Algerians in Europe 2008 - 2009

[Al-khiyal]

Karim Ziani opte pour le VFL Wolfsburg (Allemagne)

Mercredi 1 Juillet 2009 -- Le milieu international algérien de l’Olympique Marseille, Karim Ziani, a pris sa décision de quitter le club phocéen, et d’opter au profit du champion d’Allemagne de football, le VFL Wolfsburg, rapporte mercredi l’édition du quotidien sportif, l’Equipe. Le nouvel entraîneur de l’OM, Didier Deschamps, a décidé de ne pas compter sur les services de l’ancien sochalien la saison prochaine, chose qui a poussé Ziani à vouloir changer d’air. "J’ai choisi Wolsfburg, j’ai vraiment envie d’aller là-bas", a déclaré l’Algérien au quotidien. Wolfsburg a transmis une première offre de 5 millions d’euros aux dirigeants olympiens pour s’attacher les services de Ziani. Une deuxième est arrivée sur leur bureau mercredi, ajoute la même source. Ziani, 26 ans, estime que c’est le moment idéal pour tenter une première autre expérience ailleurs qu’en France. Le fait que l’ancien entraîneur de Stuttgart, Armin Veh, ait pris la tête de Wolfsburg à l’intersaison a accentué son désir de franchir le pas. "C’est un entraîneur qui me suit depuis je ne sais pas combien d’années. Il m’aime bien, sait comment je joue. Je ne vais pas dans l’inconnu. D’une certaine manière, avec lui, je choisis la fidélité". La perspective de rejoindre un Championnat "porté vers l’offensive qui correspond à (son) style de jeu", a fini de le convaincre. Tout comme la possibilité de disputer de nouveau la Ligue des champions.

[Al-khiyal]

Ziani eyes German champion Wolfsburg

July 2, 2009 -- After deciding to quit Olympique Marseille, Algerian international Karim Ziani is now considering German champion club VFL Wolfsburg, El Watan reported on Wednesday (July 1st), citing French sports daily Equipe. Ziani was quoted as saying that it's "about time to try a new experience outside France".

[Al-khiyal]

Bencherif signs for Macclesfield

July 6, 2009 -- Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Hamza Bencherif has signed for Macclesfield Town on a one-year deal. The 21-year-old, a former Algerian under-20 international, was part of the first-team squad at the City Ground last season, playing 12 times. He scored one goal while at Forest before his release, and had been tipped for a move to Lincoln City, where he was on loan in the 2007-08 season. Bencherif can also operate as a central defender as well as in midfield.

[Al-khiyal]

Karim Ziani opte pour le VFL Wolfsburg (Allemagne)

Karim Ziani signe à VfL Wolfsburg (Allemagne)

Mardi 7 Juillet 2009 -- L'international algérien Karim Ziani, 26 ans, a quitté l'Olympique de Marseille (OM). Il rejoint le champion d'Allemagne en titre le VfL Wolfsburg, un transfert pour sept millions d'euros. Le milieu de terrain des Verts a signé un contrat de quatre ans en faveur du club allemand, selon des agences de presse. L'arrivée de Didier Dechamps à la barre technique de l'OM a précipité le départ de Ziani qui a réalisé une excellente saison avec le club phocéen. L'ancien sochalien jouera la saison prochaine la ligue des champions d'Europe et défendra avec son club le titre de champion d'Allemagne gagné face au Bayern Munich.

[Al-khiyal]

Wolfsburg sign Algeria's Ziani

BERLIN, July 7, 2009 (Reuters) - Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg have signed Algeria midfielder Karim Ziani on a four-year contract, the club said on their website (VfL Wolfsburg) on Tuesday. The 26-year-old former Olympique Marseille player has 25 international caps. "I'm delighted we were able to sign Ziani," Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh said in a statement. "He fits in well with our team and will help us achieve our goals."

[Al-khiyal]

Algerian international signs for Hearts

July 9, 2009 -- Hearts last night signed their fourth new player of the summer as Algerian international defender Ismael Bouzid put pen to paper at the club's pre-season training base in Germany. The French-born centre-back, 25, arrived following a short spell with the Turkish club Ankaragucu and reinforces manager Csaba Laszlo's squad alongside recent captures Dawid Kucharski, Ian Black and Suso. Bouzid, born in Nancy, France, holds six caps for Algeria and can count Galatasaray, Kaiserslautern and Metz among his former clubs. He has played in the UEFA Cup and won the Turkish league title with Galatasaray. Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle have confirmed they will host Hearts in a pre-season friendly at Home Park on Wednesday, 29 July.

[Al-khiyal]

Guingamp’s Jugurtha Hamroun: I want to play for Algeria

July 22, 2009 -- In an interview with dzfoot.com, En Avant de Guingamp’s Jugurtha Hamroun has clearly indicated that his preference would be to represent Algeria in international play while admitting that he is extremely excited about the results being accumulated by the North African nation in World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying. “Frankly, I’m very happy and very proud of what they [Algeria] are doing. It motivates me more even though I was already very motivated. In any case, they’re on the path to the World Cup and for the African Cup of Nations it’s practically a done deal. Honestly, it gives me an immense desire to one day join the team,” he explained. The Tizi Ouzou native is expected to play more of a prominent role at his French Ligue 2 side this season and will be looking to make his mark in order to fulfill his dream. “It’s been a year since I became a pro. Last year I wasn’t used much but I hope that this season it will change. In any case I’m going to try to impose myself in the team. The youngsters have a chance this year since the coaches want to give us confidence, you can see it in the friendly’s where they start us,” he affirmed.