PROFILE | Zakaria Aboukhlal – on the comeback trail
Yesterday at 11:55 PM
Nearly halfway through the current Ligue 1 campaign, Zakaria Aboukhlal is proving his worth again for Toulouse FC. Born in the Netherlands, the Moroccan international's pace and energy are two qualities that are sorely missed for his club side when he's not available. Thankfully for manager Carles Martinez Novell, he's been healthy throughout this season and is putting together another strong campaign.
Sadly, the 2023-24 campaign was cut drastically short for Aboukhlal, who featured in just 13 Ligue 1 games, due to an ACL injury. A former youth player at PSV in the Eredivisie, he's been a massive bargain to a team that have been in middle-of-the-pack since returning to the French top-flight in 2022-23.
The big stages have not been too much for him to handle, scoring his share of goals in those games with his club side and Morocco. He was one of the players who found the back of the net when Les Violets won their first Coupe de France title in 2022-23 over FC Nantes (5-1). Part of the Moroccan side that made the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, he also scored in their 2-0 upset victory over Belgium in the group stage.
Aboukhlal strikes partnership with King
While he's been a handful to contain for opposing defences, Aboukhlal hasn't always produced that decisive quality in front of goal this season despite having a plethora of opportunities to find the back of the net. The Moroccan has missed a dozen big chances in the league, which, after 14 domestic encounters, was more than anyone in the top flight. He's won plenty of possession in the final third, but with an expected goals ratio of over seven (7.07) in his first 14 league fixtures, he needs to show more poise in the attacking third. It isn't through a lack of effort, though, as he's fired 40 shots over that time period.
Even though he's not always converted his opportunities, he's been a good provider for Norwegian striker Josh King, and together the two have combined nicely this season. Aboukhlal brings plenty of danger when the ball comes his way, forcing defenders onto the back foot. He attracts plenty of attention from defenders with speed and skill, leading to openings for his teammates. Aboukhlal is locked into a contract with this team until the summer of 2026.
