At just 20 years of age, Samir Nasri will on Sunday play his 100th L1 match. To mark the occasion, OM’s various media arms are dedicating a day to him exclusively, with a documentary on OMtv and a portrait on OM.net.
Discovered several years ago by Freddy Assolen, OM recruiter, through word of mouth, Samir Nasri, who was at the time playing Pennes-Mirabeau, was quickly invited to a tournament.
“I was charmed,”
recalls Freddy. After the tournament, the coaches met his father and soon after the young Samir Nasri joined the OM Youth Academy. At 9 years of age, he was in the OM junior team and already his skill with the ball was amazing.
“he could do everyt5hing with the ball: stepovers, dribbling, shooting with the right or the left. In fact I wasn’t even sure whether he was left- or right-footed,”
continues Freddy Assolen.
He was quickly selected in the regional team and at 16 years old he left home to move to Bastide, where the Youth Academy players live.
“That’s where I really started to progress,”
, affirms Samir Nasri,
“training was different, the facilities are beautiful, all of which helps you work well.”
Philippe Bergeroo noticed this emerging talent and selected him for the France U-17 side.
“As a person, he is extraordinary and very likeable. In the locker room, he’s a go-to guy, very professional even at 16.”
In the final of the European U-17 championship, alongside Ahmed Yahiaoui, Samir Nasri made the difference himself, scoring the winner against Spain with 5 minutes to go.
In September 2005, Jose Anigo threw Samir Nasri in to the deep end of L1 against Sochaux.
“It was my first top-flight match, it’ll be etched in my memory forever, it’s my best memory.”
15 rounds later, he scored his first goal in L1, against Lille from an assist by Steve Marlet. In 2005-06, he played 24 L1 matches for OM. All this at just 17.
A midfielder, he was positioned in the centre just behind the strikers, and it was in this position that his talent exploded. Just like another famous native of Marseille who wore the number 10, Samir Nasri became his side’s playmaker.
“He has the game of a very mature person and he has a huge future in front of him. He has what it takes for a stellar career. He has all the footballing skills and a good head on his shoulders,”
says Michel Hidalgo.
Samir Nasri isn’t yet 20 but is already a key player for OM. He’s in his 4th season in L1. Alongside Franck Ribéry, Mamadou Niang and Djibril Cissé, he had worked hard, progressed and hardened himself.
All of which hasn’t escaped the eye of Raymond Domenech. The national team manager put his trust in the yo0ungster and called him up for a friendly against Austria in March 2007 ? a debut marked with an assist for his good friend Karim Benzema. Three months later, it was his turn to score for his country. Against Georgia, he secured the 3 points fro France in a Euro 2008 qualifier. Along with Benzema and Ben Arfa, Nasri is the future of the France team.
On Sunday, Samir Nasri will play his 100th match in L1, against Lyon ? an opportunity for his team-mates to recognise his achievements and for us to list the key dates in his fantastic career so far.
Niang: “He’s awesome”
“100 games at just 20, that’s huge. And he’s missed quite a few games through injury. He could be at 120 or 130. He’s mature for his age and smart too and I wish him many more games here in France and later in a big foreign club.”
Rodriguez: “I wish him even more matches”
“It’s impressive. He’s a top-level player. I wish him even more matches. It would be great if he could score the winner for us against Lyon for his 100th, that would be good for us as well
Gerets: “He will become even more important”
“He’s already proved he is immensely talented for his age. He will become even more important for the team.”
KEY DATES
His first L1 match
12 September 2004
Sochaux 2-0 OM (Round 5)
Came on for Bruno Cheyrou (69’)
His first match at the Stade Vélodrome
18 September 2004
OM 1-0 Toulouse (Round 6)
Came on for Luyindula (61’)
His first start
18 October 2004
OM 1-1 Saint Etienne (Round 10)
His first goal
11 January 2005
Lille 1-2 OM (Round 20)
Goal scored in the 22nd minute
His first goal at the Vélodrome
6 May 2006
OM 2-2 Strasbourg (Round 37)
Goal scored in the 47th minute
His best goal
29 April 2007
OM 4-2 Sochaux (Round 34)
Goal scored in the 74th minute
His first cap
28 March 2007
France 1-0 Austria (friendly)
Starter, replaced in the 70th minute by Florent Malouda
His first goal for Les Bleus
6 June 2007
France 1-0 Georgia (Euro 2008 qualifier)
Goal scored in the 33rd minute
SAMIR NASRI’S TOP 5