The 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship trophy remains a hallmark of Hassan Yebda’s early career, marking his participation in the winning French squad held in Trinidad and Tobago. This central midfielder transitioned from French youth levels to senior international competition for Algeria, navigating a professional path through various clubs across Europe before moving into coaching.
Early Career in France
Born in Saint-Maurice on 14 May 1984, Yebda progressed through the AJ Auxerre youth academy. While he was a fixture for the reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, he did not feature for the main squad. He moved to Stade Lavallois on loan in January 2006, followed by a transfer to Le Mans UC72 in 2007. His Ligue 1 debut occurred on 17 February 2007 against Sochaux, where he scored an own goal during a 2–0 defeat.
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Yebda joined S.L. Benfica on a free transfer in May 2008, signing a four-year contract. During his time in Portugal, he was named the Primeira Liga Player of the Month for September 2008 and scored his first league goal against FC Porto in February 2009. Subsequent seasons involved loan spells at Portsmouth in the Premier League and S.S.C. Napoli in Serie A. In 2011, he signed a three-year deal with Granada CF in Spain. His professional journey later included stints with Fujairah FC and C.F. Os Belenenses in Portugal.
International Competition
Though he played for France at youth levels, Yebda switched his national allegiance to Algeria in 2009, enabled by updated FIFA rulings. He debuted for Algeria on 11 October 2009 against Rwanda. He participated in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and two FIFA World Cup tournaments. In 2014, under coach Vahid Halilhodžić, he appeared in the group stage match against Russia, contributing to a 1–1 draw that secured Algeria a spot in the last 16.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 May 1984, Saint-Maurice
- Citizenship: France and Algeria
- Position: Central midfielder
- Senior International Debut: 11 October 2009
- Club Honors: 2008–09 Taça da Liga winner
- Youth Honors: 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship winner
- Religion: Islam
Questions readers ask
For which countries did Yebda play internationally?
He represented France at the youth level and Algeria at the senior level.
Did Yebda play in the 2014 World Cup?
Yes, he featured in the final group stage match against Russia.
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