Mehdi Nafti

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Mehdi Nafti
Personal information
Full name	Mehdi Nafti
Date of birth	28 November 1978 (1978-11-28) (age 30)
Place of birth	Toulouse, France
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club	Aris FC
Number	6
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1997–2000 2000–2005 2005 2005–2009 2009–	Toulouse Racing Santander → Birmingham City (loan) Birmingham City Aris FC	25 (1) 75 (3) 10 (0) 70 (0)
National team2
2002–	Tunisia	41 (1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:32, 10 June 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 18:11, 11 June 2009 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Mehdi Nafti (Arabic: مهدي النفطي‎) (born 28 November 1978) is a Tunisian international footballer born in Toulouse, France. In June 2009, he signed a two-year contract with Aris FC.

[edit] Playing career

He was signed on loan by Birmingham City in the January transfer window of 2005 from Racing de Santander. Often referred to as "Nasty,"^[1] due to his fiery nature and tendency for cautions, he was primarily signed to replace the outgoing Robbie Savage, whose acrimonious departure infuriated Birmingham fans. Nafti finished the season strongly leading to many fans looking for a permanent acquisition. This happened in the closed season with Nafti signing a permanent deal with the club.

Nafti's 2005/6 season came to end before it had even begun, with a bad injury to his cruciate ligaments which people assumed would rule him out of contention for the blues until the 2006/2007 season. However, on the last day of the 2005/2006 season, Nafti surprised most Birmingham fans and made his return for the club against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok stadium. Although Birmingham were already relegated, this return came as some good news for all Blues fans as Nafti would go on to become a vital part of the team in 2006/2007 as they returned to the Premier League, at the first time of asking.

Nafti scored his first competitive goal for Birmingham in a 4-0 League Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers in August 2008.

After Birmingham chose not to renew his contract,^[2] Nafti signed a two-year contract with Aris FC in June 2009.^[3][4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Mehdi Nafti career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Tunisia squad – 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Boumnijel • 2 Saidi • 3 Essediri • 4 El Abdy • 5 Jaziri • 6 Trabelsi • 7 Mhedhebi • 8 Nafti • 9 Guemamdia • 10 Ghodhbane • 11 Santos • 12 Mnari • 13 Namouchi • 14 Chedli • 15 Jaïdi • 16 Fadhel • 17 Ben Saada • 18 Ben Achour • 19 Ayari • 20 Clayton • 21 Jemâa • 22 Kasraoui • 23 Hadj Massaoued • Coach: Lemerre

v • d • e Tunisia squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Boumnijel • 2 Essediri • 3 Haggui • 4 Yahia • 5 Jaziri • 6 Trabelsi • 7 Guemamdia • 8 Nafti • 9 Chikhaoui • 10 Ghodhbane • 11 Santos • 12 Mnari • 13 Bouazizi • 14 Chedli • 15 Jaïdi • 16 Nefzi • 17 Ben Saada • 18 Jemmali • 19 Ayari • 20 Namouchi • 21 Saidi • 22 Kasraoui • 23 Melliti • Coach: Lemerre

v • d • e Tunisia squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Kasraoui • 2 Ghezal • 3 Haggui • 4 El Abdy • 5 El Bekri • 6 Felhi • 7 Ben Saada • 8 Nafti • 9 Chikhaoui • 10 Zaiem • 11 Santos • 12 Mnari • 13 Ben Frej • 14 Zouagi • 15 Jaïdi • 16 Mathlouthi • 17 Jemâa • 18 Mikari • 19 Meriah • 20 Ben Dhifallah • 21 Traoui • 22 Nefzi • 23 Chermiti • Coach: Lemerre