Sofyane Cherfa

Sofyane Cherfa (Arabic: سفيان شرفة; born 13 August 1984) is an Algerian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Sofyane Cherfa
Cherfa in action for Omonia in 2012
Personal information
Full name Sofyane Cherfa
Date of birth (1984-08-13) 13 August 1984
Place of birth Toulouse, France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Monaco
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Monaco B
2005–2007 Louhans-Cuiseaux 59 (5)
2007–2008 Reims 30 (2)
2008–2009 Sedan 15 (0)
2009–2011 Châteauroux 40 (0)
2011–2014 Omonia 49 (3)
2012–2013 → Panthrakikos (loan) 29 (0)
2014–2016 Panthrakikos 29 (0)
2016–2017 Costantine 33 (1)
2018 Abano 2 (0)
2018–2019 Alki Oroklini 20 (0)
2019–2020 Akritas Chlorakas 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career
Cherfa playing for Omonia against AEL Limassol in April 2012.

Early career

Born in Toulouse, France, Cherfa played youth football with AS Monaco FC, but only appeared for its reserve team as a senior. After playing with CS Louhans-Cuiseaux in the lower leagues he signed with Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims in the summer of 2007, before going on to represent also in the competition CS Sedan Ardennes and LB Châteauroux.[1]

Omonia

In 2011, Cherfa joined AC Omonia in the Cypriot First Division, after fellow league side Ermis Aradippou FC did not have the financial means to complete the transfer.[1] He scored his first goal as a professional on 29 October of that year in a 2–0 away win against Olympiakos Nicosia, and also contributed with six appearances in the season's Cypriot Cup, which ended in conquest as in the previous year.

In the 2012 summer transfer window, after being deemed surplus to requirements, Cherfa was loaned to Panthrakikos F.C. from Greece.[2][3] At the end of the campaign he returned to Omonia, who had just lost fellow stoppers Christos Karipidis and Savo Pavićević to other clubs, but Panthrakikos contested that the agreement ended sooner than it should have.[4]

After failing to negotiate a new contract with a smaller wage, due to Omonia's financial situation, Cherfa was made to train alone, and was eventually linked to OFI Crete F.C. even though the former stated it did not have the intention of releasing him.[5] After the team failed to perform in their UEFA Europa League campaign, both defensively and overall, a new round of talks started, and he eventually put pen to paper to a new three-year deal.[6]

Later years

On 15 January 2016, four days after being released by Panthrakikos,[7] Cherfa signed a two-year contract with Algerian club CS Constantine.[8] Two years later, the free agent agreed to a one-year deal at Italian amateurs Abano Calcio.

Cherfa returned to the Cypriot top level on 27 July 2018, joining Alki Oroklini for one season.[9] On 18 August 2019, he joined Akritas Chlorakas.[10]

International career

In April 2005, Cherfa was called up to the Algerian under-23 team for a mini training camp in France.[11][12]

Personal life

Cherfa's younger brother, Walid, was also a footballer. A defender, he too played most of his career in France.[13]

Club statistics
As of match played 2 January 2016
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Louhans-Cuiseaux 2005–06[14] Championnat National 29210—302
2006–07[14] 30320—323
Total 5953000625
Reims 2007–08[14] Ligue 2 30240—342
Total 3024000342
Sedan 2008–09[14] Ligue 2 15010—160
Total 1501000160
Châteauroux 2009–10[14] Ligue 2 8010—80
2010–11[14] 32030—350
Total 4003000430
Omonia 2011–12[15] Cypriot First Division 2227110303
2013–14[15] 27130—301
Total 49310110604
Panthrakikos 2012–13 (loan)[15] Superleague Greece 29081—371
2014–15[15] 14020—160
2015–16[15] 15000—150
Total 58010100681
Career total 251103121028312
  1. Includes the Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Cypriot Cup, Cypriot Super Cup, Greek Football Cup
  2. Includes the UEFA Europa League

Honours

Omonia

References
  1. "Oμόνοια: Σοφιάν Σερφά για το κέντρο της άμυνας (video)" [Agreement: Sofyane Cherfa for the center of the defense (video)]. Kathimerini (in Greek). 20 July 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  2. "Στον Πανθρακικό ο Σοφιάν Σερφά" [Sofyane Cherfa to Panthrakikos] (in Greek). Pamesports. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  3. "Πανθρακικός : Ήρθε και υπέγραψε ο Σοφιάν Σερφά!" [Panthrakikos: Sofyane Cherfa arrived and signed!] (in Greek). Assist GR. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  4. "Πανθρακικός: Καμία ανησυχία για Σερφά" [Panthrakikos: No worries about Cherfa] (in Greek). Onsports. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  5. ""Κόκκινο" για Σερφά" ["Red" for Cherfa] (in Greek). Contra. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  6. "Επανεντάσσεται στο ρόστερ της ομάδας μας ο Σοφιάν Σερφά" [Sofyane Cherfa reinstated in our squad] (in Greek). AC Omonia. 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  7. "Τέλος και επίσημα Σερφά – Σέτι από τον Πανθρακικό" [Finally official – Seti to Panthrakikos] (in Greek). Sport 24. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  8. "Transferts: Mellouli et S. Cherfa arrivent au CSC" [Transfers: Mellouli and S. Cherfa arrive at CSC] (in French). DZFoot. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  9. ""Κυανέρυθρο" καλωσόρισμα στον Σερφά" [Red-and-blue welcome to Cherfa] (in Greek). Goal. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. Με μεγάλη χαρά ανακοινώνουμε την απόκτηση του γάλλου ποδοσφαιριστή SOFYANE CHERFA, facebook.com, 18 August 2019
  11. "Jeunes: regroupement des "pros"" [Youngsters: "pros" regroup] (in French). DZFoot. April 2005. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  12. "Présélection de joueurs Algériens de France" [Preselection of Algerian players in France] (in French). DZFoot. April 2005. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  13. "Dupuis retrouve des amis" [Dupuis reunites with friends]. La Dépêche du Midi (in French). 18 November 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  14. "Sofyane Cherfa". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  15. "S. Cherfa". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
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