Lakhdar Belloumi
Encyclopedia
Lakhdar Belloumi (born December 29, 1958 in Mascara, Algeria) is a former Algeria
n football
player and manager. He is widely considered as the best Algerian player of all time and one of the best players in Africa and the world. He is said to have invented the Blind Pass . He is awarded the 4th best African player of the century.
and at two edition of FIFA World Cup
, in 1982
and 1986
. For Algeria national football team
he got 147 caps (FIFA
recognize only 89 caps) and scored 34 goals. In 1981, he was awarded African Footballer of the Year
. Belloumi scored the winning goal in the 2-1 win over West Germany
in 1982, and was a pivotal player in the Algerian national team throughout the 1980s. His last game for Algeria came in 1989.
late in his career), most notably with his hometown club GC Mascara
, as well as MC Oran
. He played also with MC Alger for two years during his military service in Algiers. He won two domestic championships during his career in 1984 with GC Mascara
and in 1988 with MC Oran
. After returning for another spell in Mascara in 1994, he continued playing until retirement in 1999.
Often overlooked for international recognition due to his refusal to ever join a major European club (Juventus were reportedly very keen to acquire his services despite the performances of Michel Platini), Belloumi was recognised by any who watched him play, including the great Pele
, as a fantastic player. He was not out of place as an international playmaker during the era in which Diego Maradona
and Michel Platini
both played, having starred for the great Algerian side of the 1982 World Cup.
for almost 20 years following an incident in Cairo
in 1989 when after a 1990 FIFA World Cup
qualifying match a brawl erupted between players of the Algerian squad and Egyptian supporters that left an Egyptian doctor seriously injured in his eye by a broken bottle which was attributed to be thrown by Belloumi. Belloumi always claimed his innocence and teammates present at the incident had also testified before the Algerian justice that it was goalkeeper Kamel Kadri responsible for inflicting the injury. The warrant was finally rescinded in April 2009 and Belloumi was cleared of all legal proceedings at the initiative of Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika
in collaboration of the Algerian and Egyptian authorities.
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 football
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...
player and manager. He is widely considered as the best Algerian player of all time and one of the best players in Africa and the world. He is said to have invented the Blind Pass . He is awarded the 4th best African player of the century.
International career
He participated at 1980 Summer Olympics1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
and at two edition of FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, in 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
and 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. For Algeria national football 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...
he got 147 caps (FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
recognize only 89 caps) and scored 34 goals. In 1981, he was awarded African Footballer of the Year
African Footballer of the Year
The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
. Belloumi scored the winning goal in the 2-1 win over West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in 1982, and was a pivotal player in the Algerian national team throughout the 1980s. His last game for Algeria came in 1989.
Club career
Belloumi spent almost his entire career at home (apart from a brief spell in QatarQatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
late in his career), most notably with his hometown club GC Mascara
GC Mascara
Ghali Club Mascara is an Algerian football club located in Mascara, Algeria. It currently plays in the Inter-régions Division ....
, as well as MC Oran
MC Oran
Mouloudia Club d'Oran , referred to as MC Oran or MCO for short, is a football club based in Oran in Algeria. MC Oran is also a multi-sports club and it's also known by it handball team...
. He played also with MC Alger for two years during his military service in Algiers. He won two domestic championships during his career in 1984 with GC Mascara
GC Mascara
Ghali Club Mascara is an Algerian football club located in Mascara, Algeria. It currently plays in the Inter-régions Division ....
and in 1988 with MC Oran
MC Oran
Mouloudia Club d'Oran , referred to as MC Oran or MCO for short, is a football club based in Oran in Algeria. MC Oran is also a multi-sports club and it's also known by it handball team...
. After returning for another spell in Mascara in 1994, he continued playing until retirement in 1999.
Often overlooked for international recognition due to his refusal to ever join a major European club (Juventus were reportedly very keen to acquire his services despite the performances of Michel Platini), Belloumi was recognised by any who watched him play, including the great Pele
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, as a fantastic player. He was not out of place as an international playmaker during the era in which Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
and Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
both played, having starred for the great Algerian side of the 1982 World Cup.
Personnel
- Best scorer of the Algerian LeagueAlgerian Championnat NationalThe Ligue Professionnelle 1 , known as Ligue 1 for short, and formerly known as the Championnat National 1, is the Algerian professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the Algerian football league system...
1978 with MC OranMC OranMouloudia Club d'Oran , referred to as MC Oran or MCO for short, is a football club based in Oran in Algeria. MC Oran is also a multi-sports club and it's also known by it handball team...
with 11 goals - 3rd best player in the football tournament of the Mediterranean Games 19791979 Mediterranean GamesThe 8th edition of the Mediterranean Games was held in Split, Yugoslavia from 15 to 29 September 1979. Fourteen nations competed in 26 different sports.The games' mascot was the Mediterranean Monk Seal Adrijana.-Medal table:...
in SplitSplit (city)Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and... - Best forward in 1980 African Cup of Nations1980 African Cup of NationsThe 1980 African Cup of Nations was the 12th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Nigeria. Just like in 1978, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
in NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... - African golden ball in 1981 (African Footballer of the YearAfrican Footballer of the YearThe African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
) - 3rd African Footballer of the YearAfrican Footballer of the YearThe African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
in 1982 - 3rd best scorer in 1984 African Cup of Nations1984 African Cup of NationsThe 1984 African Cup of Nations was the 14th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Côte d'Ivoire. Just like in 1982, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
in Cote d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
with 2 goals - 2nd best player in 1984 African Cup of Nations1984 African Cup of NationsThe 1984 African Cup of Nations was the 14th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Côte d'Ivoire. Just like in 1982, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
in Cote d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be... - Best scorer in 1988 African Cup of Nations1988 African Cup of NationsThe 1988 African Cup of Nations was the 16th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Morocco, who replaced original host Zambia. Just like in 1986, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four. The tournament final was held in...
with Roger MillaRoger MillaRoger Milla is a retired Cameroonian footballer who played as a striker. He was one of the first African players to be a major star on the international stage...
, Gamal Abdel Hamid & Abdoulaye TraoréAbdoulaye Traoré (Ivorian footballer)Abdoulaye Traoré is a former international footballer of the Ivory Coast born on March 4, 1967 in Abidjan.Traoré made six Portuguese Liga appearances for Sporting Braga.-Career:*Stella Club d'Adjamé...
with 2 goals - 2nd best scorer of Algerian team in all times with 34 goals
- 4th best African player of the century
- Merit Award from the CAFCAFCAF may refer to:Armed forces*Canadian Armed Forces , the Canadian Air Force, Army, and Navy*Canadian Air Force, now the Royal Canadian Air Force*Republic of China Air Force, the air force of the Republic of China...
to his career Excellence 2008 - Best Algerian player of the century with Rabah MadjerRabah MadjerMustapha Rabah Madjer is a retired Algerian footballer.A skilled striker, he reached stardom as an F.C. Porto player during the 1980s, and is widely regarded as one of the best Algerian football players of all time. He is widely remembered for scoring on 77 minutes, an audacious back-heeled...
2009
With clubs
- Algerian LeagueAlgerian Championnat NationalThe Ligue Professionnelle 1 , known as Ligue 1 for short, and formerly known as the Championnat National 1, is the Algerian professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the Algerian football league system...
Champion in 1984 with GC MascaraGC MascaraGhali Club Mascara is an Algerian football club located in Mascara, Algeria. It currently plays in the Inter-régions Division ....
and 1988 with MC OranMC OranMouloudia Club d'Oran , referred to as MC Oran or MCO for short, is a football club based in Oran in Algeria. MC Oran is also a multi-sports club and it's also known by it handball team... - 2nd in the Algerian LeagueAlgerian Championnat NationalThe Ligue Professionnelle 1 , known as Ligue 1 for short, and formerly known as the Championnat National 1, is the Algerian professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the Algerian football league system...
in 1987 & 1990 with MC OranMC OranMouloudia Club d'Oran , referred to as MC Oran or MCO for short, is a football club based in Oran in Algeria. MC Oran is also a multi-sports club and it's also known by it handball team... - 2nd in the African Champions League in 1989 with MC OranMC OranMouloudia Club d'Oran , referred to as MC Oran or MCO for short, is a football club based in Oran in Algeria. MC Oran is also a multi-sports club and it's also known by it handball team...
With the Algerian national team
- Bronze medal in the 1979 Mediterranean Games1979 Mediterranean GamesThe 8th edition of the Mediterranean Games was held in Split, Yugoslavia from 15 to 29 September 1979. Fourteen nations competed in 26 different sports.The games' mascot was the Mediterranean Monk Seal Adrijana.-Medal table:...
in SplitSplit (city)Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and... - 2nd in the final of the 1980 African Cup of Nations1980 African Cup of NationsThe 1980 African Cup of Nations was the 12th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Nigeria. Just like in 1978, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
in NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... - Quarter final round in the 1980 Summer Olympics1980 Summer OlympicsThe 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
Games in Moscow - 2 participations in FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
of 19821982 FIFA World CupThe 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
& 19861986 FIFA World CupThe 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
in MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... - 3nd in the African Cup of NationsAfrican Cup of NationsThe Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
of 19841984 African Cup of NationsThe 1984 African Cup of Nations was the 14th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Côte d'Ivoire. Just like in 1982, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four...
in Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
& 19881988 African Cup of NationsThe 1988 African Cup of Nations was the 16th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Morocco, who replaced original host Zambia. Just like in 1986, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four. The tournament final was held in...
in MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
News
Belloumi was a subject of an international arrest warrant issued by InterpolInterpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
for almost 20 years following an incident in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
in 1989 when after a 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
qualifying match a brawl erupted between players of the Algerian squad and Egyptian supporters that left an Egyptian doctor seriously injured in his eye by a broken bottle which was attributed to be thrown by Belloumi. Belloumi always claimed his innocence and teammates present at the incident had also testified before the Algerian justice that it was goalkeeper Kamel Kadri responsible for inflicting the injury. The warrant was finally rescinded in April 2009 and Belloumi was cleared of all legal proceedings at the initiative of Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the ninth President of Algeria. He has been in office since 1999. He continued emergency rule until 24 February 2011, and presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002...
in collaboration of the Algerian and Egyptian authorities.