New Recruit: Omar Marmoush

Manchester City chose not to replace Julian Alvarez in the summer, the impact on Erling Haaland this season playing several games without a rest has been evident to see. A risk they took, with Guardiola expecting Bobb and Foden to help, and the remaining forwards not yet proven consistent scorers. Omar Marmoush can be that replacement, fill the ‘Alvarez role’ better, and arrive as one of the most in-form forwards in Europe’s Top Five Leagues.

Career Progression

Omar Marmoush was born in Cairo, Egypt, and started his career coming through the Wadi Degla youth teams until making it into the first team in the 2016/17 season. Making his debut coming on to face Al Ittihad Alexandria in July 2016, grabbing an assist as his team went on to win 3-2. His manager at the time was Mido, an Egyptian striker who’s played in the Premier League for Tottenham, Middlesborough, Wigan, and West Ham. Fifteen games and two goals later, Marmoush had caught the attention of Wolfsburg who he joined in 2017.

Spending three years in the Wolfsburg reserve team, Marmoush developed and made a few appearances for Wolfsburg off the bench before going out on loan to St. Pauli in the 2020/21 season. 19 starts, 7 goals, and 2 assists for the 2.Bundesliga side as they went on to finish 10th. Before being given a chance with the first team as a regular, Wolfsburg sent Marmoush to another Bundesliga team on loan, Stuttgart. He spent the season battling relegation until they managed to finish 15th. 19 starts, 3 goals, and 5 assists later he returned to now become a starter.

Not being a first-choice starter, Marmoush only made 15 starts during the 2022/23 season for Wolfsburg, scoring 5 goals and providing 1 assist in the Bundesliga as they finished 8th. Running down his contract, he left in the summer to join Frankfurt on a free transfer.

Now this is where it came together for Omar Marmoush, in the first season you saw the beginning of his relationship with Hugo Ekitike (on loan from PSG), playing alongside the striker in a variety of formations. Made 27 starts in the Bundesliga, scoring 12 goals, and providing 6 assists. This season Marmoush continued to build on that performance and relationship with Ekitike who made the permanent move to Frankfurt. So far scoring 15 goals, and providing 9 assists in 17 starts.

Player Profile

Omar Marmoush is a right-footed, explosive, and versatile attacker who can operate across the front line, alongside a striker, by himself, or even operate in a winger role when needed. There are some caveats within that, particularly when deployed as a winger, but the point stands that Marmoush gives you options.

Speed and acceleration are at the centre of his game, whether that’s short sharp counter movements in the box to find space, running into the box to finish a through ball, or making long runs from out-to-in attacking in transition.

For Frankfurt, Marmoush has mainly operated as a lone striker or as part of a pair, playing some of his best football partnered with Hugo Ekitike. Agile in the box, he can shift his body well to open up difficult chances and uses his speed to lose defenders, darting towards the near-post and then back into the space created as the defender is drawn away.

Marmoush can make runs in behind, but one of his best attributes is dropping in to receive, and control the ball in tight spaces, before carrying the ball forward to create. Comfortable receiving on the back foot and letting the ball roll across his body, as well as turning between the lines as he receives the ball. Using a mixture of shoulder drops, close control, and his balance to evade defenders in the final third.

His goal against Gladbach was a good example of his shift movement to beat a defender. Making a run into the box, Marmoush moves across from left to right, goes inside to lose the defender, and then cuts back onto his right foot to score. Striking the ball hard into the roof of the net. He uses chops and stepovers to help gain separation before a shot. Uses a fake shot, as well as taking a quick shot after the first touch. Comfortable receiving on his back foot, rolling away from pressure with the ball, turning, and driving toward the goal. Outside he'll use quick feet, shoulder drops and shift his weight a few times to move the defender before accelerating past them.

Marmoush wants to attack space, whether that's with sharp movement inside the box, runs in behind, or using some tricks to beat a defender. His acceleration is key to that. It also helps him be useful in OOP pressing. Jumping on loose touches and slow passes. He can press as the lone striker and as part of a front two. Cover the shadow of the six. Out to in when jumping inside as a winger or pushing FBs wide, locking them to the touchline.

He’s an exceptionally clean ball-striker, who combines precision and power to become a threat from any part of the box. Strikes through the ball rather than seeing him curl it that often into a corner. If given the opportunity, he will shoot with his weak foot, with two goals this season to the near-post when the defender shows him the outside.

As you’ll notice from his shot maps linked below, it was last season you saw Marmoush play more as a central striker and so he picked up goals inside the 6-yard box. This season he’s finding pockets of space across the box to strike the ball cleanly. Scored a handful of goals on the right side of the box, just outside the 6-yard box, able to open up his body and get his foot through the ball.

There are fair concerns about how predictable his finishing is, preferring the left side from his weak foot or right foot. Shooting across the goal fits with his technique striking the ball, same with his weak foot shot. Doesn't quite have the curl to hit far corners consistently yet. Another concern is whether he can be too direct at times, deciding to attack in a poor moment without support. Something Guardiola can coach.

Marmoush's ball striking extends to free kicks, having scored two in the Bundesliga this season. He’s also scored two penalties for Frankfurt and provided two assists from corners.

As mentioned at the start, Marmoush could fit into the Alvarez role of last season, knowing that De Bruyne cannot handle a game every three days. You can see the similarities in the two players’ heatmaps, he’s playing at Frankfurt next to Ekitike that closer in profile to Haaland as the ‘big man’, and he can upgrade the role with his ability to drop in deep to collect the ball. The area of Alvarez's game that was missing.

Wider Impact

Just like the two central defenders, Marmoush has a clear impact on the squad profile, arriving in his prime years similar to Riyad Mahrez in 2018. You’ve got Savinho (20), Doku (22), and Bobb (21) all yet to enter their peak years but are expected to deliver goal contributions. Marmoush arrives ready to handle that pressure and deliver goals now, as the others work towards that point over the next couple of years.

Divin Mubama has looked bright in his couple of appearances, but there is nobody right now ready to take Premier League starts off Haaland to rest him, lead the line in the Champions League, or be the go-to sub for the final twenty minutes of the match like Alvarez was. Marmoush has a spot and minutes to take from day 1.

Adds another corner, free-kick, and penalty taker. He solves several problems in the team, whilst adding much-needed qualities. Against Real Madrid (A) in the CL QF last season Jack Grealish didn't attack the space behind Carvajal but Marmoush would have. For Marmoush acceleration, speed, and intelligent runs in behind are his best attributes. All qualities that the Manchester City team needs more of, especially when looking to get more out of Erling Haaland across the full season.

Marmoush has worn #7 for Frankfurt, a number that is available for Manchester City. He wears #22 for his country but that has been taken by new signing Vitor Reis.

If you’re looking for more content on Omar Marmoush, here is a podcast from Ninety Three Twenty speaking to Nik Staiger, a Frankfurt fan and analyst for Freiburg. 👇

If you’re looking for a YouTube video then I recommend checking out this one from Four Four Two below. 👇

If you are looking for a thread on Marmoush, then I’d recommend these. 👇

If you want to read more about Marmoush then I’d recommend this article from Coaches Voice below. 👇

Omar Marmoush is not the only player Manchester is signing this window, to learn more about the others check out the articles below. 👇