This article explores the potential of Omar Marmoush, a young Egyptian footballer who joined Manchester City, to become the next big star in world football, following in the footsteps of Mo Salah. Marmoush's journey, his rise through the ranks, and his opportunity to lead Egypt to the 2026 World Cup are discussed.
The scenes were seismic. The joy unfounded. Players, staff, supporters, indeed the whole country, celebrating an achievement that had been 27 years in the making. The cheers in the stadium were echoed by car horns outside. The year was 2017 and Egypt had ended a World Cup drought that had spanned nearly three decades and contained several near misses. All of that was forgotten when Mo Salah slotted home a penalty to earn a 2-1 win over Congo and a place in Russia 2018.
It was a seminal moment for a football-mad country. Omar Marmoush likely watched on from Germany. He was a burgeoning talent making his way in the development squad at Wolfsburg and already representing Egypt at youth level. Now the Manchester City new boy is spearheading his country's bid for a repeat visit to the world stage in America next year. Egypt flopped in 2018 and missed out four years later. Now an expanded tournament means an increased chance of reaching the States. Ten points from their opening four games of a 10-match group has the Pharaohs in pole position to seal the sole automatic spot.It could be a changing of the guard tournament. Salah will be 34 by then and the Liverpool striker is one of the most recognisable names in world football and as such one of the most commercially viable. He has a spate of deals with global brands and is the Arab world’s most recognisable sportsman. Marmoush looks the heir apparent. The two have similar characteristics on the pitch and similar journeys off it. Salah came to England, struggled to breakthrough with Chelsea and took in spells in Serie A with Fiorentina and Roma before reaching stratospheric heights with Liverpool. He was 25 when he moved to Anfield, the same age Marmoush was upon joining Manchester City in the January transfer window. He too travelled to Europe young and failed to make an impact with his first club Wolfsburg, so much so that Eintracht Frankfurt were able to sign him on a free transfer. Fast-forward a stunning 18 months and Pep Guardiola came calling. Marmoush, who is only just establishing himself in the national side, now looks primed to take on Salah's mantle. That means being a big star and bringing big business. The next 18 months could be sizeable for City and Marmoush. He's now at one of the biggest clubs in the world and has the opportunity this summer and next to make his mark in America with the Club World Cup and then the actual World Cup.While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to attract millions of followers and pounds from their football and fame, in the Middle East and North Africa there is a huge Salah following. It could very conceivably transfer to Marmoush. 'With Marmoush, he is a profile of player who needs high performance in a bigger league,' says Dan Haddad, head of commercial strategy at Octagon, a sports, music and entertainment agency, speaking to the Manchester Evening News. 'The key pocket of strength for Marmoush would be in Egypt, a massive population and a football mad country. Brands from that part of the wall would target him. 'Egypt are very well placed to qualify for 2026 World Cup so certainly performance for a country like Egypt at a World Cup in the US with huge interest could be catalyst and springboard for someone like Marmoush. 'There is a big football audience there which skews towards the Premier League so there is an opportunity to take some of that more casual fandom. If he performs well for City and does well for the national team then there is an opportunity. 'The next World Cup in the US, the value of individual athletes in football is going to be at a level we have not seen before. It is an expanded tournament and even the Club World Cup will show that. 'You might see a lot of US brands using some of the players that are across that tournament. City have a good footprint in that US market, they have done a good job in building an audience in that market.' City were in the States last summer for a pre-season tour and will be back again in June for the Club World Cup. A YouGov poll had the Blues as the fourth most visible club side in America, that could easily rise in the coming years given City's concerted efforts to crack the country. “The club’s presence, fan base and status continues to grow significantly within the region,' said Peter Laundy, Senior Vice President Partnerships at City Football Group when announcing their 2024 summer tour. In Marmoush, City have a player who can raise the profile further on and off the pitch. Salah's rise has helped Liverpool grow significantly in North Africa and the Middle East. City and Marmoush could follow suit
Omar Marmoush Manchester City Mo Salah Egypt World Cup Football Rising Star Commercial Success
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