Karim Saidi
Encyclopedia
Karim Saïdi is a Tunisia
n football player who currently plays for Belgian club Lierse SK.
When Karim was 10 years old he joined Club Africain
, one of the major clubs in Tunisia
. He made his debut in the Tunisian national team
against Morocco
in 2003. In 2004 the right-footed defender moved to Feyenoord Rotterdam
after advice from his friend Hatem Trabelsi and signed a contract till 2008. During his first season he was the first choice in Feyenoord's central defense, as a result of which he played 30 matches in the Dutch Eredivisie
.
As of 2005/06, Saïdi lost his spot in the starting eleven. Determined to play as a regular in order to increase his chances to be in the Tunisian squad
during the FIFA
World Cup 2006
, he moved on loan to US Lecce of Italian Serie A
on January 31, 2006. He made 9 appearances with Lecce and gained a place in the Tunisian squad for the FIFA World Cup 2006.
Following the World Cup, Karim returned to Feyenoord for the 2006/2007 season. He remained at the club until January 2008, when he moved on loan to Sivasspor in January 2008. Karim made a good impression in the Turkish first division helping the club secure an impressive fourth place allowing it to participate in its first ever European cup.
On October 9, 2008 he signed a four-year contract with his former club Club Africain
. Failing to reassert himself in his childhood club, he signed a two-year deal with Tours FC
in June 2009.
On July 9, 2011 Saidi signed a two-year contract with Belgian Pro League outfit Lierse SK.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n football player who currently plays for Belgian club Lierse SK.
When Karim was 10 years old he joined Club Africain
Club Africain
The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
, one of the major clubs in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. He made his debut in the Tunisian national team
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
against Morocco
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...
in 2003. In 2004 the right-footed defender moved to Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
after advice from his friend Hatem Trabelsi and signed a contract till 2008. During his first season he was the first choice in Feyenoord's central defense, as a result of which he played 30 matches in the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
.
As of 2005/06, Saïdi lost his spot in the starting eleven. Determined to play as a regular in order to increase his chances to be in the Tunisian squad
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
during the FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
World Cup 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, he moved on loan to US Lecce of Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
on January 31, 2006. He made 9 appearances with Lecce and gained a place in the Tunisian squad for the FIFA World Cup 2006.
Following the World Cup, Karim returned to Feyenoord for the 2006/2007 season. He remained at the club until January 2008, when he moved on loan to Sivasspor in January 2008. Karim made a good impression in the Turkish first division helping the club secure an impressive fourth place allowing it to participate in its first ever European cup.
On October 9, 2008 he signed a four-year contract with his former club Club Africain
Club Africain
The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
. Failing to reassert himself in his childhood club, he signed a two-year deal with Tours FC
Tours FC
Tours Football Club is a French association football club based in Tours, the capital city of the Indre-et-Loire department. The club was formed in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Tours plays its home matches at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher located within...
in June 2009.
On July 9, 2011 Saidi signed a two-year contract with Belgian Pro League outfit Lierse SK.
External links
- Career stats - National football teams
- Career stats - Voetbal International