1. Overview
Robert Alexander Robert Michel Melki, commonly known as Alexander Michel Melki, is a professional footballer who represents Lebanon internationally and plays as a defender for Ansar in the Lebanese Premier League. He is also known as Alexander Michel in Sweden, and Robert Melki (روبرت ملكيArabic) in Arabic. Born in Sweden with dual Swedish-Lebanese nationality, Melki primarily plays as a centre-back at the club level, while he is mainly deployed as a right-back for the national team. He is also recognized for his versatility, capable of playing across all defensive positions, including full-backs and as a defensive midfielder. His club career has seen him play for various teams in Sweden, including Syrianska FC and AFC Eskilstuna, and in Qatar, with Al-Khor SC and Al-Shahania SC, before returning to Swedish football with Nordic United FC and then moving to Lebanon.
2. Early Life and Background
Alexander Michel Melki was born in Södertälje, Sweden, on 14 November 1992. His family background is diverse; his mother, Carina, is Swedish, and his father, Robert, is Assyrian. His father also played football for Syrianska FC, a Swedish club established by Assyrian immigrants.
Melki's connection to Lebanon stems from his paternal grandfather, George Michel Melki, who settled in Sweden in 1967 as one of the first refugees from the Middle East. Two of his father's sisters were born in Lebanon. This familial heritage allowed Alexander Michel Melki to acquire Lebanese nationality, making him eligible to represent the Lebanon national football team. He has a younger brother, Felix Michel Melki, who is also a professional footballer.
2.1. Childhood and Youth Career
Melki began his football journey at the age of seven, joining the youth system of his local club, Syrianska FC, in Sweden. During his formative years, he progressed through the ranks, demonstrating significant potential. His talent was recognized internationally, leading to his representation of Sweden at the youth level. He played for the Sweden U19 and Sweden U21 national teams.
3. Club Career
Alexander Michel Melki's professional club career has spanned multiple leagues and countries, marking his progression from Swedish domestic football to the Qatari league, and eventually to the Lebanese Premier League.
3.1. Syrianska FC
Alexander Michel Melki began his professional career at Syrianska FC, the club where he spent his youth years. He made his professional debut and his first appearance in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top flight, on 20 June 2011 at the age of 18, in a match where his team was defeated 3-0 by Djurgården. In his debut season in 2011, he made a total of 10 league appearances. In 2012, he found more playing time, featuring in 23 matches, 18 of which were as a starter. By 2015, in his fifth professional season with the team, he was appointed captain of Syrianska FC.
His tenure at Syrianska FC was marked by significant challenges due to recurrent injuries. Exactly two years after his Allsvenskan debut, on 20 June 2013, Melki suffered a serious injury to the cruciate ligament of his left knee during a home match against Malmö FF. This injury forced him out of action for an entire year, with his next official match taking place on 25 June 2014 in the Superettan. In July 2015, after recovering from the first injury, he tragically re-broke the same cruciate ligament, forcing him to end his season prematurely. His last year at Syrianska was in 2016, where he made 25 league appearances in the Superettan. In 2016, he also made 2 appearances in the Superettan relegation play-outs. Overall, he made 99 league appearances and scored 3 goals for Syrianska FC during his six-year spell.
3.2. AFC Eskilstuna (First Stint)
After his contract with Syrianska FC expired at the end of 2016, Alexander Michel Melki underwent trials with Swedish clubs Hammarby and Djurgårdens IF in January 2017. A few weeks later, on 10 March 2017, he signed a two-year contract with Allsvenskan side AFC Eskilstuna. In his first season with AFC Eskilstuna in 2017, he played 23 games in the Allsvenskan, with the team finishing last in the league. The following season, in 2018, the club was relegated to the Superettan. Melki made 29 league appearances and played in both promotion play-off games, contributing to his team's return to the Allsvenskan. In 2018, his younger brother, Felix Michel Melki, also joined AFC Eskilstuna, allowing the brothers to play together once again. In total, he made 52 league appearances for AFC Eskilstuna in his first stint, scoring no goals in the league but one in the national cup.
3.3. Al-Khor SC
On 23 January 2019, during the winter transfer window, Alexander Michel Melki officially signed with Qatar Stars League side Al-Khor SC until the end of the season. In his debut season with Al-Khor in 2018-19, he played seven league games and helped his team avoid relegation by finishing 10th in the league.
During the 2019-20 season, Melki played 20 of the 22 regular season games as a starter, providing two assists and only missing two games due to injury. As Al-Khor finished 11th, they faced Qatari Second Division side Al-Markhiya in the relegation play-off game, which they won 2-0 after extra time, successfully avoiding relegation once more. During his time at Al-Khor, Melki also played alongside Yūki Kobayashi, a Japanese international.
Melki finished as a runner-up with Al-Khor in the 2020-21 Qatari Stars Cup, featuring in the final against eventual winners Al-Rayyan. After playing seven games during that season, his contract was terminated on 20 February 2021. He made 34 league appearances without scoring.
3.4. Al-Shahania SC
In February 2021, Alexander Michel Melki joined Qatari Second Division side Al-Shahania SC. He made his debut in the 2020-21 season on 27 February 2021, in a 2-0 victory against Muaither. After playing five games in the regular season, helping his side secure a second-place finish, Melki participated in the promotion play-offs against his former club, Al-Khor, but lost 3-1, meaning Al-Shahania remained in the Second Division. He also made two appearances in the Qatar FA Cup during this season. He scored his only goal for Al-Shahania on 26 February 2022, during the 2021-22 Qatari Second Division season, in a 5-1 league win against Al-Waab. During this season, he also made three appearances in the Qatar FA Cup and one in the Qatari Second Division Cup. He played 16 league matches and scored 1 goal for Al-Shahania.
3.5. Return to Sweden
On 8 August 2022, Alexander Michel Melki returned to his former club in Sweden, AFC Eskilstuna, where he reunited with his brother Felix. He signed a contract that lasted until the end of the 2022 Superettan season, making 9 appearances. On 23 February 2023, he moved to Nordic United FC in the Ettan Fotboll, which is the third tier of Swedish football, where he made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal.
3.6. Ansar
On 6 July 2023, Lebanese Premier League club Ansar announced the signing of Alexander Michel Melki ahead of the 2023-24 season. Since joining, he has participated in various competitions, including the Lebanese FA Cup.
4. International Career
Alexander Michel Melki's international career progressed from representing Sweden at youth levels to becoming a key player for the Lebanon national team.
4.1. Youth National Teams
Melki represented Sweden extensively at the youth level. He made two appearances for the Sweden U19 national team. Later, he also featured for the Sweden U21 squad, making six appearances in total.
4.2. Senior National Team
In 2018, Alexander Michel Melki acquired a Lebanese passport due to his family origins, which made him eligible to play for the Lebanon national football team. He made his senior international debut for Lebanon on 15 November 2018, playing the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Uzbekistan. One month later, he was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, alongside his brother Felix. During his time with the Lebanon national team, he has also played alongside Joan Oumari, a defender who has played for clubs like Sagan Tosu and Vissel Kobe in Japan.
A notable performance came on his 27th birthday, 14 November 2019, when Michel Melki played the entire 90 minutes in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against South Korea. Lebanon held on to a 0-0 draw, with Michel Melki receiving widespread praise from Lebanese fans for effectively neutralizing Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min. He was widely regarded as the Man of the Match for his crucial defensive role. In December 2023, Michel Melki was again included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. As of January 2024, he has made 29 appearances for the national team.
5. Playing Style
Alexander Michel Melki is known for his strong defensive attributes and versatility across various positions. He is primarily a centre-back, but his playing style allows him to be deployed effectively as a right-back, left-back, or even as a defensive midfielder depending on team needs. This adaptability makes him a valuable utility player.
Key aspects of his playing style include his strength in one-on-one defensive situations and his aerial ability, making him dominant in duels for high balls. Beyond his defensive contributions, he also actively participates in build-up play and contributes to attacks with his accurate ball distribution and precise long passes. His ability to perform consistently in multiple defensive roles highlights his tactical intelligence and physical prowess on the field.
6. Personal Life
Alexander Michel Melki was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother, Carina, and an Assyrian father, Robert. His father played football for Syrianska FC, a club founded by Assyrian immigrants in Sweden. He has a younger brother, Felix Michel Melki, who is also a professional football player. The brothers share a strong bond and have played together at both AFC Eskilstuna and for the Lebanon national team.
His family's connection to Lebanon is through his paternal grandfather, George Michel Melki, who moved to Sweden in 1967 as one of the first refugees from the Middle East. Furthermore, two of his father's sisters were born in Lebanon, reinforcing the family's deep roots in the country despite Alexander being born and raised in Sweden.
7. Career Statistics
Alexander Michel Melki's professional football statistics are detailed below, categorized by club and international appearances and goals.
7.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Syrianska | 2011 | Allsvenskan | 10 | 0 | - | - | - | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2012 | Allsvenskan | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2013 | Allsvenskan | 12 | 2 | - | - | - | 12 | 2 | ||||
| 2014 | Superettan | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | Superettan | 14 | 0 | - | - | - | 14 | 0 | ||||
| 2016 | Superettan | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Total | 99 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 107 | 3 | ||
| AFC Eskilstuna | 2017 | Allsvenskan | 23 | 0 | - | - | - | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | Superettan | 29 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
| Total | 52 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 1 | ||
| Al-Khor | 2018-19 | Qatar Stars League | 7 | 0 | - | - | - | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20 | Qatar Stars League | 20 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2020-21 | Qatar Stars League | 7 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| Al-Shahania | 2020-21 | Qatari Second Division | 5 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2021-22 | Qatari Second Division | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
| Total | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| AFC Eskilstuna | 2022 | Superettan | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||
| Nordic United | 2023 | Ettan | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | 14 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 224 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 249 | 6 | ||
7.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | |
8. Honours
Al-Khor
- Qatari Stars Cup runner-up: 2020-21
Ansar
- Lebanese FA Cup: 2023-24