Hatem Trabelsi

{{Infobox football biography

| image = Hatem Trabelsi.jpg

| upright = 1.2

| caption =

| full_name = Hatem Trabelsi{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Tunisia |publisher=FIFA |page=30 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|1|25}}

| birth_place = Ariana, Tunisia

| height = 1.80 m

| position = Right-back

| currentclub =

| years1 = 1997–2001

| clubs1 = CS Sfaxien

| caps1 = 103

| goals1 = 13

| years2 = 2001–2006

| clubs2 = Ajax

| caps2 = 99

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2006–2007

| clubs3 = Manchester City

| caps3 = 20

| goals3 = 1

| totalcaps = 222

| totalgoals = 16

| nationalyears1 = 1998–2006

| nationalteam1 = Tunisia

| nationalcaps1 = 66

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|TUN}}}}

}}

Hatem Trabelsi ({{langx|ar|حَاتِم الطَّرَابُلْسِيّ|Ḥātim Aṭ-Ṭarābulsiyy}}; born 25 January 1977) is a Tunisian former professional footballer who played as a right-back for CS Sfaxien, Ajax and Manchester City At international level, he played for the Tunisia national team in three World Cups, gaining a total of 66 caps before retiring from international football in 2006.

Club career

Born in Ariana, Tunisia, Trabelsi grew up in Sfax, and started his football career with his home town club Sfaxien, where he initially played as a forward.{{cite news | title=Hatem is 'Very Happy to be Here' | work=Manchester City FC Match programme | date=23 September 2006 }} An injury crisis at Sfaxien resulted in Trabelsi playing as a stop-gap right-back, leading to him converting to defence and becoming the team's regular right-back. In 2001 Trabelsi moved to Europe, signing for Dutch club Ajax.

In 2003, Ajax unilaterally took up the option to extend Trabelsi's contract by three years. He took the matter to court, and lost. He then refused to play for the club.{{cite news |title=Trabelsi signs new Ajax deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3666586.stm |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=17 September 2004}}

During the pre season of 2004, a £4 million transfer fee was agreed between Ajax and Arsenal, for Trabelsi to join the English champions.{{cite news |title=Arsenal set to capture Trabelsi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jul/23/newsstory.ajax |access-date=17 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=22 July 2004}} With the transfer looking imminent, even Pro Evolution Soccer 4 included Trabelsi for Arsenal.{{cite news |last1=McNicholas |first1=James |title=Suarez, Higuain, Ba, Sahin, Dudek … the inside story of the Arsenal signings that never happened |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1471318/2019/12/28/suarez-higuain-ba-sahin-dudek-the-inside-story-of-the-arsenal-signings-that-never-happened/ |access-date=17 January 2021 |work=The Athletic |date=27 December 2019}} However, after disagreements over Trabelsi's salary demands were reported,{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Matt |last2=Martin |first2=Neil |title=Sagnol used to placate Vieira |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jul/27/newsstory.sport5 |access-date=17 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=27 July 2004}} Trabelsi did not sign with Arsenal and soon returned home to Ajax, where he signed a two-year deal overruling the previous contract that had caused the rift.

In 2006 Trabelsi was linked with moves to several English clubs, and joined Manchester City on a free transfer on 10 August.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4779143.stm | title=Trabelsi completes Man City move | work=BBC Sport | date=10 August 2006 | access-date=5 January 2010}} Injury and work permit problems{{cite news |title=Top class Trabelsi settling well |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/top-class-trabelsi-settling-well-1048552 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=15 February 2007}} prevented him from making his debut until a month into the season, a substitute appearance against Reading on 11 September.{{cite web| title=27 Hatem Trabelsi| work=ESPN Soccernet| url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=10997&cc=5739| access-date=24 December 2006| archive-date=18 May 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518221629/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=10997&cc=5739| url-status=dead}}

He scored his first Manchester City goal against Manchester United with a left foot shot to beat Edwin van der Sar. Manchester City still lost the game 3–1.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6201464.stm |title=Man Utd 3–1 Man City |publisher=BBC |date=9 December 2006 |access-date=3 November 2009}} Trabelsi lost his right-back place in the side to Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha. Trabelsi did not play a game after City's 1–0 win at Newcastle United in March, and he was released at the end of the season.

In November 2007, Trabelsi was close to a $1 million contract to play for one year at Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, but the deal collapsed.{{cite news |title=Trabelsi's Saudi deal hits snag |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7094353.stm |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2007}}

International career

Trabelsi made his international debut for the Tunisia national team in May 1998, shortly before the 1998 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web | title=Hatem Trabelsi| work=fifaworldcup.com | url=http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/c/player/170770_TRABELSI_Hatem.html| access-date=24 December 2006 }} He also played in all of Tunisia's matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2004 African Nations Cup, which Tunisia won. Following Tunisia's elimination from the 2006 World Cup after a 1–0 defeat to Ukraine, Trabelsi announced his retirement from international football at the age of 29, with 61 caps and one goal.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/tunisia/5113430.stm | title=Trabelsi quits Tunisia | work=BBC Sport | date=24 June 2006 | access-date=5 January 2010}} He scored his only goal for the national team in 2006 in a friendly match against Ghana.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/tun-intres.html|title=Tunisia - List of International Matches|website=RSSSF|access-date=23 May 2018}}

Style of play

Trabelsi was described as Tunisia's star player in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup.{{cite web | title=6 Hatem Trabelsi| work=fifaworldcup.com | url=http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/170770_TRABELSI_Hatem.html| access-date=24 December 2006 }}{{cite news | title=Tunisia team guide| work=BBC Sport | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/tunisia/4369104.stm| access-date=24 December 2006 | date=22 May 2006}} His strongest attributes are generally regarded to be his pace and his agility, though critics sometimes questioned his commitment.

Honours

CS Sfaxien

Ajax

Tunisia

Africa Cup of Nations: 2004{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3485991.stm|title=Tunisia win Cup of Nations|date=14 February 2004|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2011-03-14}}

Individual

Officer of the National Order of Merit of Tunisia: 2003{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.tn/sites/default/files/journal-officiel/2003/2003F/Jo0612003.pdf|title=Décrets et arrêtés|date=1 August 2003|access-date=27 February 2018|archive-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110174815/http://www.legislation.tn/sites/default/files/journal-officiel/2003/2003F/Jo0612003.pdf|url-status=dead}}