Player to Watch: Omar Khrbin (Syria)

چاپ خبر

Despite six previous participations in the competition, most recently in the UAE 2019, The Eagles of Qasioun have not been able to advance past the group stage, but if that’s to change in a tough group that includes Australia, Uzbekistan and India, then star striker Omar Khrbin will be vital.
The Damascus-born player was first called up for the senior squad at the age of 18, and a year later, he scored his first international goal in a 2-1 friendly victory over Iraq. Unfortunately for him, his efforts in the qualifiers were not enough to guide Syria to the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.

That all changed four years later as his 10 goals in the joint qualifiers helped Syria not just reach UAE 2019, but also come within a whisker of reaching the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, before losing in the playoff against Australia.

Khrbin’s brilliance was picked up by clubs abroad from an early age, and he left Syria at the age of 18 to pursue a club career that took him to four different countries across the region, starting at Iraq’s Air Force Club in 2013, then a hugely successful spell in the UAE Pro League at Al Dhafra where his goal scoring exploits caught the attention of Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal.
Eyebrows were raised when Al Hilal made the then 23-year-old playing at UAE minnows Al Dhafra the most expensive Syrian player of all time, but soon enough Saudi Arabia and the continent would get to know the reasons.

The year 2017 was arguably the greatest in Khrbin’s career. Domestically, he helped Al Hilal to the Saudi Pro League and King’s Cup double, scoring in the cup final as they beat Al Ahli 3-2, but it was in the AFC Champions League™ that he had the biggest impact, when he finished as the top scorer with 10 goals as Al Hilal reached the final where Khrbin got Al Hilal’s only goal in the double-header against Urawa Red Diamonds which Al Hilal ended up losing 2-1 on aggregate.
Khrbin’s excellence for club and country was rewarded with the 2017 AFC Player of the Year award, as he beat UAE’s Omar Abdulrahman and China PR’s Wu Lei for the prize, becoming the first, and to date only, Syrian to win it.

Having scored one goal in Syria’s previous AFC Asian Cup participation, Khrbin is looking forward to a much improved showing from his side in Qatar 2023.

“We went through a period of instability in the national team, but I’m confident we will bounce back soon,” said the striker ahead of the AFC Asian Cup draw earlier in 2023.

“Our coach Hector Cuper is known for his defensive style, and despite being a striker, I think this will help us a lot against the higher level of opponents we will face in Qatar. We just have to work hard, and we promise our fans that we will come back stronger.”