Wahbi Khazri

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Wahbi Khazri
Wahbi Khazri.jpg
Khazri lining up with Tunisia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Wahbi Khazri[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-08) 8 February 1991 (age 30)
Place of birth Ajaccio, Corsica, France
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Club information
Current team
 Saint-Étienne
Number 10
Youth career
1995–2003 JS Ajaccio
2003–2009 Bastia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2014 Bastia 171 (31)
2014–2016 Bordeaux 52 (14)
2016–2018 Sunderland 38 (3)
2017–2018 → Rennes (loan) 24 (9)
2018– Saint-Étienne 74 (24)
National team‡
2009 Tunisia U20 1 (1)
2012 France U21 1 (0)
2013– Tunisia 61 (21)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:36, 28 August 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:21, 7 September 2021 (UTC)

Wahbi Khazri (Arabic: وهبي خزري‎; born 8 February 1991) is a Tunisian professional footballer who plays as an Attacking midfielder for French Ligue 1 side Saint-Étienne and the Tunisia national team.

He began his career at Bastia, scoring 34 goals in 183 competitive games, winning the Championnat National and Ligue 2 in consecutive seasons. After 18 months at Bordeaux of Ligue 1, he transferred to Sunderland in January 2016, who loaned him to Rennes in 2017–18.

Khazri represented Tunisia at under-20 level and France at under-21. He made his senior debut for the former in 2013 and represented the country at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Club career[]

Bastia[]

A native of Ajaccio, Khazri started his career with local side Jeunesse Sportive Ajaccio before moving to SC Bastia. He received his first call up to the senior squad for their match against Amiens SC on 20 February 2009.[3] He made his debut in that match coming on as a substitute in the 85th minute for Ludovic Genest. Bastia scored the winning goal a minute later to win the match 1–0.[4] He scored his first career goal on 13 March 2009, in a 1–0 victory over Montpellier.[5] Wahbi quickly established himself as a goalscorer, scoring again a couple of weeks later in a 3–1 win over Vannes.[6] He scored again, this time on the final match day of the season against Troyes, scoring the first goal in a 2–1 victory.[7] The loss meant Troyes would be relegated to the Championnat National.

Bordeaux[]

After five years in Bastia, Khazri signed a four-year contract with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in July 2014.[8]

Sunderland[]

Khazri (right) playing for Sunderland against Chelsea in May 2016

On 30 January 2016, Khazri joined Sunderland on a four and a half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[9] Khazri scored his first goal for Sunderland against Manchester United on 13 February 2016, opening the scoring with a direct free kick that beat David de Gea at his far post. Khazri later set up Lamine Koné's 82nd-minute goal from a corner, as Sunderland won 2–1.[citation needed]

On 7 May 2016, Khazri scored a volley in a 3–2 win over Chelsea as manager Sam Allardyce's team neared survival in the Premier League. Richard Mennear of the Sunderland Echo wrote that "His work rate was immense, pressing and probing the Chelsea defence and causing problems from set pieces. He has regained his form just at the right time".[10]

On 31 August 2017, Khazri returned to Ligue 1, signing a season-long loan at Rennes.[11] He was sent off on 14 October in a 2–0 Derby Breton loss at Guingamp, earning two yellow cards for dissent within ten seconds.[12] His nine goals helped the club to 5th place and qualification to the Europa League.[13]

Saint-Étienne[]

Following Sunderland's relegation to League One, Khazri made a full return to France and joined Saint-Étienne on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 17 July 2018.[13] He scored 13 times as they finished in fourth place, putting him joint 9th in goalscorers for the whole season.[14] These included braces in home wins over Monaco on 28 September and Marseille the following 16 January.[15][16]

International career[]

Khazri playing with Tunisia against Panama at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Youth teams[]

In 2009, Khazri made his debut for the Tunisia national under-20 football team.[17] However, in November 2011, he was called up by Erick Mombaerts to the France national under-21 football team for a pair of 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifiers against Romania and Slovakia.[18] In February 2012, he played his first and only game for the French side, against Italy, before being substituted by Frédéric Bulot.[19]

Senior team[]

In late 2012, Khazri switched his international allegiance once again, when he accepted a call-up from Sami Trabelsi, the Tunisian national team's coach, including him in the squad for the 2013 African Cup of Nations.[20]

Henryk Kasperczak named Khazri among 23 Tunisians to compete at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.[21] In the final group game, a 4–2 win over Zimbabwe at the Stade d'Angondjé, he assisted Naïm Sliti and scored a penalty in a 4–2 win that put the Carthage Eagles through at the expense of a favoured Algeria side.[22]

Manager Nabil Maâloul called up Khazri for Tunisia's squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[23] In the second group match, he assisted Dylan Bronn and scored himself in added time in a 5–2 loss to Belgium in Moscow.[24] With both teams already eliminated, he then played his part in a 2–1 comeback win over Panama that was Tunisia's first at the World Cup since 1978; he set up Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and then scored the winning goal, the 2,500th in the competition's history.[25]

Khazri was the captain of the Tunisian side that came fourth at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. In their second group game, he equalised to earn a 1–1 draw with Mali in Port Suez.[26]

Career statistics[]

Club[]

As of match played 28 August 2021[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Team Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bastia 2008–09 Ligue 2 12 3 0 0 0 0 — 12 3
2009–10 31 2 0 0 1 0 — 32 2
2010–11 Championnat National 34 4 0 0 4 1 — 38 5
2011–12 Ligue 2 33 9 2 1 0 0 — 35 10
2012–13 Ligue 1 29 7 0 0 3 0 — 32 7
2013–14 32 6 1 1 1 0 — 34 7
Total 171 31 3 2 9 1 — 183 34
Bordeaux 2014–15 Ligue 1 32 9 1 0 1 0 — 34 9
2015–16 20 5 1 0 1 0 8[a] 1 30 6
Total 52 14 2 0 2 0 8 1 64 15
Sunderland 2015–16 Premier League 14 2 0 0 0 0 — 14 2
2016–17 21 1 0 0 2 0 — 23 1
2017–18 Championship 3 0 0 0 2 0 — 5 0
Total 38 3 0 0 4 0 — 42 3
Rennes (loan) 2017–18 Ligue 1 24 9 1 0 4 2 — 29 11
Saint-Étienne 2018–19 32 13 2 1 1 0 — 35 14
2019–20 16 3 3 1 1 0 3[a] 2 23 6
2020–21 22 7 1 0 — — 23 7
2021–22 4 2 0 0 — — 4 2
Total 74 24 6 2 2 0 3 1 85 29
Career total 359 82 12 4 21 3 11 3 403 91
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League

International[]

As of 7 September 2021[28]
Tunisia
Year Apps Goals
2013 7 2
2014 6 3
2015 9 3
2016 5 2
2017 7 1
2018 8 3
2019 11 5
2020 4 0
2021 4 2
Total 61 21

International goals[]

Scores and results list Tunisia's goal tally first.[28]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 23 March 2013 Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia  Sierra Leone 2–0 2–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 14 August 2013  Congo 1–0 3–0 Friendly
3. 5 March 2014 RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain  Colombia 1–1 1–1
4. 6 September 2014 Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir, Tunisia  Botswana 1–1 2–1 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5. 19 November 2014  Egypt 2–1 2–1
6. 11 January 2015 Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia  Algeria 1–1 1–1 Friendly
7. 9 October 2015  Gabon 3–1 3–3
8. 13 November 2015 Stade Olympique, Nouakchott, Mauritania  Mauritania 1–1 2–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
9. 4 September 2016 Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir, Tunisia  Liberia 1–0 4–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10. 11 November 2016 Omar Hamadi Stadium, Algiers, Algeria  Libya 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
11. 23 January 2017 Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville, Gabon  Zimbabwe 4–1 4–2 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
12. 27 March 2018 Allianz Riviera, Nice, France  Costa Rica 1–0 1–0 Friendly
13. 23 June 2018 Otkritie Arena, Moscow, Russia  Belgium 2–5 2–5 2018 FIFA World Cup
14. 28 June 2018 Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia  Panama 2–1 2–1
15. 7 June 2019 Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia  Iraq 1–0 2–0 Friendly
16. 28 June 2019 Suez Stadium, Suez, Egypt  Mali 1–1 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
17. 15 November 2019 Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia  Libya 1–0 4–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
18. 4–1
19. 19 November 2019 Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea  Equatorial Guinea 1–0 1–0
20. 3 September 2021 Stade Hammadi Agrebi, Radès, Tunisia 3–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
21. 7 September 2021 Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia  Zambia 1–0 2–0

Honours[]

Club[]

Bastia

Tunisia

Individual[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  2. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Sporting Club di Bastia". Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  4. ^ "Amiens v. Bastia Match Report". Archived from the original on 24 February 2009.
  5. ^ "Bastia v. Montpellier Match Report". Archived from the original on 12 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Bastia v. Vannes Match Report". Archived from the original on 5 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Bastia v. Troyes Match Report". Archived from the original on 2 June 2009.
  8. ^ "Wahbi Khazri signs for Bordeaux!". girondins.com. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Black Cats sign Wahbi Khazri". Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
  10. ^ Mennear, Richard (8 May 2016). "Sunderland 3 Chelsea 2: Wahbi Khazri back to his best plus five other things learned from huge win". Sunderland Echo.
  11. ^ Mannear, Richard (31 August 2017). "Revealed: Details of Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri's Rennes loan deal". The Shields Gazette. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  12. ^ McCormick, Sean (16 October 2017). "Sunderland AFC loan watch: Khazri sees red; Borini suffers derby heartache but stars in new role". Chronicle. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Wahbi Khazri: Sunderland's Tunisia winger joins St Etienne for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Mbappé acaba máximo goleador en Francia, pero no alcanza a Messi" [Mbappé ends up top goalscorer in France, but does not match Messi]. La Razón (in Spanish). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  15. ^ "St Etienne 2-0 AS Monaco: Wahbi Khazri double condemns Leonardo Jardim's men to fourth Ligue 1 defeat". Sky Sports. AFP. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Khazri double takes Saint-Etienne third, sinks Marseille". Ligue 1. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  17. ^ "Montpellier : vers l'association Saihi-Khazri". Topnet.tn. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  18. ^ Jérôme Negroni (28 February 2010). "Khazri : " Un beau match à jouer "". SC-Bastia.net. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  19. ^ "Match : France – Italie". fff.fr. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  20. ^ "Khazri switches allegiance to Tunisia". Al Jazeera. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  21. ^ Abdallah, Salma (5 January 2017). "Tunisia announce 23-man squad for Africa Cup of Nations". King Fut. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  22. ^ Young, Henry; Grez, Matias (23 January 2017). "AFCON 2017: Algeria and Zimbabwe crash out". CNN. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  23. ^ Adewoye, Gbenga (2 June 2018). "Tunisia unveil 23-man squad for the World Cup". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  24. ^ Bevan, Chris (23 June 2018). "Belgium 5–2 Tunisia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  25. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (28 June 2018). "Panama 1–2 Tunisia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  26. ^ "Captain Khazri salvages Cup of Nations draw for Tunisia". France 24. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  27. ^ Wahbi Khazri at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b "Wahbi Khazri". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Tunisia - Nigeria live - 17 July 2019". 17 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Référendum TAP : Malek Jaziri meilleur sportif, Wahbi Khazri meilleur footballeur | Revue de Sport". news.gnet.tn. Retrieved 2 July 2020.

External links[]

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