Voted “Olympien of the Month” for October by OM supporters after his three goals, Himad Abdelli is making his mark under coach Bruno Genesio, having played only 178 minutes last season. The Algeria international midfielder now turns his attention to the double header against Togo.
Himad Abdelli, the Algeria international midfielder at Olympique de Marseille, has been voted “Olympien of the Month” for October by the club’s supporters, according to La Provence and DZfoot. He succeeds striker Igor Paixao in the award decided by the Marseille public.
The player scored three goals in October, against Troyes (0-2), his former club Angers (5-2) and Le Havre (4-3), according to La Provence and La Gazette du Fennec. Across the season as a whole, he has 3 goals and 1 assist in 12 appearances in all competitions, according to DZfoot.
From 178 minutes to the spotlight
The contrast with the previous campaign is stark. Last season the midfielder accumulated only 178 minutes of playing time, with two starts, before being sidelined after a bust-up with Habib Beye, the former OM coach, in late April, according to La Provence and So Foot.
Signed from Angers for €2.75 million in the winter transfer window, the player has become one of the key figures of Marseille’s strong start to the season under Bruno Genesio, writes So Foot. He started in OM’s 1-0 win at Leverkusen in the Europa League, according to L’Équipe.
“I’m a different player”
The man himself makes no secret of what has changed. “I struggled last season, it was complicated, I probably put too much pressure on myself because I love OM, but the coach set me free. We talked, he gives me a fair amount of freedom on the pitch, even if he plays me at full-back, I play full-back! I’m a different player.” That is how the player put it to La Provence.
The October award comes on the back of that turnaround, with three goals scored in a single month.
A date with Togo
The midfielder has been called up by Algeria for the double header against Togo on 14 and 17 November, in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, according to Le Phocéen.
The first match is set for 14 November in Tizi Ouzou, with the return leg on 17 November in Lomé.