Zidane Mebarakou (Arabic: زيدان مباراكو; Tamazight: ⵣⵉⴷⴰⵏ ⵎⴻⴱⴰⵔⴰⴽⵓ; born 3 January 1989) is an Algerian professional footballer[1] who plays as a centre-back for Olympique Akbou.

Zidane Mebarakou
ⵣⵉⴷⴰⵏ ⵎⴻⴱⴰⵔⴰⴽⵓ
Personal information
Full name Zidane Mebarakou
Date of birth (1989-01-03) 3 January 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Barbacha, Algeria
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Olympique Akbou
Number 4
Youth career
0000–2009 JSM Béjaïa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2014 JSM Béjaïa 82 (0)
2014–2016 MO Béjaïa 40 (0)
2016–2019 MC Alger 54 (1)
2019 Al-Wehda 11 (1)
2019–2020 MC Alger 16 (0)
2020–2022 CS Constantine 62 (2)
2023– Olympique Akbou 38 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

Personal life

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Mebarakou is from Barbacha, 40 km south of the city of Béjaïa in Kabylia.[2]

Career

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He made his professional debut with local club JSM Béjaïa. He moved to MO Béjaïa in summer 2014. At his new club, he won the Algerian Cup, scoring in the semi-final against ES Sétif. At the end of his first year at the club, he was voted player of the season in an online survey.[3]

In 2016, he joined MC Alger alongside teammate Zahir Zerdab on a two-year deal.[4] After 2 years and a half in the Algerian capital, he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Wehda in January 2019.[5] He returned to MC Alger during the following transfer window after Saudi club owners did not wish to keep him.[6]

In 2020, he joined CS Constantine,[7] where he would play for two years.

Having spent 6 months without a club, Mebarakou signed with third-tier promotion contender Olympique Akbou in January 2023. On April 28, 2023, he scored the 2nd goal in a 3–0 win against USM Khenchela in the Algerian Cup round of 16, earning them a historic qualification to the quarterfinals.[8]

International career

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His performances at MO Béjaïa attracted the eyes of coach Christian Gourcuff.[9][10] Nonetheless, he never played for the national team.[11]

Honours

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MO Béjaïa

MC Alger

Olympique Akbou

References

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  1. ^ "Zidane Mebarakou (Olympique Akbou) - Player Profile - FlashScore.com". Flashscore.
  2. ^ "Zidane Mebarakou honoré par les supporters". La Dépêche de Kabylie. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Zidane Mebarakou honoré par les supporters". La Dépêche de Kabylie. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  4. ^ "ميباراكو ينضم لصفوف مولودية الجزائر". Kooora. 20 June 2016.
  5. ^ "رسمياً.. الوحدة يضم مدافع مولودية الجزائر زيدان ميباراكو". Alakhbaar24. 18 January 2019.
  6. ^ "MCA : Zidane Mebarakou fait son retour". DZfoot.
  7. ^ "CSC : Mebarakou opte pour le Sanafirs". DZfoot. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Coupe d'Algérie: qualification historique d'Akbou en quarts de finale". Le Score. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Equipe d'Algérie : Gourcuff ce vendredi à Alger: Il compte voir Mebarakou lors de la finale". Le Buteur. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Algérie : Gourcuff convoque 9 locaux contre les Seychelles". Afrik Foot. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  11. ^ "EN : Mebarakou libéré". Compétition DZ. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Le MO Béjaia remporte la Coupe d'Algérie 2015". DZfoot. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Accession en Ligue 2 : Historique pour Akbou, le MSPB et le WAM reviennent". - El Watan. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
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