Aymen Tahar

Aymen Tahar

Personal information
Date of birth	(1989-10-02) 2 October 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Algiers, Algeria[1]
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2006–2008	Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2010	Sheffield United	0	(0)
2010–2012	Staveley Miners Welfare
2012–2015	Gaz Metan Mediaș	92	(5)
2015–2016	Steaua București	15	(1)
2016	→ Boavista (loan)	11	(0)
2016	Sagan Tosu	1	(0)
2017	Gaz Metan Mediaș	12	(0)
2017–2019	Boavista	27	(0)
2019–2021	Panetolikos	53	(2)
2021	AEL	4	(0)
International career^‡
2008	Algeria U20	4	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 27 December 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 July 2011

Aymen Tahar (Arabic: أيمن طاهر; born 2 October 1989) is an Algerian professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for Greek Super League 2 club AEL.^[2] At international level, he has represented the Algeria U20 national team.

Club career

Playing in England

Aymen was born in Algiers, Algeria, and raised in Sheffield, England to an Algerian family.^[3] Though he grew up supporting Arsenal,^[4] Aymen played in Sunday League football and his performance caught the attention of Luis Silva, who had a role of helping him join the Sheffield United academy in 2005 where he progressed through the ranks and was a regular in the reserve side up to 2008–2009 season.^[5][6] He made his début at the end of February 2009, coming on as a late sub for Lee Hendrie against Hull City in the FA Cup 5th round.^[7] At the end of the season, Tahar was released by the club.^[8]

After leaving Sheffield United, he joined Staveley Miners Welfare and had a successful spell there, having become a key player for the club.^[8]

Playing in Romania

On 8 February 2012, Tahar joined Romanian club Gaz Metan Mediaș, signing a contract until 2015.^[8][9] Tahar later stated in an interview that he find it difficult to move away from England to Romania at first.^[10]

Tahar made his Gaz Metan Mediaș debut, where he came on as a substitute in the 66th minute, in a 2–0 win over Dinamo București on 3 March 2012.^[11] After struggling in the first team for the first two seasons at Gaz Metan Mediaș, Tahar began to established himself in the first team and then scored his first Gaz Metan Mediaș goal on 15 September 2013, in a 2–1 win over Brașov,^[12] with his second goal for the club later came on 26 October 2013, in a 3–1 win over Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț.^[13] Tahar later ended the 2013–14 season with 33 appearances and two goals. The 2014–15 season then saw Tahar regained his first team place and started the opening game of the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–0 win over Botoșani^[14] Tahar then later added two more goals later in the season against Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț^[15] and Dinamo București.^[16] Tahar went on to finish the season with 30 appearances and three goals, but was unable to help the club survive relegation from Liga I.

On 30 June 2015, Tahar joined Romanian club Steaua București, signing a contract until 30 June 2019.^[17] Tahar revealed he nearly joined Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava before moving to Steaua București.^[18] Tahar made his Steaua București debut, playing 14 minutes after coming on as a substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Petrolul Ploiești on 11 July 2015.^[19] After being left out of the squad in late-August,^[20] Tahar then regained his first team place and scored his first goal for the club in the Round of 32 of Cupa României, in a 1–0 win over Universitatea Cluj. Weeks later on 3 October 2015, Tahar scored his first league goal for the club, in a 2–1 win over Politehnica Iași.^[21] However, under the management of Laurențiu Reghecampf, Tahar soon fell out of favour after his form slumped and was told he can leave the club.^[22]

Boavista and Sagan Tosu

No longer wanted at Steaua București, Tahar joined Primeira Liga side Boavista on loan until the end of the season.^[23] Tahar then made his Boavista debut on 7 February 2016, where he played 4 minutes, in a 1–0 win over Paços de Ferreira.^[24] Then on 11 March 2016, Tahar provided an assist for Zé Manuel to help Boavista win 3–0 against Marítimo.^[25] Tahar went on to make eleven appearances for Boavista and returned to his parent club. Upon returning to Steaua București, Tahar was told by the club management that he was no longer in the first team.^[26]

On 4 August 2016, Tahar moved abroad to Asia, where he joined J1 League side Sagan Tosu.^[27]

Returning in Romania

On 30 January 2017, Tahar returned to Romanian first league team Gaz Metan Mediaș for which he played between 2012 and 2015.^[28]

International career

In November 2008, Tahar was chosen for the elite training camp for the Algeria U20 team.^[29]

Tahar is also eligible to play for England, having been raised in England and receiving a British Citizenship.^[3]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 May 2016

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League		National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sheffield United	2008–09	0	0	1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
	2009–10	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
	Total	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Ferencváros	2009–10	0	0	0	0	–		–		–		0	0
Staveley Miners Welfare	2010–11					–		–		–
	2011–12					–		–		–
	Total					0	0	0	0	0	0
Gaz Metan Mediaș	2011–12	10	0	1	0	–		–		–		11	0
	2012–13	19	0	0	0	–		–		–		19	0
	2013–14	33	2	1	0	–		–		–		34	2
	2014–15	30	3	0	0	1	0	–		–		31	3
	Total	92	5	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	95	5
Steaua București	2015–16	15	1	3	1	1	0	4	0	1	0	24	2
Boavista (loan)	2015–16	11	0	–		–		–		–		11	0
Career total		117	6	6	1	2	0	4	0	1	0	130	7

Honours

Steaua București

• League Cup: 2015–16
• Supercupa României runner-up: 2015

References

1. "Aymen Tahar - Panetolikos".
2. "EXCLUSIV Fotbalistul fără defecte! Cum este caracterizat noul transfer al Stelei de antrenorul care îl cunoaşte cel mai bine" (in Hungarian). Gazistul.ro. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
3. "Născut la Alger, Aymen Tahar s-a format la Sheffield Utd şi speră să ajungă la fel de celebru ca Zidane" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturlor. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
4. "Aymen Tahar vrea să facă pasul spre Anglia: "Urmează Premier League!"" (in Hungarian). Gazistul.ro. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
5. "Aymen Tahar". Sheffield United F.C. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 14 July 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
6. "Découverte : Ayman Tahar, Sheffield United à 16 ans ("Jouer au plus haut niveau possible")" (in French). DZ Foot Official Website. 15 October 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
7. "Hull City 2 – 1 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
8. "TAHAR GETS PRO DEAL IN ROMANIA". Non League Pitchero. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
9. Aymen Tahar va semna cu Gaz Metan Archived 2012-02-14 at the Wayback Machine; Gazistul.ro. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
10. "Aymen Tahar – A Sheffield lad starring in Romania". TIBS Sports News. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
11. "VIDEO & FOTO » Dinamo revine pe primul loc în Liga 1 după 2-0 cu Gaz Metan" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
12. "VIDEO 9 minute de fotbal, 81 de plictiseală » Tahar a decis partida penibilă dintre Corona şi Gaz Metan, 1-2, cu o superexecuţie" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
13. "VIDEO Dulca bagă gaz! » Dulca mai bifează o victorie cu Gaz Metan: 3-1 cu Ceahlăul" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
14. "VIDEO şi FOTO Gaz Metan învinge la Botoşani, 3-0, după ce gazdele au jucat în 10 timp de 40 de minute" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
15. "VIDEO "Robocop", egalul lui "Messi" » Partidă superbă la Mediaş: Gaz Metan şi Ceahlăul au făcut spectacol: 2-2" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
16. "FOTO şi VIDEO Ionel Dănciulescu, victorie la debutul în antrenorat! Dinamo cîştigă pe terenul lui Gaz Metan, scor 2-1" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
17. "Bine ai venit, Aymen Tahar!" (in Romanian). FC Steaua București. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
18. "Tahar aproape semnase cu Slovan Bratislava cînd a venit oferta Stelei: "Nu credeam că poate fi adevărat"" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
19. "FOTO Steaua - Petrolul 0-0 » Debut alb pentru Rădoi în Liga 1" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
20. "Nu are ce să le facă! Rădoi a schimbat planurile cu Tahar și Tade: îi integrează cu forța!" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
21. "Roumanie : Tahar buteur en championnat" (in French). DZ Foot. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
22. "Steaua poate scăpa de un jucător aflat pe lista neagră » Un club din România pregătește oferta" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
23. "OFICIAL: Boavista anuncia Aymen Tahar (ex-Steaua)" (in Portuguese). Maisfutebol Official Website. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
24. "P. Ferreira-Boavista, 0-1 (crónica)" (in Portuguese). Maisfutebol Official Website. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
25. "Marítimo-Boavista, 0-3 (resultado final)" (in Portuguese). Maisfutebol Official Website. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
26. "Încă o plecare de la Steaua! Poate juca în Serie A" (in Romanian). Gazistul.ro. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
27. "Sagan Tosu finalize deal with midfielder Tahar". The Japan Times. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
28. "Marea lovitură pregătită de Negoiţă: Tha'er Bawab s-a înţeles cu Dinamo! Aymen Tahar revine şi el în Liga 1: "L-am luat deja"".
29. "Blades starlet in football's shop window". The Star. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2016.

External links

• Aymen Tahar player profile at sufc.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived September 19, 2008)
• Aymen Tahar at Soccerbase
• Aymen Tahar at Soccerway
• Aymen Tahar at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
• Aymen Tahar at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)