Boualem Khoukhi
{{Short description|Qatari footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Other uses|Boualem}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Boualem Khoukhi
| image = Boualem Khoukhi.png
| image_size =
| caption = Khoukhi with Al Arabi in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|7|9|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: List of Players: Qatar |publisher=FIFA |page=23 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218195301/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |archive-date=18 December 2022 |url-status=live}}
| birth_place = Bou Ismail, Algeria
| currentclub = Al Sadd
| clubnumber = 16
| position = Defender / Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 2007–2009
| youthclubs1 = JSM Chéraga
| years1 = 2009–2017
| clubs1 = Al Arabi
| caps1 = 147
| goals1 = 36
| years2 = 2017–
| clubs2 = Al Sadd
| caps2 = 121
| goals2 = 14
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Qatar B
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2013–
| nationalteam2 = Qatar
| nationalcaps2 = 113
| nationalgoals2 = 21
| pcupdate = 27 September 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 14 January 2024 (UTC)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|QAT}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's Football}}
{{MedalCompetition|AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Medal|Winner|2019 UAE|Team}}
{{Medal|Winner|2023 Qatar|Team}}
{{MedalComp|FIFA Arab Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|2021|}}
}}
Boualem Khoukhi ({{langx|ar|بوعلام خوخي}}; born 9 July 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League. Born in Algeria, he represented the Qatar national team.
Club career
=Youth career=
A pure product of the junior ranks of Algeria's JSM Chéraga, Khoukhi made his debut for the senior team in the 2009–10 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.lebuteur.com/en/actualites/khoukhi-courtise-par-la-selection-nationale-du-qatar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322193055/http://www.lebuteur.com/en/actualites/khoukhi-courtise-par-la-selection-nationale-du-qatar|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2010|title=Khoukhi : courtisé par la sélection nationale du Qatar|publisher=lebuteur.com|access-date=26 January 2014}} He struggled in his first season, but his career was soon revived when Farid Zemiti was hired as the head coach of the club. He became integrated into the first team, playing alongside future Algeria international Islam Slimani, and many Algerian clubs were alleged to be interested in the services of Khoukhi, including USM El Harrach.
He soon received an offer from Al Shamal in Qatar, which he accepted. However, after landing in Qatar, Al Arabi head coach Uli Stielike believed Khoukhi had exceptional potential and offered him a trial at the club. He accepted the trial and was offered a contract deal shortly after.
=Al Arabi (2009–2017)=
Khoukhi soon earned a starting spot in Al Arabi's first team after his initial arrival in November 2009.
On 5 September 2010, he started for Al Arabi in the final of the 2010 Sheikh Jassem Cup against Lekhwiya, with Al Arabi winning 1–0.[http://www.alarab.com.qa/details.php?docId=147618&issueNo=994&secId=20 رأس «كابوري» تمنح العربي كأس الشيخ جاسم] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903151756/http://www.alarab.com.qa/details.php?docId=147618&issueNo=994&secId=20 |date=3 September 2011 }}
He received a loan offer from Saudi club Al Ittihad on 10 January 2014 after his performances in the WAFF Championship. He also received a transfer offer from Japanese side Júbilo Iwata, a club coached by former Al Arabi coach Péricles Chamusca.{{cite web|url=http://cdn.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=63899|title=اتحاد جدة يطلب ضم بوعلام من العربي|publisher=alkass.net|access-date=10 January 2014|date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111023445/http://cdn.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=63899|archive-date=11 January 2014|url-status=dead}} These offers came after reports that Khoukhi was planning to leave Al Arabi.{{cite web|url=http://cdn.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=63908|title=بوعلام: العربي بيتي وهناك "أشخاص" يشوّهون صورتي|publisher=alkass.net|access-date=10 January 2014|date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111023324/http://cdn.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=63908|archive-date=11 January 2014|url-status=dead}} Shortly after allegations of planning to move to another club, he silenced the rumors by signing a contract renewal with Al Arabi.
=Al Sadd (2017–present)=
In July 2017, Khoukhi joined Al Sadd. In July 2019, Al-Gharafa announced signing him on a four-year deal but Al Sadd denied the transfer.{{cite web|url=http://www.qatar-tribune.com/news-details/id/169139|title=Khoukhi joins Al Sadd camp in Spain amid transfer scuffle|website=Qatar Tribune|date=29 July 2019}}
International career
=Algeria=
Khoukhi was born and raised in Algeria. On 9 November 2010, Khoukhi was called up for the first time to the Algeria under–23 national team for a pair of friendlies against Tunisia.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/news-7758/en-u23-la-liste-pour-le-stage-en-tunisie/ |title=La liste pour le stage en Tunisie |access-date=9 November 2010 |archive-date=15 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915142020/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-7758/en-u23-la-liste-pour-le-stage-en-tunisie/ |url-status=dead }} The Qatar Football Association attempted to naturalize Khoukhi shortly after he arrived in Qatar, however, he refused and said that he would not be naturalized for any amount of money. He stated his desire was to play with the Algeria senior national team. Subsequently, he received Qatari citizenship in order to assist in his club's foreign player quota.
=Qatar=
Despite his call up to Algeria's Olympic team, he was called up to the Qatar B team on 13 November 2013 by compatriot Djamel Belmadi.{{cite web|url=http://en.dzfoot.com/2013/11/qatar-calls-up-algerian-duo-of-boualem-khoukhi-and-karim-boudiaf/|title=Qatar calls up Algerian duo of Boualem Khoukhi and Karim Boudiaf|publisher=dzfoot.com|date=13 November 2013|access-date=30 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233723/http://en.dzfoot.com/2013/11/qatar-calls-up-algerian-duo-of-boualem-khoukhi-and-karim-boudiaf/|archive-date=30 December 2013}} When questioned about Khoukhi's call-up to the squad, Belmadi said that Khoukhi was naturalized prior to his call-up in order for his team, Al Arabi, to overcome the foreign player quota.{{cite web|url=http://www.lebuteur.com/actualite-flash/belmadi-boudiaf-et-khoukhi-etaient-naturalises-et|title=Belmadi : "Boudiaf et Khoukhi étaient naturalisés et..."|publisher=lebuteur|language=fr|access-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200810/http://www.lebuteur.com/actualite-flash/belmadi-boudiaf-et-khoukhi-etaient-naturalises-et|archive-date=2 January 2014}} Belmadi stated he was surprised when the QFA revealed Khoukhi was eligible to be called up to the Qatar national team. He made his official debut for the team on 25 December in the 2014 WAFF Championship in a 1–0 win against Palestine.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-waff.com/assets/reports/391_match.pdf|title=Match report|publisher=the-waff.com|access-date=30 December 2013|archive-date=27 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227012543/http://www.the-waff.com/assets/reports/391_match.pdf|url-status=dead}}
In the next match on 31 December 2013 against Saudi Arabia, who were fielding their Olympic squad, Khoukhi scored a brace and attained an assist to give his team a 4–1 win.{{cite web|url=http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/adel-khoukhi-star-qatars-big-win/|title=Adel, Khoukhi help Qatar progress|publisher=dohastadiumplusqatar.com|access-date=1 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200311/http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/adel-khoukhi-star-qatars-big-win/|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=dead}} On 4 January 2014, Khoukhi helped Qatar, once again, netting a brace against Kuwait to send Qatar to the finals.
In the final of the 2014 WAFF Championship, Khoukhi scored another brace defeating Jordan 2–0. This would bring his final goal tally to six thus becoming the tournament's top goalscorer and being lauded by the Qatar Football Association as one of the key-men to Qatar's 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign in the future.https://www.facebook.com/theafcasiancup/posts/624246230956452:0?stream_ref=1 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}
In their opening match of 2019 Copa America Khouki scored in Qatar's 2–2 draw with Paraguay.{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/16/qatar-shake-up-copa-with-thrilling-comeback-against-paraguay|title=Qatar shake up Copa with thrilling comeback against Paraguay |work=Euronews |date=16 June 2019 |access-date=17 June 2019}}
==International goals==
:Scores and results list Qatar's goal tally first.{{NFT player|id=54348|access-date=23 November 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | rowspan=2|31 December 2013 | rowspan=2|Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | rowspan=2|{{fb|KSA}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center rowspan=2|4–1 | rowspan=6|2014 WAFF Championship |
| 2. | align=center|3–1 | |||||
| 3. | rowspan=2|4 January 2014 | rowspan=2|Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar | rowspan=2|{{fb|KUW}} | align=center|1–0 | rowspan=2 align=center|3–0 | |
| 4. | align=center|2–0 | |||||
| 5. | rowspan=2|7 January 2014 | rowspan=2|Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | rowspan=2|{{fb|JOR}} | align=center|1–0 | rowspan=2 align=center |2–0 | |
| 6. | align=center|2–0 | |||||
| 7. | 6 November 2014 | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar | {{fb|PRK}} | align=center| 1–0 | align=center|3–1 | Friendly |
| 8. | 27 November 2014 | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | {{fb|KSA}} | align=center|2–1 | align=center|2–1 | 22nd Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 9. | rowspan="2"| 3 September 2015 | rowspan="2"| Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | rowspan="2"| {{fb|BHU}} | align=center|11–0 | rowspan="2" align=center| 15–0 | rowspan="4"| 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | align=center|13–0 | |||||
| 11. | rowspan="2"| 13 October 2015 | rowspan="2"| Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | rowspan="2"| {{fb|MDV}} | align=center|1–0 | rowspan="2" align=center| 4–0 | |
| 12. | align=center|3–0 | |||||
| 13. | 10 November 2016 | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | {{fb|RUS}} | align=center|1–1 | align=center|2–1 | rowspan="2" | Friendly |
| 14. | 19 November 2018 | Kehrwegstadion, Eupen, Belgium | {{fb|ISL}} | align=center|2–2 | align=center|2–2 | |
| 15. | 13 January 2019 | Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates | {{fb|PRK}} | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | 6–0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup |
| 16. | 29 January 2019 | Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | {{fb|UAE}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 4–0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup |
| 17. | 5 September 2019 | Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | {{fb|AFG|2013}} | align=center | 6–0 | align=center | 6–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18. | 2 December 2019 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar | {{fb|UAE}} | align=center | 4–2 | align=center | 4–2 | 24th Arabian Gulf Cup |
| 19. | 10 December 2021 | Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar | {{fb|UAE}} | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | 5–0 | 2021 FIFA Arab Cup |
| 20. | 26 March 2022 | Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | {{fb|BUL}} | align=center | 2–1 | align=center | 2–1 | Friendly |
Honours
=Club=
=International=
=Individual=
- WAFF Championship Top scorer: 2014
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019{{cite news |url=https://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-asian-cup-uae-2019-technical-report-and-statistics |title=AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Technical Report and Statistics |publisher=AFC |date=29 May 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Boualem Khoukhi}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120403000154/http://www.qsl.com.qa/Users/Players/PlayersDetails.aspx?pregno=17359&clubid=2&p=5&s=-1%2C-1%2C3%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C-1%2C Qatar Stars League profile]
- {{soccerway|156684}}
{{Al Sadd SC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Qatar squads
| bg = #8A1538
| fg = white
| bordercolor = #660033
| list1 =
{{Qatar squad 2015 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Qatar squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Qatar squad 2019 Copa América}}
{{Qatar squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Qatar squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Qatar squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}
{{2019 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khoukhi, Boualem}}
Category:Qatari men's footballers
Category:21st-century Qatari sportsmen
Category:Qatar men's international footballers
Category:Algerian men's footballers
Category:Algerian emigrants to Qatar
Category:Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) players
Category:People from Bou Ismaïl
Category:Sportspeople from Tipaza Province
Category:Naturalized citizens of Qatar
Category:Algerian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar
Category:Qatar Stars League players
Category:2015 AFC Asian Cup players
Category:2019 AFC Asian Cup players
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:AFC Asian Cup–winning players
Category:2019 Copa América players
Category:2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:FIFA Men's Century Club
Category:Naturalised association football players