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Player profile: Hassan Yebda

Full name: Hassan Yebda

Position: Midfielder

Date of Birth: 14 May 1984

Birthplace: St. Maurice, France

Benfica’s Hassan Yebda, should he have listened to those who ‘advised’ him that he was not good enough, would not be where is right now.

The French midfielder plays for one of Portugal’s biggest clubs, but it was almost not to be as Yebda had to overcome less than flattering criticisms and several setbacks early in his career. A character made of less sterner stuff would have abandoned his childhood dream long before arriving at the Lisbon giants.

After being accepted in Auxerre’s youth academy at the age of 14 in 1998, Yebda, born in France to Algerian parents, was groomed for the next three years before joining the team’s reserves in the Championnat de France Amateurs (CFA).

Following a full five years in the reserves, Yebda was loaned out to Ligue 2 side Stade Lavallois for further development. The then 22-year-old spent six months with the club, making 14 appearances and scoring once. The modest Laval elected not to keep the player and sent him back to Auxerre.

Yebda would stay with Auxerre for another six months but the club felt he was not technically sound to compete at the highest level, and the then president, Jean-Claude Hamel, decided to break the player’s contract by mutual consent in January 2007.

Breakthrough year

Now a free agent, Yebda struck an accord with Ligue 1 outfit Le Mans. He initially only participated in training with the senior squad as he familiarised himself with the pace of football and his new club’s methods. Yebda featured very little for Le Mans, but did have some positives as the player made an appearance in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France against Olympique Lyonnaise.

The following season would be the breakthrough year for the Frenchman as Yebda made a total of 23 appearances for Le Mans, scoring three goals. His strong physical presence and neat passing stood out, as the gangly midfielder made a mockery of those who had doubted his ability to make a name for himself in the game.

The player’s performances delighted Le Mans president, Henri Legarda, who offered the player an opportunity to re-sign with the club. But after having fulfilled his contract, Yebda felt that he had had enough of French football and opted not to prolong his association with Le Mans, preferring to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

Yebda’s decision angered Legarda, with the French executive calling the former Auxerre youth product “egotistical.” Nonetheless, the player headed west and landed himself a four-year deal with Benfica, after having been highly recommended by new coach Quique Flores.

Impressive start

In the short time he has been in Portugal, Yebda has shown that he has all the tools to become a player of the highest order and one that can nurture legitimate aspirations of pushing for a place in the French national team.

CLUB APPEARANCES* GOALS Stade Lavallois 14 1 Le Mans 24 3 Benfica** 3 0 FRANCE - -

* League only
** Up to September 2008