Hassan El Fakiri
Encyclopedia
Hassan El Fakiri is a Norwegian
footballer
currently playing for SK Brann.
El Fakiri started his career with the Oslo-based club Lyn. He made his debut in game against local rivals Skeid
on 28 May 1995. As a young and talented midfielder, El Fakiri earned the adulation of the Lyn fans, who made him player of the year in 1997.
El Fakiri joined SK Brann in 2000, instantly catching the eyes of scouts from the French side AS Monaco FC
. Due to SK Brann's dire financial straits at the time, Hassan El Fakiri was sold to the French Ligue 1 team before he had actually played a league game for SK Brann. El Fakiri played nine league games for SK Brann, scoring three goals, before leaving Bergen
in the transfer window. One of the most notable contributions from El Fakiri was a sterling performance in midfield in the first game of the 2000 Tippeliga season, a 4–1 home drubbing of local rivals Viking FK. Two of the goals in this game was scored by the striker Mons Ivar Mjelde
, who later re-signed El Fakiri, this time as manager for SK Brann.
El Fakiri's stay in Monaco started off slowly, being sent out on loan to both his boyhood team Lyn and Rosenborg BK. The 2002–03 French League 1 season saw El Fakiris fortunes change, with AS Monaco coach Didier Deschamps
' preferring to use the midfielder as a right back. Hassan El Fakiri was even a un-used substitute in the 2004 Champions League final between AS Monaco and Portuguese side FC Porto. Hassan El Fakiris contract with AS Monaco FC expired in 2005, and El Fakiri chose to continue his career with Borussia Mönchengladbach
, joining the Bundesliga side on a Bosman free transfer. At Borussia, El Fakiri returned to his favoured midfield berth, helping the side to tenth place in the 2005–06 Bundesliga. However, the next season Borussia were relegated from the Bundesliga after losing 1–0 at home to VfB Stuttgart
on the last matchday.
The relegation coincided with El Fakiri's contract expiring, and after considering several contract proposals from Norwegian clubs, Fakiri returned to Brann seven years after he left Brann for Monaco. El Fakiri's return to Bergen was a happy one, helping SK Brann to their first Norwegian championship in 44 years.
He has been capped nine times by the Norway national football team.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
currently playing for SK Brann.
El Fakiri started his career with the Oslo-based club Lyn. He made his debut in game against local rivals Skeid
Skeid Fotball
Skeid Fotball is a Norwegian football club and is located in the capital Oslo. Its current home field is Bislett. In past decades it has gained a reputation as a talent factory for the larger clubs in Norwegian football, and it has produced several players for the national team such as Daniel...
on 28 May 1995. As a young and talented midfielder, El Fakiri earned the adulation of the Lyn fans, who made him player of the year in 1997.
El Fakiri joined SK Brann in 2000, instantly catching the eyes of scouts from the French side AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
. Due to SK Brann's dire financial straits at the time, Hassan El Fakiri was sold to the French Ligue 1 team before he had actually played a league game for SK Brann. El Fakiri played nine league games for SK Brann, scoring three goals, before leaving Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in the transfer window. One of the most notable contributions from El Fakiri was a sterling performance in midfield in the first game of the 2000 Tippeliga season, a 4–1 home drubbing of local rivals Viking FK. Two of the goals in this game was scored by the striker Mons Ivar Mjelde
Mons Ivar Mjelde
Mons Ivar Mjelde is a former footballer and is currently head coach for the Norwegian Tippeliga club Start.- Player :...
, who later re-signed El Fakiri, this time as manager for SK Brann.
El Fakiri's stay in Monaco started off slowly, being sent out on loan to both his boyhood team Lyn and Rosenborg BK. The 2002–03 French League 1 season saw El Fakiris fortunes change, with AS Monaco coach Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps
Didier Claude Deschamps is a retired French footballer and current manager of Marseille. He played as a defensive midfielder. As an international, he assisted France with victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000...
' preferring to use the midfielder as a right back. Hassan El Fakiri was even a un-used substitute in the 2004 Champions League final between AS Monaco and Portuguese side FC Porto. Hassan El Fakiris contract with AS Monaco FC expired in 2005, and El Fakiri chose to continue his career with Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
, joining the Bundesliga side on a Bosman free transfer. At Borussia, El Fakiri returned to his favoured midfield berth, helping the side to tenth place in the 2005–06 Bundesliga. However, the next season Borussia were relegated from the Bundesliga after losing 1–0 at home to VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
on the last matchday.
The relegation coincided with El Fakiri's contract expiring, and after considering several contract proposals from Norwegian clubs, Fakiri returned to Brann seven years after he left Brann for Monaco. El Fakiri's return to Bergen was a happy one, helping SK Brann to their first Norwegian championship in 44 years.
He has been capped nine times by the Norway national football team.