Mounir El Hamdaoui

Mounir El Hamdaoui

El Hamdaoui representing Morocco in March 2009
Personal information
Full nameMounir El Hamdaoui
Date of birth14 July 1984
Place of birthRotterdam, Netherlands
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Fiorentina
Number77
Youth career
Excelsior
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2005Excelsior74(32)
2005–2006Tottenham Hotspur0(0)
2005–2006→ Derby County (loan)9(3)
2006–2007Willem II7(3)
2007–2010AZ80(51)
2010–2012Ajax26(13)
2012–Fiorentina22(4)
2013–2014→ Málaga (loan)13(3)
National team‡
2004–2005Netherlands U213(1)
2009–Morocco15(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 January 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2010

Mounir El Hamdaoui (Arabic: منير الحمداوي‎) (born 14 July 1984) is a Moroccan-Dutch footballer who plays for ACF Fiorentina in Italy, as a forward.

He previously played for Excelsior, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Willem II, AZ Alkmaar and Ajax, before joining Fiorentina in 2012. In the 2008–09 Eredivisie, El Hamdaoui was named Dutch Footballer of the Year and became the Eredivisie Top Scorer as AZ Alkmaar won their second league title in their history.

Although being born in the Netherlands and having played for their Under-21 side, El Hamdaoui decided to represent Morocco, for whom he made his debut in February 2009 in a match against the Czech Republic.

Club career

Excelsior

Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, El Hamdaoui went through the youth academy of SBV Excelsior, where he played together with his youth friends Robin van Persie and Saïd Boutahar.[1] In the 2001–02 season the player made his debut for the Rotterdam side under manager Adrie Koster, scoring two goals in six appearances. El Hamdaoui played a total of 74 league matches for Excelsior, scoring 32 goals. Excelsior big brother Feyenoord was also interested in signing the player, and El Hamdaoui trained a number of times with Feyenoord's first squad, but a transfer was never realised.[1]

El Hamdaoui with AZ

Tottenham Hotspur

In 2005, English club Tottenham Hotspur (managed by fellow Dutchman Martin Jol) signed the player from Excelsior. He signed a three and a half year contract with Tottenham Hotspur and moved from Excelsior Rotterdam in January 2005.[2] He never made an appearance in the Premier League but featured in the Peace Cup in July 2005 in which Tottenham lifted the trophy following a 3–1 win against Olympique Lyonnais. He also scored 2 goals on his debut in a friendly against Northampton Town and scored against Aldershot Town on his first team debut in another friendly.

Derby County

In September 2005 El Hamdaoui joined Derby County on loan appearing 6 times, scoring 2 goals before a dislocated shoulder forced the loan to be cut short and he returned to Spurs.[3] Derby continued to monitor his progress and in January 2006 he returned to Pride Park for another loan spell. Unfortunately, this too was to be disrupted due to injury, a groin problem forcing him to return to Tottenham in early March. This second loan deal was not cancelled, but after returning to duty with Derby in April, a further injury problem prematurely ended his season.

Willem II

In June 2006, El-Hamdaoui moved back to his native Netherlands to play for Willem II, due to a lack of opportunities at Spurs. On 19 August 2006, he marked his league debut for Willem II by scoring in their 2-1 victory against FC Utrecht.[4] After an impressive start, scoring three goals in four matches he again suffered an injury, which prevented him playing for nine months.[1][5] El Hamdaoui only played seven competitive matches for the Tilburg side, scoring three goals. In his second season at the Willem II, he left the club after two league matches to join AZ.

AZ

On 31 August 2007, El Hamdaoui signed with AZ Alkmaar until 2011 for a replacement for Danny Koevermans who left for PSV Eindhoven.[6] On 16 September 2007, he made his debut for AZ in a league match against Sparta Rotterdam, scoring one goal.[7] By the end of his first season at AZ, he had scored 7 goals in 23 league matches.

The 2008–09 season proved to be an excellent one for El Hamdaoui and AZ. He scored in the first game of the season against NAC Breda, although AZ lost 1-2.[8] By the winter break, he had scored 16 goals in 17 league matches, including a hattrick against his old club Willem II.[9][10] At the winter break, AZ was leading the league table, and El Hamdaoui was leading the goal-scoring charts.[11] By the end of the season, AZ had won the second championship in their history, and El Hamdaoui was the top scorer in the Eredivisie, with 23 goals in 31 matches, one more than Ajax's Luis Suárez.[12][13] He was also named the Dutch Footballer of the Year.[14]

El Hamdaoui (second from top left) with Ajax teammates in 2010

At the beginning of the 2009–10 season, there were a lot of changes at AZ. Manager Louis van Gaal had departed the club to go to FC Bayern Munich, and was replaced by Ronald Koeman.[15] AZ had a bad start to the season, although the player had still scored 9 goals in 11 matches by the winter break.[16] However, defending champions AZ found themselves in eighth place with 28 points in 20 matches, 24 points behind leaders PSV. Just before the winter break, Koeman was fired and veteran manager Dick Advocaat was brought in to take over.[17] Russia manager Advocaat stated that he expected at least 15/16 goals from the player, El Hamdaoui stated "Advocaat knows what he's talking about, I think. It gives me confidence, I know what I can do."[18]

El Hamdaoui with Ajax teammate Eyong Enoh.

There was definite improvement in the second part of the season as AZ finished the league in fifth place, with El Hamdaoui scoring 20 goals in 26 league matches. However, due to the financial issues AZ was having because of the bankruptcy of sponsor DSB Bank, it was clear that the striker would have to be sold to reduce the burden of his wages on the budget balance.

Ajax

On 30 July 2010, El Hamdaoui signed a four-year deal with Ajax, rejoining his former Spurs manager Martin Jol.[19][20] El Hamdaoui marked his league début for Ajax with two goals against Groningen on 8 August 2010. He scored a goal in the play-off round second leg of the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League against Dynamo Kyiv, helping Ajax win 2–1 on aggregate and ending a five-year drought from this competition.[21] He scored his first Champions League goal with his new club, netting the opener against Milan, with the game ending 1–1.[22]

During the 2010-11 season, El Hamdaoui fell out of favour with manager Frank de Boer after a dispute when de Boer was unhappy with his performance despite him scoring a goal, and replaced him at half-time which El Hamdaoui was unhappy about, and he didn't take it easy with the Ajax staff in the semi final of KNVB Cup against RKC Waalwijk.[23]

On 23 August 2011 the Daily Mail reported that El Hamdaoui was in talks with English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. As the season has gone on, El Hamdaoui has seen more European clubs express their interest in him, including Blackburn Rovers, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol, Fiorentina, Galatasaray, Genoa, Fulham, and Anzhi Makhachkala.[24]

At the end of the transfer window El Hamdaoui stayed at Ajax but has not played any part in the 2011-12 season due to his troubled relationship with De Boer. He has played matches with Jong Ajax and although he was listed in the squad registered for the Champions League group stages, along with fellow Moroccan Ismaïl Aissati, who had been denoted to the second string at the beginning of the season as well, neither of them made any appearances or played any part in the competition.[23] Frank de Boer explained his reason for registering them as him making players eligible, in case he were to be relieved of his managerial duties, so that his successor would have the full squad at his disposal in the event of his termination. Ismaïl Aissati has since found his way back into the first team.[25][26]

Fiorentina

In July 2012, El Hamdaoui finally left Ajax and signed with Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A. He received the number 9 shirt and signed a three-year deal.[27][28] On 11 November 2012 he scored his first goal in Italy in a 3-1 victory away to Milan.[29]

Málaga (loan)

El Hamdaoui joined La Liga club Málaga on loan on 29 August 2013.[30] On 15 September 2013, he scored a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano in a 5−0 home win.[31]

Fiorentina

On 14 December 2014, El Hamdaoui scored his first goal of the season after coming on as a substitute in 85th minute in a game against Cesena in his first appearance of the season.

International career

El Hamdaoui (centre) takes on two Angolan defenders at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Although being born in the Netherlands and having played for their Under-21 side El Hamdaoui has pledged his international future to Morocco. El Hamdaoui played his only game with Morocco B in 2005 against Saudi Arabia.

On 6 November 2006, El Hamdaoui stated in an interview to Dutch football magazine Voetbal International that he, at one point, wanted to play senior international football for the Moroccan national side.

He was selected to join the Moroccan national team and made his first international cap with the team on 11 February 2009 against the Czech Republic. His appearance against the Czech Republic was a success, as his technical skills charmed the Moroccan fans, who are known for favoring technical football. Moroccan fans at the Stade Mohamed V were chanting "Allez Hamdaoui" throughout the game. The following day, Moroccan press praised his performance and welcomed him as a "much needed addition" to the Moroccan team. El Hamdaoui struck his first goal in the 84th minute in a 1–2 loss to Gabon. His second international goal came in a CAN Qualifier 2012 against Tanzania, where he scored the only goal in a 0-1 win, assisted by former Arsenal player Marouane Chamakh.

Career statistics

As of 8 January 2015.[32][33]
El Hamdaoui playing for Ajax in the Champions League against Dynamo Kiev
Club Season League Cup Europe[34] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SBV Excelsior 2001–02 62––62
2002–03 212––212
2003–04 3317––3317
2004–05 1411––1411
Total 743200007432
Tottenham Hotspur 2004–05 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
2005–06 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Total 0000–00
Derby County 2005–06 9 3 0 0 – 9 3
Total 9300–93
Willem II 2006–07 5 3 0 0 – 5 3
2007–08 2 0 0 0 – 2 0
Total 7300–73
AZ 2007–08 23 7 1 0 3 0 27 7
2008–09 31 24 3 1 – 34 25
2009–10 26 20 2 1 3 0 31 21
Total 805162609253
Ajax 2010–11 26 13 2 3 10 3 38 19
2011–12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2613231033819
Fiorentina 2012–13 19 3 1 0 0 0 20 3
Total 1931000203
Málaga 2013–14 13 3 0 0 0 0 13 3
Total 1330000133
Fiorentina 2014–15 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
Total 31000031
Career Total 23110995163256117

International goals

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 28 March 2009 Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco  Gabon 1-2 Loss 2010 WCQ
2. 9 October 2010 Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania  Tanzania 1-0 Win 2012 ACNQ
3. 12 January 2013 Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco  Namibia 2-1 Win Friendly
Correct as of 10 February 2011

Honours

Club

AZ
Ajax

Individual honours

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jesper Remmen (20 April 2010). "Uitgelicht: Mounir El Hamdaoui schiet weer met scherp" (in Dutch). Road to 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  2. ↑ "Tottenham pull off double signing". BBC Sport. 26 January 2005. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  3. ↑ "Derby sign Tottenham duo on loan". BBC Sport. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  4. ↑ "Willem II vs. Utrecht". Soccerway. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  5. ↑ El Hamdaoui scheurt kruisband, NOS.nl, 21 September 2006
  6. ↑ "Mounir el Hamdaoui naar AZ Alkmaar" (in Dutch). Aktueel.nu. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Match: Sparta Rotterdam v AZ Alkmaar". ESPN Soccernet. 16 September 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Match: AZ Alkmaar v NAC Breda". ESPN Soccernet. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Mounir El Hamdaoui 2008/09 Game Log". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Match: Willem II Tilburg v AZ Alkmaar". ESPN Soccernet. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  11. ↑ "AZ wint in eigen huis van Utrecht" (in Dutch). Het Parool. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  12. ↑ "El Hamdaoui topscorer" (in Dutch). Trouw. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  13. ↑ Schaerlaeckens, Leander (20 April 2009). "Dutch football round-up: How AZ Alkmaar became champions". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  14. ↑ "El Hamdaoui is Voetballer van het Jaar" (in Dutch). V-Bal!. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "Koeman named Van Gaal successor at Alkmaar". FIFA.com. FIFA. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  16. ↑ "Mounir El Hamdaoui 2009/10 Game Log". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  17. ↑ "AZ sacks Koeman, calls on Advocaat". DutchNews.nl. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  18. ↑ Eredivisie (28 February 2010). "El Hamdaoui na drieklapper: "Heb gehoord wat Advocaat heeft gezegd"" (in Dutch). Goal.com. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  19. ↑ "UPDATE: El Hamdaoui definitief Ajacied" [UPDATE: El Hamdaoui to be Ajax-ized]. AT5 Nieuws (in Dutch) (Amsterdam). 30 July 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2012. Mounir El Hamdaoui komt definitief naar Ajax (Mounir El Hamdaoui to come to Ajax)
  20. ↑ "El Hamdaoui tekent alsnog" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  21. ↑ "Strike pair end Ajax exile". UEFA. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  22. ↑ Ajax Amsterdam 1 - 1 AC Milan ESPN Soccernet, 29 September 2010
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Ajax Demote Striker Mounir El Hamdaoui To Reserves". Goal.com. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  24. ↑ Bettor.com, 21 October 2011.
  25. ↑ AFC Ajax UEFA Champions League Squad 2011-12 UEFA.com, 5 February 2012.
  26. ↑ El Hamdaoui ingeschreven voor Champions League (Dutch) Ajax1.nl, 5 February 2012.
  27. ↑ Fiorentina verlost Ajax en El Hamdaoui (Dutch) voetbalprimeur.nl, 5 July 2012.
  28. ↑ "Fiorentina sign El Hamdaoui from Ajax". Goal.com. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  29. ↑ http://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a-tim/match-report/-/match-report/Milan-Fiorentina/47892
  30. ↑ "El Málaga CF se refuerza con el delantero Mounir El Hamdaoui" [Málaga CF reinforce with striker Mounir El Hamdaoui]. Málaga CF (in Spanish). malagacf.com. 29 August 2013.
  31. ↑ El Hamdaoui hat-trick on debut 15 September 2013; SkySports
  32. ↑ "Mounir El Hamdaoui Statistics". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  33. ↑ "Mounir El Hamdaoui". Voetbal International. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  34. ↑ Counts for appearances and goals at the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Supercup and UEFA Intertoto Cup, including qualifying games

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