- Mehdi Ballouchy
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Mehdi Ballouchy
مهدي بلوشيPersonal information Full name Mehdi Ballouchy Date of birth 6 April 1983 Place of birth Casablanca, Morocco Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Playing position Midfielder Club information Current club New York Red Bulls Number 10 Youth career 1996–1999 Raja Casablanca 2002 Creighton Bluejays 2004–2005 Santa Clara Broncos Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2005 Boulder Rapids Reserve 2 (0) 2006–2007 Real Salt Lake 46 (2) 2007–2010 Colorado Rapids 77 (7) 2010– New York Red Bulls 35 (3) National team 1999 Morocco U-16 3 (0) 2000 Morocco U-17 6 (2) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 3, 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).Mehdi Ballouchy (Arabic: مهدي بلوشي) (born April 6, 1983 in Casablanca) is a Moroccan footballer. He currently plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.
Contents
Career
Youth and College
Ballouchy played in the youth system of Raja Casablanca before moving to the United States in 2000 at the age of 16. He attended Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, and played a year of college soccer at Creighton and two at Santa Clara, where he was named first team All-American in 2005. He also briefly played with Boulder Rapids Reserve in the USL Premier Development League.
Professional
Ballouchy signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS, and was taken second overall by Real Salt Lake at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.[1] During his time with RSL Ballouchy appeared in 46 league matches scoring 2 goals and recording 2 assists.
After spending two years in Utah he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for Kyle Beckerman in July 2007. During his stay with Colorado Ballouchy played primarily as an attacking central midfielder, but also saw time at right midfield.[2] With Colorado he appeared in 77 league matches, scoring 7 goals and recording 18 assists. His most productive season for Colorado was in 2009 when he appeared in 28 league matches scoring two goals and providing seven assists.
On September 14, 2010 Ballouchy joined the New York Red Bulls in a trade for Macoumba Kandji.[3] New York coach Hans Backe had been looking for an attacking midfielder throughout the season and the acquisition of Ballouchy ended the club's search. On September 16, 2010 Ballouchy debuted for New York wearing the number 10 shirt and scoring a goal in a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas.[4] On October 21, 2010 Ballouchy started for Red Bulls in a 2-0 victory over New England Revolution which helped New York clinch its second regular season Eastern Conference title.[5] On October 26, 2011 Ballouchy helped New York to a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in a 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs match by providing a beautiful pass to assist Joel Lindpere in scoring the clubs first goal of the night.[6]
Career stats
Season Club Country Level Apps Goals 2011 New York Red Bulls I 29 2 2010 New York Red Bulls I 6 1 2010 Colorado Rapids I 21 3 2009 Colorado Rapids I 28 2 2008 Colorado Rapids I 19 1 2007 Colorado Rapids I 9 1 2007 Real Salt Lake I 14 0 2006 Real Salt Lake I 32 2 International
Ballouchy has played for various youth Moroccan national teams, including the Moroccan U-17 and U-16 National Teams prior to moving to the United States at the age of 16. He is currently in the process of becoming a US citizen.[7]
See also
References
- ^ ESPNsoccernet - MLS - Ballouchy likely to run Real Salt Lake attack
- ^ Ballouchy shows energy, athleticism - The Denver Post
- ^ RBNY acquires midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy | New York Red Bulls
- ^ Ballouchy debuts with a goal
- ^ Red Bulls finish 1st in East
- ^ Ballouchy helps New York advance
- ^ Utah News - Salt Lake City News, Sports, Entertainment, Business - The Salt Lake Tribune
External links
New York Red Bulls – current squad 1 Rost · 2 Tainio · 3 Albright · 4 Márquez · 5 Ream · 6 Hertzog · 7 Miller · 8 Solli · 9 Rodgers · 10 Ballouchy · 11 McCarty · 14 Henry · 15 Kassel · 16 Rooney · 17 Agudelo · 18 Coundoul · 19 Richards · 20 Lindpere · 21 Nielsen · 22 Keel · 23 Jones · 25 Auvray · 31 Horwath · 32 Paullo · 33 Robinson · 39 Schneider · 44 Mendes · 91 Hot ·
Head Coach: Backe Assistant Coach: Halvorsen General Manager: Solér
Categories:- 1983 births
- Living people
- People from Casablanca
- Moroccan footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Santa Clara Broncos men's soccer players
- Real Salt Lake players
- Colorado Rapids players
- New York Red Bulls players
- Boulder Rapids Reserve players
- Creighton Bluejays men's soccer players
- USL Premier Development League players
- American people of Moroccan descent
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
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