Abdelhak Nouri’s smile brings fresh hope nine years after Ajax collapse

The family of former Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri says his health is now stable and significantly better than it was after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a match in 2017.

Nouri collapsed during a friendly against Werder Bremen in July that year, aged 20. The Dutch player of Moroccan descent suffered severe brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen and spent almost three years in a coma.

His brother has now provided an encouraging update on his condition, telling Foot Mercato: “He is doing well and his condition is stable, especially compared with how he was at the beginning.

“When my brother returned to the Netherlands after the incident, it was an extremely difficult period. Compared with that time, things are much better now.”

Nouri’s brother also recalled the first time the former footballer smiled spontaneously, three years after the incident.

The moment came while the family was together, when a joke apparently prompted Nouri to laugh. His brother said that expression remains deeply significant to those closest to him.

“To this day, his smile has a completely different meaning from other people’s smiles,” he said. “It was confirmation that he knew us and understood us.”

Nouri had been regarded as one of Ajax’s promising young players before his collapse. His condition and the circumstances surrounding the incident had a profound impact on Dutch football, particularly at Ajax.

The Amsterdam club later retired the number 34 shirt in his honour, ensuring that the number he wore was no longer used by another player.