Malek Fakhro
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Malek Issam Fakhro[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 December 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Essen, Germany[1] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hallescher FC | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2011 | Rot-Weiss Essen | ||
| 2011–2016 | Schwarz-Weiß Essen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2020 | Schwarz-Weiß Essen | 120 | (34) |
| 2020–2021 | SV Straelen | 27 | (9) |
| 2021–2022 | VfB Lübeck | 28 | (8) |
| 2021 | VfB Lübeck II | 1 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | 1. FC Bocholt | 61 | (30) |
| 2024–2025 | MSV Duisburg | 29 | (9) |
| 2025– | Hallescher FC | 27 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Lebanon | 12 | (5) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 April 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 26 November 2025 | |||
Malek Issam Fakhro (Arabic: مالك عصام فخرو; born 14 December 1997) is a footballer who plays as a striker for German club Hallescher FC. Born in Germany, he plays for the Lebanon national team.
Fakhro's parents left Lebanon in 1985 due to the ongoing civil war.[2] He grew up with six other siblings in the Schonnebeck district of Essen, Germany.[2] After finishing secondary school, he started an apprenticeship in automotive mechatronics, though his primary focus remained football.[2]
Fakhro started playing for the youth team of Rot-Weiss Essen aged six.[3] Initially a defender, he moved up to the forward positions while playing for the under-12s.[3] He joined Schwarz-Weiß Essen's youth setup in the under-14s, and was integrated into the senior team as an under-19 player.[3]
Club career
Following an Oberliga (fifth tier) match between SW Essen and SV Straelen in May 2020, Fakhro's performance impressed Straelen's president, prompting his signing shortly after.[4] In his final season with SW Essen, he was named the club's "Player of the Year",[2] having recorded 34 goals and 21 assists over five senior seasons,[5] before departing after nine years with the team.[2] He then joined newly promoted Regionalliga (fourth tier) side SV Straelen for the 2020–21 season, scoring nine goals in 27 appearances.[6]
After one season at VfB Lübeck in 2021–22, in which he scored nine goals in all competitions, Fakhro joined 1. FC Bocholt in summer 2022.[7] He scored 30 goals in his two seasons at 1. FC,[6] and finished as second-best top scorer of the 2023–24 season with 15 goals.[5]
On 4 June 2024, Fakhro joined MSV Duisburg alongside his former 1. FC Bocholt head coach, Dietmar Hirsch.[5] Over the course of the season, he scored 10 goals and provided four assists in 33 appearances,[8] including three braces against Borussia Mönchengladbach II (3–1), FC Gütersloh (3–4), and Schalke 04 II (4–0).[9] Fakhro helped MSV Duisburg to a first-place finish in the 2024–25 Regionalliga West, which secured their promotion to the 3. Liga.[10] He departed the club at the end of the season.[8]
On 25 June 2025, Fakhro moved to Regionalliga club Hallescher FC.[11]
International career
Born and raised in Essen, Germany to Lebanese parents,[2] Fakhro is eligible to represent both Germany and Lebanon internationally.[12]
Fakhro was first called up to the Lebanon national team on 5 November 2024, for friendly games against Thailand and Myanmar.[13] He made his debut on 14 November, playing as a starter in a 0–0 draw to Thailand.[14] Against Myanmar on 19 November, Fakhro scored his first international goal, securing a 3–2 win for Lebanon.[15] On 25 March 2025, Fakhro scored two goals in a 5–0 win against Brunei in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.[16]
