Ibrahim Maaroufi

Moroccan footballer

Ibrahim Maaroufi

Maaroufi with Twente

Personal information
Date of birth|  (1989-01-18) 18 January 1989 (age 36)
Place of birth|  Brussels, Belgium
Height|  1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)|  Midfielder
Youth career
0000–2000|  Anderlecht
2000–2006|  PSV
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2006–2009|  Inter Milan|  6|  (0)
2008–2009|  → Twente (loan)|  0|  (0)
2009|  Vicenza|  0|  (0)
2009–2010|  Bellinzona|  0|  (0)
2010|  MVV|  0|  (0)
2010|  Wydad Casablanca|  2|  (0)
2011|  Eupen|  1|  (0)
2011–2012|  Racing Mechelen|  12|  (3)
2012|  Parseh Tehran|  13|  (0)
2012–2013|  Union SG|  12|  (2)
2013–2014|  Maghreb de Fès|  5|  (1)
2014–2015|  Paganese|  2|  (0)
2015–2017|  Renaissance Schaerbeek|  20|  (6)
2017–2018|  Toulouse Rodéo|  4|  (0)
International career
2007|  Morocco U21|  5|  (0)
2007–2012|  Morocco U23|  5|  (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ibrahim Maaroufi (Arabic: ابراهيم معروفي; born 18 January 1989) is a Moroccan former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He represented both Morocco U23 and Belgium U21 national teams at international level. In October 2007 Maaroufi declared himself for Morocco rather than Belgium.[1]

## Club career

[edit]

Maaroufi started his career with Belgian team Anderlecht before moving to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.

### Inter Milan

[edit]

Maaroufi was called up to the Inter Milan first team many times by Roberto Mancini, but finally made his first team and Serie A debut against Livorno, 25 October 2006, as a substitute for Dejan Stanković in the 82nd minute, becoming the second youngest player in the history of Inter, older than Goran Slavkovski but younger than Giuseppe Bergomi.[2]

He played his first Coppa Italia match as a starter for Inter Milan on 9 November 2006, against Messina Peloro. He also played the return leg. In total Maaroufi made six appearances for Inter with one coming in Serie A and five appearances coming in the Coppa Italia.[3][4]

### Twente loan

[edit]

At the start of 2008–09 season Maaroufi moved on loan to Twente to gain more experience when he was signed by Fred Rutten who had previously coached him at PSV Eindhoven.[5] Rutten left the club to join Schalke 04 and was replaced by Steve McLaren soon after.

### Vicenza

[edit]

In February 2009, the last day of transfer window, Maaroufi was sold to Vicenza in joint-ownership bid.[6][7] He picked up a knee injury which ruled him out of some games.[8] He was released by Vicenza in mutual consent on 24 August 2009.[9]

### Bellinzona

[edit]

On 31 August 2009, Maaroufi agreed a three-year contract with Swiss Super League outfit Bellinzona.[10]

### MVV Maastricht

[edit]

In February 2010 Maaroufi agreed to return to the Netherlands, joining Eerste Divisie club MVV Maastricht on a free transfer, only to leave it at the end of the season; both experiences ended with no first team appearances.[citation needed]

### Wydad Casablanca

[edit]

On 1 June 2010, Maaroufi signed a two-year contract with Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca.[11][12] He was however released later in December, after appearing in two league games.[13][citation needed]

### Eupen

[edit]

In January 2011, Belgian Pro League club Eupen announced the signing of Maaroufi on a free transfer.[14][15][16] He made one first team appearance, coming as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Standard Liège in February. He was also an unused substitute on four occasions before being released by Eupen at the end of the season.[17]

### Racing Mechelen

[edit]

In August 2011, Maaroufi joined Leeds United on trial.[18] He played for Leeds reserves against Farsley Celtic on 6 August.[19]

### Parseh Tehran

[edit]

In 2014, Maaroufi played for Parseh Tehran in an attempt to be noticed by scouts and relaunch his career.[20]

### Paganese

[edit]

On 27 October 2014, Maaroufi was signed by Italian Lega Pro club Paganese on a free transfer.[21]

### Renaissance Schaerbeek

[edit]

Between 2015 and 2017, Maaroufi played for Renaissance Schaerbeek in the Belgian Provincial 1.[22]

### Toulouse Rodéo and trials

[edit]

In March 2017, Maaroufi joined French club Toulouse Rodéo in the fifth-tier Championnat National 3.[23]

After leaving the club in 2018, he trialled with Dutch Eerste Divisie club FC Eindhoven, without success.[24]

## International career

[edit]

Maaroufi played for both Belgium and Morocco in youth level.[citation needed] He trained with the Morocco Olympics team in December 2006, before making his debut for Belgium U21 national team against Sint-Truiden in February 2007.[25] He was also called up for the match against Serbia in March 2007.[26]

He played his last Belgian U21 cap against Austria U21, on 7 September 2007.[27]

Maaroufi said originally he would accept a call up to Morocco Under-23s only if he was made captain.[28] He then accepted a call-up from Morocco Olympics team again, for 2008 CAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament in October 2007, versus Cameroon.[29][30] In October 2007 Maaroufi declared himself for Morocco rather than Belgium .[1]

## Personal life

[edit]

In March 2016, it was revealed that Khalid El Bakraoui, one of the suicide bombers of the 2016 Brussels bombings, had used the identity of Maaroufi in order to gain access to Belgium and rent the apartment from which the attacks in Brussels and as well as the November 2015 Paris attacks were planned.[31][32]

## Honours

[edit]

Inter Milan

* Serie A: 2006–07, 2007–08
* Supercoppa Italiana: 2005–06

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Maaroufi préfère le Maroc à la Belgique".
2. ^ "MAAROUFI: "MY THANKS TO MANCINI"". FC Internazionale – Inter Milan. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
3. ^ "Inter.it". FC Internazionale – Inter Milan.
4. ^ "Sky Sports 19 January 2008".
5. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi prêté au FC Twente".
6. ^ "Operazioni Calciomercato" (in Italian). Vicenza Calcio. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
7. ^ "UFFICIALE: Giani ancora al Vicenza, ecco Maaroufi".
8. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi Could Return To Training This Week - Goal.com". www.goal.com.
9. ^ "Operazioni calciomercato" (in Italian). Vicenza Calcio. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
10. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi è granata !" (in Italian). AC Bellinzona. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
11. ^ "Brahim Maaroufi : de l'Inter de Milan au Wydad !!" (in French). Wydad Casablanca. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
12. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi au Wydad ?".
13. ^ "Transferts : Maaroufi à la relance" (in French). Mercato365.com. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
14. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi a signé à Eupen" (in French). 7sur7.be. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
15. ^ "Maaroufi unterschreibt in Eupen" (in German). K.A.S. Eupen. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
16. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi a signé à Eupen". 29 January 2011.
17. ^ "LUFC Three Europeans in Leeds trial – VitalFootball.co.uk". Vitalnetwork. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
18. ^ "Leeds United: Whites eye Mendy deal". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.
19. ^ "Leeds United | News | News | News | TRIALISTS IN FRAME AT FARSLEY". www.leedsunited.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012.
20. ^ "Identity of Former Inter Player Maaroufi Used by Terrorist". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 29 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
21. ^ "Paganese, arriva il centrocampista ex Inter, Ibrahim Maaroufi" (in Italian). Resport.it. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
22. ^ Provinciale 1: débuts en janvier pour Ibrahim Maaroufi, l'ancien de l'Inter désormais à la Renaissance Schaerbeek‚ lacapitale.be, 16 December 2015
23. ^ "Toulouse. Maaroufi, de l'Inter au Rodéo". La Dépeche (in French). 6 March 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
24. ^ "Belg die ooit kampioen speelde met Inter na 19 minuten wandelen gestuurd bij Nederlandse tweedeklasser". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 26 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
25. ^ "TWO INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS". FC Internazionale – Inter Milan. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
26. ^ "uefa.com – UEFA European U-21 C'ship – News & Features – News specific". Archived from the original on 19 March 2007.
27. ^ "uefa.com – UEFA European U-21 C'ship – Fixtures & Results – Match Specific". Archived from the original on 16 December 2007.
28. ^ "Ibrahim Maaroufi Accepts Morocco Olympic Team Call-Up - Goal.com". www.goal.com.
29. ^ "Sixteen players on international duty". FC Internazionale – Inter Milan. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
30. ^ "EN Olympique: Ibrahim Maaroufi" [Olympic NT: Ibrahim Maaroufi called up]. Wydad News (in French). 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013.
31. ^ "Brussels terrorist passed himself off as ex-Inter defender". MARCA English. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
32. ^ Grohmann, Judith (2018). Fighting the war on terror : global counter-terrorist units and their actions. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Military. ISBN 978-1526727459.

## External links

[edit]

* Profile at Internazionale Archived 12 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
* Profile at Swiss Football League (in German) [dead link‍]
* Ibrahim Maaroufi at Soccerway

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals