Elisha Sam
Elisha Bruce Sam (born 31 March 1997) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Notts County.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Elisha Bruce Sam | ||
| Date of birth | 31 March 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Antwerp, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current team | Notts County | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2007 | Vlug Vooruit | ||
| 2007–2014 | Lierse | ||
| 2014–2017 | Standard Liège | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | 
| 2017–2018 | Hapoel Acre | 7 | (0) | 
| 2018 | → Hapoel Nazareth Illit (loan) | 15 | (1) | 
| 2018–2019 | FC Eindhoven | 33 | (8) | 
| 2019–2020 | Arda Kardzhali | 16 | (3) | 
| 2020– | Notts County | 13 | (4) | 
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 februari 2021 (UTC) | |||
Club career
    
He made his Israeli Premier League debut for Hapoel Acre on 20 August 2017 in a game against Bnei Sakhnin as a 71st-minute substitute for Fejsal Mulić.[1]
On 31 August 2018, he moved to the Netherlands, signing a one-year contract with FC Eindhoven, with the club holding a one-year extension option.[2]
On 26 June 2019 he signed a contract with the newly promoted to the Bulgarian First League team Arda Kardzhali. [3] On 27 July, he scored two goals in a 3–1 home victory over Beroe, contributing to the historic first win for the team from Kardzhali in the top division of Bulgarian football.[4]
On 31 August 2020, he signed for English National League side Notts County.[5] Sam scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw at Halifax Town on 17 November 2020, before scoring again against Wealdstone in a 3–0 win 10 days later. On 27 February 2021, Sam scored a stunning back-heel volley in the club's FA Trophy quarter-final win over Oxford City, with many pundits already calling it the Puskás Award winner for the year.[6][7] Sam was awarded the National League Player of the Month award for February 2022, scoring four goals across the month.[8]
Career statistics
    
As of 12 February 2022[9]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hapoel Akko | 2017–18 | Israeli Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | — | 12 | 1 | |
| Hapoel Nazareth Illit (loan) | 2017–18 | Liga Leumit | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| FC Eindhoven | 2018–19 | Eerste Divisie | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 8 | ||
| Arda Kardzhali | 2019–20 | First Professional Football League | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 3 | ||
| Notts County | 2020–21 | National League | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[lower-alpha 2] | 6 | 41 | 11 | |
| Career total | 84 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 95 | 19 | ||
References
    
- "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 20 August 2017.
- "Spits Elisha Sam naar FC Eindhoven" [Striker Elisha Sam to FC Eindhoven] (in Dutch). FC Eindhoven. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- Трима футболисти минаха прегледи в АРДА
- "Arda Kardzhali vs. Beroe Stara Zagora 3:1". flashscore.com. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- "Sam signs". Notts County FC official club website. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- "Puskas contender Elisha Sam scores stunning backheel volley for Notts County". The Guardian. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- "Notts County's Elisha Sam scores Puskas contender with incredible back-heel volley in win against Oxford City". Talk Sport. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- "National League's February Monthly Award Winners Announced!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 7 March 2022.
- "Elisha Sam". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
External links
    
- Elisha Sam at Soccerway