Abdelkader Ghezzal

Abdelkader Mohamed Ghezzal (Arabic: عبد القادر غزال‎; born 5 December 1984) is a former French-born Algerian footballer who played as a forward or midfield playmaker.

Abdelkader Ghezzal
Personal information
Full name Abdelkader Mohamed Ghezzal[1]
Date of birth (1984-12-05) 5 December 1984
Place of birth Décines-Charpieu, France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker, Midfielder[2]
Youth career
0000–1998 Vaulx-en-Velin
1998–2002 Olympique Lyon
2002–2004 Vaulx-en-Velin
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 AS Saint-Priest 22 (11)
2005–2008 Crotone 39 (20)
2006 → Biellese (loan) 12 (9)
2006–2007 → Pro Sesto (loan) 31 (9)
2008–2010 Siena 66 (11)
2010–2013 Bari 37 (4)
2011–2012 → Cesena (loan) 13 (0)
2012 → Levante (loan) 16 (2)
2013–2015 Parma 16 (0)
2013–2014 → Latina (loan) 25 (2)
2015–2016 Como 15 (0)
National team
2008–2012 Algeria 28 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Crotone

After starting his career with a number of minor league clubs in France, Ghezzal moved to Italy in 2005 to join Crotone. There, he managed to breakthrough to the higher level by scoring 20 goals in the Serie C1/B 2007–08 season, guiding his club to a Serie B promotion.

Siena

On 13 June 2008, Ghezzal signed with the Serie A side Genoa C.F.C., for €2 million. However, Ghezzal joined another Serie A squad A.C. Siena on 2 July 2008 for €3.5 million.[3] It was part of the deal that Fernando Forestieri returned to Genoa for €4.5 million. Early in June Manuel Coppola joined Siena in co-ownership deal for €1.5 million.

Bari

On 1 July 2010, Ghezzal joined A.S. Bari, signing a four-year contract with the club, in co-ownership deal, for €2.25 million. Co-currently, Siena signed Pedro Kamatà and Filippo Carobbio also in co-ownership deal, for €500,000 each, made Ghezzal worth €1.25 million cash plus players.[4][5]

In June 2011 Bari purchased Ghezzal outright for pre-agreed €2.25 million, again, it involved player swap. Kamatà and Carobbio joined Siena outright for pre-agreed price (€1 million in total), as well as Nicola Belmonte joined Siena outright after two-year loan in Bari for €1.25 million, thus the deal did not involve cash.[6]

On 31 August 2011, Ghezzal joined A.C. Cesena on a season-long loan deal.[7]

Parma

On 29 August 2013 he was signed by Parma F.C. for undisclosed fee,[8] after refusing an offer from Kazakhstan.[9] He was signed by Latina in temporary deal immediately.[10]

International career

On 23 October 2008, in an interview with A.C. Siena's official website, Ghezzal indicated that he had spoken with Algeria head coach Rabah Saadane and that he was going to represent Algeria in international competition. Ghezzal had the opportunity to represent France, having been born there.[2]

On 12 November 2008, Ghezzal was called up by Algeria manager Rabah Saadane for a friendly against Mali on 18 November 2008 in Rouen, France.[11]

On 11 February 2009, Ghezzal scored his first goal for Algeria in a 2–1 win over Benin

On 13 June, at the 2010 FIFA World Cup group stage, Ghezzal was brought on as a substitute in a match against Slovenia, but was subsequently sent off for two yellow card offences within thirteen minutes of being on the pitch.[12]

Personal life

His younger brother, Rachid Ghezzal, is also a footballer[13] and currently plays for Beşiktaş.

Career statistics

Club
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Total
2008–09SienaSerie A 36510--375
2009–10 30610--316
2010–11BariSerie A 202----202
2011–12CesenaSerie A 13010--140
2011–12LevanteLa Liga 162----162
2012–13BariSerie B 172----172
Total Italy --------
Spain 162----162
Career total --------

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 February 2009Blida, Algeria Benin2–1WonFriendly
2.7 June 2009Blida, Algeria Egypt3–1Won2010 WCQ
3.11 October 2009Blida, Algeria Rwanda3–1Won2010 WCQ

References
  1. "List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  2. "Ghezzal: Stiamo lavorando molto bene" (in Italian). AC Siena. 23 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  3. Genoa CFC Report and Accounts on 31 December 2008 (in Italian)
  4. "Bari: Altre operazioni di mercato" (in Italian). AS Bari. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  5. AS Bari Report and Accounts on 31 December 2010 (in Italian)
  6. AC Siena Report and Accounts on 30 June 2011 (in Italian)
  7. Ghezzal: " Cesena è stata la mia prima scelta" (in Italian) Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Mercato, ceduto Ghezzal" (in Italian). AS Bari. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  9. "Bari, ultimatum a Ghezzal: "Accettasse il Parma o non giocherà più"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 20 August 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  10. "Doppio colpo in attacco" (in Italian). US Latina Calcio. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  11. http://www.faf.org.dz/equipe_nationale-2008/point%20de%20presse%20Saadane%20121108.htm%5B%5D
  12. "World Cup 2010". BBC. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  13. Yokhin, Michael (24 January 2017). "Arsenal could pounce on Rachid Ghezzal's Lyon conundrum". ESPN FC.
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