As I write this, Olympiakos are celebrating their first ever European trophy (and the first to be won by any Greek team) and it’s all thanks to Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi. The Guardian wrote a profile on him earlier today, from earthquake grief to a European final
:
He got his first professional contract in his homeland at the age of 23. For a long time, El Kaabi could not imagine he would be able to make a living from football. In his youth, he worked as a carpenter and a builder to help his father. “I learned that one can only reach success through hard work,” he has said. […] The disastrous earthquake in February 2023, which destroyed the city and claimed lives of thousands, including Christian Atsu and numerous club officials, put a cruel end to the adventure. Morocco suffered its own earthquake in September and El Kaabi helped to raise funds for survivors.
Perhaps he’ll get a statue in Athens in the future, but for now, he’ll get all the plaudits and a Europa League winners medal.