Felix Michel Melki

George Felix Michel Melki[lower-alpha 1] (Arabic: جورج فليكس ميشيل ملكي‎, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ʒorʒ feˈli(ː)ks miˈʃe(ː)l ˈmelki, -ke]; born 23 July 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Swedish club AIK and the Lebanon national team. A versatile player, Michel Melki can be deployed as either a centre-back, a defensive midfielder or, on occasion, an attacking midfielder.

For the German slalom canoeist, see Felix Michel (canoeist).

Felix Michel Melki
Michel Melki training with Lebanon in 2018
Personal information
Full name George Felix Michel Melki
Date of birth (1994-07-23) 23 July 1994
Place of birth Södertälje, Sweden
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Centre-back, midfielder
Club information
Current team
 AIK
Number 12
Youth career
Syrianska FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Syrianska FC 21 (1)
2016–2018 Eskişehirspor 10 (1)
2018–2019 AFC Eskilstuna 29 (0)
2019– AIK 9 (0)
National team‡
2018– Lebanon 10 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 June 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2019

After following his father's tracks playing at Syrianska for three years, Michel Melki moved to Turkish side Eskişehirspor in 2016. In 2018, he moved back to Sweden signing for AFC Eskilstuna and helped them gain promotion back to the Allsvenskan. In 2019 he transferred to Swedish champions AIK.

Born in Sweden, in 2018 Michel Melki opted to represent Lebanon at senior level, on account of having a Lebanese paternal grandfather. He played in all three group stage games for "the Cedars" at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup; he scored against North Korea and was named Man of the Match.

Early life

Michel Melki was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and a Syriac father, Robert Michel, who used to play for Syrianska when the team was still in the lower divisions of Swedish football.[2] Felix has also acquired a Lebanese passport due to his origins, making him eligible for the Lebanese national team.[3] He stated in an interview with TRT World that his grandfather was Lebanese, and that two of his father's sisters were born in Lebanon.[4] Felix has an older brother, Alexander, who also plays football.[5]

Club career

Syrianska

At age seven Michel began his football career in the youth team of the Swedish side Syrianska FC, the club of the local Syriac community.[6] Starting from 2013, he played in the first team and made some sporadic appearances in the league and domestic cup.[7] He only began to establish himself as a starter in the 2016 season, making 10 league appearances.

Eskişehirspor

In August 2016 he moved to the TFF First League side Eskişehirspor.[8] Michel played 10 league matches for the Turkish club.[6]

AFC Eskilstuna

In March 2018 Michel signed for Superettan side AFC Eskilstuna,[9] where he would be reunited with his brother Alexander. In his first season, he made 21 league appearances and one cup appearance; he helped his side gain promotion to the Allsvenskan through the play-offs. In 2019 he started in 13 league and cup matches.[6]

AIK

On 25 July 2019, Allsvenskan champions AIK announced the signing of Michel on a three-year deal.[6] He made his league debut on 27 July 2019 as an attacking midfielder, in a 0–2 away win against Sirius.[10] On 18 August 2019, Michel was placed as a striker against Kalmar, losing 1–2 at home.[11] With eight league appearances (three as a starter),[12] Michel helped his side reach fourth place in the 2019 Allsvenskan.[13]

International career
Felix Michel Melki for Lebanon at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

On 15 November 2018, Michel Melki made his international debut for Lebanon against Uzbekistan; the match ended in a goalless draw as he played the whole 90 minutes.[14] He would be called up for the 2019 Asian Cup, alongside his brother Alexander, one month later.[15] On 17 January 2019, he scored the equalizer in a 4–1 win against North Korea in the final group stage game and was nominated Man of the Match for his performance.[16]

Career statistics

International
As of match played 19 November 2019[17]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Lebanon 2018 1 0
2019 9 1
Total 10 1
Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Michel Melki goal.[17]
List of international goals scored by Felix Michel Melki
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 January 2019 Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates  North Korea 1–1 4–1 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Honours and achievements

Club

AFC Eskilstuna

Notes
  1. Commonly known as Felix Michel in Swedish, George Melki (Arabic: جورج ملكي‎) in Arabic, or Felix Michel Melki in English.

References
  1. "AC2019 Final Squads". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  2. "Alexander Michel är redo för nästa steg | Matchdax". matchdax.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  3. "The Lebanon squad to face Uzbekistan and Australia has been named". YOUR HOME OF NEWS. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  4. "How diaspora footballers came together under the Lebanese flag". TRT World. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  5. "AFC Asian Cup 2019: Brothers competing in the continental tournament". FOX Sports Asia. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  6. "AIK Fotboll värvar Felix Michel". AIK Fotboll (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. "Syrianska FC > Aktuellt". 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  8. "KLART: Felix Michel klar för Eskisehirspor". lt.se (in Swedish). 15 August 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  9. Svedberg 0660-295532, Anna (29 March 2018). "Tidigare Syrianska-spelaren klar för Superettan – återförenas med brorsan: "Vi är överens"". lt.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  10. "Obasi håller i sin svit som stör Sirius". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  11. https://www.kickoff.co.uk/matches/aik-vs-kalmar-predictions-betting-tips-match-preview/
  12. "Lebanon - Felix Michel - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  13. "Tabell och resultat - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  14. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Uzbekistan vs. Lebanon (0:0)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  15. "AC2019 Final Squads". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  16. "Group E: Lebanon 4-1 DPR Korea". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  17. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Felix Michel Melki". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  18. "Faltsetas i fokus när Häcken blev cupmästare". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 May 2019.
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