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Lakhdar Belloumi

Lakhdar Belloumi (Arabic: لخضر بلومي; born on 29 December 1958) is an Algerian former football player and manager. A former attacking midfielder, he is widely considered the best Algerian player of all time and one of the best players in Africa.[1][2] He is said to have invented the "Blind Pass".[3] He was named the fourth-best African player of the century by IFFHS.[4] He holds the record as the most capped Algerian player with 100 national caps[5] (147 caps not recognized by FIFA)[6] and is also the third best goalscorer of the Algerian national team in all time with 28 goals[7] (34 goals not recognized by FIFA).[8]

Belloumi's goal against reigning European champions West Germany earned Algeria a stunning 2–1 victory in their World Cup debut in Spain '82.[9]

Club career

Lakhdar Belloumi, Algerian champion with GC Mascara 1984

Belloumi spent almost his entire career at home (apart from a brief spell in Qatar late in his career), most notably with his hometown club GC Mascara, as well as MC Oran. He played also with MC Alger for two years during his military service in Algiers. He won two domestic championships during his career in 1984 with GC Mascara and in 1988 with MC Oran. After returning for another spell in Mascara in 1994, he continued playing until retirement in 1999.

Belloumi had contact with various European clubs, including Barcelona, before Spain '82, but "the law did not allow us to leave the country before the age of 27". In 1985, he caught the eye of Juventus after shining in a friendly against them, only to miss out on a dream transfer after breaking his leg in the African Champions' Cup in Libya against Al-Ittihad. He was understandably disappointed "It was a real shame for me that I couldn't go".[9]

Often overlooked for international recognition due to not joining a major European club, despite the interest of major European clubs (Juventus were reportedly very keen to acquire his services despite the performances of Michel Platini). Belloumi was recognised by any who watched him play, including the great Pelé, as a fantastic player.

International career

Belloumi has a total of 147 caps and 34 goals for Algeria national team but only 100 caps and 28 goals are recognized by FIFA.[6][8]He participated at 1980 Summer Olympics, at two editions of FIFA World Cup (1982 and 1986), at four editions of Africa Cup of Nations (1980, 1982, 1984 and 1988) and at two editions of Mediterranean Games (1979 and 1983). In 1981, he was awarded African Footballer of the Year. Belloumi scored the winning goal in the 2–1 win over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup, and was a pivotal player in the Algerian national team throughout the 1980s. His last game for Algeria came in 1989.

Controversy

Belloumi was a subject of an arrest warrant in Egypt for almost 20 years following an incident in Cairo in 1989 when after a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match a brawl erupted to the hostel residence of the Algeria team, between players of the Algerian squad and Egyptian supporters that left an Egyptian fan, doctor by profession, seriously injured in his eye by a broken bottle which was attributed to be thrown by Belloumi. From 2006, he was added among the lists of the accused in Interpol.

The Algerian authorities accused Egypt of wanting deliberately to accuse Belloumi who was the biggest star of the country, to make diversion against hostile events that Algeria team has suffered during the qualifying match in Cairo. Belloumi always claimed his innocence and teammates present at the incident had also testified before the Algerian justice that it was goalkeeper Kamel Kadri responsible for inflicting the injury.

The warrant was finally rescinded in April 2009 and Belloumi was cleared of all legal proceedings at the initiative of Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in collaboration of the Algerian and Egyptian authorities.[10][11][12]

Career statistics

Club

  1. ^ Includes Algerian Cup, Qatar Emir Cup
  2. ^ Includes Algerian League Cup, Qatari Super Cup

International

Lakhdar Belloumi scored 28 goals in 100 capes with the national team. He scored too six more goals with 47 more caps that are not recognized by FIFA because matches played and goals scored against clubs or against not a full national teams. He scored against Bałtyk Gdynia in 1979,[13] Stade Brestois and Olympique Lyonnais in 1982,[14] Racing Paris in 1983,[15] FC Carl Zeiss Jena in 1984[16] and Videoton FC in 1987.[17]

Scores and results list Algeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Belloumi goal.

Honours

Player

GC Mascara
MC Oran

Algeria

Individual

Awards
Performances

Personal

Belloumi is the father of footballer Bachir Belloumi.

Further reading

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lakhdar Belloumi: The Wizard of Maghreb". A Halftime Report. Alfiepottsharmer. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Golden Goal: Lakhdar Belloumi for Algeria v West Germany (1982)". The Guardian. Simon Burnton. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Les chroniques de Laurent Lasne – "letierslivre.com"" (in French). Letierslivre.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ^ Ingo Faulhaber. "Africa's best Player of the Century – IFFHS". Iffhs.de. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Lakhdar Belloumi - Century of International Appearances". Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Football - Lakhdar Belloumi". Le Soir d'Algérie. H. B. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Goalscoring for Algeria National Team". Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Top 10 - Les légendes de l'Algérie". TF1. Rédaction. 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  9. ^ a b Hart, Simon (13 June 2010). "Algeria struggle to match the fame of Belloumi and the shame of Spain '82 – International – Football". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Belloumi to Echorouk: "Goalkeeper Kadri was responsible for eye injury suffered by Egyptian doctor in 1989"". Echoroukonline.com. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
  11. ^ "Interpol hands over Belloumi a document rescinding international arrest warrant issued against him". Echoroukonline.com. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Belloumi called for the first time to the victim". Lebuteur.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Liste des matchs de l'équipe d'Algérie de football 1979". dzfootball (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Liste des matchs de l'équipe d'Algérie de football 1982". dzfootball (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Liste des matchs de l'équipe d'Algérie de football 1983". dzfootball (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Liste des matchs de l'équipe d'Algérie de football 1984". dzfootball (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Liste des matchs de l'équipe d'Algérie de football 1987". dzfootball (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  18. ^ Lakhdar Belloumi at National-Football-Teams.com
  19. ^ "Lakhdar Belloumi - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

External links