Ismaël Bouzid


Ismaël Mickael Bouzid is a French-Algerian retired footballer, who most recently played for Swift Hesperange. He played mainly as a centre-back but had also been used as a right back.

Club career

Born in Nancy, France, Bouzid started his career with FC Metz. In July 2001, he had a trial with English Premier League side Sunderland and played in a pre-season match between Sunderland and Calais. Bouzid then played in Germany, Algeria, Turkey and France, including spells at football clubs like Kaiserslautern and Troyes. Bouzid joined Galatasaray at the start of the 2007–08 season. He made 10 league appearances for the side, helping them to win the Süper Lig title in May 2008. In doing so, Bouzid became the first Algerian player to win a Süper Lig medal.

Heart of Midlothian F.C.

On 9 July 2009, he joined Hearts from Ankaragücü. Bouzid scored his first goal for Hearts at Tynecastle against Celtic on 20 December 2009, which also proved to be the winning goal. In June 2011, after two years playing for the Edinburgh club, he was released alongside Rubén Palazuelos, Dawid Kucharski, Paul Mulrooney and Jamie Mole.

After his release

In July 2011, Crawley Town gave Bouzid a trial. However, manager Steve Evans decided against signing him after Bouzid played in a friendly match against Peterborough United.

PAS Giannina F.C.

Bouzid signed a two-year deal with newly promoted Greek Superleague team, PAS Giannina in August 2011. Although several clubs around Europe were linked with Bouzid he chose the Greek side because of the 'team spirit'.

USM Alger

On 3 October 2012, Bouzid signed a two-year deal with Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 team USM Alger. He made just three league appearances for reaching a mutual agreement with the club to terminate his contract at the end of the 2012–13 season.

Kilmarnock F.C.

In the summer of 2013, Bouzid went on trial with Scottish Second Division side East Fife and on 20 September 2013, signed with Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock after impressing on trial.
On 25 June Bouzid began a short-term trial at Rangers.

Honours

;MC Alger
;Galatasaray
Bouzid's younger brother, Adam Bouzid, is also a professional footballer and currently plays for the German side SVN Zweibrücken.