Elbekay Bouchiba
Encyclopedia
Elbekay Bouchiba is a Dutch
footballer of Moroccan
descent who currently plays for Toronto FC
in Major League Soccer
.
who began his career in the youth ranks of Willem II and made his debut in professional football, being part of the AZ squad in the 1998-99 season. He made his Eredivisie
debut in a 2-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam
on August 22, 1998. He also played for Sparta Rotterdam
and FC Twente
before joining Roda JC. His most productive season in the Eredivisie
was the 2001-02 season in which he appeared in 29 league matches for Sparta Rotterdam
. On August 10, 2002 he scored his first two goals for Sparta in a 2-1 victory over HFC Haarlem
in a 2002–03 KNVB Cup match. During his time with Sparta Rotterdam
Bouchiba appeared in 58 official matches and scored 3 goals. While with FC Twente
Bouchiba went on trial stints with Cardiff City
and 1. FC Köln
. Bouchiba appeared in 127 league matches in Holland, including 111 Eredivisie
appearances.
In 2008 he moved to Al-Wakrah in the Qatari League. During the 2009-10 season he played for Al-Shamal.
In January 2011 Bouchiba went on trial with Toronto FC
of Major League Soccer
in hopes of securing a contract. On February 15, 2011 it was reported that he had agreed to terms with the Canadian club. However it was not officially announced by the Canadian club until March 9, 2011. Bouchiba was one of three Dutch
players signed by Toronto, both Nick Soolsma
and Javier Martina
also joined the club. Bouchiba did not see the field during his first season with Toronto due to ACL knee injury, in mid October he returned to practicing with the team and stated that he is looking forward to playing next season with the team.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
footballer of 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...
descent who currently plays for Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Club career
Bouchiba is a midfielder who was born in WeertWeert
Weert is a municipality and city in the southeastern Netherlands. As of 2010, Weert had a population of 48,405. It lies on the Eindhoven–Maastricht railway line, and is also astride the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal.- Population centres :* Altweerterheide...
who began his career in the youth ranks of Willem II and made his debut in professional football, being part of the AZ squad in the 1998-99 season. He made his Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
debut in a 2-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
on August 22, 1998. He also played for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
and FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
before joining Roda JC. His most productive season in the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
was the 2001-02 season in which he appeared in 29 league matches for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
. On August 10, 2002 he scored his first two goals for Sparta in a 2-1 victory over HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem was a Dutch football club from the city of Haarlem, established in 1889. The club won the Dutch national title in 1946 and reached five Cup finals, winning in 1902 and 1912...
in a 2002–03 KNVB Cup match. During his time with Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
Bouchiba appeared in 58 official matches and scored 3 goals. While with FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
Bouchiba went on trial stints with Cardiff City
Cardiff city
Cardiff City may refer to:* Cardiff city centre* Cardiff City Council* Cardiff City F.C.* Cardiff City L.F.C.* Cardiff City Stadium...
and 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
. Bouchiba appeared in 127 league matches in Holland, including 111 Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
appearances.
In 2008 he moved to Al-Wakrah in the Qatari League. During the 2009-10 season he played for Al-Shamal.
In January 2011 Bouchiba went on trial with Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in hopes of securing a contract. On February 15, 2011 it was reported that he had agreed to terms with the Canadian club. However it was not officially announced by the Canadian club until March 9, 2011. Bouchiba was one of three Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
players signed by Toronto, both Nick Soolsma
Nick Soolsma
Nick Soolsma is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Netherlands:Soolsma began his career in the youth ranks of Dutch side FC Volendam. During the 2007 season he played for FC Volendam's Under-19 side...
and Javier Martina
Javier Martina
Javier Sylvester Martina is a Curaçaoan-Dutch footballer who last played for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. He also plays for the Curaçao national soccer team.-Netherlands:...
also joined the club. Bouchiba did not see the field during his first season with Toronto due to ACL knee injury, in mid October he returned to practicing with the team and stated that he is looking forward to playing next season with the team.