Issam El Maach

Issam El Maach

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-02-01) 1 February 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth	Heerlen, Netherlands
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Roda (on loan from FC Twente)
Number	52
Youth career
	RKSV MULO
0000–2016	VVV-Venlo
2016–2017	Vitesse
2017–2019	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2020	Jong Ajax	4	(0)
2018–2020	Ajax	0	(0)
2021–2022	RKC Waalwijk	1	(0)
2022–	FC Twente	0	(0)
2025–	→ Roda (loan)	0	(0)
International career^‡
2016	Morocco U17	1	(0)
2017	Netherlands U18	1	(0)
2018	Morocco U23	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 May 2019

Issam El Maach (Arabic: عصام المعاش; born 1 February 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eerste Divisie club Roda, on loan from Eredivisie club FC Twente.[2] Born in the Netherlands, he represents Morocco at under-23 international level.

Club career

Early career

Born in Heerlen and raised in Helmond to Moroccan parents, El Maach began his football career with local club RKSV MULO before being recruited to the youth ranks of VVV-Venlo.[3] In 2016 he moved to the youth academy of SBV Vitesse, from where he was scouted and joined the Ajax Youth Academy a year later.[4]

Ajax

El Maach signed a two-year contract with Ajax in 2017 with an option for an additional year.[5] He made his professional debut with the reserves team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 18 January 2018 in a 4–1 loss to RKC Waalwijk. Jong Ajax ended the season as champions of the second division, becoming the first reserves team to win a championship since the introduction of reserves teams in professional football in the Netherlands.[6]

He made his first team debut on 11 January 2019 in a friendly game against Brazilian club Flamengo in the Florida Cup.[7]

On June 26, 2020, it was announced that El Maach contract was not going to be extended leaving him eligible to find a new club.[8]

RKC Waalwijk

On 14 July 2021 it was announced that El Maach had signed with Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk as a free transfer on a 1-year contract.[9]

FC Twente

On 25 July 2022, El Maach signed with FC Twente on a two-year deal, with an optional year.[10]

Roda

On 7 January 2025, El Maach joined Roda JC Kerkrade on loan-deal for the rest of 2024-25 season.[11]

International career

El Maach is a youth international for Morocco.[12]

Honours

Jong Ajax[13]

• Eerste Divisie: 2017–18

Ajax[13]

• KNVB Cup: 2018–19
• Florida Cup runners-up: 2019

References

1. "Issam el Maach".
2. Issam El Maach at Soccerway
3. "Ajax contracteert Heerlense doelman". 1 Limburg. 29 June 2017.
4. "Ajax contracteert Isaam El Maach". Ajax.nl.
5. "Issam El Maach: geboren leider die bij Ajax op zijn kans wacht". ELF Voetbal.
6. "Jong Ajax kampioen in Jupiler League, Fortuna Sittard promoveert". NU.nl. 28 April 2018.
7. Ajax verliest eerste wedstrijd Florida Cup na penaltys, AjaxShowtime, 11 January 2019
8. "Exit El Maach en Van Leer bij Ajax" (in Dutch). 1 Limburg. 26 June 2020.
9. El Maach tekent contract bij RKC Waalwijk, AjaxShowtime, 14 July 2021
10. Twente, F. C. "El Maach tekent contract bij FC Twente" [El Maach signs contract with FC Twente]. FC Twente (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
11. "Roda JC huurt doelman El Maach van FC Twente" [Roda JC rents goalkeeper El Maach from FC Twente] (in Dutch). Roda Kerkrade. 7 January 2025.
12. "El Maach debuteert voor Marokko onder 23". Ajax1.nl. 2 June 2018.
13. "Issam El Maach - Career Honours". Soccerway.

External links

• Issam El Maach at WorldFootball.net