Islam Slimani’s biography, fact, career, awards, net worth and life story

Islam Slimani (Arabic: إسلام سليماني‎‎; born 18 June 1988) is an Algerian footballer who plays as a striker for Leicester City and the Algeria national team.

An Algerian international, Slimani made his international debut in 2012 and played at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also part of Algeria’s squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he finished as the team’s joint top scorer with two goals. As of January 2017, he has won 49 international caps and scored 25 goals, making him Algeria’s fourth highest all-time goalscorer.

Club career

Early career

In May 2009, Slimani joined CR Belouizdad from JSM Chéraga for a transfer fee of 800,000 Algerian dinars, signing a two-year contract. In August, he made his official debut for the club as a starter against MC Oran in the first week of the 2009–10 Algerian Championnat National. He finished his first season with Belouizdad with 8 goals in 30 games.

On 17 May 2011, Slimani scored four goals in a league game against JS Kabylie, leading CR Belouizdad to an impressive 7–1 win. In July 2011, with his contract expired and several French clubs such as Nice and Le Havre showing interest in signing him, Slimani decided to sign a two-year extension with CR Belouizdad.

Sporting CP

On 6 August 2013, Slimani joined Sporting Clube de Portugal for an undisclosed fee. Slimani started the 2013–14 season as a substitute, gaining a reputation as an impact player due to him scoring vital goals when coming off the bench. Due to the lack of form of Fredy Montero, however, he became a starter and scored four goals in four matches in early March 2014 against Rio Ave, Braga, Vitória de Setúbal and in 1–0 over rivals Porto. In December 2013 he was considered the best Algerian footballer of the year as he won the Algerian Golden Ball.

On 31 May 2015, Slimani scored a goal against Braga in the Taça de Portugal final, helping Sporting turn around a two-goal deficit to eventually secure the cup following a penalty shootout.

Leicester City

On 31 August 2016, the last day of the 2016–17 summer transfer window in England, Slimani joined Premier League club Leicester City on a five-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Sporting was reported as £28 million, a club record for Leicester. On 14 September, he made his debut for Leicester in the UEFA Champions League playing 62 minutes in a 3–0 victory over Club Brugge. Three days later, he made his Premier League debut in a 3–0 victory over Burnley, scoring his side’s first two goals. On 27 September, Slimani scored the only goal in Leicester’s 1–0 win against Porto in the Champions League group stage after a pass from Algerian national teammate Riyad Mahrez. It was his sixth goal with Iker Casillas in goal in 2016, five of which he netted while with his former club Sporting.

After this goal, Slimani failed to score until matchday 11 of the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion from a pass from Mahrez, although Leicester lost 2–1. Later, on matchday 13, after entering as a substitute, Slimani scored the equalizer for his team from the penalty spot in the last minute against Middlesbrough. On matchday 15, Slimani helped the Foxes to win against Manchester City 4–2 after he presented two assists for goalscorer Jamie Vardy and Andy King. On 31 December, after five games without a goal, Slimani scored the winning goal against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium to lead his team to win the fifth in the Premier League this season, the last day of 2016.

Slimani scored four of his five league goals from headers, but has only managed a 38% shot accuracy by January 2017.

International career

In October 2009, Slimani was called up by Abdelhak Benchikha for the first time to the Algerian A’ National Team for a week-long training camp in Algiers. In March 2010, Slimani was called up again, this time for a 2011 African Nations Championship qualifier against Libya as a replacement for his injured CR Belouizdad teammate Youcef Saïbi. However, Slimani did not play in the game as Algeria won 1–0.

In May 2012, Slimani was called up for the first time to the Algeria national team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and Rwanda, and the return leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia. On 26 May, he made his debut, coming as a substitute at half-time in a friendly against Niger. A week later, on 2 June, Slimani scored his first international goal for Algeria, netting the third goal in the 4–0 win over Rwanda in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He followed that up with another goal against Mali in the next game, and then scored another two goals in the following against Gambia.

Slimani was selected for Algeria’s squad taking part in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, and played in all three group games in January. Algeria, however, only won one point and were eliminated at the first stage.

Algeria qualified for the 2014 World Cup, with manager Vahid Halilhodžić selecting Slimani for his 23-man squad. On 22 June 2014, Slimani scored the opening goal for les Fennecs in a 4–2 group match against South Korea. He also made an assist for the team’s third goal by passing the ball to Abdelmoumene Djabou. On 26 June, Slimani scored with a header in Algeria’s 1–1 draw with Russia, helping the nation qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time ever after failing to do so previously in 1982, 1986 and 2010. In the round of 16 match against Germany, Slimani had a headed goal disallowed in the first half for offside, while later on, his powerful shot at goal was saved by German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Algeria eventually lost 2–1 after extra time, but were praised for an excellent campaign throughout the tournament.

In Algeria’s opening match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Slimani scored the final goal in a 3–1 victory over South Africa.

Career statistics

Club

International

Summary

Complete list of international goals and caps

Statistics

Honours

Club

• Taça de Portugal: 2015
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2015

Individual

• Algerian Ballon d’or: 2013
• DZFoot d’Or: 2013
• CAF Team of the Year: 2016