Ibba Laajab

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ibba Laajab

| image = Ibba Laajab in September 2018.jpg

| caption = Laajab in 2018

| fullname = Abdurahim Laajab

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|5|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Morocco

| height = 1.88 m

| position = Winger, striker

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Vålerenga

| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2002 | youthclubs2 = Moss

| years1 = 2003–2005 | clubs1 = Skeid | caps1 = 18 | goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = → Drøbak/Frogn (loan) | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 2006 | clubs3 = Sørumsand | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2006–2007 | clubs4 = Borussia Mönchengladbach II | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = Skeid | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2008–2009 | clubs6 = Notodden | caps6 = 43 | goals6 = 10

| years7 = 2010 | clubs7 = Mjøndalen | caps7 = 27 | goals7 = 9

| years8 = 2011 | clubs8 = Strømmen | caps8 = 24 | goals8 = 7

| years9 = 2012 | clubs9 = Vålerenga | caps9 = 6 | goals9 = 0

| years10= 2012 | clubs10= → Stabæk (loan) | caps10= 5 | goals10= 0

| years11= 2013–2014 | clubs11= Bodø/Glimt | caps11= 56 | goals11= 30

| years12= 2015 | clubs12= Hebei China Fortune | caps12= 30 | goals12= 8

| years13= 2016–2020 | clubs13= Yokohama FC | caps13= 158 | goals13= 78

| years14= 2020–2022 | clubs14= Omiya Ardija | caps14= 35 | goals14= 4

| years15= 2022–2024 | clubs15= Lyn | caps15= 35 | goals15= 15

| nationalyears1 = 2011–2015 | nationalteam1 = Norway (futsal) | nationalcaps1 = 20 | nationalgoals1 = 19

| club-update = 31 July 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Abdurahim Laajab (born 21 May 1985), commonly known as Ibba Laajab (イバ), is a Norwegian former professional footballer. Ibba also plays futsal. Born in Morocco, he holds Norwegian citizenship and is one of the key players in the Norway futsal team.

Laajab grew up in Norway and played eight seasons in the Norwegian First Division with Skeid, Notodden, Mjøndalen and Strømmen before he signed with Tippeligaen-side Vålerenga in 2012. After spending the second half of the 2012 season on loan with Stabæk, Ibba joined Bodø/Glimt ahead of the 2013 season.

After two successful campaigns with the Norwegian side he got a transfer to Chinese League One side Hebei China Fortune. After a year there he moved the J2 League side Yokohama FC and has so far enjoyed great success there.

Football career

Ibba was born to Moroccan parents and moved to Norway when he was one month old.{{cite web |url=http://dt.no/sport/sikter-mot-tippeligaen-1.5103488 |language=no |title= Sikter mot Tippeligaen |trans-title=Aims for the Tippeliga |publisher=Drammens Tidende |date=3 April 2010 |access-date=9 January 2012}} He played at Vålerenga and Moss during his youth,{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2sporten.no/jsport/aof/element.do?cmd=player&personId=84602 |title=Abdurahim Laajab |language=no |work=altomfotball.no |access-date=9 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413154923/http://www.tv2sporten.no/jsport/aof/element.do?cmd=player&personId=84602 |archive-date=13 April 2014}} and later joined Skeid because his friends were playing there.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/futsalstjernen-ibba-har-signert-for-vaalerenga-3676512.html |language=no |title=Futsal-stjernen "Ibba" har signert for Vålerenga |trans-title=Futsal star signs with Vålerenga |publisher=TV2 |date=6 January 2012 |access-date=9 January 2012}} At Skeid he was teammate with Moa, Mos, Birger Madsen and Dawda Leigh.

Ibba didn't get too much playing time with Skeid, but during the second half of the 2004-season he played 248 minutes in nine matches in the First Division and scored two goals. Ahead of the 2005-season, Ibba and his teammate Moa joined Rosenborg BK on their pre-season tour to La Manga Club.{{cite web |url=http://www.rbkweb.no/vis/3367 |language=no |title="Ibba" erstattet Madsen |publisher=RBKweb.no |date=29 January 2005 |access-date=9 July 2012}} Ibba was sent on a short loan-spell to Drøbak-Frogn in 2005, and left Skeid after the season and signed a one-year contract with Sørumsand which had been relegated from the Third Division.{{cite web |url=http://www.rb.no/lokal_sport/article1937416.ece |language=no |title=Fra Sørumsand til tysk storklubb |trans-title=From Sørumsand to big German club |publisher=Romerikes Blad |date=3 February 2006 |access-date=9 January 2012}}

Before he played a match for Sørumsand, Ibba moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach where Jørn Andersen was the assistant coach. Ibba and Andersen communicated with each other in Norwegian. A year later Andersen was fired together with the head coach, and the new coach only talked to Ibba in German, a language Ibba did not try to learn, and eventually Ibba requested to terminate his contract and moved home to Norway. He only played one match for Borussia Mönchengladbach II.

In 2007 Ibba was back in Skeid, before he signed a contract with Notodden ahead of the 2008-season.{{cite web |url=http://www.ta.no/lokal_sport/article3322494.ece |language=no |title=Ibba signerte – Notodden tapte |work=ta.no |publisher=Telemarksavisa |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=9 July 2012}} Ibba played regularly in the first-team until head coach Jan Halvor Halvorsen was fired halfway through the 2009-season. The new coach, Arne Sandstø placed him on the bench and Ibba left the club after the season. Ahead of the 2010-season, Ibba was on a trial with the Spanish second-tier club Elche and was offered a contract there, but Ibba rejected the offer and decided to move to Mjøndalen instead. Mjøndalen's coach Vegard Hansen stated that Ibba was a risky signing due to his poor reputation, but that the 24-year had such an unredeemed potential that he couldn't ignore him.{{cite web |url=http://dt.no/sport/mif/abdurahim-laajaab-signerte-med-mif-1.3043029 |language=no |title=Abdurahim Laajaab signerte med MIF |publisher=Drammens Tidende |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=22 February 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222221359/http://dt.no/sport/mif/abdurahim-laajaab-signerte-med-mif-1.3043029 |url-status=dead }}

Ibba played for Strømmen in 2011, where he scored seven goals in 24 matches in the First Division,{{cite web |url=http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3306470.ece |language=no |title=Vålerenga signerte "futsalstjerne" |trans-title=Futsal star signed with Vålerenga |publisher=Nettavisen |date=6 January 2012 |access-date=9 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220195332/http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3306470.ece |archive-date=20 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} and ahead of the 2012-season he signed for Vålerenga.{{cite web |url=http://fotball.bt.no/eliteserien/article218665.ece |language=no |title=VIF-Andresen signerte futsal-stjerne |trans-title=Andresen signed futsal star |publisher=Bergens Tidende |work=NTB |date=6 January 2012 |access-date=9 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114010444/http://fotball.bt.no/eliteserien/article218665.ece |archive-date=14 January 2012}} After Ibba's transfer to Vålerenga, his former teammate from Skeid and former Vålerenga-player, Moa, said in an interview with Norwegian TV2 that the supporters of Vålerenga should be excited about their new signing and dubbed Ibba as one of the best newcomers of the 2012 Tippeligaen.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/moa-ingen-andre-kan-det-ibba-kan-3726862.html |language=no |title=Moa: – Ingen andre kan det Ibba kan! |trans-title=Moa: – No one else can do what Ibba does! |publisher=TV2 |date=8 March 2012 |access-date=4 July 2012}} Ibba made his first-team debut for Vålerenga in the friendly match against the Second Division-side Nesodden on 11 January 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/ibba-faar-sin-vifdebut-3680398.html |language=no |title=Ibba får sin VIF-debut |work=tv2.no |publisher=TV2 |date=11 January 2012 |access-date=9 July 2012}} After playing six matches for Vålerenga in Tippeligaen, Ibba was loaned out to Stabæk in August 2012 for the rest of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3463688.ece |language=no |title=VIF signerte kanadisk landslagsspiller |publisher=Nettavisen |first=Kaja Marie |last=Snare |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=27 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831204244/http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3463688.ece |archive-date=31 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Ibba joined Bodø/Glimt ahead of the 2013 season, where he was reunited with his coach from Notodden, Jan Halvor Halvorsen.{{cite web |url=http://www.telen.no/nyheter/notodden/halvorsen-henter-ibba-til-glimt-1.7762777 |language=no |title=Halvorsen henter Ibba til Glimt |publisher=Telen |first=Knut Henning |last=Slettemo |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013}} Ibba signed a three-year contract with Bodø/Glimt.{{cite web |url=http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3568952.ece |language=no |title="Ibba" forlater Vålerenga |publisher=Nettavisen |first=Andreas Kristoffer |last=Berge |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220195426/http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3568952.ece |archive-date=20 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}

On 25 February 2015, Ibba transferred to China League One side Hebei China Fortune.[http://sports.sohu.com/20150225/n409155698.shtml 河北华夏幸福签约挪威中锋] at sports.sohu.com 25 February 2015 Retrieved 25 February 2014

On 25 August 2022, he signed for Lyn.{{cite web|url=https://www.lyn1896.no/nyheter/2022/8/25/ibba|title=Ibba!|publisher=Lyn 1896|date=25 August 2022|access-date=25 August 2022|language=no|archive-date=25 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104030/https://www.lyn1896.no/nyheter/2022/8/25/ibba|url-status=dead}} On 11 November 2023 he scored his first hat-trick for Lyn, coming off the bench and scoring three goals in 20 minutes in a 10-1 win against Fram Larvik.

Futsal career

Ibba is known as one of the biggest futsal-stars in Norway. In his debut for the Norwegian futsal team, he scored three goals when Norway won 7–2 against Malta on 13 January 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/01/14/sport/fotball/futsal/norge/15063898/ |language=no |title="Ibba" lekte inn tre mål i debuten for Norge |trans-title=Ibba easily scored three goals in his national team debut |publisher=Dagbladet |date=14 January 2011|access-date=9 January 2012}} The next day he again scored three goals against Malta, before he scored another hat-trick when Norway won against Israel in the qualifying match for the 2012 UEFA Futsal Championship on 20 January, which made a total of nine goals in his first three matches for Norway.{{cite web |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/01/21/sport/fotball/futsal/futsallandslaget/15150379/ |language=no |title="Ibba" har gjort tre hattrick på sine tre landskamper |publisher=Dagbladet |date=21 January 2011|access-date=9 July 2012}}

Ahead of the qualifying match against Spain on 15 December 2011, Norway's national team coach Esten O. Sæther called Ibba a "top international futsal player", and that if their chances against Spain was depending on Ibba's performance and that he had to play at his very best.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/landslagssjefen-om-ibba-han-er-paa-et-internasjonalt-toppnivaa-3661461.html |language=no |title=Landslagssjefen om "Ibba": – Han er på et internasjonalt toppnivå |trans-title=National team manager about "Ibba": "He is at a top international level" |publisher=TV2 |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=9 January 2012}} Three days later, Ibba scored the goal that secured a 3–3 draw against Belgium and sent Norway to the playoff round of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifier.

Style of play

Laajab has a good physique, a good temperament and good one-on-one skills and has a great breakthrough force.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vif-fotball.no/article3350120.ece |language=no |title=Style of playing |publisher=vif-fotball.no |date=6 April 2012 |access-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510155342/http://www.vif-fotball.no/article3350120.ece |archive-date=10 May 2012 }}

Career statistics

{{updated|match played 23 June 2024}}{{cite web|title=Ibba Laajab|url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=84602&tournamentId=1&seasonId=336&teamId=307&useFullUrl=false|website=altomfotball.no|publisher=TV 2|access-date=2 June 2019|language=no}}{{NFF|3164794}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National Cup !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Skeid \|2003 \|1. divisjon \|1	0	0	0	1	0
2004 \|1. divisjon \|9	2	0	0	9	2
2005 \|1. divisjon \|8	0	0	0	8	0
colspan="2"\|Total !18	2	0	0	18	2
Skeid \|2007 \|1. divisjon \|16	1	1	0	17	1
rowspan="3"\|Notodden \|2008 \|1. divisjon \|24	8	0	0	24	8
2009 \|1. divisjon \|19	2	1	0	20	2
colspan="2"\|Total !43	10	1	0	44	10
Mjøndalen \|2010 \|1. divisjon \|27	9	3	1	30	10
Strømmen \|2011 \|1. divisjon \|24	7	2	1	26	8
Vålerenga \|2012 \|Eliteserien \|6	0	2	1	8	1
Stabæk (loan) \|2012 \|Eliteserien \|5	0	0	0	5	0
rowspan="3"\|Bodø/Glimt \|2013 \|1. divisjon \|26	17	3	2	29	19
2014 \|Eliteserien \|30	13	3	0	33	13
colspan="2"\|Total !56	30	6	2	62	32
Hebei China Fortune \|2015 \|China League One \|30	8	1	0	31	8
rowspan="6"\|Yokohama \|2016 \|J2 League \|40	18	1	1	41	19
2017 \|J2 League \|41	25	0	0	41	25
2018 \|J2 League \|40	17	0	0	40	17
2019 \|J2 League \|36	18	0	0	36	18
2020 \|J1 League \|1	0	2	0	3	0
colspan="2"\|Total !158	78	3	1	161	79
rowspan="3" \|Omiya Ardija \|2020 \|J2 League \|13	1	0	0	13	1
2021 \|J2 League \|22	3	0	0	22	3
colspan="2"\|Total !35	4	0	0	35	4
rowspan="4" \|Lyn \|2022 \|3. divisjon \|9	5	0	0	9	5
2023 \|2. divisjon \|16	9	2	0	18	9
2024 \|1. divisjon \|10	1	2	0	12	1
colspan="2"\|Total !35	15	4	0	39	15
colspan="3"\|Career total !434	158	21	6	463	164

References

External links

{{J.League player}}
[https://www.yokohamafc.com/team/member/2017-14 Profile] at Yokohama FC
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510155342/http://www.vif-fotball.no/article3350120.ece Profile] at Vålerenga (archived) {{in lang|no}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Oslo

Category:Moroccan emigrants to Norway

Category:Norwegian men's footballers

Category:Norwegian men's futsal players

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Vålerenga Fotball players

Category:Moss FK players

Category:Skeid Fotball players

Category:Drøbak-Frogn IL players

Category:Borussia Mönchengladbach II players