Samir Nasri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 26, 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Marseille, France | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2004 | Marseille | ||
| Senior career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Apps (Gls)2 | |
| 2004–2008 | Marseille | 121 (11) | |
| 2008– | Arsenal | 29 (6) | |
| National team3 | |||
| 2007– | France | 15 (2) | |
| 1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:41, 2 June 2009 (UTC). 2 Appearances (Goals). |
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Samir Nasri (Arabic: سمير نصري.; born 26 June 1987 in Marseille) is a French international footballer of Algerian descent who currently plays his club football for the English Premier League side Arsenal. A naturally right-footed player, he generally plays on the left side of midfield for Arsenal.
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[edit] Early life
Nasri's parents moved to France from Algeria. His father is from Constantine and his mother is a native of Biskra. Nasri grew up in La Gavotte Peyret,[2][3] a northern suburb of Marseille. He often played on the streets, where he learnt many of his skills. He used to play for the local gang team, but after much violence, his parents signed him up to the football club Pennes Mirabeau at the age of six. Nasri himself has claimed that his tough upbringing actually helped him with his quest to play professional football, 'if I can be brave enough to face a knife I am brave enough to face a tough tackler'. He spent two seasons at Pennes before being scouted by Olympique de Marseille in 1996.[4]
[edit] Club career
[edit] Marseille
Nasri began playing with Marseille when he was 9 years old. He started playing in Ligue 1 in the 2004/2005 season at the age of 17, when he started 13 games and came on as a substitute in 11 games, scoring one goal. The next season got him experience in both the UEFA Cup (10 games; no goals) and the Intertoto Cup (one game; one goal). In the 2006/2007 season he scored his first goal of the year in Ligue 1 late in the season on 29 April 2007, when he started the match against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and helped his team to a 4–2 victory. This win allowed Marseille to climb into fourth place with just four games remaining, putting them into the UEFA Cup qualifying spot. Nasri was part of the squad that lost in the Coupe de France final in 2006 versus Paris Saint-Germain and he also lost in the 2007 final against Sochaux.
On 20 May 2007, Nasri was named French Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year[5] ahead of Jimmy Briand and Karim Benzema. He was voted Marseille's player of the year by the fans, receiving 62% of the votes. In addition, like many, he was dubbed the "new Zizou" for his vision and dribbling skills.
[edit] Arsenal
On 11 July 2008, Nasri signed for Arsenal from Olympique de Marseille on a long-term contract for about £12.7 million (€16 million). He made his Arsenal debut on 30 July against VfB Stuttgart in Germany, playing for around 60 minutes in the friendly encounter. He scored in his Premier League debut against West Bromwich Albion with a close range effort, after only four minutes of the first game of the season, on 16 August 2008. Although not yet confirmed by the club, it is believed to be the fastest goal ever scored by an Arsenal debutant.[6] On 27 August, Nasri made his Champions League debut in the 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg against FC Twente, scoring in the 26th minute to mark his European debut the same way as he did with his league debut—with a goal. On 8 November 2008, Nasri scored both of Arsenal's goals in a 2–1 win over Manchester United.[7]
Nasri played his part in Arsenal's Round of 16 triumph over A.S. Roma and was deployed behind the strikers. On 11 March 2009, he converted his penalty in the shoot-out after drawing 1-1 on aggregate. Due to Nasri's versatility, he has been deployed all over the midfield.[8] On 21 March, Nasri made the scoresheet again as the Gunners defeated Newcastle 3–1 at St. James' Park.[9]
[edit] International career
Nasri has been involved in the French national set up for a long time, progressing through the Under-16s, 17s, 18s, 19s and 21s. He was part of the team that won the 2004 UEFA U-17 Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the final match.[10] Nasri received his first cap for the senior team on 28 March 2007 against Austria, in a home friendly match at the age of 19. He delivered a free kick low into the box from which teammate Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the match. He scored his first senior international goal in his third appearance for the senior team in a 1–0 win against Georgia on 6 June 2007 in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier. Nasri was named in Raymond Domenech's final squad for Euro 2008; at age 20, he was one of the youngest members of the French squad selected for the final tournament. He made two appearances as a substitute and played for 32 minutes.
[edit] Style of play
Nasri has been compared to former Gunner Robert Pirès by Arsène Wenger who also described him as a quick and technically outstanding player with mobility and vision.[11][12][13]
[edit] Personal life
Samir has been in a relationship with the French tennis player Tatiana Golovin since May 2008 and he lives with her in Hampstead.[14]
[edit] Honours
[edit] Marseille
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005
[edit] International
[edit] Individual
[edit] Arsenal career statistics
- (correct as of 5 June 2009)[15]
| Season | League | Cup[16] | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | |
| 2008–09 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 7 | 5 |
[edit] References
- ^ Official site of Samir Nasri, samirnasri.fr, accessed January 16, 2009.
- ^ http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2008/05/21/457773-Region-en-direct-Vu-sur-LCM-La-Gavotte-Peyret-reagit-au-depart-de-Nasri.php
- ^ http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2007/03/16/20070316-MARSEILLE-Quand-Samir-Nasri-dribblait-les-copains-a-la-Gavotte.php
- ^ http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2007/03/22/20070322-FRANCE-Nasri-itineraire-d-un-surdoue.php
- ^ Samir Nasri won Young Player of the Year at Sports Illustrated, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, accessed 31 October 2008.
- ^ Nasri opens Arsenal account, skysports.com, accessed 18 August 2008.
- ^ Aikman, Richard (8 November 2008). "Nasri double reignites Arsenal's title challenge at expense of misfiring United". Guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/08/arsenal-manchester-united-premier-league.
- ^ Samir Nasri Arsenal profile
- ^ Newcastle United 1-3 Arsenal
- ^ Châteauroux celebrates French win, uefa.com, accessed 15 August 2008.
- ^ Nasri agrees to join Arsenal from Marseille, arsenal.com, accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^ Wenger – Nasri has ingredients to succeed, arsenal.com, accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^ Wenger - Nasri has a bit of Pires about him, arsenal.com, accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^ [1], independent.co.uk, accessed June 02, 2009.
- ^ Statistics, soccernet.espn.go.com, accessed October 30, 2008.
- ^ Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Samir Nasri |
- The Official Samir Nasri Website
- Unofficial Samir Nasri Fans Website
- Arsenal.com profile
- Goal.com profile
- French National Team Stats
- Samir Nasri career stats at Soccerbase
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