Lakhdar Belloumi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lakhdar Belloumi

Belloumi in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1958-12-29) 29 December 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth	Mascara, Algeria
Height	1.78 m
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1973–1974	OS Mascara
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1974–1976	OS Mascara
1976–1977	SKAF El-Khemis
1977–1978	GCB Mascara	26	(29)
1978–1979	MP Oran	25	(11)
1979–1981	MP Alger	30	(10)
1981–1987	GCR Mascara	60	(27)
1987–1988	Mouloudia d'Oran	56	(36)
1988	Al-Arabi SC	6	(5)
1989–1990	M. Oran / MC Oran	27	(12)
1990–1991	GC Mascara	4	(4)
1991–1992	USM Bel Abbès	40	(20)
1992–1993	GC Mascara	12	(7)
1993–1994	MC Oran	27	(6)
1994–1996	GC Mascara	38	(19)
1996	MC Oran	11	(2)
1997	GC Mascara	13	(3)
1997–1998	ASM Oran	17	(9)
1998–1999	GC Mascara	25	(4)
Total		417	(204)
National team
1974–1977	Algeria U17	–	(–)
1977–1978	Algeria U20	4	(2)
1979–1980	Algeria military	–	(–)
1978–1989	Algeria	147	(34)
1989	Algeria futsal	3	(1)
Teams managed
2001–2002	MC Oran
2002–2003	USM Bel-Abbès
2003	Al Tadamun SC
2004–2005	Algeria
2005–2006	GC Mascara
2011	Algeria (beach soccer)
2015	Algeria (beach soccer)
Honours Player MC Oran Third Algerian Championship 1979 Winner Algerian Championship 1988 Runner-up African Cup 1989 Runner-up Algerian Championship 1990 GC Mascara Winner Algerian Championship 1984  Algeria Third Mediterranean Games 1979 Runner-up African Cup of Nations 1980 Third African Cup of Nations 1984 Third African Cup of Nations 1988 Manager MC Oran Runner-up Arab Cup 2001
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Lakhdar Belloumi (born on 29 December 1958) is a famous Algerian former football player and manager. He played as an attacking midfielder. Many people think he is one of the best football players ever from Algeria and Africa. He is also known for inventing a special move called the "Blind Pass".

Belloumi was ranked as the fourth-best African player of the 1900s by a group called IFFHS. He played for Algeria more than anyone else, with 100 official games. He is also the third highest goal scorer for Algeria with 28 goals. One of his most famous moments was scoring the winning goal against West Germany in Algeria's first ever FIFA World Cup match in 1982. This helped Algeria win 2–1 in a big upset!

Playing for Clubs

Lakhdar Belloumi, Algerian champion with GC Mascara in 1984

Lakhdar Belloumi spent almost his entire playing career in Algeria. He played mostly for his hometown club, GC Mascara, and also for MC Oran. He also played for MC Alger for two years while doing his military service.

He helped his teams win the Algerian championship twice. First, with GC Mascara in 1984, and then with MC Oran in 1988. He kept playing football until he retired in 1999.

Belloumi was a very talented player. Big European clubs like Barcelona and Juventus were interested in him. However, at that time, a law in Algeria stopped players from leaving the country before they were 27 years old.

In 1985, he almost joined Juventus after playing very well against them in a friendly game. But he broke his leg during an African Champions' Cup match. This injury stopped his dream move to Europe. Even though he didn't play for a big European club, many people who watched him play, including the legendary Pelé, knew he was an amazing player.

Playing for Algeria

Lakhdar Belloumi played 100 official games for the Algerian national team and scored 28 goals. He also played in many important tournaments.

He took part in the 1980 Summer Olympics. He also played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 1982 and 1986. Belloumi also played in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (1980, 1982, 1984, and 1988).

In 1981, he won the award for African Footballer of the Year, which is a huge honor. He was a key player for Algeria throughout the 1980s. His last game for the national team was in 1989.

Honours and Awards

Player

GC Mascara

• Algerian Championship: Winner in 1983–84

MC Oran

• Algerian Championship: Winner in 1987–88; Runner-up in 1989–90
• African Cup of Champions Clubs: Runner-up in 1989

Algeria National Team

• Mediterranean Games: Bronze medal in 1979
• Africa Cup of Nations: Runner-up in 1980; Third place in 1984, 1988
• Summer Olympics: Reached the Quarter-finals in 1980
• FIFA World Cup: Played in 1982 and 1986

Individual Awards

• Mediterranean Games 3rd best player: 1979
• Africa Cup of Nations best forward: 1980
• African Footballer of the Year: 1981; Third place in 1982
• Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 1980, 1984
• African Footballer of the 20th century: Fourth place
• IFFHS World Player of the Century #62: 2000
• CAF Merit Award: 2008 (for his excellent career)
• Algerian Footballer of the 20th century: 2009 (shared with Rabah Madjer)
• Algerian Footballer of the Year: Won several times

Top Scorer Awards

• Algerian League top goalscorer: 1978–79 with 11 goals
• Africa Cup of Nations top goalscorer: 1988 (with 2 goals)

Personal Life

Lakhdar Belloumi is the father of another footballer, Bachir Belloumi.

Images for kids

• 

  Belloumi with MC Oran in 1978–79

• 

  Belloumi with GC Mascara in 1984

See also

In Spanish: Lakhdar Belloumi para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps