Mehdi Ballouchy facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mehdi Ballouchy | ||
| Date of birth | April 6, 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Casablanca, Morocco | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1999 | SCC Mohammédia | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002 | Creighton Bluejays | ||
| 2003–2005 | 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) |
| 2010–2012 | New York Red Bulls | 51 | (4) |
| 2012–2013 | San Jose Earthquakes | 11 | (0) |
| 2014 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 7 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | New York City FC | 24 | (3) |
| Total | 218 | (16) | |
| International career | |||
| 1999 | Morocco U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 2000 | Morocco U17 | 6 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 5, 2017 | |||
Mehdi Ballouchy (born April 6, 1983) is a retired professional football player from Morocco. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both defend and attack. After his playing career, he became a coach. He is currently part of the coaching staff for New York City FC.
Contents
Mehdi's Early Life and College Soccer
Mehdi Ballouchy started playing football at a young age. When he was 13, he joined a club called SCC Mohammédia in Morocco. He played there until he was 16 years old.
In 2000, Mehdi moved to the United States. He first lived with his brother in Denver. Later, he went to Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, where he stayed with a host family.
After high school, Mehdi played college soccer. He played for one year at Creighton and then two years at Santa Clara. In 2005, he was named a first-team All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country. He also played a short time for Boulder Rapids Reserve.
Mehdi's Professional Football Journey
Mehdi Ballouchy became a professional football player in 2006. He signed a special contract with Major League Soccer (MLS). He was chosen second overall by Real Salt Lake in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.
Playing for Real Salt Lake
Mehdi played for Real Salt Lake for two years. During his time there, he played in 46 league games. He scored 2 goals and helped set up 2 others for his team.
Time with Colorado Rapids
In July 2007, Mehdi was traded to the Colorado Rapids. He played for the Rapids for about three years. He mostly played as an attacking midfielder, helping to create scoring chances. He also sometimes played on the right side of the midfield.
While with Colorado, Mehdi played in 77 league games. He scored 7 goals and made 18 assists. His best season with the Rapids was in 2009. That year, he played in 28 games, scored two goals, and helped with seven assists.
Joining the New York Red Bulls
On September 14, 2010, Mehdi Ballouchy moved to the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls' coach, Hans Backe, wanted an attacking midfielder, and Mehdi was a great fit.
Just two days later, on September 16, 2010, Mehdi played his first game for New York. He wore the number 10 jersey and scored a goal in a 2–2 tie against FC Dallas. On October 21, 2010, he helped the Red Bulls win 2–0 against the New England Revolution. This win helped New York win the Eastern Conference title for the 2010 season.
In October 2011, Mehdi also helped New York win a playoff game against FC Dallas. He assisted Joel Lindpere for the first goal of the night.
Moving to San Jose Earthquakes
On July 30, 2012, Mehdi was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes. This move brought him back to California. He played in 6 games for the Earthquakes. However, he then suffered a serious knee injury that kept him from playing for the rest of that season and the start of the next.
Playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC
After recovering from his injury, Mehdi was chosen by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in December 2013. He officially joined the team in January 2014.
Final Stop: New York City FC
New York City FC picked Mehdi Ballouchy in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He was given the number 20 shirt. He played for New York City FC until he announced his retirement from playing football on November 18, 2016.
After retiring as a player, Mehdi continued his career in football as a coach. He first worked as a coach at the New York City FC youth academy. In January 2020, he was promoted to assistant coach for the first team under coach Ronny Deila.
International Football Experience
Mehdi Ballouchy played for Morocco's youth national teams. Before he moved to the United States, he played for the Moroccan Under-16 and Under-17 teams. He was never called to play for the senior Morocco national football team.
Personal Life
Mehdi's father, Driss Ballouchy, was also a football player. He played in the second division in France. In January 2013, Mehdi received a U.S. green card. This meant he was considered a domestic player for MLS teams.
Honors and Awards
Mehdi Ballouchy achieved some notable honors during his career:
- MLS Eastern Conference (with New York Red Bulls): 2010
- NYCFC Etihad Player of the Month (Individual Award): May 2015
See also
In Spanish: Mehdi Ballouchy para niños
