Mehdi Ballouchy

Mehdi Ballouchy
مهدي بلوشي

Personal information
Full name	Mehdi Ballouchy
Date of birth	6 April 1983 (1983-04-06)
Place of birth	Casablanca, Morocco
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	New York Red Bulls
Number	10
Youth career
1996–1999	Raja Casablanca
2002	Creighton Bluejays
2004–2005	Santa Clara Broncos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005	Boulder Rapids Reserve	2	(0)
2006–2007	Real Salt Lake	46	(2)
2007–2010	Colorado Rapids	77	(7)
2010–	New York Red Bulls	35	(3)
National team
1999	Morocco U-16	3	(0)
2000	Morocco U-17	6	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 3, 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Mehdi Ballouchy (Arabic: مهدي بلوشي‎) (born April 6, 1983 in Casablanca) is a Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth and College

Ballouchy played in the youth system of Raja Casablanca before moving to the United States in 2000 at the age of 16. He attended Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, and played a year of college soccer at Creighton and two at Santa Clara, where he was named first team All-American in 2005. He also briefly played with Boulder Rapids Reserve in the USL Premier Development League.

Professional

Ballouchy signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS, and was taken second overall by Real Salt Lake at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. During his time with RSL Ballouchy appeared in 46 league matches scoring 2 goals and recording 2 assists.

After spending two years in Utah he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for Kyle Beckerman in July 2007. During his stay with Colorado Ballouchy played primarily as an attacking central midfielder, but also saw time at right midfield. With Colorado he appeared in 77 league matches, scoring 7 goals and recording 18 assists. His most productive season for Colorado was in 2009 when he appeared in 28 league matches scoring two goals and providing seven assists.

On September 14, 2010 Ballouchy joined the New York Red Bulls in a trade for Macoumba Kandji. New York coach Hans Backe had been looking for an attacking midfielder throughout the season and the acquisition of Ballouchy ended the club's search. On September 16, 2010 Ballouchy debuted for New York wearing the number 10 shirt and scoring a goal in a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas. On October 21, 2010 Ballouchy started for Red Bulls in a 2-0 victory over New England Revolution which helped New York clinch its second regular season Eastern Conference title. On October 26, 2011 Ballouchy helped New York to a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in a 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs match by providing a beautiful pass to assist Joel Lindpere in scoring the clubs first goal of the night.

Career stats

Season	Club	Country	Level	Apps	Goals
2011	New York Red Bulls		I	29	2
2010	New York Red Bulls		I	6	1
2010	Colorado Rapids		I	21	3
2009	Colorado Rapids		I	28	2
2008	Colorado Rapids		I	19	1
2007	Colorado Rapids		I	9	1
2007	Real Salt Lake		I	14	0
2006	Real Salt Lake		I	32	2

International

Ballouchy has played for various youth Moroccan national teams, including the Moroccan U-17 and U-16 National Teams prior to moving to the United States at the age of 16. He is currently in the process of becoming a US citizen.

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• MLS player profile
• MLS Statistics
• transfermarkt.de