Youssef Rossi
Encyclopedia
Youssef Rossi (born 28 June 1973 in Casablanca
, Morocco
) is a former Moroccan
football player formerly playing for Qatari League side Al Khor.
side Stade Rennais. After over 40 games for the Ligue 1
side, Rossi then signed al loan-contract for NEC Nijmegen, where he disappeared after only four matches, before moving to Scottish Premier League
side Dunfermline Athletic in 2000
.
After 4 months with the SPL side, Rossi eventually made his debut against St. Johnstone in November 2000, only to be sent off after 25 minutes. He received his second red card in three games for a second bookable offence against Dundee United
and as he made his way off the pitch was seen to make a gesture that provoked United fans. He scored his first and only goal for the club against Aberdeen on Boxing Day 2000. In August 2001, Rossi had his wages stopped in what proved to be a long drawn out saga which would see him leave Scotland
for Morocco
, only to have a worldwide ban placed on him by FIFA
after going AWOL for more than a year.
Rossi finally left Dunfermline in December 2003 to re-sign for his first club Raja Casablanca. He stayed in Morocco for one year before moving to Al Khor in Qatar
, where he has been since 2004.
and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, 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...
) is a former Moroccan
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...
football player formerly playing for Qatari League side Al Khor.
Domestic
Rossi started his playing career with local side Raja Casablanca in 1995, before being signed by FrenchFootball in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
side Stade Rennais. After over 40 games for the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
side, Rossi then signed al loan-contract for NEC Nijmegen, where he disappeared after only four matches, before moving to Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Dunfermline Athletic in 2000
2000-01 in Scottish football
The 2000–01 season was the 104th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2000–01 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic, 15 points clear of Rangers who finished second. Both teams earned a place in the UEFA Champions League. Hibernian and Kilmarnock...
.
After 4 months with the SPL side, Rossi eventually made his debut against St. Johnstone in November 2000, only to be sent off after 25 minutes. He received his second red card in three games for a second bookable offence against Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
and as he made his way off the pitch was seen to make a gesture that provoked United fans. He scored his first and only goal for the club against Aberdeen on Boxing Day 2000. In August 2001, Rossi had his wages stopped in what proved to be a long drawn out saga which would see him leave Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for 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...
, only to have a worldwide ban placed on him by 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...
after going AWOL for more than a year.
Rossi finally left Dunfermline in December 2003 to re-sign for his first club Raja Casablanca. He stayed in Morocco for one year before moving to Al Khor in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, where he has been since 2004.
International
He played for the Morocco national football teamMorocco 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...
and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.