Oscar Gloukh (sometimes Gloch or Gluh, ; born ) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg and the Israel national team.
Early life
Gloukh was born and raised in Rehovot, Israel; to his father Maxim Gloukh, a former footballer who immigrated from Russia to Israel as a 13 year old.
Club career
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Gloukh made his senior debut with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv on 8 August 2021 at the 1–1 draw against Hapoel Jerusalem at the Israeli Toto Cup (7–6 to Hapoel Jerusalem after penalties).
On 11 April 2022 he also made his senior Israeli Premier League club line-up debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv at the 1–1 draw against Maccabi Haifa, where he scored his debut senior goal in the 28th minute.
Red Bull Salzburg
On 27 January 2023, Gloukh was acquired by Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg for €7 million and signed a 4.5-year contract.
Gloukh netted a goal in the 51st minute of his UEFA Champions League debut, on 20 September 2023; in a match against Portuguese side Benfica, where Gloukh managed to secure a 0–2 away win for Salzburg. This made him the then youngest Israeli footballer ever to score in the Champions League, at the age of 19.
International career
Gloukh has capped for the Israel under-19 team since 2021, and took part in its qualification to the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship for the second time in its history. Gloukh scored 4 goals (third best goalscorer) and made 2 assists, including a goal in the final match against England, a match which ended in a 1–3 defeat after extra time. Gloukh was named as one of the championship's best performers by ESPN, and was named in UEFA's "Team of the Tournament". Gloukh's strike for his native Israel in the final against England, has also earned him the "UEFA 2022 Under-19 EURO Goal of the Tournament".
Gloukh has also been part of the Israel under-21 team, capping his debut on 2 June 2022, and took part in its qualification to the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship for the third time in Israel's history.
In November 2022, Gloukh was first called-up to play for the seniors' Israel national team ahead of the home friendly matches against Zambia and Cyprus. On 17 November, he made his debut, coming on as a substitute, in a 4–2 victory over Zambia. Three days later, Gloukh both started in the Israeli line-up against Cyprus, as well as scored his first senior international goal.
In June of 2023, Gloukh featured in the Israel national team squad for their 2024 European Qualifier against Belarus. Gloukh came off the bench in the 57' minute and would go on to score his first Senior goal, in an official UEFA competition, in 90' + 1' to win the match.
Career statistics
Club
International
International goals
Honours
Red Bull Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga: 2022–23
See also
List of Israelis
List of Israel international footballers
External links
Oscar Gloukh at the official Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. website
Oscar Gloukh at the official FC Red Bull Salzburg website
ESPN.com: European U19 Championship men's stars, June 26, 2022
UEFA.com: 2022 Under-19 EURO finals: Who was the top scorer?, July 1, 2022
UEFA.com: 2022 Under-19 EURO Team of the Tournament, July 5, 2022
UEFA.com: Oscar Gloukh wins 2022 Under-19 EURO Goal of the Tournament, July 5, 2022 UEFA.com: Every UEFA European Under-21 Championship Player of the Match, July 8, 2023