Omri Airlines: The meteoric rise of Israeli midfielder Gandelman with Italy’s Lecce
· Yahoo Sports
Gandelman has transformed into the “new face” of US Lecce in just a few short weeks, a player in the right place at the right time to secure a vital 2-1 victory.
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In the demanding world of Italian football, where the tactical rigor of Serie A often tests the world’s most talented players, a new star has emerged from the Salento sun.
Omri Gandelman, the 25-year-old Israeli midfielder, has transformed into the “new face” of US Lecce in just a few short weeks. His arrival from Belgium’s KAA Gent in January 2026 for a fee of three million euros has proven to be an exceptionally successful move.
As veteran sports journalist Jacob Ziv highlights in his detailed reports, Gandelman isn’t just playing in Italy; he is dominating the conversation, shattering mental barriers, and earning the adoration of the Giallorossi faithful.
The Italian press, known for its unforgiving critiques, has found a new darling. Gandelman’s impact has been immediate and profound, characterized by two consecutive match-winning performances that have redefined Lecce’s season and placed him at the centre of the league’s spotlight.
His debut goal against Udinese was a lesson in positioning. Capitalizing on a defensive error, Gandelman was in the right place at the right time to secure a vital 2-1 victory. This win was monumental, breaking the club's eight-game winless drought.
WHETHER AT the club level for US Lecce or playing for the Israel national team Omri Gandelman has become a reliable contributor and fan favorite. (credit: REUTERS)Speaking to SKY Italy after the match, Gandelman displayed the maturity that has become his trademark.
“I am happy with my first goal for the team, but first of all, I am satisfied with the win. The team deserved it. I am ready to do whatever Coach Di Francesco asks of me. Sometimes I need to support the attack, sometimes the midfield. My goal is to help this club achieve its goal of staying in the league”.
However, it was his performance in the subsequent match, a 0-2 away win against Cagliari, that truly solidified his status. Gandelman rose powerfully to meet a set-piece, hanging in the air with a physicality rarely seen in Israeli exports, and headed the ball into the net with clinical precision. This display earned him the prestigious “Panini Player of the Match” award and sparked the “Omri Airlines” moniker across social media.
The iconic Gazzetta dello Sport awarded him a high rating of 7, describing him as a “dynamic attacking midfielder, physically imposing (1.88m), with a rare ability to penetrate the box”.
Omri Gandelman's manager praises his performance
Lecce’s manager, Eusebio Di Francesco, has been effusive in his praise.
“He is excellent at exploiting gaps in the defence. He has incredible timing; he knows exactly when to run into space and move between the lines. He has become the ‘second striker’ we were missing, providing the offensive edge that our collective lacked”.
As journalist Jacob Ziv meticulously chronicles, Omri Gandelman’s success is the result of an elite sporting lineage combined with a relentless work ethic. Born on May 16, 2000, in Hod HaSharon, Omri grew up in a family where sports were the primary language.
His father, Shmuel (Shmulik) Gandelman, was a prominent professional basketball player in Israel’s top division, while his grandfather, Rami, was a legendary basketball coach and physical education teacher in Jerusalem.
While basketball was the family business, Omri’s passion was the pitch. He grew up idolizing Brazilian icons Kaká and Ronaldo, fitting inspirations for a player whose Portuguese passport has allowed him to navigate European soccer as a local resident. This dual heritage provided him with both the physical tools of a basketballer and the flair of a footballer.
His father, Shmuel, shared in a past interview withHa’aretz that Omri’s secret weapon is what he calls “positive paranoia”.
“Omri takes nothing for granted,” Shmuel explained. “This paranoia drives him to work harder than anyone else. He knows that today he is at this level, but it doesn’t last forever without constant work. He clears the mental barriers that stop others from progressing. To succeed abroad, you have to clean out the mental blocks.”
Gandelman’s career trajectory is a blueprint for aspiring Israeli athletes. He began his journey in the youth academies of Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Maccabi Petah Tikva, and Hapoel Ra’anana. A pivotal moment occurred at age 17, when he moved to Germany to join SV Wehen Wiesbaden's youth academy.
His time in Germany was transformative. While he was offered a professional contract by the German club for the 2018/2019 season, Gandelman made a difficult, mature decision to return to Israel. He wanted to complete his high school matriculation exams and fulfill his mandatory military service in the IDF. This decision allowed him to grow into a leader on home soil and prepare for the professional challenges ahead.
In August 2018, Gandelman signed with Maccabi Netanya, a club that would become his launching pad. He quickly rose to become the captain of the youth team, leading it to a State Cup final. His transition to the senior squad was seamless. Between 2019 and 2023, he became the ultimate “utility man,” playing as a center-back, a defensive anchor, and eventually an attacking threat.
Benni Lam, who coached Gandelman at Netanya, recalled in an interview with Ha’aretz: “He is a coach’s dream. He is a leader in the locker room and on the field. You know you will always get 100 percent from him. I would play him in any position – defense, midfield, or attack – and if I had to, I’d put him as a goalkeeper too. Gandelman must be in my team. It’s him and 10 others”.
It was during this period that he helped Netanya win the Toto Cup (2022/2023), solidifying his reputation as a winner.
In August 2023, Gandelman moved to Belgium’s KAA Gent for 2.35 million euros. It was here that he evolved into a prolific goal-scorer. His most famous feat occurred in March 2024 against Charleroi, when he came on as a substitute and scored four goals in less than 30 minutes.
The Spanish newspaper Marca famously labeled him “the best substitute in the world”. By the end of 2024, statistics showed that Gandelman was the second-highest scoring midfielder in Europe’s top 15 leagues, trailing only Chelsea’s superstar Cole Palmer. He finished his Belgian chapter with 33 goals and 14 assists in 107 appearances, numbers that made his move to Italy and the step up to a top-five league inevitable.
Gandelman’s club success is mirrored by his contributions to Israel’s national teams. He was a vital part of the U21 squad that reached the semifinals of the 2023 European Championship, securing Israel’s ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics. Gandelman played as an overage player in the Olympics, even captaining the side and scoring against Paraguay.
In the senior national team, he has become a regular under coach Ran Ben Shimon. His maiden international goal, a powerful header against France in the Nations League, served as a reminder to the world that Gandelman can compete with the very best. As Jacob Ziv points out, his experience facing world-class players in the Nations League has prepared him for the weekly battles in Serie A.
Omri Gandelman represents a new generation of Israeli footballers: physically ready, tactically intelligent, and mentally resilient. While many of his peers struggle for minutes, Gandelman has become, in just a few weeks, one of Lecce's most significant players and a symbol of efficiency and grit.
As his coach Di Francesco summarized: “We were missing a player like him”. For Lecce, he is the difference between a relegation scrap and historic hope. For Israel, he is the best possible ambassador in Italy. With his Portuguese passport easing his status and a contract until 2029, the flight has only just begun its ascent.
Gandelman’s meteoric rise in Italy is unfolding against the somber backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Israel.
For Gandelman, the war is not merely background noise but a profound internal driver. He views his success as a mission of ambassadorship, aiming to provide moments of pride and resilience for a nation in pain. This mental fortitude was on full display during the recent Matchday 28 clash against Cremonese.
In a high-stakes relegation battle, Lecce secured a vital 2-1 victory. Although Gandelman started on the bench, his introduction in the 79th minute was a strategic masterstroke. He replaced Lameck Banda, his former teammate from their days at Maccabi Netanya, reuniting a duo that once terrorized defenses in the Israeli league.
Gandelman’s physical presence and defensive discipline helped Lecce weather the late pressure from Cremonese, securing their first win after two consecutive losses. This victory opened a crucial three-point gap from the relegation zone, proving that whether he is scoring spectacular “Omri Airlines” headers or grinding out a result in the closing minutes, Gandelman has become the indispensable spirit of this Lecce squad.
Sources for this profile include technical reports by Antonio Calò (Quotidiano di Puglia), career analysis and updates from journalist Jacob Ziv, the transfer history from Transfermarkt, interviews from SKY Italy, and past Ha’aretz interviews with Benni Lam and Shmuel Gandelman.