Radhi Jaïdi
Encyclopedia
Radhi Ben Abdelmajid Jaïdi (born 30 August 1975 in Tunis) is a Tunisia
n footballer who joined Npower Championship club Southampton
in September 2009. He plays as a centre back.
on a free transfer in July 2004 from Espérance Sportive de Tunis, who won the Tunisian league title the season before. Jaidi followed in the footsteps of Tunisian Rochdi Karaa, the first Tunisian to play professional football in England (Darlington 83-84).
Jaïdi made a lasting first impression with Bolton coach Sam Allardyce
, who has consistently hailed him as a brilliant header of the ball.
Jaïdi joined Birmingham City in the summer of 2006 for £
2 million. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over Crystal Palace
in the early stages of the season although he almost scored an own goal in this match. After three years with the club, he was not offered another deal when his contract expired at the end of June 2009.
In August 2009, Jaïdi passed a medical and agreed personal terms with Football League One
club Southampton
, but the transfer stalled when doubts arose over the player's eligibility for a work permit
. However, on 2 September 2009, the club confirmed that Jaïdi had signed a two-year contract, subject to work-permit clearance. He received his international clearance on 10 September, and made his debut as a 77th-minute substitute at Charlton
two days later. He scored his 1st goal for the Saints in the 1–1 draw away to Carlisle United
on 26 September; the 95th-minute goal came from a free kick which earned his side the draw.
His first goal in the 2010-2011 season came in a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town.
line-up and was selected by coach Roger Lemerre for the 2006 World Cup
. He scored the goal which secured a 2–2 draw in their opening game against Saudi Arabia. He had previously been part of Tunisia's 2004 African Nations Cup-winning squad, and played in the 2002 World Cup
. He captained the Tunisian national team in the 2008 African Cup of Nations
, where they went out in the quarter finals to Cameroon.
Espérance
Southampton
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 footballer who joined Npower Championship club Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in September 2009. He plays as a centre back.
Club career
Jaïdi signed for Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
on a free transfer in July 2004 from Espérance Sportive de Tunis, who won the Tunisian league title the season before. Jaidi followed in the footsteps of Tunisian Rochdi Karaa, the first Tunisian to play professional football in England (Darlington 83-84).
Jaïdi made a lasting first impression with Bolton coach Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
, who has consistently hailed him as a brilliant header of the ball.
Jaïdi joined Birmingham City in the summer of 2006 for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
2 million. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in the early stages of the season although he almost scored an own goal in this match. After three years with the club, he was not offered another deal when his contract expired at the end of June 2009.
In August 2009, Jaïdi passed a medical and agreed personal terms with Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, but the transfer stalled when doubts arose over the player's eligibility for a work permit
Work permit (United Kingdom)
The UK Work Permit scheme was an immigration category used to encourage skilled workers to enter the United Kingdom up till November 2008, when it was replaced by the points-based immigration system...
. However, on 2 September 2009, the club confirmed that Jaïdi had signed a two-year contract, subject to work-permit clearance. He received his international clearance on 10 September, and made his debut as a 77th-minute substitute at Charlton
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
two days later. He scored his 1st goal for the Saints in the 1–1 draw away to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
on 26 September; the 95th-minute goal came from a free kick which earned his side the draw.
His first goal in the 2010-2011 season came in a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town.
International career
Jaïdi was also a regular in the TunisiaTunisia 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...
line-up and was selected by coach Roger Lemerre for the 2006 World Cup
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 scored the goal which secured a 2–2 draw in their opening game against Saudi Arabia. He had previously been part of Tunisia's 2004 African Nations Cup-winning squad, and played in the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. He captained the Tunisian national team in the 2008 African Cup of Nations
2008 African Cup of Nations
The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated to the Confederation of African Football . The tournament was staged at...
, where they went out in the quarter finals to Cameroon.
Honours
TunisiaTunisia 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...
- African Cup of NationsAfrican Cup of NationsThe Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
: 20042004 African Cup of NationsThe 2004 African Cup of Nations was the 24th edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa . It was hosted by Tunisia. Just like in 2002, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four...
Espérance
- Tunisian LeagueTunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1The CLP-1 or "Championnat de la Ligue Professionnelle 1" is the top division of the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. It was created in 1921.-History:...
: 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
- Tunisian President CupTunisian President CupThe "Tunisian President Cup" mostly known as the Tunisian Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Tunisian football. It was created in 1922.-Winners before independence:*1922/23 : Avant Garde *1923/24 : Racing Club...
: 1997, 1999
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 1994
- African Cup Winners' CupAfrican Cup Winners' CupThe African Cup Winners' Cup was a football competition that started in 1975 and merged with the CAF Cup in 2004 to form the CAF Confederations Cup...
: 1998
- CAF Super CupCAF Super CupThe CAF Super Cup is an annual African association football competition contested between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. The competition was first held in 1993 and is organised by the Confederation of African Football...
: 1995
- CAF CupCAF CupThe CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runner-ups of member associations who haven't qualified to one of the two pre-existing CAF international club competitions the African Cup of Champions Clubs or the African Cup Winners' Cup.-Format:Only runner-ups of...
: 1996
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
: 20102010 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2010 Football League Trophy Final was the 27th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 28 March 2010. The match was contested between Carlisle United and...