Brahim Hemdani

Brahim Hemdani (born 15 March 1978) is an Algerian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Brahim Hemdani
Hemdani playing for Rangers in November 2007
Personal information
Full name Ibrahim Hemdani
Date of birth (1978-03-15) 15 March 1978
Place of birth Colombes, France
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1996–1997 Racing Paris
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Cannes 27 (1)
1998–2001 Strasbourg 53 (3)
2001–2005 Marseille 95 (1)
2005–2009 Rangers 67 (2)
Total 242 (7)
International career
2008–2009 Algeria 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Hemdani was born in Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine. He started his career with Cannes, where he spent two seasons. He later transferred to RC Strasbourg Alsace, spending three seasons with the club. He then joined Marseille, which he helped reach the UEFA Cup final in 2004.

Hemdani then joined Rangers on 14 June 2005 on a Bosman transfer and signed a four-year contract.[1] He suffered from injury problems during his first season, waiting until late October to make his debut against Dundee United.[2] Hemdani was a regular in the side from then on and helped the club reach the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in their history. The season ended with the side finishing third in the league and trophyless. The following summer, Paul Le Guen took over as manager and Hemdani began the 2006–07 season in midfield but was moved to the centre of defence.

Hemdani scored his first goal for Rangers midway through that season, a shot from outside the box to equalise in the 88th minute of an Old Firm game on 17 December 2006.[3] His second goal came in similar circumstances in a UEFA Cup match in March 2007, against CA Osasuna, scoring to equalise in injury time.[4]

On 16 April 2007, Hemdani was named Rangers Player of the Year at an award ceremony, voted for by the club's fans.[5] He made his 100th appearance for Rangers on 13 March 2008 in a UEFA Cup match against Werder Bremen,[6] the club went on to reach the final that season, which Hemdani played the full 90 minutes of. However, this turned out to be his last match for Rangers as the 2008–09 season saw Hemdani frozen out of the first team. He left on 1 June 2009 having made a total of 108 appearances and scoring twice.[7]

International career

Hemdani declined the chance to be included as part of the Algeria national squad on several occasions in the past.[8] However, in February 2008 he had a change of heart and decided to play for Algeria.[9] Hemdani made his Algerian debut in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Senegal on 31 May 2008.[10]

Personal life

Hemdani's family are originally from Larbaâ Nath Irathen, near Tizi Ouzou, in the Kabylie region of Algeria and he spends a significant amount of time there every year.

Career statistics

Club
Sources:[11][12]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cannes 1997–98 Division 1 20140——241
1998–99 7000——70
Total 27140——311
Strasbourg 1998–99 Division 1 12000——120
1999–00 29371——364
2000–01 12010——130
Total 53381——614
Marseille 2000–01 Division 1 8010——90
2001–02 11000——110
2002–03 Ligue 1 35150——401
2003–04 3013017[lower-alpha 2]0—501
2004–05 11010——120
Total 952100170—1242
Rangers 2005–06 Premier League 190005[lower-alpha 3]0—240
2006–07 3613010[lower-alpha 4]1—492
2007–08 1205018[lower-alpha 5]0—350
2008–09 0000——00
Total 67180331—1082
Career total 2427311501003239
  1. Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup
  2. eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, nine appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. All appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  5. nine appearances in UEFA Champions League, nine appearances in UEFA Cup

Honours

Rangers

Marseille

Individual

References
  1. "Rangers clinch deal for Hemdani". BBC Sport website. 14 June 2005.
  2. "Dundee Utd 0-0 Rangers". BBC Sport website. 16 October 2005.
  3. "Rangers 1-1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 17 December 2006.
  4. "Rangers 1-1 Osasuna". BBC Sport. 8 March 2007.
  5. "Hemdani Named Player of the Year". Rangers official website. 16 April 2007.
  6. "W Bremen 1-0 Rangers (agg 1-2)". BBC Sport. 13 March 2008.
  7. "Weir poised for new Rangers deal". BBC Sport. 1 June 2009.
  8. "Players reject Algeria". BBC Sport website. 16 August 2004.
  9. "Brahim Hemdani Has World Cup Dream With Algeria". Daily Record. 8 February 2008.
  10. "Senegal 1-0 Algeria" Archived 19 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport website (31 May 200)8
  11. Brahim Hemdani at FootballDatabase.eu
  12. "Brahim Hemdani". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
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