Brahim Hemdani

Infobox Football biography
playername = Brahim Hemdani


fullname = Ibrahim Hemdani
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|3|15|df=yes
cityofbirth = Colombes
countryofbirth = France
height = height|m=1.80
position = Defensive midfielder
currentclub = Rangers
clubnumber = 7
youthclubs = RCF Paris
youthyears = 1996–1997
years = 1997–1998
1998–2001
2001–2005
2005–
clubs = Cannes
Strasbourg
Marseille
Rangers
caps(goals) = 027 00(1)
053 00(3)
108 00(2)
067 00(1)
nationalyears = 2008–
nationalteam = Algeria
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 00(0)
pcupdate = 7 September, 2008
ntupdate = 7 September, 2008

Brahim Hemdani (born 15 March 1978 in Colombes, France) is a French-born Algerian professional football player who currently plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League in midfield. His family is originally from Larbaâ Nath Irathen (near Tizi Ouzou) in the Kabylie region of Algeria and Hemdani spends a significant amount of time there every year.

Club career

Hemdani started his career with Cannes where he spent two seasons before a transfer to RC Strasbourg where he spent three seasons. He then joined Marseille where he helped them to the UEFA Cup final in 2004. He then joined Alex McLeish's Rangers on 14 June 2005 on a Bosman transfer and signed a four-year contract.cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4090958.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Rangers clinch deal for Hemdani | date=2005-06-14]

Hemdani suffered from injury problems during his debut season at Rangers, making his first appearance as late as October against Dundee United.cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4338832.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Dundee Utd 0-0 Rangers | date=2005-10-16] Hemdani was a regular in the Rangers midfield from then on and helped the club reach the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in their history, despite the club finishing third in the SPL and ending the season without a trophy in the last season under the management of then manager Alex McLeish.

After the summer, Paul Le Guen took over as manager, Hemdani began the 2006–07 season in midfield alongside new signing Jérémy Clément and Charlie Adam with captain Barry Ferguson injured. However, Hemdani was later used in a defensive role by Le Guen with Ferguson, Adam and Clément the preferred selection in midfield.

Hemdani's first goal for Rangers came midway through his second season at the club, a shot from outside the box to equalise in the 88th minute of an Old Firm game on 17 December 2006 winning him a place in the hearts of the Ibrox faithful.cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6177705.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Rangers 1-1 Celtic | date=2006-12-17] His second goal came in similar circumstances in a UEFA Cup match the following March against CA Osasuna, scoring from outside the box to equalise in injury time.cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6415057.stm | publisher=BBC Sport website | title=Rangers 1-1 Osasuna | date=2007-03-08]

On 16 April 2007, under his third Rangers manager, Walter Smith, Hemdani was named Rangers' Player of the Year at an award ceremony, voted for by the club's fans.cite news | url=http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1011888,00.html | title=Hemdani Named Player Of The Year | publisher=Rangers official website | date=2007-04-16]

Since the start of the 2007–08 season, Hemdani was linked with moves away from Ibrox. He was thought to be on the verge of a move to Osasuna in the summer of 2007, Amdy Faye was even brought in as his replacement. Since then transfer specualtion has persisted with Middlesbrough and Reading showing interest but Hemdani has said he would remain with the club.cite news | url=http://www.soccer365.com/scottish_news/story_17108111101.php | title=Hemdani sticking around at Gers| publisher=Soccer365.com| date=2008-01-17]

Hemdani made his 100th appearance for Rangers on 13 March 2008 in a UEFA Cup match against Werder Bremen.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7285148.stm|title=W Bremen 1-0 Rangers (agg 1-2) |publisher=BBC Sport|date=March 13, 2008]

International career

Hemdani has been capped for the France under-21 football squad and had declined the chance to be included as part of the Algeria national squad on several occasions in the past because of his desire to play for France.cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3570178.stm| title=Players reject Algeria
publisher=BBC Sport website| date=2004-08-16] However, in February 2008 he had a change of heart and decided to play for Algeria.cite news | url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/2008/02/08/brahim-hemdani-has-world-cup-dream-with-algeria-86908-20312646/| title=Brahim Hemdani Has World Cup Dream With Algeria
publisher=Daily Record| date=2008-02-08] Hemdani made his Algerian debut in a 2010 world cup qualifier against Senegal on 31 May 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7429606.stm Senegal 1-0 Algeria] BBC Sport website, 31 May 2008]

Rangers statistics

"Correct as of 31 May 2008"

Honours

With Rangers

References

External links

*soccerbase|27812|Brahim Hemdani
*lfpfr|12103

Persondata
NAME=Hemdani, Brahim
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=1978-3-15
PLACE OF BIRTH=Colombes, France
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=