Anwar Bensabouh

Anwar Bensabouh
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2010–2017 AFC
2017–2018 Almere City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Jong Almere City 31 (6)
2018–2021 Almere City 56 (1)
2021–2023 Telstar 52 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:51, 29 May 2023 (UTC)

Anwar Bensabouh (Arabic: أنور بنصبوح; Berber languages: ⴰⵏⵡⴰⵔ ⴱⵏⵙⴰⴱⵓⵃ; born 21 January 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Born in the Netherlands, he is of Moroccan descent.[2]

Career

Almere City

Bensabouh played youth football for AFC and Almere City.[3] He made his debut for their reserve team, Jong Almere City, on 31 March 2018, starting in a 1–0 loss in the Derde Divisie against Jong FC Volendam.[4] On 5 May 2018, he scored his first senior goal, opening the score in a 2–0 home victory against Magreb '90.[5] He contributed to the team's promotion to the Tweede Divisie at the end of the season, after a two-legged play-off win over JVC Cuijk.[6]

Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Bensabouh was promoted to the first team, signing his first professional contract with the club in August 2018.[7] He made his professional debut for Almere City in the Eerste Divisie on 20 August 2018 in a game against Jong AZ, replacing Anass Ahannach in the 86th minute.[8] On 12 April 2019, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 league win over FC Den Bosch.[9] Almere City qualified for promotion play-offs to the Eredivisie that season, which saw Bensabouh score his second goal for the club in the first round against Cambuur.[10] They would however be knocked out by Cambuur after a loss in the second leg.[11]

On 11 June 2019, Bensabouh signed a contract extension, keeping him at Almere City until 2022.[12]

Telstar

On 30 June 2021, Bensabouh signed a two-year contract with league rivals Telstar.[13] He made his debut for the club on the first matchday of the season, playing 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Emmen.[14][15] On 22 October, he scored his first goal for Telstar in an Eerste Divisie draw against Helmond Sport.[16]

He suffered a knee injury on 26 October 2021 in a KNVB Cup match against Kozakken Boys, which sidelined him for several months.[17] On his comeback on 4 March 2022, he scored an important goal from distance to secure a 2–2 draw against TOP Oss.[18] He scored four goals in 24 appearances in his first season at the club, which saw them finish in a disappointing 19th place in the league table.[2][19]

Under new head coach Mike Snoei, Bensabouh grew into a key player in midfield for Telstar early in the 2022–23 season.[20] In September 2022, he suffered a knee injury which sidelined him for several weeks.[21] In the second half of the season, Bensabouh appeared as captain in Glynor Plet's absence.[22] On 28 April 2023, he scored the decisive goal of a 1–0 victory against Den Bosch, keeping Telstar in the race for a spot in the promotion play-offs.[23] The team eventually finished in ninth place, improving drastically on their performance from the previous season, albeit missing out on play-offs by five points.[24] Bensabouh scored once in 30 appearances that season.[2]

Style of play

Bensabouh is a creative and versatile midfielder, capable of playing in multiple positions. He has highlighted his creative ability and strong work ethic.[3] Additionally, he has a good understanding of the game, enabling him to assess situations on the field and anticipate the right decisions.[3] He consistently looks forward and has an attacking mindset, and is able to deliver accurate passes both on the ground as well as through the air.[3]

Personal life

Born in the Netherlands, Bensabouh is of Moroccan descent.[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2023[26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League KNVB Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong Almere City 2017–18 Derde Divisie 8 1 — 3[a] 0 11 1
2018–19 Tweede Divisie 20 5 — — 20 5
2019–20 Derde Divisie 3 0 — — 3 0
Total 31 6 — 3 0 34 6
Almere City 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 18 1 0 0 2[b] 1 20 2
2019–20 Eerste Divisie 25 0 0 0 — 25 0
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
Total 56 1 1 0 2 1 59 2
Telstar 2021–22 Eerste Divisie 23 4 1 0 — 24 4
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 29 1 1 0 — 30 1
Total 52 5 2 0 — 54 5
Career total 139 12 3 0 5 1 147 13
  1. ^ Appearances in Derde Divisie promotion playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

References

  1. ^ "A. Bensabouh – Profiel". Voetbal International. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Anwar Bensabouh at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ a b c d Smit, Jordi (6 December 2019). "Bensabouh: 'Laat gewoon mijn voeten spreken'". Het Amsterdamsche Voetbal (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Jong Almere City FC – Jong FC Volendam 0:1 (Derde Divisie Zaterdag 2017/2018, 26. Journée)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Jong Almere City FC – Magreb '90 2:0 (Derde Divisie Zaterdag 2017/2018, 31. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ^ Willemse, Job (9 June 2018). "JVC Cuijk verliest ook op eigen terrein van Jong Almere City en promoveert niet naar Tweede Divisie". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Eerste profcontract voor Anwar Bensabouh". Almere City Fans (in Dutch). 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. ^ "AZ II vs. Almere City – 20 August 2018". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Almere City vs. Den Bosch – 12 April 2019". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Almere City morele winnaar van remise bij Cambuur". NOS (in Dutch). 10 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Cambuur verder in nacompetitie na blunders doelman Almere City". NOS (in Dutch). 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Anwar Bensabouh zet handtekening onder nieuw contract". Almere City FC (in Dutch). 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Anwar Bensabouh vertrekt naar Witte Leeuwen". Almere City FC (Press release) (in Dutch). 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Telstar vs. Emmen – 6 August 2021". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  15. ^ Dijkhuizen, Niels (6 August 2021). "FC Emmen stelt teleur in openingsduel: 1-1 bij Telstar". RTV Drenthe (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  16. ^ Lambers, Milo (22 October 2021). "Telstar geeft na sterke openingsfase ruime voorsprong uit handen en kan niet tevreden zijn met punt tegen Helmond Sport [video]". Haarlems Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  17. ^ Lambers, Milo (31 October 2021). "Anwar Bensabouh voorlopig uit roulatie bij Telstar, Jonker blij met Spakenburg als opponent in de KNVB Beker". IJmuider Courant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  18. ^ Lambers, Milo (4 March 2022). "Na vijf maanden blessureleed, keert Anwar Bensabouh terug in het veld en direct is hij belangrijk. Met een schitterende krul bezorgt hij Telstar een punt tegen TOP Oss". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  19. ^ Gouda, Dennis (27 June 2022). "Mike Snoei gelooft in Telstar". RTV Seaport (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  20. ^ Lambers, Milo (9 September 2022). "Anwar Bensabouh is de regisseur van bij vlagen swingend Telstar". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  21. ^ Brandhorst, Stephan (14 September 2022). "Telstar-verdediger Anwar Bensabouh aantal weken uitgeschakeld met knieblessure". NH Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  22. ^ Meijden, Frank van der (21 April 2023). "Dubbel feest voor Telstar-aanvoerder Bensabouh: "Onze energie was geweldig"". NH Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  23. ^ Dalsem, Kees van (28 April 2023). "Aanvoerder Anwar Bensabouh houdt Telstar in de race voor de play-offs. 'We gaan voor een vol huis tegen Willem II'". Haarlems Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  24. ^ Dalsem, Kees van (19 May 2023). "Het bier blijft bij de 2-1 wel in de glazen. Telstar sluit seizoen na laatste – gestaakte – competitiewedstrijd af met een feestje". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Au moins 41 Marocains en deuxième division néerlandaise". 20 August 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  26. ^ Anwar Bensabouh at Soccerway