Karim Aït-Fana
Encyclopedia
Karim Aït-Fana (born 25 February 1989) is a French footballer of Moroccan
descent currently playing for Ligue 1 club Montpellier
. Aït-Fana can play in a variety of attacking positions, which include playing in the hole, as a winger, and in the attacking midfield position. His father is from Azrou
and his mother is from Meknes
.
, a regional youth academy that is comparable to that of the Clairefontaine
academy, in order to receive further training. While training at Châteauroux during the week, he played with hometown club Limoges FC on the weekends. After spending two years at the academy, he joined Montpellier
.
Aït-Fana made his professional football debut on 12 May 2006, the final match day of the 05-06 Ligue 2 season
, coming on as a late-match substitute playing 9 minutes in a 0–1 loss to Le Havre
. The following season
, his playing time increased to 13 matches. He also scored his first goal during this season on 27 April 2007 against LB Châteauroux
in a 1–3 defeat. Aït-Fana's role in the team was greatly expanded for the 2007–08 season as he appeared in 37 total matches. He scored his only two goals for the season in the final league match of the season against FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin
, which Montpellier won 5–0.
Montpellier earned promotion to Ligue 1 following the club's successful campaign during the 2008–09 season with Aït-Fana having an influential role. He scored a career-high six goals during the campaign including the winner against Guingamp late in the season with the club in the midst of a promotion battle. Due to his successful season, Aït-Fana was given a contract extension with the club until the year 2012. In his first season with Montpellier in Ligue 1, Aït-Fana has been a revelation in the team, which has reached as high as 2nd position in the league. He has scored impressive goals against Sochaux
, Boulogne
, Le Mans, and Marseille
. Montpellier have gone undefeated in the five league matches Aït-Fana has scored in.
for France
. He has earned limited caps with the under-16s, under-17s, under-18s, and the under U-19 squad. After not representing France for over a year and a half, it was speculated that Aït-Fana would follow in the footsteps on fellow French-born Moroccan Marouane Chamakh
and play for Morocco
, his country of origin. However, on 1 October 2009, he was called up to the France under-21 team
by coach Erick Mombaerts
for their 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
matches against Malta on 9 October and Belgium
on 13 October. Aït-Fana made his debut in the Malta match appearing as a substitute in the 76th minute. Despite being on the pitch for mere seconds, he scored France's second goal of the match ensuring them a 2–0 victory.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
descent currently playing for Ligue 1 club Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
. Aït-Fana can play in a variety of attacking positions, which include playing in the hole, as a winger, and in the attacking midfield position. His father is from Azrou
Azrou
Azrou is a small Moroccan city 89 kilometers south of Fez, in the Meknès-Tafilalet region.-Geography:Azrou, which means rock in the indigenous Tamazight Berber language, is located in the heart of The Middle Atlas region of Morocco between Meknes, Fez, Ifrane, Midelt and Khenifra. The N13 road...
and his mother is from Meknes
Meknes
Meknes is a city in northern Morocco, located from the capital Rabat and from Fes. It is served by the A2 expressway between those two cities and by the corresponding railway. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail , before it was relocated to Marrakech. The...
.
Career
Aït-Fana was born in Limoges and began his career playing for his local club, Air Limoges. At the age of thirteen, he was selected to attend the Centre de Formation de ChâteaurouxChâteauroux
Châteauroux is the capital of the Indre department in central France and the second-largest town in the province of Berry, after Bourges. Its residents are called Castelroussines or Castelroussins....
, a regional youth academy that is comparable to that of the Clairefontaine
Clairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre , commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine , INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players...
academy, in order to receive further training. While training at Châteauroux during the week, he played with hometown club Limoges FC on the weekends. After spending two years at the academy, he joined Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
.
Aït-Fana made his professional football debut on 12 May 2006, the final match day of the 05-06 Ligue 2 season
Ligue 2 season 2005-06
The Ligue 2 season 2005/2006, organised by the LFP was won by Valenciennes FC and saw the promotions of Valenciennes FC, CS Sedan Ardennes and FC Lorient, whereas AC Ajaccio, RC Strasbourg and FC Metz were relegated from Ligue 1.-20 participating teams:...
, coming on as a late-match substitute playing 9 minutes in a 0–1 loss to 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...
. The following season
Ligue 2 2006-07
The Ligue 2 season 2006/2007, organised by the LFP was won by FC Metz and saw the promotions of FC Metz, SM Caen and RC Strasbourg, whereas FC Nantes Atlantique, CS Sedan Ardennes and Troyes AC were relegated from Ligue 1.-20 participating teams:-Results:...
, his playing time increased to 13 matches. He also scored his first goal during this season on 27 April 2007 against LB Châteauroux
LB Châteauroux
La Berrichonne de Châteauroux is a French association football club based in Châteauroux. The football team is a part of a sports club that consists of several other sports and was founded in 1883. The team currently plays in Ligue 2, the second division of French football, having finished 16th in...
in a 1–3 defeat. Aït-Fana's role in the team was greatly expanded for the 2007–08 season as he appeared in 37 total matches. He scored his only two goals for the season in the final league match of the season against FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin
FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin
FC Libourne-Saint-Seurin are a French football team from the town of Libourne in Aquitaine. They currently play in the Championnat de France amateur Group C.-History:...
, which Montpellier won 5–0.
Montpellier earned promotion to Ligue 1 following the club's successful campaign during the 2008–09 season with Aït-Fana having an influential role. He scored a career-high six goals during the campaign including the winner against Guingamp late in the season with the club in the midst of a promotion battle. Due to his successful season, Aït-Fana was given a contract extension with the club until the year 2012. In his first season with Montpellier in Ligue 1, Aït-Fana has been a revelation in the team, which has reached as high as 2nd position in the league. He has scored impressive goals against Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
, Boulogne
US Boulogne
Union Sportive de Boulogne-sur-Mer Côte d'Opale is a French association football club based in the commune of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The club was founded in 1898 and currently plays in Ligue 2, the second of division of French football, having been relegated from Ligue 1 during the 2009–10 season.The...
, Le Mans, and Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. Montpellier have gone undefeated in the five league matches Aït-Fana has scored in.
International career
Aït-Fana has been active on the international youth circuitFrance national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
for France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. He has earned limited caps with the under-16s, under-17s, under-18s, and the under U-19 squad. After not representing France for over a year and a half, it was speculated that Aït-Fana would follow in the footsteps on fellow French-born Moroccan Marouane Chamakh
Marouane Chamakh
Marouane Chamakh is a French-Moroccan footballer who plays for English club Arsenal in the Premier League and the Moroccan national team as a striker. He is described as a prototypical target man and is noted for his "tall stature" and "excellent heading ability".Chamakh started his career...
and play for Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
, his country of origin. However, on 1 October 2009, he was called up to the France under-21 team
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
by coach Erick Mombaerts
Erick Mombaerts
Erick Mombaerts is a French football coach and retired player. He is currently involved with the youth sections of the French national side.-Playing career:...
for their 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started with a qualifying competition which began on 27 March 2009 and finished on 13 October 2010. The final tournament is being held in Denmark between 11–25 June 2011....
matches against Malta on 9 October and Belgium
Belgium national under-21 football team
The Belgium national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
on 13 October. Aït-Fana made his debut in the Malta match appearing as a substitute in the 76th minute. Despite being on the pitch for mere seconds, he scored France's second goal of the match ensuring them a 2–0 victory.