Biography
Who is Rafik Halliche?
Early football years
Rafik Halliche was born in Algiers, Algeria. He began his football path at the age of seven with a local team called CREPS Ben Aknoun. He remained with that club for seven years before joining the youth setup at NA Hussein Dey. On January 30, 2006, he made his first senior appearance for NA Hussein Dey during a league match against Paradou AC. He entered that game as a substitute in the 74th minute.
Club career in Europe
In January 2008, Rafik signed a four-year contract with the Portuguese club S.L. Benfica. Shortly after signing, he was loaned to C.D. Nacional to gain experience. He debuted for Nacional on March 30, 2008, in a league win against U.D. Leiria. He stayed on loan with Nacional for the remainder of the season and continued with the club through the following campaigns.
In August 2010, the defender moved to the Premier League to join Fulham for an undisclosed fee. His official debut for the English team occurred on January 8, 2011, during an FA Cup match against Peterborough United. He later made his league debut for Fulham on January 22, 2011, coming off the bench in a victory against Stoke City. His contract with the London club ended by mutual consent on August 31, 2012.
International playing experience
Rafik Halliche made his debut for the Algerian national team on May 31, 2008, against Senegal. He became a key figure in the squad's successful qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, playing in a crucial tie-breaker match against Egypt held in Sudan. This victory returned Algeria to the tournament after a 24-year absence.
During the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, he scored the decisive goal in a win against Mali. He also represented his country at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he played every minute of the group stage matches. In the 2014 World Cup, he served as captain for his team. On June 22, 2014, he scored a goal with a header from a corner kick during a 4-2 victory against South Korea. His international career included participation in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and he was part of the squad that secured the title in 2019.
Physical details
Rafik Halliche stands 187 centimeters tall. His professional career spanned over a decade, primarily serving as a central defender for various international clubs and the Algeria national football team.
Birthday and age
Rafik Halliche was born on September 2, 1986, which makes Rafik 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Rafik shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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