Rafik Djebbour

Rafik Djebbour
Djebbour with Sivasspor in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Rafik Zoheir Djebbour
Date of birth	(1984-03-08) 8 March 1984 (age 30)
Place of birth	Grenoble, France
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
1998–2003	Auxerre
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2004	Auxerre	0	(0)
2004–2005	La Louvière	21	(6)
2005	Ethnikos Asteras	21	(11)
2006	Atromitos	14	(6)
2007–2008	Panionios	41	(18)
2008–2011	AEK Athens	58	(22)
2011–2014	Olympiacos	56	(39)
2013–2014	→ Sivasspor (loan)	10	(2)
2014	Nottingham Forest	7	(1)
National team‡
2006–	Algeria	33	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 March 2014. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2013

Rafik Zoheir Djebbour (born 8 March 1984) is an Algerian footballer who is currently a free agent and also plays for the Algeria national team. He plays as a striker or a winger. He is known by the nickname "The Terrorist" as he has the ability to terrorise defences and due also to his machine gun goal celebrations.

He made his senior international debut for Algeria in 2006 and played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but failed to score.

Club career

Auxerre

Born in Grenoble, France, Djebbour was signed to Auxerre's youth academy at the age of 15 in 1998. He was moved to the senior team in 2003 after spending five years in the youth academy. He made his professional debut at the age of 19.

Louviéroise

His impressive debut season caught the eye of R.A.A. Louviéroise, in his second professional season, he did not live up to his expectations. Even though he made 21 appearances he only managed to score six goals. Djebbour was transfer listed by the club at the end of the season, Djebbour mentioned in an interview that he was transfer listed as he wasn't happy with the way the club didn't support him when his brother had been in a coma for 5 months, he stated he was very disappointed with the staff and became disillusioned and felt no attachment to the club.^[1] In July 2005, Djebbour signed for Greek outfit Ethnikos Asteras.

Ethnikos Asteras

In his first season in Greece, he scored 11 goals in 21 appearances from September to January. This earned him a move to Atromitos where he managed six goals until the end of the season.

Atromitos

Djebbour suffered a serious injury in his first season with Atromitos this limited Djebbour to only two appearances without scoring. In January 2006, Djebbour called upon one of the "big three" of Greece (AEK Athens, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos) to acquire his services, however this did not happen and he ended up at Panionios.

Panionios

Before signing to Panionios, Djebbour went on trial at English club Watford but was not retained as Aidy Boothroyd stated "He wasn't what I was looking for".^[2] His first six months with Panionios, Djebbour scored four goals in the remaining 14 games. He would go on to score 15 goals in 27 appearances. In the summer of 2008, AEK Athens expressed their interest in signing Djebbour. He completed his move to the "Dikefalos-Aetos" on 1 July 2008.

AEK Athens

In 2009, Djebbour transferred to AEK for €3.2 million. Djebbour scored his first goal for AEK in the 93rd minute in the home 2–1 win against Asteras Tripolis, giving his club the three points. Djebbour got into a fight with teammate Nacho Scocco in a training ground bust-up. On 30 September 2009, it was reported that Djebbour clashed with AEK Athens' coach Dusan Bajevic and was not allowed to train with the rest of the season for four months. During his absence from AEK Athens' training, Djebbour had been training with Celtic^[3] and Blackburn Rovers.^[4] On 7/9/10,^{[clarification needed]} Djebbour signed a three-year deal keeping at the club until 2013. Djebbour's contract is worth €3.3 million with a buy-out clause of €7 million.^[5]

After signing his contract extension in 2010, he began the 2010 season in great form, scoring 3 goals in three games (2–1 loss to Kerkyra, 1–0 win against Panserraikos, and a 2–2 draw with Asteras Tripolis) for the regular season as well as a goal during AEK's 3–1 Europa League win against Hajduk Split.

On 2 January 2011, Djebbour had another clash, this time with Manolo Jimenez, the current AEK Athens coach. Jimenez reportedly stressed to Djebbour that he is not allowed to attend the next day training and that he should instead meet with the chairman of AEK Athens.^[6]

After the incidents with Manolo Jimenez, Rafik requested immediately to be released on a free transfer by AEK. He also requested to be paid his remaining wages doubled. Lens and other French teams declared interest in buying him.^[7] Djebbour threatened AEK's board and was ready to seek a solution in court. However, both sides agreed on €300,000 and on 14 January 2011, Rafik was released.^[8]

Olympiacos

2010–11

On 21 January 2011, Djebbour left AEK Athens and joined Olympiacos, signing a 6-month contract with the club with the option of renewal for 2 years. He scored his first goal for Olympiakos in an away win at Aris after a superb assist of Ariel Ibagaza. That was followed by two goals in a 6–0 home win against AEK Athens, a goal against PAOK and the winning goal in a 2–1 derby win against Panathinaikos. He also scored in a home win 3–1 against Kavala after an assist of Giannis Maniatis and in the final match of the season, against AEL 1964 FC after a superb assist of Albert Riera

2011–12

Djebbour scored his first goal of the season with a last-minute winner in a thrilling home win 2–1 against Skoda Xanthi. Rafik's goal of the season came at a home win 2–1 against PAOK with an sublime header after an assist of Kevin Mirallas. His first European goal for Olympiakos came in a Champions League home win (3–1) against Borussia Dortmund. In the domestic league, he scored two goals in a 0–3 away win against Panionios.He also scored in a home win 2–1 against PAOK. He scored a goal in a 2–2 home draw against OFI Crete and a goal in a 1–1 home draw with Panathinaikos. He also scored in a 2–0 home win against Panetolikos. His second European goal came in a 3–1 home win against Arsenal in a Champions League home game. He also scored a goal in a 2–0 home win against PAS Giannina.

Djebbour scored a goal in a 7–2 home win against Asteras Tripoli. His third European goal of the season came in a 1–0 home win against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. He also scored two goals in a 4–0 away win against PAS Giannina. Djebbour also scored in the Greek Cup Final in Olympiacos' win 2–1 against Atromitos.

In all competitions, Djebbour made 31 appearances, scoring 12 goals in the Greek Superleague and 16 goals in all competitions.

2012–13

Djebbour started the season with a goal in a 2–1 away win against Veria after an assist of Holebas. He next scored two goals in a 4–0 home win against Levadiakos after assist of Djamel Abdoun. His next goal came in a 2–1 away win against PAS Giannina.At this match he made the assist to Konstantinos Mitroglou to score the second goal. He also scored two goals in a 4–1 home win against Panthrakikos after two assists of Djamel Abdoun and Ariel Ibagaza. He next scored two goals in a 4–0 home win against Skoda Xanthi. As a result of his outstanding performances the club has offered Djebbour a better contract extension. He also scored in a 1–1 away draw against PAOK. The next goal came in a 2–0 home win against Panachaiki,with a wonderful header at a Greek Cup match. He next scored two goals in an away draw 2–2 at the classical Greek derby against Panathinaikos after two assists of Djamel Abdoun and David Fuster. These goals marked his 4th goal in the classic derby Olympiacos-Panathinaikos with Olympiacos team. He scored 10 goals against Panathinaikos at his charge at Greece and he intrigued illustrious European football clubs such as Olympique de Marseille. His next goal came in an away win 2–1 against Panionios after an assist of Konstantinos Mitroglou.

Rafik Djebbour finished the first half of Greek Superleague with 12 goals in 11 appearances.

At January transfer window Rafik Djebbour renew his contract with Olympiacos until 2016 and make the following statement: "After what happened the last few days on my own initiative, I met with the president of Olympiakos, Mr. Marinakis told him of my intention to stay in the team, because the money was never my priority and agreed to be here for the next three years.I want all of the Olympic family to know that he never wanted to leave from Piraeus and would do anything to be our fans happy and to celebrate with me and my teammates victories and titles ..." .

The second half of Greek Superleague begins with a goal in a 3–0 home win against Veria with a penalty shot.With this goal has already surpass his previous record with Olympiakos of 12 goals in Greek Superleague. He scored his next goal against Levadiakos F.C. in a 1–0 away win at the last minute of the game with a wonderful header,after an assist of Juan Pablo Pino. His next goal came in a home win 2–0 against Pas Giannina. With this goal he equaled his previous (last year) record of 16 goals in all competitions with the Olympiacos' shirt and his previous record of 15 goals at Greek Superleague with the Panionios shirt. His next goal came at a home loss 2–3 against Atromitos after an assist of Konstantinos Mitroglou. His next goal came in an away win 2–0 against Skoda Xanthi. With this goal he reached 18 goals in all competitions and broke his previous record of 17 goals in all competitions with Panionios shirt. His next goal came in a home win 2-1 against Aris after an assist of Jose Holebas.

He next scores two goals in an away win 4-0 against OFI after an assist of Djamel abdoun. With these two goals he reached 20 goals at 20 performances at Greek Superleague. At a home win against AEK Athens F.C. Rafik couldn't score a goal but gave two assists at Djamel Abdoun and Avraam Papadopoulos. With that win Olympiacos claimed the 40th champion in his history. Rafik made the assist to Konstantinos Mitroglou at a home draw 1-1 against Panathinaikos at the classical Greek derby.

He ended the season at Greek Superleague being the top scorer, scoring 20 goals in 24 appearances.

Loan to Sivasspor

On 6 September 2013, Djebbour joined Süper Lig club Sivasspor on a season-long loan after the interest of the coach of the club, Roberto Carlos.^[9] He played 13 games with the club in all competitions and scored 4 goals.

Loan to Nottingham Forest

Djebbour joined Nottingham Forest on January 29, 2014 for 1.5 million Euros, initially on loan with the deal becoming permanent at the end of the season.^[10] Despite a debut goal, Djebbour along with countryman Djamel Abdoun, were dropped by caretaker manager Gary Brazil due to a perceived lack of effort in training and bad attitude.^[11]

At the end of the season, Forest believed they could cancel the permanent transfer with his club Olympiacos, but were unable to. On July 15, 2014 it was confirmed Djebbour and Forest had reached an agreement to cancel his contract.^[12]

International career

He made his debut with the Desert Foxes in an unofficial friendly game against Istres in August 2006 and his first official game was the following day against Gabon, which Algeria lost 0–2. He scored his first international goal against Liberia on 6 June 2008. He played a key role in Algeria’s winning campaign to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and scored a crucial goal in Algeria’s 3–1 victory over Egypt in June 2009.

Career statistics

30 April 2014 (UTC)

International

Honours

Olympiakos F.C.

• Superleague Greece (3): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
• Greek Cup (2): 2011–12, 2012–13

References

External links

• Transfermarkt Profile
• Scoresway.com Profile