Nabil Fekir

Nabil Fekir

Fekir training with Lyon in 2015
Personal information
Full name Nabil Fekir
Date of birth (1993-07-18) 18 July 1993
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder / Striker
Club information
Current team
 Lyon
Number 18
Youth career
2000–2001 AC Villeurbanne
2001–2003 Vaulx-en-Velin
2003–2005 SC Caluire
2005–2007 Lyon
2007–2010 Vaulx-en-Velin
2010–2011 Saint-Priest
2011–2013 Lyon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2011–2014 Lyon B 62 (13)
2013– Lyon 49 (18)
National team‡
2014 France U21 1 (0)
2015– France 5 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:59, 29 August 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 September 2015

Nabil Fekir (born 18 July 1993) is a French footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a striker for Lyon.

He came into Lyon's first team in July 2013, and became a regular in the team in his second season, being named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year. Previously called up by Algeria, he made his debut for the French national team on 26 March 2015.

Club career

Fekir was included in a Lyon squad for the first time on 30 July 2013, remaining an unused substitute as they defeated Grasshopper 1–0 in the Champions League third qualifying round first leg.[1] He made his debut on 28 August, replacing Yassine Benzia at half time as they lost 0–2 to Real Sociedad to be eliminated 0–4 from the tournament's play-offs.[2] Three days later he made his Ligue 1 debut, in a 1–2 away defeat against Evian, playing the full game.[3] On 27 April 2014, against Bastia in a 4–1 home win, he scored his first career goal and set up another for Alexandre Lacazette.[4] He made a total of 16 appearances in all competitions in his first season, scoring one goal.

In the 2014–15 season, he became a more regular part of the team. By the time of his international call-up on 19 March, he had scored 11 goals and assisted 7 in 25 league games.[5] On 17 May 2015, he was named as the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.[6] He also won the Talent Radar Player of the Season and Midfielder of the Season in 2015.[7]

On 29 August 2015, Fekir scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win at Caen.[8]

International career

Having earned one cap at under-21 level for his native France, Fekir had been named in his ancestral Algeria's squad for friendlies against Oman and Qatar in March 2015. However, he withdrew to take part in the French squad for friendlies against Brazil and Denmark.[5] He made his debut on 26 March against the former at the Stade de France, replacing Antoine Griezmann for the final 16 minutes of a 1–3 defeat.[9] He scored his first goal on 7 June, concluding a 3–4 home friendly defeat to Belgium.[10] On 4 September, in a 1–0 away friendly win over Portugal, he ruptured three ligaments in his right knee, putting him out for an estimated six months.[11]

Style of play

France manager Didier Deschamps said on calling him up to the France squad in March 2015 "Fekir is a player with great potential. I consider that he can bring us something different. He plays in a different role to the others. He can score and set up others to score."[5]

Statistics

Club

As of 7 September 2015.[12]
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup Europe2 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lyon 2013–14 111002040171
2014–15 34132210203915
2015–16 4400000044
Total 49182230606020

1Coupe de France appearances.

2Includes UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League appearances.

International

Statistics accurate as of matches played on 4 September 2015.[13]
French national team
YearAppsGoals
201551
Total51

International goals

Scores and results list France's goal tally first.[13]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 7 June 2015 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Belgium 2–4 3–4 Friendly

References

  1. ↑ "Lyon edge in front against Grasshoppers". UEFA. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "La Real oust Lyon and return to Europe's elite". UEFA. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Narrow win for Evian". Sky Sports. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Lyon keep up pressure". Sky Sports. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Holyman, Ian (19 March 2015). "Nabil Fekir and Kurt Zouma named in France squad for friendlies". ESPN. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Trophées UNFP: Nabil Fékir élu meilleur espoir de la saison". L'Equipe.
  7. ↑ "Talent Radar Young Player Awards 2014-15". Outside of the Boot. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Nabil Fekir's hat-trick helps Lyon to win 4-0 at Caen". Eurosport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Emons, Michael (26 March 2015). "France 1-3 Brazil". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Impressive Belgium beat France". UEFA. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Huguenin, Michael (4 September 2015). "Fekir ruptures knee ligaments". Goal.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Nabil Fekir Player profile". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Nabil Fekir". European Football. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

External links

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