Introduction
Tarik Elyounoussi (Arabic: طارق اليونسي, ṭāriq al-yūnusī, [tˤaːˈrɪq ælˈjuːnusiː]; born 23 February 1988) is a professional footballer who plays for Japanese club Shonan Bellmare. His preferred position is forward, but he can also play as an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Born in Al Hoceima, Morocco, Elyounoussi moved to Norway with his family when he was 11 years old. He started playing football in the club Nylende in Fredrikstad, and then joined Trosvik, in which many of the young players in the Fredrikstad youth team have their roots.
He was considered to be the greatest talent Fredrikstad has produced in decades. As such he was awarded the Norwegian Young Player of the Year trophy in 2006 and 2007, after two great seasons in the league, and a Norwegian football cup trophy.
SC Heerenveen
Elyounoussi was sought after by various Premier League clubs in the summer of 2008. However Fredrikstad accepted a bid on around €4 million from French club Le Mans on 8 July. But Elyounoussi had no interest in joining Le Mans. A few weeks later Elyounoussi signed a five-year contract with Heerenveen worth €3.5 million, on 22 July. He joined Heerenveen in August 2008.
He scored in his debut match against FC Volendam. He also netted an important equalizer for Heerenveen in their first round UEFA Cup match away against Vitória F.C., and his second league goal came against NEC Nijmegen.
Return to Norway
On 19 February 2010, Lillestrøm SK loaned the 21-year-old talented forward until the end of season from SC Heerenveen.
On 7 January 2011, Elyounoussi returned to Fredrikstad FK and Tippeligaen.
Elyounoussi signed for Rosenborg on 9 August 2012, binding him to the club to the end of the 2015 season. Elyounoussi and Mikkel Diskerud's transfers was announced at half time during the UEFA Europa League qualifier against Servette.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Rosenborg announced on 18 June 2013 that they had sold Elyounoussi to Hoffenheim, and bought Alexander Søderlund from Haugesund as his replacement. Elyounoussi joined the German side after Rosenborg's match against Strømsgodset on 22 June.
Olympiacos
Olympiacos announced that this club had agreement with TSG Hoffenheim for signing Tarik Elyounoussi on 26 August with the transfer fee estimated to €1 million. On 11 September 2016, he scored his first goal with the club in a hammering 6-1 home win against Veria F.C. He played a vital role in the club, in acquiring the 7th consecutive Super League title.
Qarabağ FK
On 31 August 2017, Azerbaijani champions Qarabağ FK signed Elyounoussi on loan until the end of 2017-18 season. The 30-year-old Moroccan-born Norwegian international was a member of Qarabağ FK during the first half of 2017-18 season, on loan from the Reds, but made only seven official performances in all competitions and failed to impress.
AIK
On 30 January 2018, Swedish outfit AIK announced the transfer of Elyounoussi from Olympiacos on a two-year deal; details of the fees involved have not been disclosed. In 2018, he won the Swedish League, Allsvenskan together with AIK.
Shonan Bellmare
On 12 January 2020, Japanese outfit Shonan Bellmare announced the transfer of Elyounoussi from AIK on a two-year deal; details of the fees involved have not been disclosed.
International career
He scored on his debut for the national team against Uruguay on 28 May 2008 after only four minutes on the pitch; this was one of the fastest ever debut goal on the national team. He scored his second national team goal on 15 January 2012, in the opening match of 2012 King's Cup against Denmark, which was his fifth cap for Norway.
Elyounoussi was chosen as captain for the international friendlies against South Africa and Zambia in January 2013, and scored the winning goal in the 1–0 victory against South Africa.
Personal life
Elyounoussi is the cousin of Mohamed Elyounoussi, who is also a Norwegian international footballer.
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 21 February 2020
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fredrikstad | 2005 | Tippeligaen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 4 | — | 31 | 9 | |||
| 2007 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | 27 | 10 | |||
| 2008 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 10 | ||
| Total | 69 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 86 | 29 | ||
| Heerenveen | 2008–09 | Eredivisie | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 5 |
| 2009–10 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 41 | 5 | ||
| Lillestrøm (loan) | 2010 | Tippeligaen | 14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 17 | 6 | |
| Fredrikstad | 2011 | Tippeligaen | 28 | 13 | 4 | 2 | — | 32 | 15 | |
| 2012 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 3 | — | 18 | 10 | |||
| Total | 44 | 20 | 6 | 5 | — | 50 | 25 | |||
| Rosenborg | 2012 | Tippeligaen | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 3 |
| 2013 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | 17 | 9 | |||
| Total | 24 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 12 | ||
| 1899 Hoffenheim | 2013–14 | Bundesliga | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 26 | 5 | |||
| 2015–16 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 52 | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | 58 | 5 | |||
| Olympiacos | 2016–17 | Superleague Greece | 23 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 36 | 7 |
| Total | 23 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 36 | 7 | ||
| Qarabağ (loan) | 2017–18 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| AIK | 2018 | Allsvenskan | 25 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 11 |
| 2019 | 27 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 12 | ||
| Total | 52 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 66 | 23 | ||
| Shonan Bellmare | 2020 | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 314 | 79 | 49 | 21 | 35 | 12 | 398 | 112 | ||
International
| Norway national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2008 | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11 | 4 |
| 2013 | 13 | 2 |
| 2014 | 9 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 1 |
| Total | 60 | 10 |
Statistics accurate as of match played 7 June 2019
International goals
- Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 28 May 2008 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo |  Uruguay |
1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 2. | 15 January 2012 | Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok |  Denmark |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2012 King's Cup |
| 3. | 29 February 2012 | Windsor Park, Belfast |  Northern Ireland |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 2 June 2012 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo |  Croatia |
1–1 | 1–1 | |
| 5. | 16 October 2012 | Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca |  Cyprus |
2–1 | 3–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6. | 8 January 2013 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town |  South Africa |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 7. | 6 September 2013 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo | Cyprus |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8. | 5 March 2014 | Eden Arena, Prague |  Czech Republic |
1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 9. | 13 October 2014 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo |  Bulgaria |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 10. | 7 June 2019 |  Romania |
1–0 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
Honours
Fredrikstad
- Norwegian Football Cup: 2006
SC Heerenveen
- KNVB Cup: 2008–09
Olympiacos
- Superleague Greece: 2016–17
AIK
- Allsvenskan: 2018
Individual
- Norwegian Young Player of the Year:2006, 2007