Ayoub El Kaabi: from earthquake grief to a European final with Olympiakos

Moroccan striker takes on Fiorentina in Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final after a career shaped by tragedy.

Wed, 29 May, 2024 - 12:51

Michael Yokhin

The Olympiakos coach, José Luis Mendilibar, is hoping to lift his second European trophy in two years when he faces Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Athens on Wednesday. He won the Europa League with Sevilla a year ago and could become the second manager to triumph in Europe with different clubs in successive seasons after Rafa Benítez, who won the Uefa Cup with Valencia in 2004 and the Champions League with Liverpool 12 months later.

In both campaigns Mendilibar has relied on a Moroccan centre-forward. Youssef En-Nesyri scored six times for Sevilla in Europe last season, including two goals in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Manchester United. This term, though, Ayoub El Kaabi has done even better, especially against Premier League opponents.