Happy Birthday to Former OL Star Nabil Fekir!
Fekir played 145 matches in France’s top flight, recording 54 goals and 34 assists after making his first-team debut in 2013. Before making his mark with Les Gones, Fekir attempted to find a club where he could grow and reach his aspirations of becoming a footballer.
During his youth career, he played for six clubs, including OL twice, as his first stint was between 2005 and 2007, and then he returned in 2011. In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Fekir recalled rejoining Lyon after he was let go a few years earlier.
“I don’t remember why, there wasn’t a specific reason. And four years later they rang again. I don’t know. Maybe they realised they made a mistake. I left, went to local teams. It’s all good. I wasn’t angry, because I love football. It didn’t matter if it was Lyon or some other club; I just wanted to play. I went to a neighbourhood club and enjoyed it a lot.”
Lyon are likely glad that they were able to bring him back because Fekir ended up being a talented player for them. After making his first team debut in 2013, he would play seven years for OL, winning the World Cup with France in 2018 as a member of Lyon.
Of all the goals Fekir scored for Lyon, one stands out as an iconic moment in the rivalry with AS Saint-Étienne.
In November 2017, he scored twice in a 5–0 win on the road against ASSE. After his second goal in the 84th minute, Fekir celebrated by taking off his shirt and holding it up to display his name and number.
Fekir would leave OL in 2019 as their captain and begin a new journey, joining Real Betis. He would make 165 total matches for the Spanish side, winning the Copa del Rey with them in 2022, the first trophy he won at the club level.
After six years with Real Betis, he left European football to join Al-Jazira Club, where he won the UAE League Cup. Fekir holds a special place in French football, so here’s a happy 32nd birthday to the midfielder!
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