Mbark Boussoufa

Moubarak "Mbark" Boussoufa (Berber languages:ⵎⴱⴰⵔⴽ ⴱⵓⵙⵙⵓⴼⴰ, ; born 15 August 1984) is a former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or winger. He won the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2006, 2009, and 2010. In his first season he was a regular in the title-clinching squad. He became a key player for the team that finished second in both the 2007–2008 and the 2008–09 seasons. Boussoufa was named Belgian Footballer of the Year for a second time after the 2008–09 season in which Anderlecht barely missed out on the title, losing the Championship play-off against Standard de Liège. The next year, he managed 14 goals and 24 assists which made him the most valuable player in Anderlecht's championship-winning squad. He was named Belgian Footballer of the Year for a second consecutive time and the third time overall. After the season, he renewed his contract with a significant raise, making him the best paid footballer in Belgium. He won the Belgian Golden Shoe for the second time in 2010.

In March 2011, Russian side FC Terek Grozny announced his signing, but his transfer fell through three days later. Instead, Boussoufa signed for another Russian team, Anzhi Makhachkala.

Boussoufa signed a three-year contract with FC Lokomotiv Moscow in August 2013. With Lokomotiv he won the 2015 Russian Cup, scoring the second goal as they beat Kuban Krasnodar 3–1 after extra time in the final. He returned to K.A.A. Gent on loan from in February 2016.

In July 2016, Boussoufa signed a two-year contract with UAE club Al Jazira. He made 16 appearances and scored three times as Al-Jazira went on to win the 2016-17 UAE Arabian Gulf League.

On 3 January 2019, Boussoufa signed a contract until the end season with Saudi club Al-Shabab.

International career Eligible to play for both Morocco and The Netherlands, Boussoufa chose to represent Morocco and made his international debut against the USA on 23 May 2006.

Boussoufa has represented Morocco at Africa Cup of Nations tournaments; in 2012, 2017 and 2019.

In May 2018, he was named in Morocco's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he was a starting player in all three of their games.

On 5 July 2019, Boussoufa announced his retirement after Morocco's loss against Benin in the round of 16, 4–1 in penalties (following a 1–1 draw), in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career statistics Club

Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boussoufa goal.

Honours Anderlecht Belgian Pro League: 2006–07, 2009–10 Belgian Cup: 2007–08 Belgian Super Cup: 2007, 2010

Anzhi Makhachkala Russian Cup runners-up: 2012–13

Lokomotiv Moscow Russian Cup: 2014–15

Al Jazira UAE Pro League: 2016–17

Individual Best Gent player of the Season: 2005–06 Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2005–06 Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10 Belgian Ebony Shoe: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10 Belgian Golden Shoe: 2006, 2009, 2010 Belgian Lion Award: 2010, 2011