Elbekay Bouchiba

Elbekay Bouchiba (born 1 November 1978) is a Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent who last played for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Elbekay Bouchiba
Personal information
Full name Elbekay Bouchiba
Date of birth (1978-11-01) 1 November 1978
Place of birth Weert, Netherlands
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Megacles
Willem II
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Willem II 0 (0)
1998–2001 AZ 40 (0)
2001–2004 Sparta 45 (0)
2004–2006 Twente 25 (0)
2006–2007 Roda JC 17 (0)
2008–2009 Al-Wakrah
2009–2010 Al-Shamal 7 (0)
2011 Toronto FC 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 April 2010

Club career

Bouchiba is a midfielder who was born in Weert 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 22 August 1998. He also played for Sparta Rotterdam and FC Twente before joining Roda JC.[1][2] His most productive season in the Eredivisie was the 2001–02 season in which he appeared in 29 league matches for Sparta Rotterdam. On 10 August 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.[3] Bouchiba appeared in 127 league matches in the Netherlands, including 111 Eredivisie appearances.

In 2008, he moved to Al-Wakrah in the Qatari League.[4] During the 2009–10 season he played for Al-Shamal.

Major League Soccer

In January 2011 Bouchiba went on trial with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer in hopes of securing a contract. On 15 February 2011 it was reported that he had agreed to terms with the Canadian club.[5] However it was not officially announced by the Canadian club until 9 March 2011. Bouchiba was one of three Dutch players signed by Toronto, both Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina also joined the club.[6] 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.[7] He was waived by Toronto FC on 28 February 2012.[8]

References
  1. Roda JC lijft transfervrije Bouchiba in - Voetbal International (in Dutch)
  2. "Elbekay Bouchiba" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  3. "FC Twente Online". Fctwente.net.
  4. Bouchiba bijna rond met Al Wakra - Trouw (in Dutch)
  5. "Trainer Winter haalt drie Nederlanders naar Canada | nu.nl/sport | Het laatste nieuws het eerst op". Nu.nl.
  6. "TFC Inks Dutch Trio | Toronto FC". Torontofc.ca. 9 March 2011.
  7. "Bouchiba looking forward to 2012". Rednationonline.ca. 5 October 2011.
  8. Girard, Daniel (28 February 2012). "Toronto FC waives midfielder Elbekay Bouchiba". The Star. Toronto.
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