Younes Kaboul

Infobox Football biography
playername = Younes Kaboul


fullname = Younes Kaboul
height = height|m=1.90
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|1|4|df=y
cityofbirth = Saint-Julien-en-Genevois
countryofbirth = France
currentclub = Portsmouth
clubnumber = 3
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2004–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Auxerre
Tottenham Hotspur
Portsmouth
caps(goals) = 52 (3)
21 (4)
4 (0)
nationalyears = 2006–
nationalteam = France U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 18 (1)
pcupdate = 19:12, 13 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 09:05, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Younes Kaboul (born 4 January 1986 in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Haute-Savoie) is a French football player of Moroccan origin. He plays for Portsmouth. He can play in central defence and midfield.

Club career

Auxerre

The imposing defender, standing at 190cm tall, [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=42191 Younes Kaboul Stats] by ESPN] began his career at Auxerre and was a regular player for the club by the age of 19. He won the Coupe de France in 2005, as well as having European football experience in the UEFA Cup. He was known to be the 'back bone' for Auxerre, due to his excellent tackling skills, good judgment and strength. He was also known to score a few key goals that clinched wins for Auxerre. While at the club he represented France at under 19 and under 21 level, captaining the Under 21 side on numerous occasions.

Tottenham Hotspur

Kaboul signed for Tottenham Hotspur on July 5, 2007, [ cite web |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2119113,00.html |publisher=guardian.co.uk |title=Kaboul makes White Hart Lane move |date=July 5, 2007 ] for £7 million. [ [http://jp.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=349261|Profile: Younes Kaboul] ] He played his first game for Tottenham in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July.

Kaboul made his Premier League debut, starting alongside Anthony Gardner, in the centre of defence in a 1–0 loss against Sunderland on the first day of the 2007–08 season. Kaboul then scored his first goal for Tottenham on September 1, against Fulham. He scored again on his European debut for Tottenham, on September 20, netting the first goal in a 6–1 win. On October 1, on the club's 125th anniversary, Kaboul scored the equalizer late in stoppage time against Aston Villa to pull Tottenham level at 4–4 and complete a remarkable comeback from 4–1 down. After a period out of the team due to numerous errors, his comeback to the side away to Derby County on February 9, 2008, saw him score his 4th goal of the season.

Portsmouth

On 11th August 2008, it was confirmed that Kaboul joined Portsmouth on a four year contract, for an undisclosed fee after snubbing interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa. He was allocated the squad number 3. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7535609.stm|title=Portsmouth sign Kaboul from Spurs |author=|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=2008-08-11|accessdate=2008-08-11]

International career

Kaboul is eligible for both the France and Morocco football sides, and has captained France's Under-21 side.

Honours

Auxerre
*Coupe de France: 2004-05

Tottenham Hotspur
*Carling Cup: 2007-08

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=40242|name=Younes Kaboul
*lfpfr|104074
* [http://www.football-lineups.com/players/player.php?route=2832 Younes Kaboul at football-lineups.com]