Karim Saidi

Karim Saïdi
Personal information
Full name	Karim Ben Ahmed Saïdi; Arabic: كريم سعيدي
Date of birth	24 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Tunis, Tunisia
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
1994–2002	Club Africain
Senior career*
Years	Team
2001–2004	Club Africain
2004–2008	Feyenoord
2006	→ Lecce (loan)
2008	→ Sivasspor (loan)
2008–2009	Club Africain
2009–2011	Tours
2011–2014	Lierse
International career
2003–2013	Tunisia
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Tunisia
Africa Cup of Nations
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 January 2014

Karim Saïdi (Arabic: كريم سعيدي; born 24 March 1983) is a Tunisian former footballer who last played for Belgian club Lierse SK. He now runs a coffee shop in Tunisia.^[1] He was part of the squad that won the 2004 African Cup of Nations.

Club career

Club Africain

When Karim was 10 years old he joined Club Africain, one of the major clubs in Tunisia. He made his debut in the Tunisian national team against Morocco in 2003.

Feyenoord

In 2004 the right-footed defender moved to Feyenoord Rotterdam after advice from his friend Hatem Trabelsi and signed a contract till 2008. During his first season he was the first choice in Feyenoord's central defense, as a result of which he played 30 matches in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Lecce

As of 2005/06, Saïdi lost his spot in the starting eleven. Determined to play as a regular in order to increase his chances to be in the Tunisian squad during the FIFA World Cup 2006, he moved on loan to US Lecce of Italian Serie A on January 31, 2006. He made 9 appearances with Lecce and gained a place in the Tunisian squad for the FIFA World Cup 2006.

Feyenoord return and Sivasspor

Following the World Cup, Karim returned to Feyenoord for the 2006/2007 season. He remained at the club until January 2008, when he moved on loan to Sivasspor in January 2008. Karim made a good impression in the Turkish first division helping the club secure an impressive fourth place allowing it to participate in its first ever European cup.

Return to Club Africain

On October 9, 2008 he signed a four-year contract with his former club Club Africain.

Tour FC

Failing to reassert himself in his childhood club, he signed a two-year deal with Tours FC in June 2009.

Lierse SK

On July 9, 2011 Saidi signed a two-year contract with Belgian Pro League outfit Lierse SK.

In January 2015, Saidi went on trial with Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Irtysh Pavlodar, but did not earn a contract.^[2]

Honours

Tunisia

Africa Cup of Nations: 2004^[3]

References

^ Karim Saïdi runt tegenwoordig een koffiezaak in Tunesië vice.com
^ Карим Саиди покинул расположение Иртыша. fcirtysh.kz/ (in Russian). FC Irtysh Pavlodar. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^ "Tunisia win Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 14 February 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2011.

External links

Karim Saidi at National-Football-Teams.com
Career stats - Voetbal International (in Dutch)

[1] Karim Saïdi runt tegenwoordig een koffiezaak in Tunesië vice.com

[2] Карим Саиди покинул расположение Иртыша. fcirtysh.kz/ (in Russian). FC Irtysh Pavlodar. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.

[3] "Tunisia win Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 14 February 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2011.

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