Fahid Ben Khalfallah

Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Arabic: فهيد بن خلف الله‎; born 9 October 1982) is a Tunisian professional footballer who plays for and is head coach of Australian amateur side Nunawading City. He represented the Tunisia national team between 2008 and 2011.

Fahid Ben Khalfallah
Ben Khalfallah with Bordeaux in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-10-09) 9 October 1982
Place of birth Péronne, France
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder, forward[2]
Club information
Current team
 Nunawading City
Number 17
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Amiens 82 (4)
2005–2007 Laval 73 (12)
2007–2008 Angers 35 (5)
2008–2009 Caen 30 (2)
2009–2010 Valenciennes 39 (7)
2010–2014 Bordeaux 76 (1)
2014 Troyes 15 (1)
2014–2017 Melbourne Victory 76 (12)
2017–2018 Brisbane Roar 24 (1)
2018– Nunawading City 13 (1)
Total 450 (45)
National team
2008–2011 Tunisia 14 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 September 2018

Career
Fahid Ben Khalfhallah training for Melbourne Victory, May 2015

Early career

Ben Khalfallah played in the French second and third divisions until the age of 25, first with Amiens SC, then with Stade Lavallois and Angers SCO, until he got his first taste of Ligue 1 football with SM Caen. His new team, however, was relegated at the end of the season after a decent first season in Ligue 1 for the midfielder.

Valenciennes

In the summer of 2009, he signed for Valenciennes FC for three years. He started the season very well, starting five games and coming on as a substitute in another five, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists.

Bordeaux

In August 2010, Ben Khalfallah joined Bordeaux signing a four-year contract with a fee of €5 million being paid to Valenciennes.[3][4]

Troyes

He joined Troyes in January 2014.[5]

Melbourne Victory

In September 2014 he signed a one-year contract with Melbourne Victory.[6]

His first season in Australia was very successful; scoring five goals and making nine assists in the A-League helping to win that competitions Premiership and Championship, as well as being awarded the Victory Medal as the club's player of the season.[7]

On 24 April 2015, Melbourne Victory announced that they had retained Ben Khalfallah's services for a further two years, the player citing that he enjoyed life in Melbourne and playing for the club.[8]

On 26 April 2017, Ben Khalfallah confirmed that he would be leaving the Victory at the end of the season.[9][10][11] This was confirmed by the club on 12 May 2017, with Ben Khalfallah listed as one of 7 players departing the club at the end of the season.[12]

Brisbane Roar

Ben Khalfallah signed with rival A-League club Brisbane Roar on a one-season deal shortly after leaving the Victory.[13] On 20 April 2018, following the elimination of Brisbane Roar against Melbourne City in the A-League Elimination Finals, Fahid Ben Khalfallah decided to retire at the age of 35.[14]

Nunawading City

On 19 May 2018, only a month after announcing his retirement, Ben Khalfallah came out of retirement and sign for NPL2 East Victoria club Nunawading City for the remainder of the season. After promising the coaching staff he would play for Nunawading after his stint with Roar, Ben Khalfallah made his debut on the same day his signing was announced against the Eastern Lions in a goalless draw.[15] Ben Khalfallah scored his first goal for Nunawading against Melbourne City FC Youth, winning the game 3–1. Nunawading finished the season in bottom place in NPL2 East and were relegated to the fifth-tier State League Division 1 South-East for 2019.

In September 2018, Ben Khalfallah was announced as player-coach of Nunawading for the 2019 State League 1 season. Nunawading went on to finish top of the 2019 State League 1 South East ladder, winning the league and winning promotion back into the fourth-tier NPL in 2020.[16]

Personal life

Ben Khalfallah was born in Peronne, France to Tunisian parents. His father had emigrated to France, also as a professional footballer. Although his parents were Muslim, Ben Khalfallah has described himself as an atheist.[17]

He has often spoken very positively of the experience for himself and his family since moving to Melbourne, Australia for Melbourne Victory, and this was a key reason for his re-signing for the club.[8]

Honours

Club

Bordeaux

Melbourne Victory:

Individual

References
  1. "Fahid Ben Khalfallah". melbournevictory.com.au. Melbourne Victory FC. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  2. http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/fahid-ben-khalfallah-makes-melbourne-move/1bt4vy61yxf8s1ecofm8xo6jnb
  3. Haond, Patrick. "Ben Khalfallah off to Bordeaux". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  4. Bairner, Robin (27 August 2010). "Official: Girondins de Bordeaux Complete The Capture Of Fahid Ben Khalfallah From Valenciennes". Goal. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  5. "Ben Khalfallah rejoint l'Estac" [Ben Khalfallah joins Estac] (in French). estac.fr. 28 January 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  6. Windley, Matt (18 September 2014). "Kevin Muscat makes Tunisian international Fahid Ben Khalfallah final Melbourne Victory recruit". Fox Sports.
  7. Fahid Ben Khalfallah wins Victory Medal Melbourne Victory Official Website
  8. #BenPenned: MVFC re-signs FBK Melbourne Victory Official Website
  9. "Fahid Ben Khalfallah set to leave Melbourne Victory". ESPN FC. ESPN. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  10. Windley, Matt. "Fahid Ben Khalfallah determined to finish his Victory career on a high". Herald Sun. News Corporation. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  11. "Ben Khalfallah to exit Melbourne Victory". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  12. "Melbourne Victory confirms player departures". Melbourne Victory FC. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  13. "Ben Khalfallah joins Brisbane Roar". The World Game. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  14. "Fahid Ben Khalfallah announces retirement after Roar's final loss". FOX Sports Australia. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  15. "Khalfallah signs with Melbourne club | The World Game". The World Game. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  16. Panas, Philip (14 October 2019). "Football Victoria confirm new NPL structures for 2020". Soccerscene. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  17. Fahid Ben Khalfallah condemns Paris religious terror The Age 17 November 2015
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