Mahdi Ben Slimane ( ar, مهدي بن سليمان; born 1 January 1974) is a Tunisian former professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
who played as a
forward.
Having begun his career at
AS Marsa
Avenir Sportif de La Marsa ( ar, المستقبل الرياضي بالمرسى) or ASM is a football club from La Marsa in Tunisia. Founded in 1939, the team plays in green and yellow colours. Their ground is Stade Abdelaziz Chtioui, which has ...
in his native country he moved to France in 1996 to play for
Olympique de Marseille. After just one season at the club, he joined
2. Bundesliga
The 2. Bundesliga ( ) is the second division of professional football in Germany. It was implemented 11 years after the founding of the Fußball-Bundesliga as the new second division for professional football. The 2. Bundesliga is ranked below ...
side
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg e.V., commonly known as SC Freiburg () or just Freiburg, is a German football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It plays in the Bundesliga, having been promoted as champions from the 2. Bund ...
whom helped to promotion to the
Bundesliga
The Bundesliga (; ), sometimes referred to as the Fußball-Bundesliga () or 1. Bundesliga (), is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of the German football league system, the Bundesliga is Germany's primary footba ...
. He spent half a season on loan each at
Borussia Mönchengladbach (in 2000) and club
Al-Nassr
Al Nassr Football Club ( ar, نادي النصر السعودي; '' Naṣr'' meaning ''Victory'') is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955, the club plays its home games at the Mrsool Park. Their home colours are yello ...
(in 2001) before leaving Freiburg and returning to Tunisia, where he spent a season and half at
Club Africain.
At international level, he played for the
Tunisia national team and was a member of squad at the
1998 FIFA World Cup, the
1996 African Cup of Nations
The 1996 African Cup of Nations was the 20th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa ( CAF). It was hosted by South Africa, who replaced original hosts Kenya. The field expanded for the first time to 16 teams, ...
, and the
1998 African Cup of Nations
The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was the 21st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (ACN), the national football championship of Africa, administered by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Just like in 1996, the field o ...
.
Club career
In February 2000, Ben Slimane scored a brace for
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg e.V., commonly known as SC Freiburg () or just Freiburg, is a German football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It plays in the Bundesliga, having been promoted as champions from the 2. Bund ...
contributing to 2–0 win against
SSV Ulm
SSV Ulm 1846 is a German football club from Ulm, Baden-Württemberg. The modern-day football department, officially playing as SSV Ulm 1846 Fussball, was formed on 9 March 2009 when the department separated from SSV Ulm 1846.
The club's great ...
.
International career
Ben Slimane participated at the
1998 African Cup of Nations
The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was the 21st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (ACN), the national football championship of Africa, administered by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Just like in 1996, the field o ...
scoring twice for the
Tunisia national team, one goal each against
DR Congo on 12 February and against
Togo
Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...
on 16 February.
Together with Freiburg teammate
Zoubeir Baya
Zoubeir Baya (or Beya) (; born 15 May 1971) is a Tunisian former professional footballer with a distinguished career as one of his country's most accomplished football exports. Baya, an attacking midfielder, displayed considerable skill and enter ...
, he represented his country at the
1998 FIFA World Cup.
Career statistics
:''Scores and results list Tunisia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ben Slimane goal.''
References
1973 births
Living people
Association football forwards
Tunisian footballers
Tunisian expatriate footballers
AS Marsa players
Olympique de Marseille players
SC Freiburg players
Borussia Mönchengladbach players
Al Nassr FC players
Club Africain players
Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 players
Ligue 1 players
Bundesliga players
2. Bundesliga players
Saudi Professional League players
Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Olympic footballers of Tunisia
Tunisia international footballers
1998 FIFA World Cup players
1996 African Cup of Nations players
1998 African Cup of Nations players
Expatriate footballers in France
Expatriate footballers in Germany
Expatriate footballers in Saudi Arabia
Tunisian expatriate sportspeople in France
Tunisian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Tunisian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia
{{Tunisia-footy-bio-stub