Marouane Chamakh

At 40 years old, Marouane Chamakh has this physical status:

Marouane Chamakh (born 10 January 1984) is a retired professional footballer who played as a forward.

He is described as a prototypical target man and is noted for his "link-up play", "tall stature" and "excellent heading ability".

Chamakh is also Bordeaux’s eighth highest goalscorer of all-time.Chamakh started his career training with various clubs in the Aquitaine region.

In 2000, he signed with Bordeaux.

Chamakh made his professional debut for the club in the 2002–03 season.

He spent nine years at the club and helped Bordeaux win the Coupe de la Ligue in 2007.

In the 2008–09 season, Chamakh won the league title as Bordeaux were crowned champions for the first time since the 1998–99 season.

The club also won the Coupe de la Ligue completing the league and league cup double.

In May 2010, Chamakh joined Premier League club Arsenal on a free transfer after agreeing a four-year contract with the club.

Whilst with the Gunners, he helped take the club to the League Cup final of 2011.

During his stay at the Emirates, Chamakh also became the first player in UEFA Champions League history to score in six consecutive games.Chamakh, who was born and raised in France, chose to play international football for Morocco due to his Moroccan parents.

He made his national team debut in July 2003 and played in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including the 2004 tournament in which Morocco finished as runners-up.

In August 2010, he captained the national team for the first time.

Personal life

Chamakh was born in Tonneins, a small town near the Garonne River, to Moroccan parents, and was raised in the nearby commune of Aiguillon. His father, El Mostafa Chamakh, was a former footballer in Morocco and played for club Difaâ Aïn Sbaâ in Casablanca. In 1979, he left Morocco to locate more favorable living conditions and to find a better job.

While pursuing his career as a professional footballer, Chamakh was equally adept off the field earning good grades in school. During his early years at Bordeaux, he began attending high school. He hoped to earn a Baccalauréat in accounting, which he later accomplished. In addition to having a Baccalauréat, Chamakh is also very interested in politics and, in February 2010, voiced his support for the Democratic Movement (MoDem) political party ahead of the upcoming regional elections. In the 2010 regional elections, Chamakh was, surprisingly, listed as a candidate by the MoDem for the Gironde department in the Aquitaine region. The lead deputy of the party, Jean Lassalle, stated on the decision to name Chamakh to the ballot: "I want to gather all the forces of Aquitaine to sustain our region, and Marouane is one of those forces who Aquitaine needs." Chamakh was listed as a non-eligible candidate on the ballot and Lasalle was accused of using Chamakh in order to garner votes from football supporters in the region.

Chamakh is a practising Muslim and has stated that "I have no problem fasting during Ramadan, it becomes normal. The day before a game and on match days I do not fast, but I'll make up the lost days later."

Source

Club career

Chamakh began playing for Nérac FC in the nearby commune of Nérac at the age of four. Chamakh joined FC Marmandais after six years in Nérac. He developed his physical appearance and temperament while in Marmande, as well as being selected for the Aquitaine regional team in the Coupe Nationale.

Several professional clubs, including Chamakh, have attempted to obtain his services in 2000. He attracted attention from Lens, Toulouse, Lorient, and Bordeaux. Chamakh eventually decided to sign with Bordeaux due to the club's infrastructure and training facilities, as well as the close proximity to his family. Chamakh was welcomed into the club's youth academy upon his arrival. He was named in the fifth division of the Championnat de France amateur 2 team in 2001-02. Chamakh was heavily involved in the team's campaign, led by Jean-Louis Garcia. As the team finished first in their division, he appeared in 17 games and scored six goals, earning promotion to the Championnat de France amateur.

Following the season, Chamakh turned professional and agreed to a three-year deal with Bordeaux. He spent the first half of the 2002–03 season in the fourth division, but he was called up by manager Élie Baup after the winter break. Chamakh made his professional debut against Metz on January 19, 2003 in the team's Coupe de la Ligue match. In a 1–0 loss, he appeared as a replacement and played 15 minutes. Chamakh made his league debut three weeks later in a 2–0 home loss to Bastia, when he was on the side as a replacement. He scored his first career goal against Nice on May 20th, netting the equalizing goal just a minute before injury time in a 1–1 draw. Chamakh played in 14 games, almost as a replacement during the campaign. He was promoted to the senior team by new boss Michel Pavon in 2003 and got his first professional league start against Marseille on November 1, 2003. Chamakh scored the first goal in a 1–1 draw with Strasbourg just before halftime in the team's following match. However, he earned his first red card in his career after incurring his second yellow during the second half. Chamakh came back from a one-game suspension and started scoring goals in consecutive matches against Metz and Montpellier. He scored six goals in 25 games during his last league appearance. Chamakh netted four times in eight appearances in the club's UEFA Cup campaign.

Pavon decided to transfer Chamakh to the lead striker position and install Argentine playmaker Juan Pablo Francia as a support striker in the 2004-05 season. Chamakh scored ten league goals, making the switch a success. In a 5–1 victory over Nice, he began his career by scoring his first professional hat-trick. Chamakh scored goals in back-to-back matches against Bastia and Derby de la Garonne's Toulouse in September 2004. He completed the season by scoring the first goal in a 1–1 draw with Monaco. Despite the good individual performances from Chamakh, Bordeaux finished in 15th place, its lowest finish since ending the league campaign in 16th over a decade ago. Pavon resigned from his position due to heart disease and was replaced by Rigo Gomes. Chamakh's debut was difficult, scoring just 12 league goals in 58 games over the course of two seasons under Gomes. In league matches against Metz and Nancy, two of Gomes' most memorable performances included scoring a double. Chamakh scored both of his goals within a minute of each other in the match against the former club. After being banned from the game for committing a red card offence, he was eventually dismissed from the game. Chamakh won the Coupe de la Ligue trophy for the first time in the team's 1–0 victory over Lyon in the final match, bringing an end to a tense campaign in 2006. It was Chamakh's first major club award.

Following Gomes' departure, Bordeaux recruited Laurent Blanc, the country's youngest manager, in the 2007–08 season. Chamakh has stated on several occasions that Blanc was a pivotal figure in his career as a footballer. However, Chamakh failed to gain meaningful minutes as Blanc's new recruit, David Bellion, was the right option. Fernando Cavenaghi, a striker who had a prolific season scoring 15 goals in just 23 appearances, was also hampered in his playing time up front. Chamakh was used as a target man and scored four goals, his lowest mark since becoming a professional, thanks to Cavenaghi's emergence. Chamakh was relegated to appear as a substitute for the first half of the season in the 2008–09 season. Chamakh persuaded Blanc to change his mind on December 21, 2008. Chamakh appeared as a replacement as Bordeaux trailed 3–0 against Monaco, and scored a goal within minutes. Chamakh equalized three minutes from time after scoring Alou Diarra to make the match 3–2, and Bordeaux won by 4–3 after two minutes later. Blanc decided to use both Chamakh and Cavenaghi in the attack after the winter break, with influential playmaker Yoann Gourcuff helping. Chamakh responded by scoring eight league goals in the second half of the season, with the former being a strong team with Gourcuff. Bordeaux secured their first league title since the 1998–99 season by beating Caen 1–0 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas on May 30. Chamakh played the entire game. The team also won the Coupe de la Ligue, winning the league and league cup double.

Despite the club's victory parade, Chamakh said he would remain in Bordeaux for the 2009–10 season, despite strong support from Arsenal in the Premier League. Despite the tweet, rumors of a transfer to Arsenal remained, with talks apparently ongoing throughout the summer. Arsenal had sent a bid for Chamakh but that he had rejected it, according to President Jean-Louis Triaud, who ordered Arsenal to raise its bid, demanding that Arsenal improve its offer. Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger declared the possibility of a transfer dead the next day. Chamakh later revealed that he did not intend to stay at Bordeaux for the 2009–10 season. Chamakh reportedly snubbed a transfer to West Ham United on August 29. Bordeaux asked Bordeaux £18 million for the player, but Chamakh got a four-year deal worth £3 million a year. Chamakh, on the other hand, remained steadfast in his position, repeating his commitment to Bordeaux.

Chamakh's last season with Bordeaux was equally strong in both the league and the Champions League. Bordeaux won the Trophée des Champions in a 2–0 victory over Guingamp on July 25, 2009. He began the season with his fifth trophy on July 25th. Chamakh scored ten goals in league play and five in the Champions League, which featured goals against Italian club Juventus and German club Bayern Munich in the group stage. Bordeaux was only one of two clubs to finish the group stage portion unbeaten. Chamakh scored a goal in Bordeaux's 2–1 victory over Greek club Olympiacos in the second leg of the team's UEFA Champions League opening knockout round match, scoring in the knockout rounds. Bordeaux won the tie with a 3–1 aggregate scoreline to advance to the quarter-finals, where they met league rivals Lyon. Chamakh scored a crucial away goal in the first leg, which Lyon won 3-1. Chamakh converted another goal in the second leg to bring the scoreline 3–2 on aggregate. Bordeaux, on the other hand, was unable to score another as Lyon advanced to the semi-finals on aggregate scoreline. Chamakh appeared in all 38 matches for the first time in his career. Despite starting the year strong, Bordeaux fell out of the playoff hunt in the spring and ended the season in sixth place, failing to qualify for European competition next season.

Following his move to Arsenal on a free transfer after finishing his time with Bordeaux, Chamakh completed his transfer to Arsenal on May 21. The transfer went into operation on July 1, 2010. He made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Barnet on July 17th, and was a substitute. In a 4–0 victory over Austrian club SC Neusiedl, he scored his first pre-season goal for the team, converting a penalty. Chamakh scored on his home debut against Italian club Milan in the 2010 edition of the Emirates Cup. He scored his first goal in a 6-5 victory over Legia Warsaw in a friendly match and the last game for pre-season on August 7, 2010. In the team's 1-1 draw with Liverpool on August 15, he made his Premier League debut in the team's 1–1 draw. Chamakh scored a cross off the goal post, then redirecting goalkeeper Pepe Reina and into the back of the goal, resulting in an own goal.

Chamakh scored his first Premier League goal against Blackpool on August 21, 2010. He won a penalty when he was fouled by Ian Evatt in the same game, which Andrey Arshavin converted in a 6–0 win for Arsenal. Chamakh scored the team's second goal against Bolton Wanderers in a 4–1 victory in his third game in a row. In a 6–0 victory over Portuguese club Braga on September 15, he scored his third goal in his first Champions League match for the club. Chamakh scored his second Champions League goal for Arsenal against Serbian outfit Partizan two weeks later. The goal was his seventh goal in eight Champions League games. Chamakh maintained his solid form after the international break by scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Birmingham City. In a 5–1 victory over Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, he scored his eighth goal in nine Champions League games against Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. Chamakh scored both goals in a midweek victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on November 10th. He scored the first goal 37 seconds into play, the club's fastest league goal ever scored.

Chamakh scored a goal in a 3–2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on November 20. He converted another goal this week, this time in a 4–2 victory over Aston Villa. Following the goal against Villa, Chamakh was scoreless in the winter months, often appearing as a backup in the majority of the games. In matches that did not start, he was often called on early in the second half. "I honestly felt burnt out" at the start of January, he admitted on February 15, 2011. The striker also admitted that he needs some rest and will not return to full form until March. In Arsenal's 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, Chamakh played the entire match on February 20th. It was the first time in nearly two months he had played the full 90 minutes in a match. Chamakh scored his first goal since November in a 5–0 victory on March 2nd in a replay against Leyton Orient.

Chamakh made only 11 appearances in the 2011–12 season, the majority of which as a replacement, and only one goal was scored, defeating Blackburn Rovers 4-3.

Chamakh got off to a 4–0 deficit and beat Reading 7–5 in extra time on October 30, 2012, earning his first appearance since January.

Chamakh had been loaned to West Ham United until the 2012-2013 season, according to the team's 4th announcement on January 4, 2013. "I didn't have chances to play recently," the striker said on West Ham's official website, but I do know I am a natural striker. At Arsenal, we had just one striker, so I didn't get to play much, so I hope to do so more with West Ham." He appeared in only three games for West Ham without scoring.

Arsenal and Crystal Palace announced the signing of Chamakh on a one-year contract on August 10th. In a 2–1 away loss to Stoke City on August 24, 2013, he scored his first Premier League goal since September 2011 and his first for Crystal Palace.

Despite not scoring, Chamakh's standing ovation from the home fans at Selhurst Park when not being recalled, impressed with his dedication and attitude against Everton on November 9, 2013. Chamakh defeated West Ham 1–0, his first match in 11 games, after scoring from a cross by Barry Bannan on December 3rd. In a 2–0 home victory over Cardiff City, he maintained his good form with a well-hit low volley. He scored his third goal in three games against Chelsea in a 2–1 away loss on December 14, 2013, gaining a standing ovation for "working his socks off literally" when he was introduced on the 88th minute.

Chamakh was released by the team at the end of the 2013–14 season because his deal had ended. Chamakh had signed a new two-year contract with Palace on July 11, 2014, but it wasn't announced on July 11, 2014. In a 2–3 away victory over Southampton in the FA Cup on January 24, 2015, he scored a brace.

Chamakh won by 1–0 at Selhurst Park, the club's last home goal of the season, on the last day of the 2014–15 Premier League season. Coincidentally, the Moroccan scored his first Palace home goal of the season when he took on West Ham in August. It was his second game of the season, and it was his second in the league. Chamakh had been released by Crystal Palace again on June 13, 2016.

Chamakh joined Cardiff City on a short-term deal on October 11, 2016. During a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, he made his club debut on October 19th as a second-half replacement in place of Rickie Lambert. He was released by Cardiff in December 2016 after making two appearances as a replacement.

Chamakh announced on May 26th that he had dropped out of professional football after not playing for nearly two and a half years.

International career

Chamakh is a Moroccan international at the highest level. He competed for France's under-19 team before returning to Morocco in a friendly match against the Czech Republic on February 12, 2003. That was his first appearance with the team. Chamakh was then selected among the French squad for the 2003 European Under-19 Championship but turned down by Moroccan national team coach Badou Zaki for the team's 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification games against Sierra Leone and Gabon. He made his team debut against Sierra Leone on June 7th. Chamakh scored both goals, including his first international goal, in a 2–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on September 10, 2003. He appeared in the majority of the qualifying matches and was later selected to compete in the tournament. Chamakh scored two goals in the tournament, one against Benin in the group stage and another against Algeria in the quarterfinals. Morocco advanced to the finals after defeating Tunisia in the semi-finals. Chamakh played the entire match as Morocco was defeated 21-0 at the Stade 7 Novembre in Tunis.

Chamakh scored three goals in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. On October 8, 2010, one of his qualifying goals against Tunisia occurred. Chamakh opened the scoring in the third minute, with Morocco needing a victory to qualify for the World Cup. However, the match ended 2–2, resulting in the team failing to qualify for the tournament. However, the draw did qualify Morocco for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco was disqualified in the group stage of the tournament and skipped without scoring a single point. Chamakh was selected to compete in his third straight Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, but the tournament was held scoreless as Morocco was also barred from the group stage. Chamakh played in only four matches and scored no goals between 2009 and 2010, as Morocco failed to qualify for both the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Chamakh captained the national team for the first time in a 2–1 victory over Equatorial Guinea on August 11, 2010. He scored the team's 1–1 away draw to Northern Ireland three months later. Chamakh scored their second goal in a 4–0 victory over Algeria in qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, after going scoreless for six months at international level on June 4th.

Chamakh was barred from Morocco's squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, with coach Rachid Taoussi claiming that the striker had not been playing enough club football to be considered.

Source