1. Life
Aïssa Laïdouni's early life and youth career laid the foundation for his professional football journey, marked by his French birth and North African heritage.
1.1. Birth and Family Background
Aïssa Bilal Laïdouni was born on 13 December 1996 in Montfermeil, France. He comes from a diverse family background, with his mother being of Tunisian descent and his father of Algerian descent. His family also includes his younger brother, Naïm Laidouni, who is also a footballer and has represented the Algeria youth international team.
1.2. Youth Career
Laïdouni began his football development at a young age, starting his youth career with FC Montfermeil. He later joined the youth academy of Angers SCO, where he honed his skills before transitioning into professional football.
2. Major Activities and Achievements
Aïssa Laïdouni's professional career has seen him play for several clubs across France, Romania, Hungary, Germany, and Qatar, achieving significant success, particularly in Hungary. He has also been a key player for the Tunisia national team, participating in major international tournaments.
2.1. Club Career
Laïdouni's club career began in France before he moved to Eastern Europe, where he gained prominence, eventually leading to a move to one of Europe's top leagues and then to Qatar.
2.1.1. Angers SCO
Laïdouni started his professional career at Angers SCO. He made his Ligue 1 debut on 2 April 2016 in a match against Troyes AC. During his tenure with Angers, he primarily played for the reserve team, Angers B, where he made 33 appearances and scored 4 goals. He played one match for the senior team.
2.1.2. Les Herbiers VF (loan)
For the 2016-17 season, Laïdouni was loaned to Les Herbiers VF, a club competing in the Championnat National, the third tier of French football. During this loan spell, he made 27 league appearances, scoring 1 goal, and also played in 2 national cup matches.
2.1.3. FC Chambly (loan)
In the 2017-18 season, Laïdouni was again loaned out, this time to FC Chambly, another Championnat National side. He featured in 18 league matches, scoring 2 goals, and made 1 appearance in the national cup. He also played 2 matches for Chambly B.
2.1.4. FC Voluntari
Laïdouni moved to Romania in 2018, joining FC Voluntari in Liga I. He spent two seasons with the club, from 2018-19 to 2019-20. During his time at Voluntari, he made a total of 53 league appearances, scoring 7 goals, and participated in 3 national cup matches.
2.1.5. Ferencvárosi TC
Laïdouni's most successful club spell came with Ferencvárosi TC in Hungary, which he joined in 2020. He played for the club until 2023, becoming a pivotal player. He contributed significantly to Ferencváros winning the Nemzeti Bajnokság I title in the 2020-21 season, securing the championship on 20 April 2021 by defeating arch-rivals Újpest FC 3-0 at the Groupama Arena. He further contributed to the club's success in the 2021-22 season, where they again won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I and also secured the Magyar Kupa. In total, he made 64 league appearances, scoring 6 goals, along with 8 national cup appearances and 23 continental appearances, where he scored 3 goals.
2.1.6. 1. FC Union Berlin
On 27 January 2023, Laïdouni moved to Germany, signing with 1. FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. He played for the club from 2022-23 to 2023-24. During his time in Berlin, he made 37 league appearances, scoring 2 goals, and also played in 3 national cup matches and 10 continental matches.
2.1.7. Al-Wakrah SC
On 12 July 2024, 1. FC Union Berlin announced Laïdouni's transfer to Al-Wakrah SC in Qatar. He currently plays as a defensive midfielder for the Qatari club.
2.2. International Career
Aïssa Laïdouni chose to represent Tunisia internationally, making his debut in 2021 and participating in major competitions.
2.2.1. National Team Debut and Representation
Born in France, Laïdouni opted to represent the Tunisia national football team. He received his first call-up to the senior national team on 19 March 2021. His debut came shortly after, on 25 March 2021, in an AFCON 2021 qualifier match against Libya.
2.2.2. International Matches and Goals
Laïdouni has been a regular fixture for the Tunisia national team since his debut. He participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. As of January 24, 2024, he has earned 43 caps for Tunisia, scoring 2 goals.
His international goals include:
- 1. 16 November 2021: Scored against Zambia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, Radès, Tunisia, contributing to a 3-1 victory.
- 2. 12 September 2023: Scored against Egypt in a friendly match at 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt, in another 3-1 win.
3. Career Statistics
This section provides a comprehensive overview of Aïssa Laïdouni's professional club and international career statistics.
3.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Angers | 2015-16 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Les Herbiers (loan) | 2016-17 | Championnat National | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 1 | ||
| Chambly (loan) | 2017-18 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 2 | |||
| Voluntari | 2018-19 | Liga I | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 32 | 6 | |||
| 2019-20 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 24 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 53 | 7 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 56 | 7 | |||||
| Ferencváros | 2020-21 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 27 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | - | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2021-22 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 0 | - | 9 | 1 | - | 41 | 4 | ||||
| 2022-23 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 6 | 2 | - | 16 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 64 | 6 | 8 | 0 | - | 23 | 3 | - | 95 | 9 | ||||
| Union Berlin | 2022-23 | Bundesliga | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 19 | 2 | ||
| 2023-24 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | - | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | - | 50 | 2 | ||||
| Career total | 200 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 250 | 21 | ||
3.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunisia | 2021 | 11 | 1 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 43 | 2 | |
4. Honours
Aïssa Laïdouni has accumulated several team and individual honors throughout his professional career, primarily during his successful spell with Ferencváros.
4.1. Club Honours
- Ferencváros
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2020-21, 2021-22
- Magyar Kupa: 2021-22
4.2. Individual Honours
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I Most Valuable Player: 2020-21
- Tunisian Footballer of the Year: 2022
5. Personal Life
Beyond his professional career, Aïssa Laïdouni's personal life includes close family ties and a unique connection to his hometown.
5.1. Family
Aïssa Laïdouni is the older brother of Naïm Laidouni, who is also a professional footballer and has represented the Algeria youth international team.
5.2. Personal Details
Laïdouni wears the shirt number 93, which is a symbolic gesture. It is a nod to his hometown of Livry-Gargan, a commune located in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France, whose postal code begins with 93. He stands at 70 in (179 cm) tall and weighs 165 lb (75 kg).
6. Evaluation
Aïssa Laïdouni has established himself as a robust and influential defensive midfielder, contributing significantly to both his clubs and the Tunisia national team.
6.1. Player Performance and Achievements
Laïdouni's career highlights include his consistent performances as a defensive midfielder, known for his physicality and ball-winning abilities. His tenure at Ferencvárosi TC was particularly successful, where he played a crucial role in securing two consecutive Nemzeti Bajnokság I titles and a Magyar Kupa. His individual recognition as the Nemzeti Bajnokság I Most Valuable Player in the 2020-21 season and the Tunisian Footballer of the Year in 2022 underscores his impact and quality. On the international stage, his commitment to the Tunisia national football team has been evident through his regular appearances and participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest levels of international football.