Brahim Hemdani
Encyclopedia
Brahim Hemdani is a French
-born Algeria
n professional footballer
. He is currently on a 4 week trial with newly formed Senegalese side Rowl-N-Phrita.
, where he spent two seasons. He later transferred to RC Strasbourg
, 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. He suffered from injury problems during his first season, waiting until late October to make his debut against Dundee United
. 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. His second goal came in similar circumstances in a UEFA Cup
match in March 2007, against CA Osasuna
, scoring to equalise in injury time.
On 16 April 2007, Hemdani was named Rangers Player of the Year at an award ceremony, voted for by the club's fans. He made his 100th appearance for Rangers
on 13 March 2008 in a UEFA Cup match against Werder Bremen
, 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 scored twice.
. Hemdani made his Algerian
debut in a 2010 World Cup qualifier
against Senegal
on 31 May 2008.
, in the Kabylie
region of Algeria
and he spends a significant amount of time there every year.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He is currently on a 4 week trial with newly formed Senegalese side Rowl-N-Phrita.
Club career
Hemdani started his career with CannesAS Cannes
Association Sportive de Cannes Football is a French association football club based in Cannes. The club was formed 1902 as a sports club and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. Cannes plays its home matches at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin...
, where he spent two seasons. He later transferred to RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
, spending three seasons with the club. He then joined Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, which he helped reach the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final in 2004.
Hemdani then joined Rangers on 14 June 2005 on a Bosman transfer and signed a four-year contract. He suffered from injury problems during his first season, waiting until late October to make his debut against Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. Hemdani was a regular in the side from then on and helped the club reach the last 16 of the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
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
Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen is a French football manager and former player. He was recently confirmed as new manager of the Oman national football team.Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade...
took over as manager and Hemdani began the 2006–07
2006-07 in Scottish football
The 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and...
season in midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
but was moved to the centre of defence
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
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
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
game on 17 December 2006. His second goal came in similar circumstances in a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup 2006-07
The 2006–07 UEFA Cup was the 36th UEFA Cup, Europe's second tier club football tournament. On 16 May 2007, at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Sevilla won their second consecutive UEFA Cup, defeating Espanyol 3–1 on penalties after the match finished 2–2 after extra time...
match in March 2007, against CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
, scoring to equalise in injury time.
On 16 April 2007, Hemdani was named Rangers Player of the Year at an award ceremony, voted for by the club's fans. He made his 100th appearance for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
on 13 March 2008 in a UEFA Cup match against Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
, the club went on to reach the final that season
2008 UEFA Cup Final
The 2008 UEFA Cup Final was the 37th final of the UEFA Cup, UEFA's second tier club football tournament. The match was played at the City of Manchester Stadium, home ground of Manchester City F.C., in Manchester, England, at 20:45 CEST on 14 May 2008.The match was contested by Zenit St. Petersburg...
, which Hemdani played the full 90 minutes of. However, this turned out to be his last match for Rangers as the 2008-09 season
Rangers F.C. season 2008-09
The 2008–09 season is the 112th season of competitive football by Rangers.-Overview:Rangers played a total of 49 competitive matches during the 2008-09 season. The season began disastrously as the club exited the UEFA Champions League and European football altogether, losing 2–1 on...
saw Hemdani frozen out of the first team. He left on 1 June 2009 having made a total of 108 appearances and scored twice.
International career
Hemdani declined the chance to be included as part of the Algeria national squad on several occasions in the past. However, in February 2008 he had a change of heart and decided to play for AlgeriaAlgeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
. Hemdani made his Algerian
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
debut in a 2010 World Cup qualifier
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
against Senegal
Senegal national football team
The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football...
on 31 May 2008.
Personal life
Hemdani's family are originally from Larbaâ Nath Irathen, near Tizi OuzouTizi Ouzou
Tizi Ouzou is a city in Kabylia, Algeria, where it ranks second in population after Béjaïa. It is the capital and largest city of Tizi Ouzou Province and of Great Kabylia .-Etymology:The name comes from the Kabylian Berber Tizi n Uzezzu and is pronounced Tizuzzu, commonly...
, in the Kabylie
Kabylie
Kabylie or Kabylia , is a region in the north of Algeria.It is part of the Tell Atlas and is located at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Kabylia covers several provinces of Algeria: the whole of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia , most of Bouira and parts of the wilayas of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Jijel,...
region of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and he spends a significant amount of time there every year.