Sid Ali Yahia-Chérif
Encyclopedia
Sid Ali «Alilou» Yahia-Chérif, (born January 4, 1985, in Hydra
) is an Algeria
n football player who is currently playing as a striker for FC Istres
in the French Ligue 2
.
, Yahia-Chérif began playing on the streets and in neighborhood tournaments. He played briefly for two local sides: ES Kouba and ES Ben Aknoun. In 2003, at age 18, he signed with the RC Kouba
junior team, quickly making his mark at the club, and just two years later, he was promoted to the senior side. In the 2007/2008 season, Yahia-Chérif helped the club win promotion to the top flight. However, they would be relegated the following season with Yahia-Chérif leaving the club at the end of the 2008/2009 season.
, FC Istres
and Stade Reims
. However, Yahia-Chérif chose to stay close to home, signing a three year contract with JS Kabylie
.
In his first season with the club, he made 31 league appearances, scoring 10 goals, as JS Kabylie finished third in the domestic league. He also played a role in the teams run to the semi-finals of the 2010 CAF Champions League
. In the first round of the competition, he scored the only goal in the return leg against Tunisia
n side Club Africain
as JS Kabylie won 1-0 and advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
In his second season, he made just 10 league appearances and failed to find the back of the net. However, on May 1, 2011, he started in the 2011 Algerian Cup Final, as JS Kabylie went on to win 1-0 against USM El Harrach
, to win its first Algerian Cup
since 1994.
side Istres
.
for a qualifier against Morocco
for the 2009 African Championship of Nations
. He was the only player in the squad playing in the second division. He has also been capped for Algeria
at the Under-23 level.
Hydra, Algeria
Hydra is a municipality in Algiers province, Algeria. It is located in Bir Mourad Raïs district, in the plateau of western Algiers, the wealthier part of the national capital. It was heavily affected during the 11 December 2007 Algiers bombings....
) is an Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n football player who is currently playing as a striker for FC Istres
FC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
in the French Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
.
Club career
Growing up in AlgerAlgiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Yahia-Chérif began playing on the streets and in neighborhood tournaments. He played briefly for two local sides: ES Kouba and ES Ben Aknoun. In 2003, at age 18, he signed with the RC Kouba
RC Kouba
Raed Chabab Kouba is an Algerian football club based in Kouba, a district of Algiers. It was founded in 1942. They play at the Stade Omar Benhaddad.-Performance in CAF competitions:* African Cup of Champions Clubs: 1 appearance...
junior team, quickly making his mark at the club, and just two years later, he was promoted to the senior side. In the 2007/2008 season, Yahia-Chérif helped the club win promotion to the top flight. However, they would be relegated the following season with Yahia-Chérif leaving the club at the end of the 2008/2009 season.
JS Kabylie
In the summer of 2009, he was linked with a move to a number of French clubs including AS Monaco, FC MetzFC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
, FC Istres
FC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
and Stade Reims
Stade Reims
Stade de Reims is a French association football club based in Reims. The club was formed in 1911 under the name Société Sportive du Parc Pommery and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2009–10 season...
. However, Yahia-Chérif chose to stay close to home, signing a three year contract with JS Kabylie
JS Kabylie
Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie , known as JS Kabylie or JSK , is an Algerian professional association football club based in Tizi Ouzou. It draws its support from Kabyle football fans even outside the city of Tizi Ouzou...
.
In his first season with the club, he made 31 league appearances, scoring 10 goals, as JS Kabylie finished third in the domestic league. He also played a role in the teams run to the semi-finals of the 2010 CAF Champions League
2010 CAF Champions League
The 2010 CAF Champions League was the 46th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football , and the 14th edition under the current CAF Champions League format...
. In the first round of the competition, he scored the only goal in the return leg against Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n side Club Africain
Club Africain
The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
as JS Kabylie won 1-0 and advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
In his second season, he made just 10 league appearances and failed to find the back of the net. However, on May 1, 2011, he started in the 2011 Algerian Cup Final, as JS Kabylie went on to win 1-0 against USM El Harrach
USM El Harrach
Union Sportive de la Médina d'El Harrach is an Algerian football club based in El Harrach, a district of Algiers. It was founded in 1935...
, to win its first Algerian Cup
Algerian Cup
The Algerian Cup is a football competition in Algeria, pitting regional teams against each other. It was established in October 1962, three months after independence, and has been played yearly since then apart from 1990 and 1993. The 2011 edition was won by JS Kabylie who beat USM El Harrach...
since 1994.
FC Istres
On 6 July 2011, Yahia-Chérif signed a three-year contract with French Ligue 2Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
side Istres
FC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
.
International career
On April 17, 2008, he was called up to the Algerian A' National TeamAlgeria A' national football team
The Algeria A' national football team is the local national football team of Algeria and is open only to domestic league players. The team represents Algeria at the African Championship of Nations and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football....
for a qualifier against Morocco
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...
for the 2009 African Championship of Nations
2009 African Championship of Nations
The 2009 African Nations Championship was the first edition of the African Nations Championship in football. The tournament took place in Côte d’Ivoire from February 22 to March 8, 2009...
. He was the only player in the squad playing in the second division. He has also been capped for Algeria
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
at the Under-23 level.