:Medhi Lacen

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Medhi Lacen

| image = Algérie - Arménie - 20140531 - Mehdi Lacen.jpg

| caption = Lacen with Algeria in 2014

| fullname = Medhi Gregory Giuseppe Lacen{{cite web|url=http://www.getafecf.com/Primerequipo/Plantilla/FichaJugador.aspx?te=2017&di=1&eq=9&ju=645&op=20578|title=Lacen|publisher=Getafe CF|language=es|access-date=11 May 2019}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|3|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Versailles, France

| height = 1.75 m

| position = Defensive midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}-2000

| youthclubs1 = Versailles

| youthyears2 = 2000-2002

| youthclubs2 = Laval

| years1 = 2002–2004

| clubs1 = Laval B

| caps1 = 62

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2003–2004

| clubs2 = Laval

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2004–2005

| clubs3 = Valence

| caps3 = 35

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2005–2008

| clubs4 = Alavés

| caps4 = 86

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2006

| clubs5 = Alavés B

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2008–2011

| clubs6 = Racing Santander

| caps6 = 100

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2011–2018

| clubs7 = Getafe

| caps7 = 178

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2018–2019

| clubs8 = Málaga

| caps8 = 29

| goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 434

| totalgoals = 8

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2015

| nationalteam1 = Algeria

| nationalcaps1 = 43

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Medhi Gregory Giuseppe Lacen ({{langx|ar|مهدي لحسن}}; born 15 March 1984) is a retired professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

After starting out at Laval, he spent most of his professional career in Spain, representing Alavés, Racing de Santander, Getafe and Málaga and amassing La Liga totals of 273 matches and seven goals over ten seasons.

Born in France, Lacen appeared for Algeria in two World Cups.

Club career

Born in Versailles, France, to an Algerian father and an Italian mother,[http://www.tsa-algerie.com/sport/4/mehdi-lacen-rejoindra-l-equipe-nationale_8681.html Mehdi Lacen rejoindra l’équipe nationale (Mehdi Lacen will join the national team)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103349/http://www.tsa-algerie.com/sport/4/mehdi-lacen-rejoindra-l-equipe-nationale_8681.html|date=16 July 2011}}; TSA, 11 December 2009 (in French) Lacen started his professional career with modest Stade Lavallois and ASOA Valence. For the 2005–06 season he moved to Spain, joining Deportivo Alavés which would eventually be relegated; he made his La Liga debut on 15 October 2005, in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.[http://www.diariosigloxxi.com/texto-diario/mostrar/9880/el-alaves-y-villareal-consiguen-en-empate-que-no-les-sirve-1-1 El Alavés y Villarreal consiguen en empate que no les sirve (1–1) (Alavés and Villarreal get draw that does not suit (1–1))]; Diario Siglo XXI, 16 October 2005 (in Spanish)

After two second division campaigns as an undisputed starter for the Basques, Lacen moved to Racing de Santander on 15 August 2008, on a three-year contract.[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01d0-0e6fa98b0f99-b30e268f1e72-1000--lacen-leaves-alaves-for-racing/ Lacen leaves Alavés for Racing]; UEFA, 15 August 2008 He competed throughout the campaign for first-choice status with Peter Luccin, also newly signed.

In 2009–10, as Racing finished in 16th position, Lacen became an automatic first-choice (Luccin returned to Real Zaragoza from his loan). He scored three goals, including in a 3–2 home win over Xerez CD on 13 December 2009.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/275740/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|title=Racing battle back for valuable win|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=13 December 2009|access-date=23 January 2013}}

In late February 2011, with his link to the Cantabrians expiring in June, Lacen signed a pre-contract with fellow top-level side Getafe CF.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-8516/transferts-mehdi-lacen-devrait-rejoindre-getafe/ Mehdi Lacen devrait rejoindre Getafe (Mehdi Lacen should join Getafe)]; DZFoot, 26 February 2011 (in French) The move was made official on 25 May, with the player agreeing to a four-year deal with the Madrid outskirts club.[http://www.dzfoot.com/article-2046.php Lacen, "J'ai signé pour 4 ans à Getafe" (Lacen, "I've signed with Getafe for four years")] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527074447/http://www.dzfoot.com/article-2046.php|date=27 May 2011}}; DZFoot, 25 May 2011 (in French)

Lacen scored his first goal with Getafe on 16 April 2012, netting the second in a 5–1 home defeat of Sevilla FC.{{cite web|url=http://www.dzfoot.com/news-11321-verts-joli-premier-but-pour-lacen-avec-getafe.php|title=Joli premier but pour Lacen avec Getafe|trans-title=Nice first goal for Lacen with Getafe|publisher=DZFoot|first=Walid|last=Z.|language=fr|date=16 April 2012|access-date=17 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419053342/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-11321-verts-joli-premier-but-pour-lacen-avec-getafe.php|archive-date=19 April 2012}} He was released from his contract on 31 January 2018 after appearing in 187 competitive matches{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/getafe/2018/01/31/5a71d097e5fdeafc3f8b457d.html|title=Medhi Lacen deja de ser jugador del Getafe|trans-title=Medhi Lacen no longer a Getafe player|publisher=Marca|first=Juancar|last=Navacerrada|language=es|date=31 January 2018|access-date=2 February 2018}} and, three days later, joined Málaga CF until 30 June.{{cite web|url=https://www.malagacf.com/en/news/lacen-completes-the-malaga-cf-squad|title=Lacen completes the Málaga CF squad|publisher=Málaga CF|date=3 February 2018|access-date=3 February 2018}}

International career

Although French-born, Lacen had the possibility of representing Algeria through his fathers' origins. In 2006, he was called up by Jean-Michel Cavalli to the national side for a friendly against Gabon, but did not play because of an administrative problem.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news.php?hot_id=1827 Mehdi Lacen sélectionné (Mehdi Lacen called)]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402015200/http://www.dzfoot.com/news.php?hot_id=1827|date=2 April 2012}}; DZFoot, 3 August 2006 {{in lang|fr}}.

On 12 December 2009, the president of the Algerian FA, Mohamed Raouraoua, announced that Lacen would be called up to the Algerian squad for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-5425/e-n-raouraoua-annonce-l-arrivee-de-lacen-et-ziaya/ Raouraoua annonce l'arrivée de Lacen et Ziaya (Raouraoua announces arrivals of Lacen and Ziaya)]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225055454/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-5425/e-n-raouraoua-annonce-l-arrivee-de-lacen-et-ziaya|date=25 February 2010}}; DZFoot, 12 December 2009 {{in lang|fr}}. However, five days later, head coach Rabah Saâdane announced that the player would not participate in the continental competition because of his wife's pregnancy.[http://www.dzfoot.com/article-1617.php Sâadane explique ses choix et ses objectifs (Sâadane explains his picks and goals)]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903070300/http://www.dzfoot.com/article-1617.php|date=3 September 2012}}; DZFoot {{in lang|fr}}.

On 12 February 2010, Racing Santander's website announced that Lacen was chosen for Algeria's upcoming friendly against Serbia.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-5914/en-lacen-convoque-pour-algerie-serbie-amical/ Lacen convoqué pour Algérie-Serbie (amical) (Lacen selected for Algeria-Serbia (friendly)))]; DZFoot, 12 February 2010 {{in lang|fr}} On 3 March he finally made his debut, in a 0–3 loss.[http://www.dzfoot.com/news-6038/en-amical-algerie-serbie-la-composition-algerienne/ Amical Algérie-Serbie: La composition algérienne (Algeria-Serbia friendly: Algeria's lineup)]; DZFoot, 3 March 2010 {{in lang|fr}}.

In June 2010, Lacen was selected to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, playing all the games. During the tournament, he partnered Hassan Yebda (another defensive midfielder) as the national team failed to score a goal, earning one point.{{cite web|url=http://www.usm-alger.com/site/index.php/component/k2/item/3156-mondial-2010--bilan-des-verts.html?tmpl=component&print=1|title=Mondial 2010: Bilan des verts|trans-title=2010 World Cup: Green sum-up|publisher=USM Alger|language=fr|date=30 June 2010|access-date=10 February 2018}}

Personal life

Lacen's younger brother, Michael, was also a footballer. He represented, amongst other clubs, FC Versailles 78.[http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/iledefrance/michael-lacen-au-nom-du-frere-12-12-2009-741610.php Michael Lacen, au nom du frère (Michael Lacen, in the name of the brother)]; Le Parisien, 12 December 2009 (in French)

References

External links

[http://www.getafecf.com/Primerequipo/Plantilla/FichaJugador.aspx?te=2017&di=1&eq=9&ju=645&op=20578 Getafe official profile] {{in lang|es}}
{{BDFutbol}}
{{NFT player}}
{{FIFA player}}
{{Soccerway}}

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Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Algerian people of Italian descent

Category:French sportspeople of Italian descent

Category:Algerian men's footballers

Category:French men's footballers