Younes Kaboul

Younès Kaboul is a French footballer with Moroccan origin who plays for English side Tottenham and was several times called up to the France national team. He is a centre back, but also has experience of performing on the right flank of defense. Kaboul was born in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France.

The footballer began his professional career in French side Auxerre, where he became the first team player by the age of 20. In 2005 Younès lifted the Coupe de France. The same year he made his debut in the UEFA Cup, but he was not a regular then. Due to the back’s good judgment, perfect tackling skills and resoluteness, he was called the ‘back bone’ of the club. Besides Kaboul’s Auxerre career, he represented the France national U-19 and U-21 team as a captain.

On 5 July 2007, the back gained promotion by moving to English side Tottenham for about £8 million. The footballer soon became the fan’s favourite for his power manner of play in defense. Kaboul made his first appearance for the team in a weak after the transfer, when Spurs played a friendly match against St. Patrick's Athletic.

The French player made his official debut in the first round match of the English Premier League 2007/2008 against Sunderland. Spurs lost the game, conceding a single goal in the 94th minute, but Younès played till the final whistle without being substituted. On 1 September the same season, the footballer got on the scoresheet by netting a very nice goal in the match against Fulham F.C. On 20 September, the player scored his first goal in European arena and initiated the hammering of Anorthosis 6-1. One more Younès’s achievement was an equalizer in the match against Birmingham side Aston Villa on 1 October, when the London side club celebrated its 125th anniversary. That goal saved Tottenham from a defeat and, what is more, the team was losing 4-1. In 2007/2008 season the back made 29 appearances and contributed four goals. But, as it turned out, Kaboul failed to gain the confidence of the Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos. That is why in August 2008 he was sold to Portsmouth for £6 million.

The French back signed a four-year contract with ‘Pompey’. He soon became one of the pivots of the Hampshire side club and revealed all his talent. In 2008/2009 the footballer made about 50 total appearances for his new club and went on to net five times. In November 2008, he fired a spectacular goal in the UEFA Cup match against Italian side Milan.

On 30 January 2010, it became known Younès would be back at White Hart Lane. The transfer cost about £9.5 million, but part of that sum went to French side Auxerre according to the terms of the transfer agreement.

After the player had returned, then head coach of the London side club Harry Redknapp said Kaboul appreciably improved his playing skills in comparison with the first season in Tottenham. Younès and the other Spurs rookie Eiður Guðjohnsen spent their first match on the substitutes’ bench. However, the back took part in the match against Premier League Aston Villa rather soon. Later the French footballer made his appearance in a 2-1 victory over Arsenal. He quickly became a regular and formed a productive partnership with Gallas, Dawson and King. Sometimes Younès made minor mistakes, but on the whole his play was rather solid.

In 2010/2011 Kaboul put the last-minute winner in the back of Arsenal’s net and propelled his club to a 3-2 win. The following year was not really successful for Spurs, because the London side team suffered a 5-1 loss in the match against Manchester City and Younès managed only to bang in a consolation goal.

Kaboul is famous for his calm and safe play, great tackling and heading skills. Besides, the French player has a robust constitution and he is very strong in the struggle for a ball. After his return to Tottenham, Younès became the only constant centre back of the team, because other centre backs were notable for instability and injury-proneness.

Kaboul took part in several matches at U-19 level and in 18 matches for the France national U-21 team, where he often was a captain. However, he did not get the invitation to the main France squad for a long time. Younès could even opt for representing the Morocco national team, but he did not.

On 6 June 2011, the back finally made his debut for the full national football team, when ‘Les Tricolores’ played against the Ukraine national team. Kaboul was on the field till the full-time and in the 89th minute he even went on to Andriy Pyatov’s net, smashing ‘the Yellow-Blues’ in a tremendous 4-1 victory. The back had an opportunity to play for his national team in UEFA Euro 2012, but the head coach of ‘Les Tricolores’ Laurent Blanc eventually did not put him in the final squad.