1. Overview
Ramiz Larbi Zerrouki (رامز العربي زروقيRamiz al-ʿArabī ZarrūqīArabic; born 26 May 1998) is a professional footballer who primarily plays as a central midfielder. He currently represents Feyenoord in the Eredivisie and is a key member of the Algeria national team. Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Zerrouki is of Algerian descent and has progressed through prominent youth academies before establishing himself in professional leagues. His career has seen him develop significantly at FC Twente before making a notable transfer to Feyenoord, where he has participated in major European competitions. He has also proudly represented Algeria in international tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations.
2. Early life and background
Ramiz Larbi Zerrouki was born on May 26, 1998, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He began his footballing journey at the renowned Ajax Youth Academy, where he honed his skills from 2006 until 2016. In 2016, Zerrouki made the decision to join the FC Twente football academy, marking a new chapter in his youth development. During his time at Twente, he resided with a host family, former Twente player Marcel Mentink and his wife, Birgit, which provided him with a supportive environment as he pursued his professional aspirations.
3. Club career
Ramiz Zerrouki's club career spans his developmental years in Dutch academies, his formative professional period with FC Twente, and his current role at Feyenoord, where he has competed at the highest levels of club football.
3.1. Youth career
After developing with the Ajax Youth Academy until 2016, Zerrouki continued his youth career at the FC Twente academy. During the 2017-18 season, he gained valuable experience with the reserve team, Jong FC Twente, competing in the Derde Divisie, the fourth tier of Dutch football. In this period, he scored his only goal for the team in a 3-0 away victory against Harkemase Boys. From the 2018-19 season onwards, he continued his development with Jong Twente in the reserves' team league, the Beloften Eredivisie. In August 2018, Zerrouki signed his first professional contract with Twente, a significant step that ultimately led to his promotion to the first-team squad in the summer of 2019. He made 56 appearances and scored 4 goals for Jong FC Twente.
3.2. FC Twente
Zerrouki made his senior team debut for FC Twente on October 30, 2019, in a KNVB Cup match against De Treffers, which Twente won 2-0. He made a brief appearance, coming on as a substitute for Queensy Menig in the 89th minute under coach Gonzalo García. Despite this debut, he initially found it challenging to secure regular playing opportunities under García and largely trained with a smaller group of reserves.
In March 2020, Twente extended his contract until June 30, 2021. The 2020-21 season proved to be a turning point, as the new coach, Ron Jans, recognized Zerrouki's potential. As a result, Zerrouki began to receive regular playing time from the start of the season. His commitment was further recognized in October 2020 when his contract was extended again, this time until 2023. His consistent determination paid off, and he secured a spot in the starting lineup after Wout Brama sustained an injury following the winter break.
During the 2021-22 season, Zerrouki opened his scoring account for Twente. He netted both goals in a crucial 2-0 cup victory against OSS '20 on October 27, 2021. Just three days later, he scored again in a league match against PSV. His strong performances led to another contract extension in March 2022, solidifying his commitment to the club until 2024, with an option for the club to extend the agreement for an additional year.
3.3. Feyenoord
In the summer of 2022, Feyenoord expressed interest in acquiring Zerrouki, but a transfer did not materialize. The situation persisted through the winter transfer window of the 2022-23 season, as both clubs were unable to reach an agreement. However, in June 2023, the clubs finally came to an agreement, and Zerrouki officially signed a four-year contract with Feyenoord.
He made his debut for the Rotterdam-based club on August 4, starting in a 1-0 loss to rivals PSV in the Johan Cruyff Shield. Zerrouki scored his first goal for Feyenoord on October 25, contributing to a significant 3-1 home victory against Lazio in the UEFA Champions League group stage. During his first season at the club, Zerrouki was a regular presence, making 36 appearances across all competitions and scoring one goal. In this season, Feyenoord achieved success by winning the KNVB Cup and finishing second in the Eredivisie, securing a place in the Champions League for the following season.
4. International career
Ramiz Zerrouki has proudly represented the Algerian national football team, showcasing his skills on the international stage in various competitive and friendly matches.
4.1. Senior national team
Although born in the Netherlands, Ramiz Zerrouki is of Algerian descent, making him eligible to represent Algeria internationally. He made his debut for the Algerian national team on March 25, 2021, in a 3-3 draw against Zambia during a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match.
His first goal for Algeria came on September 2, 2021, when he scored the eighth goal in an emphatic 8-0 victory against Djibouti. Zerrouki was subsequently included in Algeria's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. In December 2023, he was once again called up to represent his country, being named in Algeria's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
5. Career statistics
Ramiz Zerrouki's professional career statistics reflect his consistent contributions across various club competitions and his appearances for the Algerian national team.
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | KNVB Beker | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Twente | 2019-20 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020-21 | Eredivisie | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2021-22 | Eredivisie | 32 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2022-23 | Eredivisie | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 (UEFA Europa Conference League) | 0 | 4 (Eredivisie European competition play-offs) | 1 | 41 | 2 | |
| Total | 95 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 108 | 6 | ||
| Feyenoord | 2023-24 | Eredivisie | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League) | 1 | 1 (Johan Cruyff Shield) | 0 | 36 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | Eredivisie | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 (UEFA Champions League) | 0 | 1 (Johan Cruyff Shield) | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| Total | 41 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 137 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 167 | 8 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 2021 | 9 | 1 |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 13 | 0 | |
| Total | 41 | 3 | |
Algeria score listed first, score column indicates score after each Zerrouki goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 September 2021 | Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria | 5 | Djibouti | 8-0 | 8-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 12 October 2023 | Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, Algeria | 25 | Cape Verde | 4-1 | 5-1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 19 November 2023 | Estádio do Zimpeto, Maputo, Mozambique | 28 | Mozambique | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Ramiz Zerrouki has accumulated several team titles and individual accolades throughout his professional football career.
Feyenoord
- KNVB Cup: 2023-24
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2024
Individual
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: January 2023
