Marouane Chamakh born on 10 January 1984 is a French-born Moroccan footballer who plays for English club Arsenal in the Premier League and the Moroccan national team as a striker. He is described as a prototypical target man and is noted for his "tall stature" and "excellent heading ability".
Chamakh started his career training throughout various clubs in the Aquitaine region. In 2000, he signed with Bordeaux. Chamakh made his professional debut for the club in the 2002–03 season. He spent nine years at the club and helped Bordeaux win the Coupe de la Ligue in 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Chamakh won his first league title as Bordeaux were crowned champions for the first time since the 1998–99 season. The club also won the Coupe de la Ligue completing the league and league cup double. In May 2010, Chamakh joined Arsenal of the Premier League on a free transfer after agreeing to a four-year contract with the club. In October 2010, Chamakh became the first player in UEFA Champions League history to score in six consecutive matches.
Although born and raised in France, Chamakh chose to play international football for Morocco, because he had Moroccan parents. He made his national team debut in July 2003 and has played at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including the 2004 tournament in which Morocco finished runner-up. In August 2010, he captained the national team for the first time.
Chamakh was born on 10 January 1984 in Tonneins, a small town near the Garonne River, to Moroccan parents, and was raised in the nearby commune of Aiguillon. His father, El Mostafa Chamakh, was a former footballer in Morocco and played for Difaâ Aïn Sbaâ in Casablanca. In 1979, he left Morocco to locate more favorable living conditions and to find a better job. After settling in France and finding work as a stone mason, the elder Chamakh brought his family over soon after. Among Chamakh's family members include his younger brother Yassin who owns a café. Chamakh has stated that when he goes back home, he often waits table to help out his brother.
While pursuing his career as a professional footballer, Chamakh was equally adept off the field earning good grades in school. During his early years at Bordeaux, he began attending high school. He hoped to earn a Baccalauréat in accounting, which he later accomplished. In addition to having a Baccalauréat, Chamakh is also very interested in politics and, in February 2010, voiced his support for the Democratic Movement (MoDem) political party ahead of the upcoming regional elections. In the 2010 regional elections, Chamakh was, surprisingly, listed as a candidate by the MoDem for the Gironde department in the Aquitaine region. The lead deputy of the party, Jean Lassalle, stated on the decision to name Chamakh to the ballot: "I want to gather all the forces of Aquitaine to sustain our region, and Marouane is one of those forces who Aquitaine needs."Chamakh was listed as a non-eligible candidate on the ballot and Lasalle was accused of using Chamakh in order to garner votes from football supporters in the region
Marouane Chamakh in action
Marouane Chamakh celebration
Marouane Chamakh picture
Marouane Chamakh photo
Marouane Chamakh and Samir Nasri
Personal Information
Full name: Marouane Chamakh
Date of birth: 10 January 1984
Place of birth: Tonneins, France
Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position: Striker
Club information
Current club: Arsenal
Number: 29
Youth career
1988–1994 Nérac
1994–2000 Marmandais
2000–2003 Bordeaux
Senior career*
2003–2010 Bordeaux 230 (56)
2010– Arsenal 23 (7)
National team‡
2003 France U19 1 (0)
2003– Morocco 55 (15)