Karim Rekik

Karim Rekik (Arabic: كريم رقيق‎; born 2 December 1994) is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Spanish club Sevilla FC.

Karim Rekik
Rekik in 2019
Personal information
Full name Karim Rekik[1]
Date of birth (1994-12-02) 2 December 1994[1]
Place of birth The Hague, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Sevilla
Number 4
Youth career
1999–2002 Scheveningen
2002–2011 Feyenoord
2011–2012 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Manchester City 1 (0)
2012 → Portsmouth (loan) 8 (0)
2013 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 5 (0)
2013–2015 → PSV (loan) 54 (2)
2015–2017 Marseille 34 (1)
2017–2020 Hertha BSC 64 (3)
2020– Sevilla 3 (0)
National team‡
2009–2010 Netherlands U16 6 (0)
2010–2011 Netherlands U17 18 (1)
2011–2013 Netherlands U19 12 (1)
2014–2016 Netherlands U21 15 (1)
2014– Netherlands 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2017 (UTC)

Early life

Rekik was born in The Hague.[1] His father was born in Tunisia and his mother is a Dutch primary school teaching assistant.[2] He has a younger brother, Omar, who is also a professional footballer playing as a centre-back for Arsenal.

Rekik started his football when he joined Scheveningen in 1999 before joining Feyenoord, where he went on to stay for nine years. But in March 2011, Manchester City made an approach for Rekik, as Feyernood were determined to keep a hold off him.[3] The approach was to be controversial, as the club took the case matter to the Dutch FA, as a result of the club losing their youngsters to Premier League clubs.[4] The club was also considering legal action against Rekik's agent Søren Lerby, though he insisted he maintain following FIFA's rules.[5] The case was dismissed.[6]

Club career

Manchester City

Rekik signed for Manchester City from Feyenoord in the summer of 2011, and made his debut appearance for the first team in the Dublin Super Cup in pre-season.[7]

He made his official first team debut for Manchester City on 21 September 2011 against Birmingham City in the third round of the League Cup, coming on as a substitute for Wayne Bridge in the last 12 minutes of the game.[8] His debut against Birmingham City saw him become the youngest overseas player to appear in a senior game for City, just 16 years and 294 days old.[9] He also made a 73rd-minute substitute appearance in the fourth round of the competition against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, in place of Luca Scapuzzi.[10]

Rekik returned to Manchester City at the end of the 2011–12 season. On 5 December 2012, it was announced that Rekik signed a long term contract with the club.[11] He would go on to start in his Premier League debut, a 1–0 win at home to Reading on 22 December 2012, and was substituted for James Milner in the 84th minute. Reading claimed that they deserved a penalty for Rekik's challenge on Jay Tabb, which was not given by referee Mike Dean.[12]

On 10 August 2014, Rekik was an unused substitute as City lost the Community Shield 3–0 to Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.[13]

Loan spells in England

On 22 March 2012, it was confirmed that Michael Appleton was to take Scapuzzi and Rekik on a month's loan at Portsmouth in the Football League Championship.[14] He made his debut for Portsmouth on 27 March, in a 2–0 home win against Hull City. This was also Rekik's first senior league appearance in club football.[15] Unlike Scapuzzi, Rekik became a regular starter as Portsmouth struggled to fight relegation. He was an ever-present figure in the Portsmouth defence as the league came to an end. Nevertheless, Pompey were relegated at the end of the season.

On 15 February 2013, it was confirmed that Rekik would join Blackburn Rovers in the Championship until the end of the season.[16] The move reunited him with his former Portsmouth manager Appleton. Rekik made his Blackburn Rovers debut, playing as a left-midfield, in a 2–0 loss against Hull City on 19 February 2013.[17] Rekik went on to make five appearance for the club.

PSV Eindhoven (loan)

On 8 July 2013, it was confirmed that Rekik would join PSV Eindhoven on loan for the 2013–14 season, wearing number 3. [18]

Rekik made his PSV Eindhoven debut, in the first leg of third round of Champions League, in a 2–0 win over Zulte Waregem on 30 July 2013.[19] Three days later, Rekik made his league debut, in the opening game of the season, in a 3–2 win over ADO Den Haag.[20] Rekik played the remaining three matches in the Champions League play-off, as PSV were knocked out by Milan. However, Rekik suffered an ankle injury, while in international duty.[21] As a result, Rekik would be out for four weeks, though he would need to undergo surgery.[22] The surgery was successful, resulting him out for another four weeks.[23] After two months on the sidelined, Rekik made his return from the first team on 2 November 2013, in a 1–1 draw against PEC Zwolle.[24] He then scored his first Eredivisie goal for PSV on 7 December in a 2–6 home defeat to Vitesse.[25] Rekik went on to captain two games in absence of Georginio Wijnaldum against Utrecht[26] and ADO Den Haag.[27] Later in the 2013–14 season, Rekik became a regular starter at PSV, as he made twenty-five appearance for the club.

Rekik playing for Sevilla in 2020

Because of his good performance at PSV, Rekik was keen to re-join PSV for the second time next season, though he could return to Manchester City for next season.[28][29] However, Rekik said he would not return to Manchester City next season unless he was given first team chances.[30]

As his loan spell with PSV came to an end, Rekik was linked with a move to Marseille.[31] Instead on 14 August 2014, it announced that Rekik returned to PSV until the end of the season.[32] Rekik's first game after signing for the club on a loan for the second time came, in a 6–1 win over NAC Breda on 16 August 2014.[33] Rekik then scored his second goal of his PSV career on 9 November 2014, in a 2–1 win over Heracles.[34] Since making his second debut for PSV, Rekik continued to be in the first team in straight matches until he suffered a hamstring injury and was substituted during a match against AZ Alkmaar on 13 February 2015.[35] After making his return to training,[36] Rekik made his return to the first team on 22 March 2015, in a 2–1 loss against Feyernood.[37] Despite this, Rekik later helped PSV win their first league since 2008. Rekik later spoke out about the club's winning the league.[38] Like his first season at PSV, Rekik established himself in the first team with twenty-nine appearance and formed a strong central-defense partnership with Jeffrey Bruma.[39]

Following the 2014–15 season came to an end, PSV was keen to sign Rekik for the third time.[40] However, PSV decided not to sign him after Rekik made it clear that he prefer playing in the higher league other than Eredivisie.[41]

Olympique de Marseille

On 30 June 2015, he joined Marseille for an undisclosed fee after making just two appearances for Manchester City in four years.[42] The move was later confirmed on 2 July 2015 and the player was unveiled, along with Lucas Ocampos.[43] Rekik scored his first goal for Marseille in a 1–1 Ligue 1 draw with rivals Lyon on 20 September.[44]

Hertha BSC

On 16 June 2017, he signed for Hertha BSC for a reported fee of €2.5 million as a long term replacement for the departing John Anthony Brooks to VfL Wolfsburg.[45][46]

Sevilla

On 5 October 2020, Rekik signed for Spanish club Sevilla FC until 2025.[47]

International career

Rekik is eligible to play for Netherlands, through his birthplace, and Tunisia, through his father.

Rekik was called up by Netherlands U17 in September 2010 and made his Netherlands U17 debut, in a 0–0 draw against Italy U17. Rekik was then called up into the squad by Netherlands U17 for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and scored the opening game of the season, in a 2–0 win over Germany U17.[48] Rekik went on to help the club reached the final, where Netherlands U17 beat Germany U17 5–2.[49]

Rekik was then called up by Netherlands U19 in October 2011 and made his Netherlands U19 debut, in a 3–0 win over Moldova U19. Rekik then captained his first Netherlands U19 game, in a 2–0 win over Norway U19. Rekik went on to captain five times in his eleven appearance.

In August 2013, Rekik was first called up Netherlands for the two matches in the World Cup Qualifying, but was never used.[50]

Rekik made his debut for the Netherlands national football team in a 2–0 friendly defeat to France at the Stade de France 6 March 2014.[51] In May 2014, he was named in manager Louis van Gaal's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[52] However, on 31 May 2014, van Gaal announced his final squad, which saw Rekik left out of the 23 man squad.[53]

Career statistics

Club
As of 27 January 2021[54]
Club Season League National Cup[nb 1] League Cup[nb 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2011–12 Premier League 000020000020
2012–13 Premier League 100000000010
Total 100020000030
Portsmouth (loan) 2011–12 Championship 800000––80
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2012–13 Championship 500000––50
PSV (loan) 2013–14 Eredivisie 25100–6[lower-alpha 1]0–311
2014–15 Eredivisie 29110–8[lower-alpha 2]0–381
Total 54210–140–692
Marseille 2015–16 Ligue 1 24160105[lower-alpha 2]0–361
2016–17 Ligue 1 1001010––120
Total 341702050–481
Marseille II 2016–17 CFA 10––––10
Hertha BSC 2017–18 Bundesliga 26220–3[lower-alpha 2]0–312
2018–19 Bundesliga 24030–––270
2019–20 Bundesliga 14120–––161
2020–21 Bundesliga 0010–––10
Total 64380–30–753
Sevilla 2020–21 La Liga 1040–4[lower-alpha 3]00090
Career Total 167620040260002176
Notes
  1. Includes FA Cup, KNVB Cup, Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal and Copa del Rey
  2. Includes EFL Cup and Coupe de la Ligue
  1. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

    International
    Netherlands
    YearAppsGoals
    201410
    201720
    Total30
    Statistics accurate as of 10 October 2017.

    Honours

    Club

    PSV

    Marseille

    International

    References
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    3. "Gossip: City in for Dutch centre-back". Manchester Evening News. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
    4. "Manchester City's swoop for Feyenoord starlet Karim Rekik branded 'stupid' by Dutch club". The Telegraph.
    5. "Karim Rekik ou la nouvelle affaire qui menace Manchester City" (in Dutch). Foot Mercato. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
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    12. Ornstein, David (22 December 2012). "Man City 1–0 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
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