Omid Popalzay

Omid Popalzay (Pashto: امید پوپلزای‎, born 25 January 1996 in Kabul) is an Afghan footballer who plays as a midfielder for Polish club Olimpia Grudziądz.

Omid Popalzay

Personal information
Full name	Omid Popalzay
Date of birth	(1996-01-25) 25 January 1996
Place of birth	Kabul, Afghanistan
Playing position(s)	Midfielder, Winger
Club information
Current team	Olimpia Grudziądz
Youth career
	SV Estria
–2015	NEC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Achilles '29	43	(5)
2018	FC Lienden	11	(0)
2019	Adelaide Comets	0	(0)
2019–2020	KVC Winkel Sport	4	(0)
2020–	Olimpia Grudziądz	0	(0)
National team^‡
2015–	Afghanistan	13	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 October 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 June 2017

Youth

Before joining Achilles '29 in 2015 Omid Popalzay played in the youth of SV Estria and N.E.C./FC Oss.

Career

Achilles '29

He signed in July 2015 his first professional contract for Achilles '29.[1] He was signed to play for the second team of Achilles '29 but was given a change for the first team after he impressed. On 11 September 2015 he made his debut for Achilles '29 against Sparta Rotterdam. He scored his first goal in a 2–1 win against FC Den Bosch.[2] One week after the win against FC Den Bosch he scored another goal and made an assist against Jong PSV with the end result being a 3–2 win for Achilles '29.[3]

Australia and Belgium

In the beginning of 2019, Popalzay moved abroad to Australia and joined Adelaide Comets FC.[4] In May 2019, he left the club to join Belgian club KVC Winkel Sport.[5]

Olimpia Grudziądz

Omid Popalzay signed a contract with Polish club Olimpia Grudziądz on 11 August 2020. [6]

International career

Omid Popalzay was called up for the Afghan national team for the World Cup Qualification match against Singapore on 8 October 2015.[7] They lost the match with 1–0 but Omid made his debut for his country. After this match he also played against Syria and Cambodia.

Career statistics

Club performance

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Europe^1		Other^2		Total
2015–16	Achilles '29	Eerste Divisie	19	4	—		—		—		19	4
2016–17	Achilles '29	Eerste Divisie	12	1	1	0	—		—		13	1
Total	Netherlands		31	5	1	0	—		—		32	5
Career total			31	5	1	0	—		—		32	5

Statistics accurate as of last match played on 9 November 2016.

¹ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.

² Includes Johan Cruijff Shield matches.

International goals

Scores and results list Afghanistan's goal tally first.[8]

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	28 December 2015	Trivandrum International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, India	Maldives	2–1	3–0	2015 SAFF Championship
2.				4–1
3.	6 June 2017	Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Maldives	2–1	2–1	Friendly

Personal life

Popalzay holds both Dutch and Afghan passports.

References

1. http://www.omroepgelderland.nl/nieuws/2098346/Boelens-Popalzay-Witteveen-en-Deckers-definitief-naar-Achilles-1
2. http://www.omroepgelderland.nl/nieuws/2105679/Gelukkige-zege-Achilles-dankzij-een-te-late-wissel
3. http://www.omroepgelderland.nl/nieuws/2106291/Omid-Popalzay-speler-van-de-week-Hidde-Jurjus-nieuwe-koploper
4. NPL SA: Afghanistan international Omid Popalzay signs for Adelaide Comets, adelaidenow.com.au, 1 February 2019
5. Afghaanse Nederlander derde versterking voor Winkel Sport, kw.be, 21 May 2019
6. Omid Popalzay piłkarzem Olimpii!, 11 August 2020
7. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/08/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/singapore/afghanistan/2028678/?ICID=PL_MS_05
8. "Popalzay, Omid". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 June 2017.

External links

• Omid Popalzay at Soccerway