Speed, Skill and Resilience: Mohamed Amoura’s Bundesliga Breakthrough
In recent years, the Bundesliga has seen a plethora of African talent burst onto the scene to make a name for themselves. Even more niche than that has been strikers of Arabian heritage hit the ground running in Germany. Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt has helped Die Adler to become a force and disrupt the hierarchy amongst Bundesliga’s usual top 5-6 teams. For his efforts, the Egyptian is on the verge of securing a big money move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City who are in search of alternative goalscorers – that is not a sentence heard very often.
Amina Adli is a Moroccan international plying his trade for Bayer Leverkusen since 2021. Despite battles with injuries and stiff competition in the forward roles against Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface, the 24-year-old is looking to make his real breakthrough under Xabi Alonso following last season’s invincible campaign. Another starlet on the horizon this season is VfL Wolfsburg’s Mohamed Amoura. The young Algerian went under the radar this summer as Wolfsburg manager Ralph Hassenhutl acquired Amoura’s services on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise.
Name: Mohamed El Amine Amoura
Date of Birth: 9 May, 2000
Place of Birth: Jijel, Algeria
Country: Algeria (31 caps, 8 goals)
Early Career History
Mohamed Amoura began his youth career in his hometown of Jijel, in north-eastern Algeria. Jijel has a history of colonisation dating back to the Carthaginians, all the way through the likes of Byzantine, Umayyad and Ottoman capture. Igligi, as the ancient city was known before being called Jijel, embraced its traditions whilst remaining resilient to adaptations through the different empires.
There is something that can be said about Amoura, a Jijel native, and the constant need to adapt to succeed in his own footballing journey across playing in Algeria, Switzerland, Belgium and now Germany – all before the age of 24. Amoura’s successful breakthrough at ES Setif in 2020/21 earned him his first senior caps for Algeria in 2021. His first venture into Europe at Lugano (in Switzerland) earnt him 5 goals and 8 goals in his two seasons playing for the Super League side.
A move to Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League with Union SG produced his most successful on European soil thus far. 23 goals and 8 assists in all competitions got him and his team as far as finishing 2nd in the league and winning the Belgian Cup. His individual highlights included a goal and an assist against Liverpool in the Europa League on Matchday 6 last season.
Bundesliga’s Shining Joy
Speaking on his transfer to VfL Wolfsburg last summer, sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz described Amoura as a ‘goalthreat’ with ‘immense speed’ and ‘can play in multiple positions in attack.’ Time has already proven that to be correct, as well as Schindzielorz’s forecast at the time: “We’re sure he’ll provide a lot of joy to VfL and the Bundesliga as a whole”.
Amoura has wasted little time in proven that assessment right. His performances this season have begun to sin heads in the Bundesliga. His strengths lay in his electric pace and intelligence in the six yard box. His experience of playing different styles of football cross different countries and European competitions has exercised his seamless transition in Hassenhutl’s counter pressing style of play.
The 24-year-old’s most obvious limitation lays in his natural build, as he stands at 5’7”. It limits his aerial threat and ability at duels and set pieces. The current setup compliments him well, however future teams in more physical leagues may not look too favourably upon this disadvantage. However, it is something that translates just as well into a strength due to his low centre of gravity and top speed, making him a nuisance to defend against counter attacking sides.
With players like Mohamed Amoura, VfL are back on the way to becoming a formidable force amongst the Bundesliga. In the last three seasons, VfL have only finished in the top 9 in 1 season (8th under Niko Kovac). With the Bundesliga underway again after its winter break, the club have already amassed 27 points from 18 matches – just 10 shy from last season’s tally.
It is considerable progress under the former Southampton manager, with Wolfsburg currently sitting seventh in the table, one point away from sixth-placed Mainz in the European positions. As the Bundesliga’s reputation for nurturing young African and Arab talent grows, the path ahead for Mohamed Amoura looks bright in Germany and beyond.
By: Abdullah Mamaniyat / @mxmnyt
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / NurPhoto