Abdi Sharif
Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif (born 1 January 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic. He represents Somalia at international level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 January 2001[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Somalia[2] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wigan Athletic | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2019 | Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
| 2022– | Wigan Athletic | 1 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → AFC Telford United (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Somalia | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:58, 1 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:58, 1 April 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life edit
Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif was born in Somalia on 1 January 2001 before he emigrated to the United Kingdom with his family in 2004.[3] He grew up in Toxteth with his nine older brothers.[4]
Club career edit
Liverpool edit
Sharif spent his youth with the Academy at Liverpool, spending three years training with the club before he joined officially at the age of nine.[5] He turned professional at Anfield in July 2019.[6] He suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury and was given a one-year contract extension to allow him the opportunity to recover.[7][8]
Wigan Athletic edit
He spent a year unattached and then joined Wigan Athletic following a successful trial in the summer of 2022.[3][9] He scored goals in friendlies against Hyde United and Alvechurch during his trial spell.[10] He made his senior debut for the club on the last day of the 2022–23 season, in a 0–0 draw with Rotherham United at the DW Stadium.[11] This made him the first Somalian to play in the EFL Championship.[12][13]
He joined National League North club AFC Telford United on loan on 25 November 2023.[14] He returned to Wigan in the new year.[15]
International career edit
Sharif was called up to represent Somalia for the first time in October 2023.[16]
Style of play edit
A central midfielder, he earned praise from Liverpool coach Steven Gerrard for his stamina.[17] He can also play at right-back and was a centre-forward in his youth.[6][18]
Career statistics edit
- As of match played 6 December 2023
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Liverpool U21 | 2020–21 | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Wigan Athletic | 2022–23[19] | EFL Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24[20] | EFL League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| AFC Telford United (loan) | 2022–23[1] | National League North | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References edit
- ^ a b c d Abdi Sharif at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ Hassanein, Hesham (9 December 2020). "Liverpool Profiles: Get to Know Abdi Sharif". American Scouser. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ a b Gray, Toby (25 November 2022). "Abdi Sharif". AFC Telford United. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Williams, Sam (16 February 2018). "Meet the Academy: Abdi Sharif". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "1. Abdi Sharif". Raps Management. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ a b Lusby, Jack (2 July 2019). "The Somali-Scouser who makes Liverpool's academy tick". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Lusby, Jack (28 May 2020). "LFC youngster signs new deal in bid to make up for lost time". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Lynch, David (28 May 2020). "Liverpool youngster signs new deal after overcoming serious injury". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Andy (28 May 2020). "Abdi Sharif extends contract at Liverpool FC". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Joe Rodwell-Grant, Ethan Mitchell and Abdi Sharif join Wigan Athletic U21s!". Wigan Athletic FC. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Match Report | Latics 0 Rotherham United 0". Wigan Athletic FC. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Lusby, Jack (9 May 2023). "Ex-LFC youngster makes history on Championship debut". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Somali footballer Abdi Sharif makes history in Championship debut". www.hiiraan.com. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Westbury, Ollie (25 November 2022). "Telford sign Wigan Athletic midfielder Abdi Sharif". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, Paul (5 January 2023). "AFC Telford United sign Hednesford's Adam Livingstone with three leaving". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Internationals | Five Tics stars set for action in October". Wigan Athletic FC. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Hunter, Steve (17 January 2018). "Steven Gerrard's guide to his FA Youth Cup squad". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Carson, Ste (27 June 2019). "Talented teenager signs professional contract with Liverpool". The Empire of The Kop. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Abdi Sharif in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Abdi Sharif in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
External links edit
- Profile at the Wigan Athletic F.C. website
- Abdi Sharif – UEFA competition record ()