Houssin Bezzai (Arabic: حسين بزاي; born 4 November 1978) is a former professional footballer.[1] He played for Sparta Rotterdam, TOP Oss and Haarlem.

Houssin Bezzai
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-11-04) 4 November 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth El Aioun Sidi Mellouk, Morocco
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Sparta Rotterdam 49 (0)
2002–2005 TOP Oss 83 (4)
2005-2006 Haarlem 33 (2)
2006–2011 Ter Leede
2011–2012 Quick Boys
2012–2013 Ter Leede
2013-2016 Leidsche Boys
International career
1997 Morocco U20
Medal record
Representing  Morocco
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Winner Morocco 1997 U-20 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

Bezzai came to the Netherlands at a young age,[2] and made his debut in professional football on 7 November 1999 as part of Sparta Rotterdam in a 1–2 home loss to Ajax in the Eredivisie. He came on as a substitute for Steve Goossen in the 31st minute.[3] He played his last professional game on 14 April 2006 as part of HFC Haarlem, when he was replaced by Ray Fränkel after 86 minutes in the 1–3 loss to PEC Zwolle.[4] After his retirement from professional football in August 2006, Bezzai joined the amateur club Ter Leede.[5]

Bezzai was a Moroccan youth international and won the 1997 African Youth Championship.[6][7]

Retirement edit

After his football career, Bezzai founded Sport United together with a partner.[8] The company focuses, among other things, on the organisation of events and career counseling for athletes.[9] Within the company, vulnerable youths are also guided through work and education. At the end of 2010, this work culminated in Fruit & Go – a smoothie / sandwich bar in Leiden, which was founded together with fellow former professional footballer Tim de Cler.[2] That company merged into the Leids Inzet Collectief, a secondment company for youths with an occupational disability.[10][11] Since March 2020, Bezzai has also been program manager for racism and discrimination at the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).[12][7]

Honours edit

International edit

Morocco U20[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Houssin Bezzai: van slachtoffer tot manager antiracisme bij de KNVB nos.nl
  2. ^ a b "Houssin Bezzai". Sport United (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Sparta Rotterdam - AFC Ajax 1:2 (Eredivisie 1999/2000, 12. Round)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ^ "HFC Haarlem - FC Zwolle 1:3 (Playoffs Eredivisie 2005/2006 Relegation, 1. Round)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Houssin Bezzai: "Het is absoluut een uitdaging"". Leiden Amateurvoetbal (in Dutch). 20 March 2013.
  6. ^ a b "African U-21 Championship 1997". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b Alföldy, Erzsó. "Houssin Bezzai: 'Kwaliteit moet altijd leidend zijn, niet welke kleur iemand heeft'". Intermediair (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Wie we zijn – Sport United". Sport United (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Wat we doen – Sport United". Sport United (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Leids Inzet Collectief BV". drimble.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Leids Inzet Collectief - Detachering van arbeidskracht met een arbeidsbeperking". Leids Inzet Collectief (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Houssin Bezzai programmamanager racisme en discriminatie bij de KNVB". KNVB (in Dutch). 21 June 2020.