Medhi Lacen

Medhi Lacen

Lacen with Algeria in 2014
Personal information
Full nameMedhi Gregory Giuseppe Lacen
Date of birth15 March 1984
Place of birthParis, France
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing positionDefensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
Getafe
Number8
Youth career
Versailles
Laval
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2004Laval4(0)
2004–2005Valence35(0)
2005–2008Alavés86(0)
2008–2011Racing Santander100(4)
2011–Getafe100(2)
National team‡
2010–Algeria91(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 January 2015

Medhi Gregory Giuseppe Lacen[1] (born 15 March 1984) is an Algerian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Getafe CF as a defensive midfielder.

After starting out at Laval, Lacen spent most of his professional career in Spain, representing Alavés, Racing de Santander and Getafe and amassing La Liga totals of 193 games and five goals over the course of seven seasons.

Lacen appeared for Algeria in two World Cups.

Club career

Born in Paris, France, to an Algerian father and an Italian mother,[2] Lacen started his professional career with modest outfits of Stade Lavallois and ASOA Valence. In 2005–06 he moved to Spain, joining Deportivo Alavés which would eventually be relegated; he made his La Liga debut on 15 October 2005, in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.

After two second division seasons as an undisputed starter for the Basque, Lacen moved to Racing de Santander on 15 August 2008, on a three-year link.[3] He competed throughout the campaign for first-choice status with Peter Luccin, also newly signed.

In the 2009–10 season, as Racing finished in 16th position, Lacen became an automatic first-choice (Luccin returned to Real Zaragoza from his loan) and scored three goals, namely in a 3–2 home win over Xerez CD on 13 December 2009.[4]

In late February 2011, with his deal with the Cantabrians expiring in June, Lacen signed a pre-contract with fellow top level outfit Getafe CF.[5] On 25 May the move was made official, with the player signing a four-year contract with the Madrid outskirts club.[6]

Lacen scored his first goal with Getafe on 16 April 2012, netting the second in a 5–1 home win against Sevilla FC.[7]

International career

Although French-born, Lacen had the possibility of representing Algeria through his fathers' origins. In 2006 he was called up by Jean-Michel Cavalli to the national side for a friendly against Gabon, but did not play because of an administrative problem.[8]

On 12 December 2009, the president of the Algerian FA, Mohamed Raouraoua, announced that Lacen would be called up to the Algerian squad for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.[9] However, five days later, head coach Rabah Saâdane announced that the player would not participate in the continental competition because of his wife's pregnancy.[10]

On 12 February 2010, Racing Santander's website announced that Lacen was chosen for Algeria's upcoming friendly against Serbia.[11] On 3 March he finally made his debut, in a 0–3 loss.[12]

In June 2010, Lacen was selected to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, playing all the games. During the tournament, he partnered Hassan Yebda (another defensive midfielder) as the national team failed to score a goal, earning one point.

Personal

Lacen's younger brother, Michael, is also a footballer. He represented, amongst other clubs, FC Versailles.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Mehdi Lacen rejoindra l’équipe nationale (Mehdi Lacen will join the national team); TSA, 11 December 2009 (French)
  3. ↑ Lacen leaves Alavés for Racing; UEFA.com, 15 August 2008
  4. ↑ "Racing battle back for valuable win". ESPN Soccernet. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Mehdi Lacen devrait rejoindre Getafe (Mehdi Lacen should join Getafe); DZ Foot, 26 February 2011 (French)
  6. ↑ Lacen, J'ai signé pour 4 ans à Getafe (Lacen, I've signed with Getafe for four years); DZ Foot, 25 May 2011 (French)
  7. ↑ Walid Z. (16 April 2012). "Joli premier but pour Lacen avec Getafe" [Nice first goal for Lacen with Getafe] (in French). DZ Foot. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Mehdi Lacen sélectionné (Mehdi Lacen called); DZ Foot, 3 August 2006 (French)
  9. ↑ Raouraoua annonce l'arrivée de Lacen et Ziaya (Raouraoua announces arrivals of Lacen and Ziaya); DZ Foot, 12 December 2009 (French)
  10. ↑ Sâadane explique ses choix et ses objectifs (Sâadane explains picks and goals); DZ Foot (French)
  11. ↑ Lacen convoqué pour Algérie-Serbie (amical) (Lacen chosen for Algeria-Serbia (friendly))); DZ Foot, 12 February 2010 (French)
  12. ↑ Amical Algérie-Serbie: La composition algérienne (Algeria-Serbia friendly: the national team's lineup); DZ Foot, 3 March 2010 (French)
  13. ↑ Michael Lacen, au nom du frère (Michael Lacen, in the name of the brother); Le Parisien, 12 December 2009 (French)

External links