3 win over Emirates. On 15 May he helped Al Ain reserve win the Reserve League by scoring a two-goal and helped in another in a 2–6 win against Al Sharjah. He finished the season scoring 5 goals in 7 matches with the under-19, the reserve, and the first team.

2010–11 season

In this season, Omar became a first team regular, after the departure of Valdivia from the club, he inherited the number 10 jersey. On 28 August 2010, Omar scored with a free kick and assisted teammate Jose Sand in a 4–3 win at Dubai in his first start of the season. On 20 September 2010, during the second round of the President's Cup, Omar scored his first goal in the cup in a 5–0 victory over Masfout. He scored a goal from a penalty in a 1–2 defeat to Al Ahli on 30 September, In the match against Al Wasl on 27 October 2010, he assisted another goal for teammate Mohanad Salem to put his team 2–1 ahead but the match ended in a 2–2 draw. In a 1–4 defeat to Ittihad on 30 September he also assisted team-mate Faris. He once again assisted team-mate Jose Sand in a 1–1 draw against Al Shabab on 23 December 2010. On 12 May 2011, Al Ain announced an extension to Abdulrahman's contract until 2015.

On 1 June 2011, he led his team to beat Al Jazira 4–1 by scoring two goals and assisting the fourth. On 12 June 2011, Omar was named the Pro-League's most promising player of the Year for the second time by Emirati newspaper Al Ittihad. Omar ended the season by scoring 11 goals and assisted 8 in 29 matches in all competition.

2011–12 season

On 15 January, during a match in the Etisalat Reserve League against Ajman, Omar returned from an injury suffered during the summer camp for the national team which kept him out for six months. This was the second injury he suffered to his cruciate ligament in less than two years. In the following match with the reserve team against Al Nasr he assisted the first goal in a 3–1 win. On 27 January, Omar played his first match with the first team after his return from injury in a match that Al Ain loss 4–0 from Al Jazira, coming on as a substitute for Mohamed Malallah in the 59th minute. On 24 March, he assist two goals in a 1–4 win against Al Sharjah. On 6 May, he scored the third goal in a 1–4 win against Emirates. In the final league match of the season and crowning the league against Ajman, he assisted two goals and scored another of 0–4.

Manchester City trial

On 6 August 2012, Omar confirmed on Twitter that he would join English side Manchester City on trial. After arriving to Manchester, he immediately joined the team training. The trial lasted for two weeks, he played friendly matches and the report was a positive but the deal has broken down due to work permit and national team rank issues. On 9 March 2013, Al Ain coach Cosmin Olaroiu stated "City offered him a four-year deal after training with them last summer, and that he would take them up on a second offer." On 11 March, the club’s academy chief Brian Marwood, confirmed that they are still interested in Omar.

2012–13 season

After he returned from a trial with Manchester City, Al Ain confirmed that Abdulrahman would stay with the team for the 2012–13 season. Omar started the season by lifting UAE Super Cup with Al Ain, after a 5–4 penalty shoot-out win against Al Jazira, where he missed a penalty kick and was named Man of the Match. In the first league match, Omar provided an assist for new team-mate Ekoko to score his first league goal in a 3–6 defeat to Al Ahli on 23 September. he assisted the third goal for team-mate defender Fawzi Fayez in a 1–4 win over Ajman. Omar scored his first Pro-League goal for this season on 15 October, and assisted two goals in a 7–0 victory over Al Dhafra. In a fourth round match and win 5–1 over Dibba Al Fujairah, Omar assisted Asamoah Gyan to score the fourth goal. Omar scored his second goal in a 5–0 win over Al Wasl on 3 November. he assisted Ismail Ahmed the third goal of a corner kick in a 2–3 win over Al Shabab. Omar scored a brace and assisted Mohamed Ahmed to score the first goal, in a 6–0 victory over Ittihad Kalba. Omar scored another brace in a 2–5 win over Dubai on 23 November. he was named player of the month for November by Al Ain fans. On 16 December against Al Nasr, he provided an assist for Gyan to score the second goal which gave his side a 0–2 away victory.

On 26 January, in Al Ain's first league match of 2013, Omar scored from a penalty kick and provided an assist for Brosque in a 4–0 against Ajman. In a match that Al Ain loss 1–0 from Dibba Al Fujairah, Omar came on as a substitute for the first time in this season for Hilal Saeed in the 63rd minute. On 24 February, Omar confirmed to the media that he received a loan offer from Benfica for a one-year contract. However, Al Ain turned down the offer and pointed for his desire to remain the player for this season. On 27 February, Omar played against his former club Al-Hilal that he trained with as a youngster in the Champions League Group stage and scored the equaliser 1–1 and provided an assist for Brosque in a 3–1 home victory.

On 1 March, Daily Mail reported that Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Hamburg and Malaga are interested in signing him. On 7 March, Omar helped Al Ain in a 2–1 win over Al Wasl, by provided an assist for Gyan to score the tie 1–1 and also played a part in the second goal.

On 3 April, Omar returned from injury sustained against Esteghlal, in a 2–1 win over Al Rayyan, where he assisted on two goal. On 9 April 2013, in a match against Al Rayyan, where he assisted Al Ain's only goal in the match, Omar wore the captain's armband after Hilal Saeed was substituted, then he give it to his team-mate Fares Juma. On 14 April, omar assists another two goal In a 1–3 win over Ittihad Kalba. On 18 April 2013, Omar captained Al Ain for the first time in his career in a home win over Dubai and won the league title. On 5 May, against Al Ahli in the President’s Cup semi-final, Omar was sent off after two yellow cards in the 90+6 minute for infringement against the referee's assistant and dissent against referee Ammar Al Junaibi. On 16 May, Omar won Al Hadath Al Riyadi Young Arab Player of the Year. On 26 May, He added both the Pro-League Emirati Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year.

2013–14 season

On 23 July, Al Ain confirmed that the club received many offers for Omar being discussed. On 4 August, Al Ain received an official trial letter offer from Arsenal for Abdulrahman. However, it was rejected by Chairman of Al Ain Board Sheikh Abdullah, said that the club will only listen to serious offers, Omar is a national treasure. On 30 August 2013, Al Ain lost the 2013 UAE Super Cup to Al Ahli 2–3 on penalties after a 0–0 draw in regular time. Omar missed the second penalty kick, saved by goalkeeper Majed Nasser. He provided first two assists of this season in a 4–3 lost from Al Dhafra. On 20 October, Omar provided three assists against Dubai in a 5–2 win. On 31 October, Omar scored his first goal of this season from a long shot and assisted Fares to score the third goal in a 3–2 victory over Al Nasr. On 29 November, Omar made four goals of Al Ain 5–2 victory against Emirates. On 5 December, Omar assisted Asamoah Gyan to score the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Baniyas. He provided another assist for Gyan in a 2–1 loss against Al Jazira.

On 3 January 2014, Omar provided two assists against Al Wasl in a 3–0 win. On 13 January, He assisted teammate, Alex Brosque with his lobbed pass for narrow the lead, Omar missed the second penalty shootout in a 2–2 (8–9 on penalties) win over Al Wasl in the round of 16 of the President’s Cup. On 24 January, he assisted from the corner the only side goal and the first goal at Al Ain new stadium Hazza Bin Zayed in a 1–1 draw with Al Dhafra. On 30 January, In the semi-finals of the President’s Cup, against Al Nasr were Al Ain qualified to the final, Omar suffered from injury before the match but was in starting lineup. It was later announced that he will be out for a month due to groin injury. On 7 February, Daily Star and Daily Mirror reported that Galatasaray, Liverpool joined number of teams that are interested in signing Omar.

On 13 March 2014, Omar returned from injury coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 away loss against Ittihad in group stage match of the AFC Champions League. On 18 March, following his first match after the injury, Omar came on to the pitch as a second-half substitute for his brother Mohamed Abdulrahman in the 54th minute, He provided the cross for Gyan to score the third goal in the 3–1 win over Tractor Sazi. On 23 March, Omar played his 100th official match with Al Ain against Al Ahli.

On 1 April, Omar made two goals in a 2–2 draw with Tractor Sazi. On 2 April, Omar has been banned for two games in league following his attack on Haitham Ali without a ball against Emirates. In a 0–5 win over Lekhwiya on 15 April, Omar assisted Gyan the fifth goal. After return from two-match ban on 27 April, Omar made two goal in a 1–3 win over Al Sharjah. On 18 May, Omar led Al Ain to win in the final of the President's Cup against rivals Al Ahli, set up the winning goal for Asamoah Gyan, giving Al Ain his sixth title.

Omar finished his season with only 2 goals and 23 assists in all competitions make him the top assist maker in Arabian Gulf League for the season with a 17 assists. Omar was nominated for the Best Emirati Player of the Year and selected in Best XI in AGL Awards.

2014–15 season

After a successful performance in the last season, Omar continued to shine by led ِAl Ain to the Champions League semi-finals, where he set-up Gyan's goal in a 2–0 home win over Al-Ittihad in the first leg on 19 August, and scored in a 1–3 win in the return leg on 26 August. On 16 September, He assisted Myung-joo in a 2–1 home win in the second leg against Al-Hilal, Despite this win, Al Ain did not progresss to the final after a 3-0 loss in the first-leg.

On 24 September, Omar sustained an injury in Al Ain's match against Ajman, But he played nevertheless against Al-Hilal and reinjured; tests later confirmed that he suffered a stretched knee ligament injury, ruling him out for two to three weeks. On 28 October, He returns from injury to assist two goals in Al Ain's 2-1 win over Al Ahli in the U21 League. On 23 November, Omar suffered another injury against Saudi Arabia in the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations, leaving him side-lined for six weeks.

During the second half of the season, Omar suffered a 3rd-degree muscle strain on 4 February 2015, which kept him sidelined for two to three weeks. On 20 February, Abdulrahman extended his contract with Al-Ain until 2018 after signing a contract that makes him the highest paid Arabian player in the middle east with the best ever terms in the region, reported to be worth £2.99 million. on 28 February, He finally returned to the pitch, making a substitute appearance in Al Ain's 3–0 home win over Al Fujairah in the League. He scored his second goal this season in a 2–1 win against Al Jazira on 8 March. Omar reinjured again on 13 March. A week after his return, he assisted two goals in his participation with U21 team against Emirates. He scored and assisted another in a 4–0 home win over Ittihad Kalba, to lead Al Ain achieve their league title after Al Jazira defeat on 17 April. He scored another goal on 6 May, as Al Ain defeated Naft Tehran 3–0. On 14 May, He provided an assist to Gyan’s to score his four goal in the President's Cup Round of 16 against Dibba. Despite assisting an injury-time 3–3 equaliser to Rashed Eisa, Al Ain were subsequently defeated by Al Ahli 3–3 on away goals in the Round of 16 of the Champions League.

International career

In 2010, he called up for 2010 Gulf Cup of Nations Under 23, in which he assisted a one goal in four matches played and was the first title for him. A month later has been called up for the UAE U-20, for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship, it was his first participation in the continental championship, he played all matches and scored a goal and assisted two. at the same year he was part of a team that won silver medal in Asian Games in China. made his international debut on 3 January 2011, in a friendly match against Syria at the age of 19. He was on the starting lineup and been substituted at the beginning of the second half.

2010 Asian Games

On 7 November, in a 1–1 tie against Hong Kong, Omar was substituted on in the second half, but was sent off in the 88th minute after got two yellow cards. Omar returned to the team on 11 November in the qualify match to the Round of 16 after a 3–0 win over Uzbekistan. He came on as a substitute for Theyab Awana in the second half. Omar started in UAE's following 2–0 win over the Kuwait. On 19 November, UAE qualify to the semi-finals in a 9–8 penalty shoot-out win against North Korea (0–0 a.e.t.), with Omar scoring as the fifth penalty taker. He assisted Ahmed Ali the only goal of the match to help his side to a 0–1 extra-time win against South Korea. UAE went on to lose 1–0 to Japan in the final.

2011 AFC Asian Cup

Abdulrahman was the youngest player in the UAE squad and seventh youngest player of the tournament. In his first official match at an international competition against North Korea, Omar came on as a substitute for Ismail Matar in the 92nd minute in a 0–0 draw. In the third and last group stage match against Iran he came on as a substitute for Ali Al-Wehaibi in the 53rd minute in a 3–0 loss.

2012 Summer Olympics

Abdulrahman represented his country at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In the first match against Uruguay which his team lost 1–2 but he assisted the goals and he dominated the match with his high-profile skills and passes and crosses. After the match Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez swapped jerseys with him. He also participated in the match against Great Britain which resulted to a lose 3–1 but he assisted the goal and as he did in Uruguay match he dominated the match. After the match in an interview with Manchester City's defender Micah Richards he praised Omar and said he has a bright future ahead, to add to that Ryan Giggs went to him to the changing room and personally gave him his game shirt.

2013 Gulf Cup of Nations

Omar was named in UAE's squad for the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations in Bahrain. On 5 January, in the opening match victory against Qatar, after Qatar took the lead from a penalty spot, two minutes later Omar scored the equaliser from a curled in a superb free kick, it was the 800th goal in the Gulf Cup record, and provided an assist for Mohamed Ahmed to score the third. was named man of the match. In the next match, Omar played a part in the second goal to progress his side to Semi-finals in a 2–1 victory over Bahrain. In the last group match against Oman, He came off the bench in place of Saeed Al-Kathiri in the 81st minute, with the score at 0–0. he was able to make the difference and rebalance the midfield in the last 10 minutes and give his team a 2–0 lead within two minutes. In the Semi-finals, Omar helped UAE through to the final, when he played a part in the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Kuwait. He helped his team win the Gulf Cup after a 2–1 victory over Iraq in the final, in the 28th minute Omar scored from an individual effort. He was selected as man of the match and Player of the Tournament.

2015–16: AFC Asian Cup, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Abdulrahman was included in Mahdi Ali's final list for 2015 AFC Asian Cup tournament. He started UAE's first match against Qatar which UAE won the game 4–1 and Abdulrahman assisted the first goal. In next match, against Bahrain, he assisted again to Ali Mabkhout to score UAE's first goal in the 45th seconds. UAE won the match 2–1 and was qualified to the knockout stage for the first time since 1996. At the end of the match, Omar was named as man of the match by the AFC. He end with 4 assists, tying with Massimo Luongo as the competition's assist leader.

On 3 September 2015, Omar provided 6 assists to lead UAE to a 10–0 victory against Malaysia in the Second Round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, that named him as man of the match.

Style of play

Omar plays as a left-footed winger, attacking midfielder and is known for his fantastic passing accuracy, dribbling and his ability to set up goals. He has excellent ball control, balance and skill. Despite his weak physique, Omar is capable of beating defenders in one-on-one situations. Omar also a set pieces can take corners, penalties and is a free kicks specialist.

Personal life

Omar Abdulrahman has two sisters and three older brothers who are also involved in football: Ahmed Abdulrahman, who played for Masfout but his career came to an end due to injury. Khaled Abdulrahman a defender and Mohamed Abdulrahman a forward both play currently for Al Ain.

Media

In 2016, Arabian Business ranked Omar 25 in its list of the 100 most powerful Arabs under 40. On 28 April 2013, Omar was chosen with sports commentator Faris Awad as ambassadors for The Million Player Competition.

Sponsorships

In October 2012, Omar signed on a long-term contract with sportswear company Nike. In April 2013, Omar signed an agreement with Etisalat to become the brand ambassador and appear on its commercial and public campaigns and become an ambassador for social causes. Omar has been confirmed as ambassador and front cover for the Middle East edition of the Konami video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 alongside Barcelona's Neymar.

2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup

In June 2013, Omar was appointed by the Local Organising Committee as the official ambassador for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which was held in the Emirates.

Club

International

International goals

Individual