Mimoun Azaouagh Explained

Mimoun Azaouagh
Height:1.75 m
Birth Date:17 November 1982
Birth Place:Beni Sidel, Morocco
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1988–1996
Youthclubs1:FSV Frankfurt
Youthyears2:1996–1999
Youthclubs2:Eintracht Frankfurt
Youthyears3:1999–2001
Youthclubs3:Mainz 05
Years1:2000–2003
Clubs1:Mainz 05 II
Caps1:40
Goals1:5
Years2:2002–2005
Clubs2:Mainz 05
Caps2:56
Goals2:5
Years3:2005–2008
Clubs3:Schalke 04
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2006–2007
Clubs4:Mainz 05 (loan)
Caps4:27
Goals4:2
Years5:2008
Clubs5:VfL Bochum (loan)
Caps5:14
Goals5:3
Years6:2008–2012
Clubs6:VfL Bochum
Caps6:71
Goals6:8
Years7:2010
Clubs7:VfL Bochum II
Caps7:12
Goals7:4
Years8:2012–2014
Clubs8:1. FC Kaiserslautern
Caps8:15
Goals8:1
Years9:2015–2016
Clubs9:SC Hessen Dreieich
Caps9:7
Goals9:3
Totalcaps:231
Totalgoals:28
Nationalyears1:2003–2004
Nationalteam1:Germany U21[1]
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0

Mimoun Azaouagh (born 17 November 1982) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[2] [3]

Career

Azaouagh started his career with the youth teams of FSV Frankfurt and Eintracht Frankfurt. In 1999, he moved to Mainz 05. In the 2000–01 season, he played his first matches for the second team of Mainz in the Oberliga. Azaouagh was promoted from the amateur team to the professional team in September 2002, and from then on given a regular spot in the team. When he helped them reach promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2003–04 season, he had played 48 games and scored four goals in the 2. Bundesliga. Azaouagh missed the first three matches of Mainz in the Bundesliga due to illness, but already in his second match at the highest German level he scored a goal. During a match against VfL Wolfsburg on 30 October 2004, he suffered a serious injury after clash with an opposing player, ruling him out for six months.[4] Later in the season, he was recompensed financially for this injury.

In late 2004, however, Azaouagh moved to Schalke 04. The move was controversial, as the club initially refused to pay the transfer fee. After months had passed, the clubs found an agreement.[5]

It took months of rehabilitation before Azaough could play again. On 14 January 2005, he made his debut for Schalke 04 in a friendly against SC Paderborn. On 4 March 2005, he played his first Bundesliga match for the club against Hannover 96. Azaough scored his first goal in the UEFA Cup match against Palermo on 16 March 2006.[6] In the season 2006–07, he played on a loan for Mainz 05 again. Upon his return to Schalke, he was mostly a reserve, and as he consequence of his lack of playing time, he was loaned out again; this time to VfL Bochum for the rest of the season. After the 2007–08 season, Azaouagh made the move permanent. His contract ran until 30 June 2012.

Azaouagh joined fellow 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Kaiserslautern on a free transfer in summer 2012.[7] After the expiration of his contract in 2014 he left the club.

Azaouagh was without a club from July 2014 and joined SC Hessen Dreieich in the fifth-tier Hessenliga in December 2015 until the end of the season.[8] He retired from football after the season.[9]

International career

Azaouagh played for the Germany under-21 national team. He announced on 2 October 2009 that he would now play for the Morocco national team.

Personal life

Azaouagh is of Berber origin, hailing from Beni Sidel, Morocco. He is fluent in German, English and Berber, but not Arabic.[10] His brothers Ahmed and Aziz are also football players.

On 12 February 2015, German newspaper Bild, published a controversial article with the title "Former Bundesliga-Star now a Salafist?". Azaouagh denied this, saying he was a Muslim but not a salafist. He also claimed that the Bild article was responsible for him not being able to get a new contract.[11]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueDFB-PokalLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mainz 05 II2000–01Oberliga Südwest1010
2001–0233410344
2002–03611071
Total405200000425
Mainz 052002–032. Bundesliga24310253
2003–0424110251
2004–05Bundesliga8121102
Total565410000606
Schalke 042004–05Bundesliga00000000
2005–064000002161
2007–0850202010100
Total90202031161
Mainz 05 (loan)2006–07Bundesliga27210282
VfL Bochum (loan)2007–08Bundesliga14300143
VfL Bochum2008–09Bundesliga30120321
2009–1017310183
2010–112. Bundesliga13200132
2011–1211200112
Total718300000748
VfL Bochum II2010–11Regionalliga West124124
1. FC Kaiserslautern2012–13Bundesliga15110161
2013–14000000
Total151100001161
Career total24428131203126230

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U 21-Männer: Mimoun Azaouagh. U 21-men: Mimoun Azaouagh. 17 January 2015. German. DFB.
  2. Web site: Mimoun Azaouagh. German. . 4 June 2011 .
  3. Web site: Azaouagh, Mimoun. German . kicker. 4 June 2011.
  4. News: Mainz lose inspirational Azaouagh . 11 January 2021 . . 1 November 2004.
  5. News: "Assauer hat sich moralisch verdribbelt" . 11 January 2021 . . 19 March 2005 . German.
  6. Web site: Schalke-Palermo 2005 History . uefa.com . . 11 January 2021.
  7. Web site: Bunjaku & Azaouagh kommen zum FCK. Bunjaku & Azaouagh join FCK. 5 May 2012. 17 January 2015. German. 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
  8. Web site: Ex-Mainz 05er Mimoun Azaouagh kommt zum SC Hessen . hessen-dreiech.de . . 11 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020426/http://www.hessen-dreieich.de/news/ex-mainz-05er-mimoun-azaouagh-kommt-zum-sc-hessen/ . 14 January 2018 . German . 9 December 2015.
  9. News: Canizales . Tizian . Die Achterbahn-Karriere des Mimoun Azaouagh . 11 January 2021 . Revier Sport . 26 March 2020 . German.
  10. News: Körner . Friedhelm . Marokko statt DFB: Azaouagh: Schwergewicht von 64 kg . Morocco instead of DFB: Azaouagh: heavyweight of 64 kg . 2 December 2021 . Rheinische Post . 5 November 2009 . de.
  11. News: Ulrich . Ron . "Ich bin kein Salafist" - Mimoun Azaouagh über die Vorwürfe der Bild Zeitung . "I am not a salafist" - Mimoun Azaouagh on allegations made by the Bild newspaper . 2 December 2021 . 11Freunde . 8 September 2015 . de.