Adil Rami
Encyclopedia
Adil Rami is a French international footballer who currently plays for Spanish club Valencia CF
in La Liga
. He plays in central defence
for the club and is known for his physical strength, free kicks, and imposing height standing at nearly 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m).
Rami began his football career playing for amateur club Étoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, then known as ES Fréjus. Due only playing the sport as a hobby, he spent three seasons at the club playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football
. In 2006, Rami ascended three divisions after signing with Ligue 1
club Lille OSC
. At Lille, Rami developed in a starter making his professional debut in May 2007. He is nicknamed "Shrek" by teammates and Lille supporters. In January 2011, Rami joined Spanish club Valencia agreeing to a four-year contract. He was immediately loan back to his previous club and was, subsequently, a part of the Lille team that won the league and cup double
.
Despite constant early inquiries from Morocco
prior to his first selection, Rami is a French international
. He was pre-selected to play for France at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, but did not make the final squad. Rami made his senior debut on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Norway
.
on the island of Corsica
to Moroccan
parents. As a youth, his family moved to metropolitan France
eventually settling in the southern coast city of Fréjus
, where his mother worked as a member of the city council
. Rami is the third of four children and has two sisters and one brother. While training to become a professional football player, Rami worked for the city after his family grew concerned for his future. He often did odd-jobs such as taking care of the maintenance and cleanliness of the city.
to support himself. He made his amateur debut for the club during the 2003–04 season while Fréjus were playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football
. He appeared in four matches in his first season. In the 2004–05 season, Rami appeared in 24 matches as Fréjus finished mid-table.
Ahead of the 2005–06 season, Rami switched to playing in central defence. He initially played as an offensive player
often in the midfield
, but following an injury to a teammate, whom Rami described as his best friend, his coaches inserted him into defence. The transition was a success with Rami appearing in 30 matches with Fréjus finishing mid-table for the third consecutive season. Midway through the campaign, Rami was offered a trial
by professional club Lille OSC
. Eager to leave the amateur club, he took the opportunity and after a week's training session with Lille, which Rami described as "hard", he was signed to an amateur contract with Fréjus receiving a meager €10,000.
. He made his professional debut on 19 May 2007 in a league match against Auxerre
starting in the centre back position. The following week, Rami started again against Rennes. On 4 June, Rami signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal until 2010. He was, subsequently, promoted to the senior squad on a permanent basis and assigned the number 23 shirt.
In the 2007–08 season
, Rami was declared a starter by Puel and inserted into the centre back position alongside captain Grégory Tafforeau
. In the opening match of the season against Lorient
, Rami featured in the match until the 69th minute when he suffered an injury to ligaments in one of his knees. He, subsequently, missed three and a half months due to the injury and returned in November 2007. Upon his return, Rami featured in every remaining match for Lille, excluding one league match. Lille finished the campaign in 7th place, one spot out of Europe
. After the season, Rami signed a two-year contract extension with the club. For the 2008–09 season, Rami's league debut against Nancy
was halted in injury time after earning a straight red card
. On 18 October 2008, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–2 draw against Lyon
. The following month, Rami scored against Marseille
in another 2–2 draw. On 1 February 2009, he scored the would-be game-winning goal against Bordeaux
in the 57th minute, however, the goal was canceled out eight minutes later by Yoann Gourcuff
to draw the match at 2–2. Rami's 4th and final goal of the season was the team's second goal in a 3–2 win over Nancy on the final day of the league season. The victory secured 5th place for Lille, which resulted in the club qualifying for the newly-created UEFA Europa League.
Following the season, Rami drew considerable interest from several clubs, which included French clubs Marseille and Lyon, English clubs Liverpool
and Arsenal
, and Italian club Milan
. Despite suitable offers for the player, Lille chairman Michel Seydoux
declared that Rami was not going to be leaving the club after a reported move to Marseille for €12 million was abruptly canceled in July 2009. The announcement led to a distraught and angry Rami declaring that he would see out the rest of his contract with Lille playing in the reserves if he wasn't transferred. He even went as far as to state that there was a conspiracy between Lille and Lyon, due to the club's easy negotiations during transfers between each other, as well as Seydoux's brother, Jérôme, being a shareholder
of Lyon. On 15 August 2009, Rami apologized for the comments and declared that he would remain at Lille.
Rami began the 2009–10 season
again as a starter as Lille struggled early on due to its tough schedule, in which the team faced Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, and Toulouse
in the first four weeks of the season. He made his UEFA Europa League debut on 30 July 2009 in the first leg of the club's third qualifying round match. Rami scored his first goal of the season on 19 September in the annual Derby du Nord
match against Lens
. With Lille trailing 1–0 in injury time at a hostile Stade Félix-Bollaert, Rami connected on a header following a corner kick in the 93rd minute to draw the match at 1–1, which was the final result. On 28 October, he scored his second goal against Saint-Étienne
in a 4–0 victory after delivering a curling free kick
from almost 35 meters out. On 25 February 2010, Rami scored the aggregate-winning goal in the team's Round of 32 second leg tie away to Fenerbahçe after connecting on a header five minutes from time.
confirmed on its website that the club had reached an agreement with Lille for the transfer of Rami with the La Liga outfit paying Lille a reported transfer fee believed to be in the range of €6–10 million. Rami finished the 2010–11 campaign with Lille on loan from Valencia and officially joined his parent club on 13 June after successfully passing a medical.
He made his debut for Valencia against Racing Santander
in a 4–3 home win. In the same game, Rami scored his first goal for the club from a corner kick, making it 2–3.
making his debut on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Norway
. Prior to representing France, he drew interest from the Moroccan national team
. Ahead of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Rami was offered a chance to play with Morocco at the competition by manager Henri Michel
. Rami declined the offer and cited his ambition to play for France. He has stated on several occasions that he would prefer to "represent Morocco within the France team".
On 20 March 2008, Rami received his first call-up to the French national team by former coach Raymond Domenech
for a friendly match against England
. Rami was informed of the summons by Lille teammate and captain Rio Mavuba
, which Adil took as a joke. The call up was, indeed, considered surprising by the French media and supporters as Rami had only played 17 Ligue 1
matches. Unsurprisingly, Rami featured with the B team
in its friendly against Mali
on 25 March 2008. Due to the match being unofficial, he Rami was again offered the chance to play for Morocco after being called up for the team's friendly match against the Czech Republic
on 11 February 2009 by new manager Roger Lemerre. Rami again declined the opportunity. On 19 March, he was called up again by Lemerre for the team's FIFA World Cup qualification match
against Gabon
. Rami, for the third time, declined the opportunity and later accepted his summons to the French squad for its FIFA World Cup qualification matches
against Lithuania
. On 11 May 2010, despite not making an appearance for the team, Rami was named to the 30-man preliminary list by Domenech to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, but failed to make the final 23.
On 5 August 2010, Rami was called up to the senior team
for the by new manager Laurent Blanc
for the team's friendly match against Norway
on 11 August 2010. He earned his first senior cap in the match starting in the centre back position alongside Philippe Mexès
. Rami has, subsequently, started alongside Mexès in the team's next four matches.
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. He plays in central defence
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for the club and is known for his physical strength, free kicks, and imposing height standing at nearly 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m).
Rami began his football career playing for amateur club Étoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, then known as ES Fréjus. Due only playing the sport as a hobby, he spent three seasons at the club playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
. In 2006, Rami ascended three divisions after signing with Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
. At Lille, Rami developed in a starter making his professional debut in May 2007. He is nicknamed "Shrek" by teammates and Lille supporters. In January 2011, Rami joined Spanish club Valencia agreeing to a four-year contract. He was immediately loan back to his previous club and was, subsequently, a part of the Lille team that won the league and cup double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
.
Despite constant early inquiries from Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
prior to his first selection, Rami is a French international
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. He was pre-selected to play for France at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, but did not make the final squad. Rami made his senior debut on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
.
Personal
Rami was born in the city of BastiaBastia
Bastia is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It is also the second-largest city in Corsica after Ajaccio and the capital of the department....
on the island of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
to Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
parents. As a youth, his family moved to metropolitan France
Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica...
eventually settling in the southern coast city of Fréjus
Fréjus
Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town...
, where his mother worked as a member of the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
. Rami is the third of four children and has two sisters and one brother. While training to become a professional football player, Rami worked for the city after his family grew concerned for his future. He often did odd-jobs such as taking care of the maintenance and cleanliness of the city.
Amateur
Rami registered as a youth player for Étoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, then known as ES Fréjus, in 1994 at the age of nine. Despite harboring ambitions of playing football professionally, Rami only played the sport as a hobby and worked for city hallCity hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
to support himself. He made his amateur debut for the club during the 2003–04 season while Fréjus were playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
. He appeared in four matches in his first season. In the 2004–05 season, Rami appeared in 24 matches as Fréjus finished mid-table.
Ahead of the 2005–06 season, Rami switched to playing in central defence. He initially played as an offensive player
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
often in the midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
, but following an injury to a teammate, whom Rami described as his best friend, his coaches inserted him into defence. The transition was a success with Rami appearing in 30 matches with Fréjus finishing mid-table for the third consecutive season. Midway through the campaign, Rami was offered a trial
Trial (sport)
Trial may refer to the following types of competitions.*Time trials*Car or motor trial, motoring competitions of skill and/or reliability*Motorcycle trials, an obstacle motorcycle competition...
by professional club Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
. Eager to leave the amateur club, he took the opportunity and after a week's training session with Lille, which Rami described as "hard", he was signed to an amateur contract with Fréjus receiving a meager €10,000.
Lille
Upon his arrival to the club, Rami was inserted onto the club's Championnat de France amateur team and was supervised by coach Pascal Planque, who Rami stated gave him the best opportunity to grow as a player. He appeared in 27 matches as the team finished in third spot, which was best among professional club's reserve team's playing in the group. With two months remaining in the 2006–07 Ligue 1 season, Rami was called up to the senior team by manager Claude PuelClaude Puel
Claude Puel is a French football manager and former player. He spent 17 years playing for AS Monaco.-Managerial career:...
. He made his professional debut on 19 May 2007 in a league match against Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
starting in the centre back position. The following week, Rami started again against Rennes. On 4 June, Rami signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal until 2010. He was, subsequently, promoted to the senior squad on a permanent basis and assigned the number 23 shirt.
In the 2007–08 season
Ligue 1 2007-08
The 2007–08 Ligue 1 season is the seventieth since its establishment, and started in August 2007 and ended on 17 May 2008. The fixtures were announced in June 2007. Lyon became French champions, having won a record seventh consecutive title ....
, Rami was declared a starter by Puel and inserted into the centre back position alongside captain Grégory Tafforeau
Grégory Tafforeau
Grégory Tafforeau is a French Norman footballer who plays for SM Caen as a defender.- Career :...
. In the opening match of the season against Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
, Rami featured in the match until the 69th minute when he suffered an injury to ligaments in one of his knees. He, subsequently, missed three and a half months due to the injury and returned in November 2007. Upon his return, Rami featured in every remaining match for Lille, excluding one league match. Lille finished the campaign in 7th place, one spot out of Europe
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
. After the season, Rami signed a two-year contract extension with the club. For the 2008–09 season, Rami's league debut against Nancy
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
was halted in injury time after earning a straight red card
Penalty card
A penalty card is used in many sports as a means of warning, reprimanding or penalising a player, coach or team official. Penalty cards are most commonly used by referees or umpires to indicate that a player has committed an offense. The referee will hold the card above his or her head while...
. On 18 October 2008, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–2 draw against Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. The following month, Rami scored against Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in another 2–2 draw. On 1 February 2009, he scored the would-be game-winning goal against Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
in the 57th minute, however, the goal was canceled out eight minutes later by Yoann Gourcuff
Yoann Gourcuff
Yoann Miguel Gourcuff is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. He operates mainly as an attacking midfielder, but can also be utilized as a withdrawn striker and is described as a "playmaker of real quality" who "is an accomplished...
to draw the match at 2–2. Rami's 4th and final goal of the season was the team's second goal in a 3–2 win over Nancy on the final day of the league season. The victory secured 5th place for Lille, which resulted in the club qualifying for the newly-created UEFA Europa League.
Following the season, Rami drew considerable interest from several clubs, which included French clubs Marseille and Lyon, English clubs Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, and Italian club Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. Despite suitable offers for the player, Lille chairman Michel Seydoux
Michel Seydoux
Michel Seydoux is a French businessman and movie producer. He also serves as the president and chairman of French club Lille OSC. Seydoux is the grandson of scientist Marcel Schlumberger and has two brothers; Jérôme and Nicolas. Jérôme is a shareholder on football club Olympique Lyonnais.-External...
declared that Rami was not going to be leaving the club after a reported move to Marseille for €12 million was abruptly canceled in July 2009. The announcement led to a distraught and angry Rami declaring that he would see out the rest of his contract with Lille playing in the reserves if he wasn't transferred. He even went as far as to state that there was a conspiracy between Lille and Lyon, due to the club's easy negotiations during transfers between each other, as well as Seydoux's brother, Jérôme, being a shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
of Lyon. On 15 August 2009, Rami apologized for the comments and declared that he would remain at Lille.
Rami began the 2009–10 season
2009–10 in French football
The 2009–10 season was the 77th season of competitive professional football in France.The season began on 7 August 2009 for the Championnat National and Ligue 2 and on 8 August for Ligue 1 and the Championnat de France amateur...
again as a starter as Lille struggled early on due to its tough schedule, in which the team faced Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, and Toulouse
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
in the first four weeks of the season. He made his UEFA Europa League debut on 30 July 2009 in the first leg of the club's third qualifying round match. Rami scored his first goal of the season on 19 September in the annual Derby du Nord
Derby du Nord
The Derby du Nord is a football match contested between French clubs RC Lens and Lille OSC, two of region's most successful clubs. The derby has the name despite Lille being the only club of the two situated in the department of Nord. Lens are situated in the southern department of Pas-de-Calais...
match against Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. With Lille trailing 1–0 in injury time at a hostile Stade Félix-Bollaert, Rami connected on a header following a corner kick in the 93rd minute to draw the match at 1–1, which was the final result. On 28 October, he scored his second goal against Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
in a 4–0 victory after delivering a curling free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
from almost 35 meters out. On 25 February 2010, Rami scored the aggregate-winning goal in the team's Round of 32 second leg tie away to Fenerbahçe after connecting on a header five minutes from time.
Valencia
On 3 January 2011, Spanish club ValenciaValencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
confirmed on its website that the club had reached an agreement with Lille for the transfer of Rami with the La Liga outfit paying Lille a reported transfer fee believed to be in the range of €6–10 million. Rami finished the 2010–11 campaign with Lille on loan from Valencia and officially joined his parent club on 13 June after successfully passing a medical.
He made his debut for Valencia against Racing Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
in a 4–3 home win. In the same game, Rami scored his first goal for the club from a corner kick, making it 2–3.
International
Rami is a French internationalFrance national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
making his debut on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
. Prior to representing France, he drew interest from the Moroccan national team
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
. Ahead of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Rami was offered a chance to play with Morocco at the competition by manager Henri Michel
Henri Michel
-External links:...
. Rami declined the offer and cited his ambition to play for France. He has stated on several occasions that he would prefer to "represent Morocco within the France team".
On 20 March 2008, Rami received his first call-up to the French national team by former coach Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech
Raymond Domenech is a retired French footballer and the former manager of the France national team.-2006 World Cup:On 12 July 2004, Domenech was a surprise choice to succeed Jacques Santini after the country's disappointing exit from UEFA Euro 2004 by losing in the quarter-final match to the...
for a friendly match against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. Rami was informed of the summons by Lille teammate and captain Rio Mavuba
Rio Antonio Mavuba
Rio Antonio Zoba Mavuba is a French football player who plays for and captains Lille O.S.C. in the French Ligue 1. He is a defensive midfielder well known for his agility.-Biography:...
, which Adil took as a joke. The call up was, indeed, considered surprising by the French media and supporters as Rami had only played 17 Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
matches. Unsurprisingly, Rami featured with the B team
France B national football team
The France B national football team is the senior national team of France that plays non-A matches against other nations in friendlies. In France, the team is usually called "France A dash".-Popularity and use:...
in its friendly against Mali
Mali national football team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles , is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
on 25 March 2008. Due to the match being unofficial, he Rami was again offered the chance to play for Morocco after being called up for the team's friendly match against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
on 11 February 2009 by new manager Roger Lemerre. Rami again declined the opportunity. On 19 March, he was called up again by Lemerre for the team's FIFA World Cup qualification match
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
The Confederation of African Football section of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw teams compete for five berths in the final tournament in South Africa...
against Gabon
Gabon national football team
The Gabon national football team, nicknamed Azingo Nationale, is the national team of Gabon and is controlled by the Fédération Gabonaise de Football...
. Rami, for the third time, declined the opportunity and later accepted his summons to the French squad for its FIFA World Cup qualification matches
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
. On 11 May 2010, despite not making an appearance for the team, Rami was named to the 30-man preliminary list by Domenech to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, but failed to make the final 23.
On 5 August 2010, Rami was called up to the senior team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
for the by new manager Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
for the team's friendly match against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on 11 August 2010. He earned his first senior cap in the match starting in the centre back position alongside Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès
Philippe Mexès is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian Serie A club Milan and for the French national team.-Auxerre:...
. Rami has, subsequently, started alongside Mexès in the team's next four matches.
Club
Statistics accurate as of match played 6 November 2011.| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fréjus | 2003–04 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2004–05 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| Total | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |– | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 0 | ||
| Lille Lille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
2006–07 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | 33 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Ligue 1 The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated... |
34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 5 | |
| 2010–11 2010–11 Ligue 1 The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011... |
36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 0 | |
| Total | 129 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 9 | |
| Valencia Valencia CF Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the... |
2011–12 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |
| Total | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |– | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 196 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 12 | |
International
- (Correct as of 15 November 2011)
National team Season Apps Goals Assists France France national football teamThe France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...2010–11 11 0 0 2011–12 5 0 0 Total 16 0 0
Club
Lille- Ligue 1Ligue 1Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
: 20112010–11 Ligue 1The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011... - Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
: 20112011 Coupe de France FinalThe 2011 Coupe de France Final was the 93rd final of France's most prestigious football cup competition. The final took place on 14 May 2011 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and was contested between Paris Saint-Germain and Lille...