Mustapha zitouni biography of martin

It was a tragic bit of news that genuinely gripped the wider footballing community. Though the two were seemingly unattached, their tales did follow a similar path before forking at a critical juncture: both were born in colonized African nations, both left their native countries to play professional football abroad, and both were among the best players in the world at their position.

Mustapha Zitouni was born in the popular district of Bologhine in Algiers. He was somewhat of a late bloomer, only signing his first professional with Cannes at the age of One year in the top flight was enough to convince Monaco, who wasted no time in purchasing the graceful libero, signing the Algiers native to a long-term contract.

In , Zitouni was approaching the pinnacle of his career. Monaco were chasing league leaders Stade de Reims in the French championnat, and had also advanced to the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. The Algerian colossus had so impressed for the principality that he soon became a full-fledged international.

Mustapha zitouni biography of martin: Algiers-born Zitouni was France's first choice

Though he only made four appearances for Les Bleus, it was in the international arena that Zitouni managed to imprint his name in French folklore. The final match of the group saw France travel to Heysel, where only a win was needed to qualify the Red Devils of Belgium. As the ball seemingly trickled into an empty net, Zitouni stole in and booted the lopsided leather off of the goal-line.