Ishak Belfodil

Ishak Belfodil

Belfodil with Algeria in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-01-12) 12 January 1992
Place of birth Mostaganem, Algeria
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Centre Forward, Striker
Club information
Current team
 Standard Liège
Number 99
Youth career
1997–2003 Élancourt
2003–2005 Trappes Saint-Quentin
2005–2006 Paris Saint-Germain
2006–2007 Boulogne-Billancourt
2007–2008 Clermont
2008–2010 Lyon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Lyon 10 (0)
2012 → Bologna (loan) 8 (0)
2012–2013 Parma 33 (8)
2013–2014 Internazionale 8 (0)
2014 → Livorno (loan) 17 (0)
2014–2015 Parma 23 (1)
2015–2016 Baniyas Club 23 (11)
2016– Standard Liège 12 (5)
National team‡
2008–2009 France U17 3 (0)
2009–2010 France U18 6 (2)
2010–2011 France U19 13 (2)
2011 France U20 2 (1)
2013– Algeria 13 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:59, December 4, 2016 (EST).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:59, August 31, 2016 (EST)

Ishak Belfodil (Arabic: إسحاق بلفوضيل‎‎‎; born 12 January 1992)[1] is an Algerian footballer who plays as a striker for Belgian club Standard Liège and the Algeria national team.

A former France youth international, he was called up to the Algeria national team for the first time in August 2012.

Club career

Early career

Belfodil began his football career at OSC Internazionale, a club located in the western suburbs of Paris, and spent his formative years at the club. He later joined nearby club Trappes FC. While at Trappes, Belfodil passed the entrance tests required to attend the Clairefontaine academy, but was not selected following failure of the final test.[2] As a result, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain spending only a year at the Camp des Loges, the club's training center. Belfodil attributed only one year there primarily due to not focusing on his studies and not receiving enough playing time with his youth section. In 2004, he joined AC Boulogne Billencourt, a sports club that also trained international players Hatem Ben Arfa and Issiar Dia. In 2007, Belfodil secured a move to Ligue 2 club Clermont Foot.[2]

Belfodil spent only a year at Clermont and, while playing with the club under-16 team, scored nine of the team's first 15 goals in the Championnat National under-16 league becoming the top scorer of the league.[3] His play sparked the interest of several clubs, most notably French club Lyon and English clubs Chelsea and Manchester United.[4] On 13 November 2008, Lyon announced that they had acquired Belfodil and he had signed an aspirant (youth) contract with the club until June 2011.[5]

Lyon

For the duration of the 2008–09 season, Belfodil played on the club's under-18 team. He was a member of the team that reached the 2008–09 Coupe Gambardella semi-finals appearing in six matches scoring two goals. Belfodil also made one appearance on the club's Championnat de France amateur team. In just the third week of the 2009–10 season, he was called up to the senior team for the club's match against Auxerre on 22 August and made his debut in that match coming on as a substitute for Jean-Alain Boumsong in the 85th minute. Lyon won the match 3–0.[6] Belfodil made his UEFA Champions League debut, just three days later, in the second leg of the club's playoff round match against Anderlecht appearing as a substitute in the 60th minute for Lisandro López.[7] On 16 July 2010, he signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal until 2014. Due to still having another year left on his aspirant (youth) contract, the contract will take effect beginning 1 July 2011.

Parma

After spending six months on loan at Bologna from January to June 2012, Belfodil signed with Serie A club Parma on 30 June 2012 for €2.5 million plus €600,000 bonuses and 20% profit of future transfer.[8] He had a successful first season with Parma, where he scored eight Serie A goals playing as a striker and left winger.

Inter

On 5 July 2013, after long negotiations, Belfodil was announced as an Internazionale player. The transfer involved 50% of Belfodil's economic rights remaining with Parma, while he signed a five-year contract with Inter[9] for €5.75 million transfer fee. (50% of €11.5 million valuation)[10] On 3 February 2014 FIFA also ruled that Lyon was eligible to receive €1.8 million due to the bonus clause.[10] Belfodil was given the number 7 shirt for Inter.

On 22 July 2013, Belfodil scored his first goal for Inter in their 3–1 pre-season triumph over Vicenza; after his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper, from the subsequent corner in the 42nd minute, Belfodil guided the ball into the net via a powerful header.[11]

After making just eight league appearances in the first half of the 13/14 Serie A season, all of them as a substitute, Belfodil joined fellow Serie A club Livorno on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season on 31 January 2014.[12] At Livorno, Belfodil got a lot more playing time but his form was poor in a side that was ultimately relegated, failing to register a goal or assist in his time there.

Return to Parma

On 20 June 2014, Parma bought back 50% of Belfodil's contract from Inter so that the Crociati once again owned the entirety of the player's contract.[13] The transfer fee was €5.75 million, despite in a cashless player swaps that involved Lorenzo Crisetig (€4.75 million)[10] and Yao Eloge Koffi (for €1 million). After an ongoing financial crisis of the club which Parma and its intermediate holding company were declared bankrupted in the mid-season, Belfodil terminated his contract with Parma on 6 May 2015, which he waived the club the liability for the unpaid wages,[14] despite the club also suffered from the write-down of the residual value of Belfodil's contract for about €8.25 million.

Baniyas

On 28 July 2015, Belfodil has officially joined Baniyas Club, signing a two-year contract with the UAE Arabian Gulf League side.[15]

Standard Liège

On 31 August 2016, Belfodil signed an one-year contract with Belgian club Standard Liège, with an option to extend for another year.[16]

International career

Belfodil is eligible for both France and Algeria. As a youth, he considered Algeria as he was ineligible to represent France as he had not received a passport. Belfodil asked his father to inform Algeria of his intention to play for them; however, his inquiries went unnoticed. Following his move to Lyon, the Algerian Football Federation sent an invitation, but Belfodil informed them that it was too late.[2] In 2009, Belfodil was awarded his French passport and was subsequently called up to the under-17 team to participate in the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. He appeared in all three of the team's matches as they suffered group stage elimination.

Belfodil returned to international duty for the 2009–10 season under coach Philippe Bergeroo with the under-18 team. He made his debut for the team on 27 October 2009 in a friendly match against Denmark.[17] On 8 December, Belfodil scored his first international youth goal in a 1–1 draw against the Ukraine.[18] In 2010, Belfodil finished the campaign by scored against Germany at the Cloppenburg Arena in another 1–1 draw.[19] Belfodil remained a cog in the team under coach Bergeroo for under-19 team duty. On 12 September 2010, Belfodil scored his first goal with the team in a 2–2 draw with Brazil in the 2010 edition of the Sendai Cup.[20] In first round qualification for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, he scored the only goal in the team's final group stage match win over Austria.[21]

On 25 August 2012, Belfodil was called up by Vahid Halilhodžić to the Algeria national team for the first time for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.[22] However, FIFA had not yet processed his allegiance switch to Algeria and his club refused to release him for the game.[23] He was replaced by Mohamed Seguer. On 26 September 2012, FIFA announced that Belfodil's application was processed and he was eligible to represent Algeria.[24]

International goals

Scores and results list Algeria's goal totally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 30 March 2015 Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha  Oman 1–0 4–1 Friendly
2. 4–0

Honours

Club

Olympique Lyonnais

References

  1. ↑ "BELFODIL Ishak" (in French). French Football Federation. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Belfodil: "La France, une chance"". France Football (in French). 8 May 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "OL, Ishak Belfodil un prodige à Lyon". Actu-Foot (in French). 14 November 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "L'OL arrache une perle algérienne des mains de Chelsea et MU". Foot Transfer Mercato (in French). Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Un espoir Algerien a signe". Mercato 365 (in French). 13 November 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Auxerre v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 22 August 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Lisandro treble flattens Anderlecht". Union of European Football Associations (in French). 25 August 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2011/12" (PDF). Olympique Lyonnais Group. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Welcome to Inter, Belfodil". FC Internazionale Milano. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2014 (Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  11. ↑ "Inter 3–1 Vicenza: Goals from Guarín, Belfodil and Pereira". F.C. Internazionale Milano. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Ishak Belfodil joins Livorno". F.C. Internazionale Milano. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Transfers, co-ownership deals". FC Internazionale Milano. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Parma FC S.p.A.: Risoluzione consensuale per Ishak Belfodil" (in Italian). Parma FC. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Algerian international Ishak Belfodil joins Baniyas". Kingfut.com. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  16. ↑ "Ishak Belfodil au Standard" [Ishak Belfodil is Standard] (in French). Standard Liège. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "France U18 v. Denmark U18". French Football Federation. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  18. ↑ "Ukraine U18 v. France U18". French Football Federation. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  19. ↑ "Germany U18 v. France U18". French Football Federation. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  20. ↑ "Match nul face au Brésil (2–2)". French Football Federation. 12 September 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  21. ↑ "Austria U19 v. France U19 Match Report". Union of European Football Associations. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  22. ↑ Walid Z. (25 August 2012). "La liste des 24 pour le match contre la Libye" (in French). DZFoot. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "Belfodil, "Je serais là pour le match retour"" (in French). DZfoot. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  24. ↑ "Ishak Belfodil officiellement qualifié avec l'Algérie" (in French). DZFoot. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
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