# Omri Gandelman

Omri Gandelman (Hebrew: עמרי גנדלמן also spelled עומרי גאנדלמן; born (2000-05-16)16 May 2000) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Belgian Pro League club KAA Gent and the Israel national team.

## Early and personal life

Gandelman was born and raised in Hod HaSharon, Israel, to an Israeli family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and of Sephardi Jewish descent. His father is Israeli former basketball player Shmuel "Shmulik" Gandelman, and grandson of Rami Gandelman who was a basketball manager and a sports personality in Jerusalem.
He also holds a Portuguese passport, on account of his Sephardi Jewish ancestors, which eases the move to certain European football leagues.
As of late 2023, he resides in Gent, Belgium, along with his Israeli girlfriend Meital.

## Club career

Gandelman is a youth product of the academies of the Israeli clubs Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hapoel Ra'anana. In 2018, he was scouted by the German academy of Wehen Wiesbaden and had a stint there, before returning to his native Israel for its mandatory military service. After Gandelman's astounding performance in the UEFA U-21 Euros; he had signed a pre-agreement with English Premier League side Arsenal, although nothing came of this.

### Maccabi Netanya

Gandelman made his professional senior debut with Maccabi Netanya in a 3–1 Israeli Premier League victory over Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona on 2 June 2020.

## International career

Gandelman played for the Israel U21 side from 2021 to 2023.
Coming on as a substitute within the first half, Gandelman debuted with the seniors' Israel national team in a 4–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification away loss against Austria on 12 November 2021. Gandelman scored his first international goal for Israel in their UEFA Nations League match against France on 10 October 2024.

### 2024 Summer Olympics

Gandelman has been selected for the Israel U23's squad, ahead of the men's football tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
He has played for the Israel U23 the whole three Olympic matches, as they were knocked out after the group-stage ended. Gandelman scored a goal against Paraguay U23 to make it a 1–1 tie, which was eventually lost.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 23 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Belgian Cup | Belgian Cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Gent | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 33 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 45 | 13 |
| Gent | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 35 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 57 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 80 | 24 |
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Conference League

### International

    As of match played 17 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Israel | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| Israel | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Israel | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Israel | 2024 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 1 |
    Scores and results list Israel's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gandelman’s goal
List of international goals scored by Omri Gandelman :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 10 October 2024 | Bozsik Aréna, Budapest, Hungary | France | 1–1 | 1-4 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |

## Honours

Maccabi Netanya
* Israel Toto Cup (Ligat Ha'Al): 2022–23