Riyad Mahrez (Part 1)

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24 Mar 2024

Riyad Mahrez (Part 1)

Riyad Karim Mahrez, born on February 21, 1991, is a professional footballer known for his prowess as a right winger. He currently serves as the captain for the Algeria national team and plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.Mahrez embarked on his football journey as a youth player at French club AAS Sarcelles. He transitioned to the professional ranks in 2009 with Quimper, where he spent just one season before moving to Le Havre. At Le Havre, Mahrez honed his skills, initially featuring for their reserve team before establishing himself as a regular in the first team over three years.

Mahrez made a significant move to English side Leicester City. His arrival proved pivotal as he played a key role in Leicester Championship win, securing promotion to the Premier League in his debut season. His standout performances continued, earning him accolades such as the Algerian Footballer of the Year and the prestigious PFA Players' Player of the Year during the remarkable 2015-16 season, where Leicester City defied the odds to clinch the Premier League title.
Mahrez joined Manchester City, contributing significantly to their success by clinching multiple trophies including the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup in his debut season. His tenure at Manchester City has been marked by continued success, with further triumphs in domestic and continental competitions, including a UEFA Champions League victory in the 2022-23 season.

On the international stage, Mahrez made his debut for Algeria in 2014 and has represented his nation in prestigious tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. He played a crucial role in Algeria's triumph at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and was honored with the title of CAF African Footballer of the Year in 2016.
Riyad Karim Mahrez was born in Sarcelles, France, to a family with Algerian heritage. His father, Ahmed, hailed from Beni Snous in the Tlemcen District of Algeria, while his mother had Algerian and Moroccan roots. Despite being born and raised in France, Mahrez maintained strong ties to his Algerian heritage, often spending his holidays in Algeria during his childhood.

Mahrez father played football in Algeria, instilling a love for the sport in his son from a young age. Tragically, when Mahrez was just fifteen years old, his father passed away suddenly from a heart attack. Reflecting on this difficult time, Mahrez acknowledged that the loss of his father spurred him to take his football career more seriously, perhaps fueling his determination to succeed. He shared that his father's death marked a turning point for him, stating, Maybe in my head, I wanted it more as he pursued his footballing dreams with renewed focus and dedication.
Throughout his upbringing in Sarcelles, Mahrez formed close bonds with his childhood friends, including fellow footballer Wissam Ben Yedder. These connections, combined with his family support and his own resilience in the face of adversity, laid the foundation for Mahrez's remarkable journey to become one of the most celebrated footballers of his generation.

Riyad Mahrez journey to football stardom was marked by determination, resilience, and a knack for showcasing his remarkable ball skills despite being initially overlooked by teams due to his slender physique.He began his youth career at AAS Sarcelles in 2004, where his talent quickly became apparent. Despite facing skepticism from some teams due to his slender build, Mahrez exceptional ball skills soon caught the attention of scouts.
Mahrez made the move to CFA side Quimper, where he made 22 appearances and scored 2 goals in his debut season. During his time at Quimper, he formed a close bond with Mathias Pogba, with whom he lived.

However, it was his move to Le Havre in 2010 that marked a significant turning point in Mahrez's career. Despite offers from prominent French clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, Mahrez opted to join Le Havre, drawn by the club's renowned youth development system. Initially featuring for their reserve team, Le Havre II, Mahrez eventually broke into the first team, making 60 appearances and scoring 6 goals in the French Ligue 2.
During his time in Ligue 2, Mahrez showcased his discontent with the league's defensive style of play, criticizing what he perceived as teams prioritizing defense and settling for goalless draws. Despite these challenges, Mahrez time at Le Havre allowed him to further hone his skills and catch the eye of scouts from higher-profile clubs, eventually leading to his move to English side Leicester City in January 2014.

During Riyad Mahrez time at Le Havre, his talents caught the attention of Leicester City's scout, Steve Walsh, who initially had been observing Mahrez's teammate, Ryan Mendes. However, Mahrez's impressive performances on the field quickly diverted Walsh's attention towards him.
Interestingly, Mahrez himself had never heard of Leicester City prior to the club's interest in him. Initially, he presumed Leicester to be a rugby club, showcasing his unfamiliarity with English football. Nevertheless, on 11 January 2014, Mahrez signed with Leicester City on a three-and-a-half-year contract for a reported fee of around 450,000.

Upon his arrival at Leicester, Mahrez faced skepticism from friends and family regarding his move to English football. They were concerned about the physical nature of the game in England, believing that Mahrez's playing style would be better suited to Spain.
Mahrez made his debut for Leicester City on 25 January 2014, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute against Middlesbrough. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the club in an 82nd-minute equalizer against local rivals Nottingham Forest. Manager Nigel Pearson recognized Mahrez's potential and subsequently gave him more opportunities, including starts in games.

Leicester City went on to win the Championship that season, securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time in ten years, with Mahrez playing a significant role in their success.Riyad Mahrez signed a new four-year contract with Leicester City, signaling his commitment to the club following their promotion to the Premier League. He began the 2015-2016 season in sensational form, showcasing his talent as a match-winner for the team.
Mahrez made an immediate impact in the season opener against Sunderland on 8 August 2015, scoring two goals in a 4–2 home win. His exceptional form continued, with four goals in the first three games of the season, earning him praise from captain Wes Morgan, who hailed him as the club's match winner.

His stellar performances go unnoticed, as Mahrez was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award after scoring four goals in the opening four games. By 3 November 2015, he had already scored seven goals in 10 Premier League games.
One of the standout moments of Mahrez season came on 5 December, when he scored a hat-trick in Leicester 3–0 victory over Swansea City, propelling the team to the top of the Premier League. This achievement made him the first Algerian to score a Premier League hat-trick.

Mahrez contributions, alongside his midfield partners Marc Albrighton, Golo Kante, and Danny Drinkwater, played a crucial role in Leicester's remarkable run of form. Manager Claudio Ranieri praised Mahrez and forward Jamie Vardy as priceless assets to the team.
By January 2016, Mahrez stellar performances saw his transfer value skyrocket from 4.5 million to 30.1 million, placing him among the top 50 most valuable players in Europe. His popularity soared in his homeland, with Leicester gaining significantly more Facebook fans in Algeria than in the UK. Mahrez influence even extended to his childhood barbershop in Sarcelles, which became a pilgrimage site for fans seeking his iconic haircut from as far as Belgium.