Yassine Benzia

Yassine Benzia

Personal information
Full name	Yassine Benzia
Date of birth	8 September 1994
Place of birth	Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf, France
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	Lille
Number	9
Youth career
2000–2005	Saint-Aubin
2005–2006	Oissel
2006–2009	Caudebecais
2009–2010	Quevilly
2010–2012	Lyon
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2012–2015	Lyon	38	(4)
2015–	Lille	21	(5)
National team^‡
2010	France U16	3	(0)
2011	France U17	6	(4)
2011–2012	France U18	9	(9)
2012–2013	France U19	16	(7)
2013–2015	France U21	9	(6)
2016–	Algeria	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:00, March 7, 2016 (EST). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:18, March 25, 2016 (AEST)

Yassine Benzia (born 8 September 1994) is an Algerian footballer who plays for the French club Lille in Ligue 1^[1] as a striker.^[2]

Benzia is a France youth international having represented his nation at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-21 level. He played with the under-17 team at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.^[3] In March 2016, FIFA approved his request to change his international allegiance to Algeria.^[4]

Career

Following the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup Benzia signed his first professional contract with Lyon agreeing to a three-year deal on 27 October 2011.^[5] He was subsequently promoted to the senior team by manager Rémi Garde and assigned the number 25 shirt. Benzia made his professional debut on 20 May 2012 in a league match against Nice appearing as a substitute.^[6]

International career

In January 2016, Algerian Football Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua announced that Benzia had opted to switch his international allegiance to Algeria. In March 2016, FIFA approved his request to change his international allegiance to Algeria.^[4] On 26 March 2016, he played his first game for Algeria, against Ethiopia in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.^[7]

Style of play

At the age of 17, Benzia was dubbed the new Karim Benzema.^[8][9]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 March 2016

Club	Season	League			Cup[nb 1]		Europe[nb 2]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lyon	2011–12	Ligue 1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2012–13		16	0	1	0	3	2	20	2
	2013–14		11	2	3	0	5	0	19	2
	2014–15		10	2	0	0	2	0	12	2
	Total		38	4	4	0	10	2	52	6
Lille	2015–16	Ligue 1	21	5	4	1	0	0	25	6
Career total			59	9	8	1	10	2	77	12

Notes

1. Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des champions
2. Includes UEFA Super Cup

References

1. "L'OL dégaine Yassine Benzia, sa pépite, à l'entraînement". Foot01 (in French). 13 March 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
2. "Yassine Benzia: "Mon modèle, c’est Karim Benzema"". Lyon Capitale (in French). 3 July 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
3. "Benzia gamble paying off for France". Fédération Internationale de Football Association (in French). 20 June 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
4. HMF (March 7, 2016). "Benzia officiellement autorisé à jouer avec l'Algérie" (in French). DZFoot. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
5. "Benzia passe pro". L'Equipe (in French). 27 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
6. "Lyon v. Nice Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 20 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
7. Burnton, Simon (25 March 2016). "Holland 2-3 France, Republic of Ireland 1-0 Switzerland and more: clockwatch – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
8. "Benzia le nouveau Benzema" [Benzia the new Benzema]. 10 Sport (in French). 1 February 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
9. "OL: Palerme vise Benzia, le "nouveau Benzema"" [OL: Palermo going after Benzia, the "new Benzema"]. Canal+ (in French). 1 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2015.

External links

• Yassine Benzia – French League Stats at LFP.fr (French)
• Yassine Benzia at L'Équipe Football (French)
• Yassine Benzia – FIFA competition record
• Yassine Benzia – UEFA competition record
• France profile at FFF