Issam El Maach

Early career

Born in Heerlen and raised in Helmond to Moroccan parents, El Maach began his football career with local club RKSV MULO before being recruited to the youth ranks of VVV-Venlo.In 2016 he moved to the youth academy of SBV Vitesse, from where he was scouted and joined the Ajax Youth Academy a year later.

Ajax

El Maach signed a two-year contract with Ajax in 2017 with an option for an additional year. He made his professional debut with the reserve team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 18 January 2018 in a 4–1 loss to RKC Waalwijk. Jong Ajax ended the season as champions of the second division, becoming the first reserve team to win a championship since the introduction of reserve teams in professional football in the Netherlands. He made his first team debut on 11 January 2019 in a friendly game against Brazilian club Flamengo in the Florida Cup. On 26 June 2020, it was announced that El Maach's contract was not going to be extended, leaving him eligible to find a new club.

RKC Waalwijk

On 14 July 2021, El Maach signed a one-year contract with Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk.

Twente

On 25 July 2022, El Maach joined Twente on a two-year deal, with an option for an additional year. On 7 January 2025, he joined Roda JC on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. He made 12 appearances during his loan spell before returning to Twente in July 2025 after the club exercised their option to extend his contract through to 2026. On…

El Maach is a youth international for Morocco, having represented the nation at under-17 and under-23 levels. He also made one appearance for the Netherlands U18s in a friendly match in 2017.

Jong Ajax

Eerste Divisie: 2017–18 Ajax

KNVB Cup: 2018–19 Florida Cup runners-up: 2019