El Arbi Hillel Soudani
Encyclopedia
El Arbi Hillel Soudani (born November 25, 1987 in Chlef
) is an Algeria
n footballer who is currently playing for Vitória S.C. in the Portuguese
Primeira Liga.
In June 2011, Soudani went on trial with French
Ligue 2
club Le Mans FC.
club Vitória S.C. The transfer fee was rumoured to be €800,000. On August 25, 2011, Soudani made his official debut for Vitória as a 66th minute substitute in a 2011–12 UEFA Europa League play-off round match against Atlético Madrid. On October 16, 2011, Soudani opened his scoring account for the club with a brace in the third round of the 2011–12 Taça de Portugal
against Moura Atlético Clube. After going down 1-0, Soudani scored the equalizer in the 89th minute of the game to send the game in extra-time, before scoring the winner in the 117th minute.
as part of the Algerian A' National Team
for the 2011 African Nations Championship
in Sudan
. In the opening group stage game against Uganda
, Soudani started the match and scored a goal in the 61st minute as Algeria won 2-0. In the second group game against Gabon
, Soudani scored a brace with goals in the 71st and 90th minute of the game. However, Algeria only managed a 2-2 draw. Despite not scoring in the rest of the competition, Soudani still finished as the top scorer in the competition with 3 goals.
On May 14, 2011, Soudani was called up by Abdelhak Benchikha
to the Algerian National Team
for the first time for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco
. On June 4, 2011, he made his debut as a substitute for Rafik Djebbour
in the 79th minute of the match.
Chlef
Chlef is the capital of Chlef Province, Algeria. It is home to the soccer club ASO Chlef, the Hassiba Ben Bouali university, and the basilica of Saint Reparatus, which is home to the oldest Christian labyrinth in the world....
) is an 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 footballer who is currently playing for Vitória S.C. in the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Primeira Liga.
Career
In 2008, Soudani was chosen as the 2008 Young Player of the Year by DZFoot after scoring 11 goals in 24 games in the 2007-2008 season.In June 2011, Soudani went on trial with French
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...
Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
club Le Mans FC.
Vitória S.C.
On August 8, 2011, Soudani signed a three year contract with PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
club Vitória S.C. The transfer fee was rumoured to be €800,000. On August 25, 2011, Soudani made his official debut for Vitória as a 66th minute substitute in a 2011–12 UEFA Europa League play-off round match against Atlético Madrid. On October 16, 2011, Soudani opened his scoring account for the club with a brace in the third round of the 2011–12 Taça de Portugal
2011–12 Taça de Portugal
The 2011–12 Taça de Portugal is the 72nd season of the Taça de Portugal. The winners will qualify for the group stage of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.- Primeira Liga :*Associação Académica de Coimbra – Organismo Autónomo de Futebol...
against Moura Atlético Clube. After going down 1-0, Soudani scored the equalizer in the 89th minute of the game to send the game in extra-time, before scoring the winner in the 117th minute.
International career
In February 2011, Soudani was selected by head coach Abdelhak BenchikhaAbdelhak Benchikha
Abdelhak Benchikha is an Algerian football manager. He was last manager of MC Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, before resigning on October 5, 2011.-Personal:...
as part of the Algerian A' National Team
Algeria A' national football team
The Algeria A' national football team is the local national football team of Algeria and is open only to domestic league players. The team represents Algeria at the African Championship of Nations and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football....
for the 2011 African Nations Championship
2011 African Nations Championship
The 2011 African Nations Championship was the second edition of the African Nations Championship tournament. Each participating nation was represented by players who play in their respective local divisions. The competition was hosted in Sudan from February 4 to 25, 2011...
in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. In the opening group stage game against Uganda
Uganda national football team
The Uganda national football team, nicknamed The Cranes, is the national team of Uganda and is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations...
, Soudani started the match and scored a goal in the 61st minute as Algeria won 2-0. In the second group game against Gabon
Gabon national football team
The Gabon national football team, nicknamed Azingo Nationale, is the national team of Gabon and is controlled by the Fédération Gabonaise de Football...
, Soudani scored a brace with goals in the 71st and 90th minute of the game. However, Algeria only managed a 2-2 draw. Despite not scoring in the rest of the competition, Soudani still finished as the top scorer in the competition with 3 goals.
On May 14, 2011, Soudani was called up by Abdelhak Benchikha
Abdelhak Benchikha
Abdelhak Benchikha is an Algerian football manager. He was last manager of MC Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, before resigning on October 5, 2011.-Personal:...
to the Algerian National Team
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...
for the first time for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
. On June 4, 2011, he made his debut as a substitute for Rafik Djebbour
Rafik Djebbour
Rafik Zoheir Djebbour is an Algerian international footballer. He currently plays for Olympiacos in the Greek Superleague.-Auxerre:...
in the 79th minute of the match.
Honours
- Won the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 once with ASO ChlefASO ChlefAssociation Sportive Olympique de Chlef is an Algerian football club based in Chlef, founded in 1947. The club colours are red and white. Their venue, Stade Mohamed Boumezrag has a capacity of some 30,000.-History:...
in 20112010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1The 2010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 was the forty-seventh season of the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 since its establishment in 1962. A total of 16 teams contested the league, with MC Alger as the defending champions. The league started on September 24, 2010... - Top scorer of the 2011 African Nations Championship2011 African Nations ChampionshipThe 2011 African Nations Championship was the second edition of the African Nations Championship tournament. Each participating nation was represented by players who play in their respective local divisions. The competition was hosted in Sudan from February 4 to 25, 2011...
with 3 goals - Top scorer of the 2010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 12010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1The 2010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 was the forty-seventh season of the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 since its establishment in 1962. A total of 16 teams contested the league, with MC Alger as the defending champions. The league started on September 24, 2010...
with 18 goals