Abderrahmane Soukhane
Encyclopedia
Abderrahmane Soukane is a retired Algeria
n football player.
. At the age of 20, he joined French
club Le Havre AC
, playing with the club for 8 seasons. He helped the team reach the top flight of French
football in 1959, winning the Division 2 Championship
. However, after three seasons, Le Havre
was relegated again to the second division. Soukane stayed with the club until 1964, when the professional section of the club was disbanded. In his final season with Le Havre
, he would finish as the top scorer in Ligue 2
with 21 goals, the first Africa
n to do so.
In 1964, he joined Toulouse FC
after discussions with long-time FLN
teammate Kader Firoud
who was announced as coach of the team. In his first season, Toulouse finished a modest 11th in the 18-team top division. In his second season, they finished 4th in the standings, earning a ticket to the UEFA Cup
(known as the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Finals then). He would also lead the team to the semi-finals of the Coupe de France
, where they lost 2-1 to RC Strasbourg
. Soukane scored Toulouse's only goal in that game, and was used also used as goalkeeper after the expulsion of the Toulouse keeper Devis. Soukane played two more seasons with Toulouse FC
, and at the end of the 1967 season left the club after the disbandment of the professional section. He played one season with Red Star 93 before retiring from football.
n FLN
team which fought for the independence of Algeria
from France
. He played in tours and friendlies all over the world before.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n football player.
Biography
Nicknamed Soukane II, he started his playing career in the junior ranks of JS El BiarJS El Biar
Jeunesse Sportive d'El Biar, referred to commonly as JS El Biar or JSEB for short, is an Algerian football club based in the El Biar district of Alger, Algeria...
. At the age of 20, he joined French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
club Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
, playing with the club for 8 seasons. He helped the team reach the top flight of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
football in 1959, winning the Division 2 Championship
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
. However, after three seasons, Le Havre
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
was relegated again to the second division. Soukane stayed with the club until 1964, when the professional section of the club was disbanded. In his final season with Le Havre
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
, he would finish as the top scorer in Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
with 21 goals, the first Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n to do so.
In 1964, he joined Toulouse FC
Toulouse FC (1937)
Toulouse Football Club was a French association football team playing in the city of Toulouse, Haute-Garonne. The team was founded in 1937 and disappeared in 1967, in a merge with Red Star Olympique. Even though this team held the same name as Toulouse's current main club , the two teams are not to...
after discussions with long-time FLN
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
teammate Kader Firoud
Kader Firoud
Abdelkader Firoud , most commonly known as Kader Firoud, was a French-Algerian professional football midfielder and manager.-External links:*...
who was announced as coach of the team. In his first season, Toulouse finished a modest 11th in the 18-team top division. In his second season, they finished 4th in the standings, earning a ticket to the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
(known as the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Finals then). He would also lead the team to the semi-finals of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
, where they lost 2-1 to RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
. Soukane scored Toulouse's only goal in that game, and was used also used as goalkeeper after the expulsion of the Toulouse keeper Devis. Soukane played two more seasons with Toulouse FC
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
, and at the end of the 1967 season left the club after the disbandment of the professional section. He played one season with Red Star 93 before retiring from football.
International career
Abderrahmane Soukane, along with his brother Mohamed, were members of the AlgeriaAlgeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n FLN
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
team which fought for the independence of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He played in tours and friendlies all over the world before.