Karim Benzema

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Joao10Siamun (talk | contribs) at 03:33, 27 August 2009 (→‎Real Madrid). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Karim Benzema
Personal information
Full name Karim Benzema
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 10
Youth career
1995–1996 SC Bron Terraillon
1996–2004 Lyon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Lyon 112 (43)
2009– Real Madrid 0 (0)
International career‡
2007– France 24 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 April 2009
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2009

Karim Benzema (Template:Pron-en; born 19 December 1987) is a French footballer who currently plays as a striker for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the French national team.

Benzema came through the youth academy at Lyon and has been capped at senior level for France. He played in UEFA Euro 2008 and was the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 for the 2007–08 season, just three seasons after making his professional debut. This was also his breakthrough season which saw him earn many awards and a new contract which resulted in him becoming one of the highest-paid footballers in France.

On 1 July 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema. The transfer fee was priced at €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives.[3] On 9 July, Benzema completed his transfer after taking a medical and signing his six-year contract.[4]

Early life

Born in Lyon to parents of Algerian-Kabyle descent,[5][6][7] Karim grew up with nine siblings and his father Hafid in the district of Bron.[8] His grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema, lived in the village of Tighzert, located in the northern town of Beni Djellil in Algeria before migrating to Lyon, where he eventually settled in the 1950s.[9]

Lyon

Early career

Benzema is a product of the Olympique Lyonnais Academy. Before joining Lyon, he trained at local Rhône-Alpes club Bron Terraillon SC in the commune Bron, a suburb of Lyon. His performances with Bron's youth team caught the attention of Lyon scouts and he joined the academy in 1996 at the age of 9.[10] Benzema quickly ascending up the ranks scoring 38 goals in one season with Lyon's under-16 team[11] and scoring 12 goals in 14 matches with the under-18 team before earning a call up to the senior squad by manager Paul Le Guen.

He made his league debut for Lyon on 15 January 2005 during the 2004–05 season in a match against FC Metz, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute. Lyon won the match 2–0 with Benzema providing the assist on the second goal scored by Bryan Bergougnoux.[12] Five days later, he signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a three-year deal.[13] Over the next two seasons, his play was limited making a total of 34 appearances and scoring six goals, including his first ever against AC Ajaccio in a 3–1 win,[14] as well as his first UEFA Champions League goal against Norwegian club Rosenborg BK in a 2–1 victory.[15]

Breakout season

For the 2007–08 season, with the likes of Florent Malouda, John Carew, and Sylvain Wiltord all departing from the club, Benzema, despite being 19 at the time, switched to the number 10 shirt and was given control of the attack. After forming a special relationship with new manager Alain Perrin, he was given the lead striker role and responded with 31 goals in 51 games. He topped the league with 20 goals, scored four goals in the UEFA Champions League, one in the Coupe de la Ligue, and totaled six goals in six Coupe de France matches, helping Lyon win their first ever double.[16] Some of his more dazzling performances that season included a hat trick against Metz on 15 September,[17] an equalizing goal in the 90th minute from a free kick against Derby du Rhône rivals Saint-Étienne,[18] and a goal against RC Lens that was nominated for goal of the season by fans. After receiving the ball on the left wing from Nadir Belhadj, Benzema became engulfed by midfielder Yohan Demont and defender Fabien Laurenti. Rather than being forced to play the ball out of bounds, Benzema performed a backheel nutmeg on Laurenti, causing the defender to fall down and allowing Benzema to escaped the double team. Benzema continued through to goal and capped the run by blasting a right-footed shot past the shocked Croat Vedran Runje.[19]

In the Champions League, Benzema scored an important brace against Rangers at Ibrox Park on the last match day of the group stage. The 3–0 victory assured Lyon progression to the knockout rounds.[20] In the knockout rounds, Lyon faced Manchester United and Benzema continued his great form scoring on a blistering left-footed shot in the 54th minute, despite being surrounded by five United players.[21] The match ended in a 1–1 draw[22] and United eventually won the tie 1–2 on aggregate. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and players praised Benzema for his performance.[23] Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas later accused Ferguson of tapping-up Benzema.[24][25]

"It's a compliment to be compared to Zinedine Zidane, but we are different players."

Karim Benzema, after being compared to Zinedine Zidane.[26]

On 13 March 2008, Benzema extended his contract with Lyon until 2013 with a one year extension option.[27] After signing his new contract, Benzema became one of the highest paid footballers in France.[28] For his efforts that season, he was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year, selected to the Team of the Year, and awarded the Trophée du Meilleur Buteur for being the league's top scorer.[29][30] He was also shortlisted by the French magazine France Football for the 2008 Ballon d'Or award,[31] won by Cristiano Ronaldo.

2008–09 season

Karim got off to a good start for the 2008–09 season scoring a brace in Lyon's opening league match against Toulouse FC.[32] The following three weeks, he scored goals against Rhône-Alpes rivals Grenoble Foot 38[33] and Saint-Étienne[34] and scored a goal against OGC Nice, converting a penalty in the dying seconds.[35] Lyon won all three matches. Due to his great start, Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas quelled the many transfer rumors surrounding Benzema by placing a €100 million price tag on the striker. He was also nominated alongside Franck Ribéry to be featured on the French cover of the video game FIFA 09.[36]

Benzema during a training session with Lyon

He scored his seventh goal of the league on 29 October, scoring in the 2–0 win over Sochaux. Benzema scored again the following weekend in a 2–0 win over Le Mans.[37] He was among the top scorers in the UEFA Champions League group stage, scoring five goals,[38] a brace against Steaua Bucureşti,[39] two goals in two matches against Fiorentina,[40][41] and a goal against the eventual group winners Bayern Munich on the final match day.[42]

Following the winter break, Benzema endured a rough patch going scoreless the first three games before recording his 11th goal of the season against Nice in a 3–1 victory.[43] Two weeks later, he scored his 12th goal against Nancy in a 2–0 victory.[44] The next nine matches, both Benzema and Lyon's form dwindled losing four matches, drawing three, and winning only two with Benzema scoring only two goals in that stretch, a brace against Le Mans in a 3–1 victory.[45] The bad form resulted in Lyon losing their grip on 1st place position and eventually falling out of the title race, thus ending their streak of seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles. Benzema was a part of four of those title runs.

Despite losing the title, Benzema got back on track scoring his 15th and 16th goals of the season on 17 May in a 3–1 away victory over rivals Olympique de Marseille, the first goal being a penalty.[46] He scored his 17th goal the following weekend against SM Caen in a 3–1 victory moving him into third place among Ligue 1 top scorers.[47]

Real Madrid

On 1 July 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema. The transfer fee was priced at €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives.[48] On 9 July, Benzema successfully passed his medical and signed his contract, a six-year deal, later that afternoon.[49] He was presented officially as a Real Madrid player later that night at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, similarly to the previous signings of Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo.[50]

Benzema made his Real Madrid debut on 20 July in the club's opening pre-season friendly against Irish club Shamrock Rovers in Dublin, appearing as a halftime substitute.[51] He scored the lone goal in the club's 1–0 win, scoring in the 87th minute.[52] On 24 August, Benzema netted a brace in Real Madrid's 4–0 victory over Norwegian club Rosenborg in an annual friendly tournament organized for the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. The goals brought his total tally in the preseason with Real Madrid to 5, making him the joint top scorer alongside fellow striker Raúl.[53]

International career

Benzema has earned caps with all of France's youth teams beginning with the under-16 team, whom he earned six caps with scoring one goal. In 2004, he was a part of the under-17 squad that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship,[54] the nation's first ever.[55] In the tournament, which was played on home soil, Benzema scored one goal against Northern Ireland in the group stage.[56] Benzema later played with the under-17 team at the 2005 edition of the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup. He played in all four matches scoring a tournament-leading five goals helping France win the tournament. In total with the under-17s, Benzema made 18 appearances and scored 14 goals. He featured with the under-18 team making 10 appearances scoring 5 goals before earning a call up to the under-21 squad who were attempting to qualify for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Benzema made only 5 appearances with the team scoring no goals. His final appearances with the squad was in their shocking two-legged loss to Isreal in the qualifying playoffs to determine the participants in the UEFA under-21 tournament.[57]

Before representing France, Benzema was eligible for Algeria and was called up to the squad by the Fédération Algérienne de Football in December 2006,[58] but turned them down stating, "Algeria is my parents’ country and it is in my heart, but football-wise I will only play for the French national team."[10] On 28 March 2007, Benzema won his first cap for France against Austria, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win for France.[59] His next two goals came in one game against the Faroe Islands, who France subsequently beat 6–0.[60]

He was selected to represent France at Euro 2008. France's Euro 2008 campaign got off to a bad start with a 0–0 draw against Romania[61] and after a muted performance, he was substituted in the second half and played no part in their following game, a 1–4 defeat to the Netherlands.[62] In the last group game, France lost 2-0 to Italy and Benzema featured in the starting lineup.[63] He has now adopted the number ten for France. He scored his last goal for France from the penalty spot against Turkey on 5 June 2009 in a friendly where they won 1–0.[64]

Career statistics

As of 27 May 2009

Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Europe[nb 2] Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Lyon 2004-05 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 1
2005-06 13 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 0 16 4 2
2006-07 21 5 2 4 1 0 3 2 0 28 8 2
2007-08 36 20 5 9 7 1 7 4 1 52 31 7
2008-09 36 17 2 3 1 0 8 5 1 47 23 3
Total 112 43 11 18 11 2 19 12 2 149 66 15
Real Madrid 2009-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 112 43 11 18 11 2 19 12 2 149 66 15

International Goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 28 March 2007 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Austria 1 – 0 1 – 0 Friendly
2 13 October 2007 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 0 – 3 0 – 6 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
3 13 October 2007 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 0 – 5 0 – 6 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
4 20 August 2008 Ullevi, Göteborg, Sweden  Sweden 1 – 1 2 – 3 Friendly
5 14 October 2008 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  Tunisia 3 – 1 3 – 1 Friendly
6 5 June 2009 Stade Gerland, Lyon, France  Turkey 1 – 0 1 – 0 Friendly

Honours

Club

National team

Individual

Notes

  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions, Supercopa de España
  2. ^ Includes UEFA Supercup

References

  1. ^ "Real Madrid Profile". Real Madrid. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  2. ^ "Benzema revelling in the big time". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Transfert de Karim Benzema au Real Madrid". Olympique Lyonnais. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Green light to play". Real Madrid. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Sur les traces de Karim Benzema". El Watan. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2009. Template:Fr icon
  6. ^ Moore, Glenn (25 June 2007). Wenger's options to replace Henry: Owen, Anelka Tevez ... or no one. The Independent. Retrieved on 2009-01-28.
  7. ^ "Benzema, le phénomène qui réveille le foot". lepoint.fr (in French). 7 February 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  8. ^ "Benzema, l'arme fatale de l'OL". Maxifoot (in French). 19 September 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  9. ^ "Sur les traces de Karim Benzema". El Watan (in French). 13 May 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  10. ^ a b "The Rise and Rise of Karim Benzema". Inside Futebol. 19 December 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  11. ^ "Benzema, un Lyonnais heureux". Union of European Football Associations. 19 December 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  12. ^ "Lyon v. Metz Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  13. ^ "Benzema va signer pro". L'Equipe. 20 January 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  14. ^ "Ajaccio v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 4 March 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  15. ^ "Fred leaves Lyon purring". Union of European Football Associations. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  16. ^ "The Goal.com 50: Karim Benzema (14)". Goal.com. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  17. ^ "Metz v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  18. ^ "Benzema coup franc contre Saint-Etienne". YouTube. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  19. ^ "lyon vs lens". YouTube. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  20. ^ "Lyon seal revival as Rangers slump". Union of European Football Associations. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  21. ^ "But de benzema contre manchester united". 29 December 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  22. ^ "Last-gasp Tévez thwarts Lyon". Union of European Football Associations. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  23. ^ "United like the look of Benzema and begin their homework on Lyon's £45m striker". The Guardian. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  24. ^ "Lyon chairman slams Fergie over Benzema interest". The Guardian. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  25. ^ "Ferguson questions 'balance' of Wenger's transfer policy". The Guardian. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  26. ^ "Karim Benzema keeps feet on the Lyon ground". The Telegraph. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  27. ^ "Benzema extends Lyon contract until 2013". ESPN. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  28. ^ "Benzema becomes one of the highest paid footballers in France". Afrik. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  29. ^ "Benzema lands Ligue 1 award". Sky Sports. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  30. ^ "Benzema meilleur buteur". Football365. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  31. ^ "Messi, Ronaldo lead Ballon d'Or short list". Cable News Network. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  32. ^ "Lyon v. Toulouse Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  33. ^ "Lyon v. Grenoble Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  34. ^ "Saint-Etienne v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  35. ^ "Lyon v. Nice Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  36. ^ "The players to appear on FIFA 2009 game covers are revealed". 411Mania. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  37. ^ "Lyon 2 - 0 Le Mans". ESPN. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  38. ^ "Top scorers". Union of European Football Associations. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  39. ^ "Lyon prove too strong for valiant Steaua". Union of European Football Associations. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  40. ^ "Lyon fight back denies Fiorentina". Union of European Football Associations. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  41. ^ "Benzema leads Lyon onwards". Union of European Football Associations. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  42. ^ "Bayern hold on to edge past Lyon". Union of European Football Associations. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  43. ^ "Nice v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  44. ^ "Nancy v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  45. ^ "Le Mans v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  46. ^ "Marseille 1 - 3 Lyon". ESPN. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  47. ^ "Lyon v. Caen Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  48. ^ "Transfert de Karim Benzema au Real Madrid". Olympique Lyonnais. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  49. ^ "Green light to play", Real Madrid, 9 July 2009, retrieved 9 July 2009
  50. ^ "Benzema is up next", Real Madrid, 8 July 2009, retrieved 8 July 2009
  51. ^ "Benzema saves Real Madrid in Dublin". Yahoo Eurosport. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  52. ^ "Ronaldo quiet as Rovers almost hold off Real". ESPN. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  53. ^ "Led by Benzema, Real Madrid cruises past Rosenborg 4-0 in pre-season". The Canadian Press. 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  54. ^ "France 2-1 Spain line-ups". Union of European Football Associations. 2004-05-15. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  55. ^ Haslam, Andrew (2004-05-15). "Châteauroux celebrates French win". Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  56. ^ "France lifted by late goals". Union of European Football Associations. 2004-05-04. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  57. ^ "Israeli joy after historic win". Union of European Football Associations. 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  58. ^ "Hum Paanch: The Precocious 5". APNA Football. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  59. ^ "Debutant Benzema gives France win over Austria". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  60. ^ "Karim Benzema profile: 10 things you need to know about the Manchester United target". The Daily Mirror. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  61. ^ "Romania 0-0 France". British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  62. ^ "Netherlands 4-1 France: Dutch master class". ESPN. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  63. ^ Winter, Henry (18 June 2008). "Italy expose French frailties". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  64. ^ "Benzema Ensures Winning End To French Season". The Bleacher Report. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  65. ^ "Benzema, la patience récompensée..." UNFP. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.

External links

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karim_Benzema&oldid=310297611"