Mehdi Nafti

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Mehdi Nafti
Mehdi Nafti Birmingham City 2005.jpg
Nafti in action for Birmingham in 2005
Personal information
Full name Mehdi Ben Sadok Nafti[1]
Date of birth (1978-11-28) 28 November 1978 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Toulouse,[1] France
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1995–1997 Toulouse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Toulouse 28 (1)
2000–2001 Racing B 21 (0)
2000–2005 Racing Santander 110 (3)
2005 → Birmingham City (loan) 10 (0)
2005–2009 Birmingham City 70 (0)
2009–2011 Aris 32 (4)
2011–2012 Valladolid 51 (1)
2012–2013 Murcia 30 (0)
2013–2014 Cádiz 15 (0)
Total 364 (9)
National team
2002–2010 Tunisia 44 (1)
Teams managed
2016–2017 Marbella
2017 Mérida
2018 Mérida
2018–2020 Badajoz
2020 Étoile du Sahel
2020–2021 Lugo
Honours
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Mehdi Ben Sadok Nafti (Arabic: مهدي النفطي‎; born 28 November 1978) is a former Tunisian footballer and a current manager.

Nafti played as a defensive midfielder for Toulouse, Racing Santander, Birmingham City, Aris, Valladolid, Murcia and Cádiz. He was born in France, and won 44 caps for Tunisia, representing the nation at the 2006 World Cup and three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

After retiring as a player he went into coaching, and managed Marbella and Mérida (two spells) before joining Badajoz in October 2018.

Playing career[]

Club[]

Born in Toulouse, France, Nafti made his professional debut with his hometown club, Toulouse FC. He was used sparingly during a three-year spell, and also played several games with the reserves. His best season was 1999–2000, as he appeared in 13 games and scored once to help the team return to Ligue 1 after one year of absence.

In summer 2000, Nafti joined Racing de Santander in La Liga and, as in his previous club, started his stint appearing for the B-team. In the 2000–01 season he played in just three games for the main squad, which was eventually relegated, then proceeded to become a very important midfield element for the Cantabrians in the following three years, whilst collecting 41 yellow cards and three red.[2][3][4]

Nafti was signed on loan by Birmingham City in the final minutes of the January 2005 transfer window,[5] making his Premier League debut on 5 February in a 2–0 loss away to Manchester United in which he started and was booked.[6] Sometimes referred to as "Nasty"[7] due to his fiery nature and tendency for cautions, he was primarily signed to replace the outgoing Robbie Savage, and finished the season strongly, which led to a permanent deal being agreed in the summer.[8]

Nafti's 2005–06 campaign came to end before it had even begun, with a severe injury to his cruciate ligaments in a friendly with Deportivo La Coruña in early August 2005.[9] He recovered sooner than expected,[10] and was able to start the last match of the season, a 1–0 loss at Bolton Wanderers, with relegation already confirmed.[11]

After having appeared in 32 games in 2006–07 to help Birmingham return to the top division, Nafti scored his first goal for them on 13 August 2008, in a 4–0 win against Wycombe Wanderers in the 2008–09 League Cup.[12] In June 2009, after the club chose not to renew his contract,[13] he signed a two-year deal with Aris Thessaloniki in Greece.[14]

On 12 September 2009, Nafti scored the only goal of the home match against PAS Giannina to put Aris top of the Superleague Greece after three matches.[15] He finished his debut season with four goals from 22 league games,[16] as Aris finished fifth.

During the January 2011 transfer window, the 32-year-old Nafti left Aris and returned to Spain, signing an 18-month contract with Segunda División club Real Valladolid.[17] He spent the 2012–13 season with Real Murcia, helping them avoid relegation from the second tier, and had considered retiring from the game before dropping down a division to sign for Cádiz. He established himself in the latter team but was also troubled by injury, and after they signed midfielder Jon Ander Garrido in the January 2014 transfer window, Nafti's contract was cancelled.[18][19][20]

International[]

A Tunisia international since 2002, Nafti represented the nation in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, helping it win the 2004 edition played on home soil.[21] He then appeared in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, playing against Australia (2–0 win)[22] and Germany (3–0 loss).[23]

Nafti was selected for the squad that competed in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, appearing in all three matches as Tunisia exited in the group stage.[24][25][26]

Coaching career[]

On 10 June 2016, Nafti was given his first managerial job, at Segunda División B club Marbella FC, despite reportedly not possessing the licence required to manage at that level.[27] After a series of poor results, he was fired on 7 March 2017.[28]

Nafti was hired by another Segunda B club, Mérida AD, on 27 June 2017;[29] he lasted until 20 December.[30] The following 12 March, after the resignation of his successor, Loren, he returned to the Estadio Romano as manager,[31] but left at the end of the season after failing to prevent their relegation.[32]

In October 2018, Nafti took over as manager of CD Badajoz, also of the third division, until the end of the season.[33] In the 2019–20 season, his team eliminated UD Las Palmas (second tier) and SD Eibar (top flight) from the Copa del Rey before an extra-time loss to Granada CF in the last 16.[34] He was dismissed on 4 February 2020 with the team fourth in the league.[34]

On 9 October 2020, Nafti was announced as manager of Étoile Sportive du Sahel in his home nation,[35] but returned to Spain five days later, after being appointed in charge of second division side CD Lugo.[36] He was sacked from the latter club the following 28 February, after a 1–4 loss to UD Almería.[37]

Career statistics[]

Playing statistics[]

Club[]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Toulouse [38] Ligue 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 — 11 0
[38][1] Ligue 2 13 1 2 0 1 0 — 16 1
[38] Ligue 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 11 0
Total 25 1 2 0 1 0 — 28 1
Racing B 2000–01[39] Segunda División B 21 0 — — — 21 0
Racing Santander [40] La Liga 3 0 1 0 — — 4 0
[41] Segunda División 30 0 0 0 — — 30 0
[42] La Liga 31 2 1 0 — — 32 2
[43] La Liga 30 1 1 0 — 0 0 31 1
[44] La Liga 16 0 2 1 — — 18 1
Total 110 3 4 1 — 0 0 114 4
Birmingham City (loan) 2004–05[45] Premier League 10 0 — — — 10 0
Birmingham City 2005–06[45] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2006–07[46] Championship 32 0 1 0 1 0 — 34 0
2007–08[47] Premier League 26 0 0 0 1 0 — 27 0
2008–09[48] Championship 11 0 0 0 1 1 — 12 1
Total 80 0 1 0 3 1 — 84 1
Aris 2009–10[49][50] Superleague Greece 22 4 6 0 — 2[a] 0 30 4
2010–11[49][50] Superleague Greece 10 0 1 0 — 4[b] 0 15 0
Total 32 4 7 0 — 6 0 45 4
Real Valladolid 2010–11[51] Segunda División 18 1 — — 2[c] 0 20 1
2011–12[52] Segunda División 33 0 1 0 — 4[c] 0 38 0
Total 51 1 1 0 — 6 0 58 1
Real Murcia [53] Segunda División 30 0 0 0 — — 30 0
Cádiz 2013–14[54] Segunda División B 15 0 — — 0 0 15 0
Career total 364 9 15 1 4 1 12 0 495 11
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Superleague Greece Champions League play-offs
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Appearances in Segunda División play-offs

Managerial statistics[]

As of match played 27 February 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Marbella Spain 10 June 2016[27] 7 March 2017[28] 28 14 7 7 39 33 +6 050.00 [55]
Mérida Spain 27 June 2017[29] 20 December 2017[30] 20 6 7 7 19 21 −2 030.00 [56]
Mérida Spain 12 March 2018[31] 28 May 2018[32] 11 3 5 3 9 9 +0 027.27 [56]
Badajoz Spain 30 October 2018[33] 3 February 2020 57 30 14 13 77 46 +31 052.63 [57]
Étoile du Sahel Tunisia 8 October 2020 14 October 2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
Lugo Spain 14 October 2020 28 February 2021 24 8 9 7 27 26 +1 033.33 [58]
Total 140 61 42 37 171 135 +36 043.57 —

Honours[]

Tunisia

References[]

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  2. ^ Llamas, Fernando (16 March 2003). "La Real salta el obstáculo del Racing" [Real jump the Racing hurdle]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  3. ^ "El Albacete sale del descenso con una goleada (4–0) al Racing" [Albacete get out of the relegation zone with a rout (4–0) of Racing]. ABC (in Spanish). 8 December 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  4. ^ Soto, Víctor (10 January 2005). "Mucha bronca, poco fútbol" [Plenty of aggro, not much football]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Birmingham recruit Nafti on loan". BBC Sport. 31 January 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Man Utd 2–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 5 February 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  7. ^ Clarkson, Ian (20 February 2005). "Football: I'm called nasty for a reason". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Birmingham complete Nafti signing". BBC Sport. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  9. ^ "Nafti set to miss entire season". BBC Sport. 10 August 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Nafti continues comeback trail". BBC Sport. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  11. ^ "Bolton 1–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 7 May 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Nafti finally ends goal drought". BBC Sport. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Squad rebuilding begins". Birmingham City F.C. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  14. ^ "Mehdi Nafti signed Aris FC". Aris F.C. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  15. ^ "Win 1–0 over PAS Ioannina". Aris F.C. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
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  19. ^ Ruiz, Alfonso; Léon, C. (15 December 2013). "El Cádiz, a ganar para no perder de vista la cabeza" [Cádiz, to win so they don't lose sight of the top] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). p. 34. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
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  28. ^ Jump up to: a b "El Marbella destituye a Mehdi Nafti y le sustituye Miguel Álvarez" [Marbella dismiss Mehdi Nafti and replace him with Miguel Álvarez]. Marca (in Spanish). 7 March 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mehdi Nafti, nuevo entrenador del Mérida" [Mehdi Nafti, Mérida's new manager]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b F.G. (21 December 2017). "El adiós elegante de Nafti" [Nafti's elegant farewell]. Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b Fernández, Menchu (12 March 2018). "Mehdi Nafti vuelve al Mérida tras ser despedido en diciembre" [Mehdi Nafti returns to Mérida after being dismissed in December]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b E.P.E. (28 May 2018). "El Mérida vuelve a kilómetro 0" [Mérida back to square one]. El Periódico Extremadura (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mehdi Nafti como sustituto Patxi Salinas" [Mehdi Nafti in place of Patxi Salinas]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). EFE. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  34. ^ Jump up to: a b S.D. (4 February 2020). "Nafti, destituido como entrenador del Badajoz" [Nafti, dismissed as manager of Badajoz]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  35. ^ "Mehdi Nafti pone rumbo a Túnez" [Mehdi Nafti goes to Tunis] (in Spanish). Badajoz Deportes. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Mehdi Nafti, nuevo entrenador del CD Lugo" [Mehdi Nafti, new manager of CD Lugo] (in Spanish). CD Lugo. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  37. ^ "El CD Lugo determina el cese de Mehdi Nafti como entrenador del primer equipo" [CD Lugo announce the sacking of Mehdi Nafti as first team manager] (in Spanish). CD Lugo. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b c "La fiche de Mehdi Nafti (Toulouse FC)" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. Retrieved 23 March 2018. Select season and competition via dropdown menus.
  39. ^ "Racing de Santander B 2000–01". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  40. ^ "Racing de Santander 2000–01". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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  42. ^ "Racing de Santander 2002–03". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  43. ^ "Racing de Santander 2003–04". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  44. ^ "Racing de Santander 2004–05". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b "Games played by Mehdi Nafti in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  46. ^ "Games played by Mehdi Nafti in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  47. ^ "Games played by Mehdi Nafti in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  48. ^ "Games played by Mehdi Nafti in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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  50. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mehdi Nafti" Μεχντί Ναφτί (in Greek). Aris FC. Archived from the original on 19 November 2010.
  51. ^ "Valladolid 2010–11". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  52. ^ "Valladolid 2011–12". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  53. ^ "Murcia 2012–13". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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  57. ^ "Nafti: Mehdi Ben Sadok Nafti Matches 2018–19". BDFutbol. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
    "Nafti: Mehdi Ben Sadok Nafti Matches 2019–20". BDFutbol. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  58. ^ "Nafti: Mehdi Ben Sadok Nafti Matches 2020–21". BDFutbol. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  59. ^ "Tunisia win Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 14 February 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2011.

External links[]


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