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Belal Halbouni

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Belal Halbouni
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-12-29) December 29, 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth London, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 12
Youth career
North London SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Western Mustangs 16 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 FC London 28 (3)
2020–2022 Werder Bremen II 28 (3)
2022–2024 1. FC Magdeburg II 8 (1)
2024– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (0)
2024– → Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) 4 (0)
International career‡
2022– Syria 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 7, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 September 2022

Belal Halbouni (Arabic: بِلَال حَلبُونِيّ; born December 29, 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Born in Canada, he plays for the Syria national team.

Early life

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Halbouni began playing football at age four, joining North London SC at age eight.[1]

University career

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In 2018, he attended the University of Western Ontario, where he played for the men's soccer team.[2] He scored his first goal on September 29 against the Algoma Thunderbirds.[3] After one season, he decided to leave school to pursue professional soccer.[4]

Club career

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From 2017 to 2019, he played with FC London in League1 Ontario.[5][6][7] He scored his first goal on October 6, 2017 against ProStars FC.[8] In 2019, he was converted from an attacker to centre-back.[9]

In January 2020, he signed a contract with Werder Bremen II of the Regionalliga Nord, the reserve side of Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.[10] He made his debut on February 21, 2020 against HSC Hannover.[11] In June 2021, he extended his contract with the side.[12] During the 2021-22 season, he began serving as the captain of the reserve side.[13] While with the club, he also trained with the first team.[14] In January 2022, Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC had been interested in signing him on a loan deal, however, that deal failed to materialize as the two clubs could not agree on terms.[15] In total, he made 28 appearances for Werder II, scoring three goals and adding two assists.[16] His contract expired after the 2021–22 season and he chose to depart the club, despite an offer to join the first team, as Werder wanted to send him out on loan.[17]

On June 1, 2022, Halbouni signed with newly promoted 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Magdeburg on a three-year contract.[18] After appearing as an unused substitute in two league matches with the first team, he then joined the second team in the sixth tier Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt,[19][20] making his debut on August 19 against MSC Preussen.[21] However, his first season with the club was cut short, following an injury during national team duty, requiring a nine-month recovery period.[22] Upon return from his injury, he was again sent to play with the second team.[23] In January 2024, he was left out of the first team squad for the second half of the season,[24] and went on trial with Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[25][26]

On February 5, 2024, he signed a two-year contract with the Whitecaps through 2025, with a one-year extension option for 2026.[27]

International career

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Halbouni is eligible to represent Canada, Lebanon (where his mother was born), and Syria (where his father was born) internationally.[28][1]

In January 2021, Halbouni received his first Canada national team call-up for a camp in Florida.[29]

In September 2022, Halbouni accepted a call-up with Syria for two friendlies at the 2022 Jordan International Tournament.[30] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 loss against Jordan on 23 September 2022, but tore his ACL during the match.[31][32]

Career statistics

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As of September 7, 2024[33]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC London 2017[5] League1 Ontario 6 1 – – – ? ? 6 1
2018[6] League1 Ontario 10 2 0 0 – – ? ? 10 2
2019[7] League1 Ontario 12 0 5 0 – – – 17 0
Total 28 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 3
Werder Bremen II 2019–20 Regionalliga Nord 1 0 – – – – 1 0
2020–21 Regionalliga Nord 4 0 – – – – 4 0
2021–22 Regionalliga Nord 23 3 – – – – 23 3
Total 28 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 3
1. FC Magdeburg II 2022–23[27] Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt 5 0 – – – – 5 0
2023–24[34] NOFV-Oberliga Süd 3 1 – – – – 3 1
Total 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2024 Major League Soccer 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 6 0
Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) 2024 MLS Next Pro 4 0 0 0 – – – 4 0
Career total 70 7 5 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 79 7

References

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  1. ^ a b Belal Halbouni at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ "Belal Halbouni Western profile". Western Mustangs.
  3. ^ Stol, David (September 29, 2018). "Mustangs earn blowout win over Thunderbirds". Western Mustangs.
  4. ^ Pyette, Ryan (February 3, 2020). "Londoner gets a chance to realize childhood dream with German soccer league signing". The London Free Press.
  5. ^ a b "Belal Halbouni 2017 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  6. ^ a b "Belal Halbouni 2018 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  7. ^ a b "Belal Halbouni 2019 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  8. ^ "Match Recap: FC London 7 - 1 Pro Stars". League1 Ontario. October 9, 2017.
  9. ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (June 19, 2022). "From L1O to 2. Bundesliga, Belal Halbouni has eyes on CanMNT World Cup spot". OneSoccer.
  10. ^ "Halbouni wechselt zur U23" [Halbouni moves to U23]. SV Werder Bremen (in German). January 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Belal Halbouni" [1. FC Magdeburg signs Belal Halbouni]. 1. FC Magdeburg (in German). June 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "Werder hält Belal Halbouni" [Werder hold Belal Halbouni]. SV Werder Bremen (in German). June 28, 2021.
  13. ^ ""Zweikampfstarker Innenverteidiger": Magdeburg verpflichtet Halbouni" ["Strong central defender": Magdeburg signs Halbouni]. Kicker (in German). June 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Winkelmann, Marius (June 3, 2022). "Kanadier verläst Werders U23: Aufsteiger 1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Werder-talent Belal Halbouni: "Trauen ihm schritt in die 2. Liga zu"" [Canadian leaves Werder's U23: Newly promoted 1. FC Magdeburg sign Werder talent Belal Halbouni: “We believe he can step into the 2nd division”]. Fehmarn24 (in German).
  15. ^ Veth, Manuel (July 8, 2022). "Belal Halbouni: "I have been a fighter my entire life" - Magdeburg "the right move for me"". Transfermarkt.
  16. ^ Koch, Julian (June 1, 2022). "Erster Neuzugang: FCM holt Werder-Talent Belal Halbouni" [First newcomer: FCM brings Werder talent Belal Halbouni]. Liga 2 Online (in German).
  17. ^ Veth, Manuel (July 9, 2022). "Werder wollte Halbouni zum Profi machen: "Gab viele Variablen, die mir nicht gefielen"" [Werder wanted to make Halbouni a professional: "There were a lot of variables that I didn't like"]. Transfermarkt (in German).
  18. ^ "Erster Neuzugang bei Zweitliga-Aufsteiger 1. FC Magdeburg" [First new signing at second division promoted 1. FC Magdeburg]. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (in German). June 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "1. FC Magdeburg - Belal Halbouni fällt mit Kreuzbandriss lange aus" [1. FC Magdeburg – Belal Halbouni is out for a long time with a cruciate ligament tear]. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (in German). September 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Bartsch, Nicolas (September 25, 2022). "Bei Länderspieldebüt: FCM-Verteidiger Belal Halbouni verletzt" [In international debut: FCM defender Belal Halbouni injured]. Liga 2 Online (in German).
  21. ^ Gehring, Kevin (August 22, 2022). ""Sie gehören von der individuellen Qualität gar nicht in diese Liga"" ["In terms of individual quality, they don't belong in this league at all"]. FuPa (in German).
  22. ^ سوريا - أمير الخرباوي (Al-Kharbawi, Amir) (September 26, 2022). "أول تعليق لحلبوني على إصابته بالصليبي" [Halbouni's first comment on his cross injury]. Kooora (in Arabic).
  23. ^ "Belal Halbouni verlässt den 1. Fc Magdeburg" [Belal Halbouni is leaving 1. FC Magdeburg]. 1. FC Magdeburg (in German). February 5, 2024.
  24. ^ Manzke, Florian (January 4, 2024). "FCM: Abwehr-Duo Cacutalua und Halbouni ausgemustert" [FCM: Defensive duo Cacutalua and Halbouni retired]. Liga2 Online (in German).
  25. ^ Manzke, Florian (January 12, 2024). "Magdeburg: Halbouni spielt bei Vancouver vor" [Magdeburg: Halbouni is auditioning for Vancouver]. Liga2 Online (in German).
  26. ^ "Halbouni vor Wechsel nach Vancouver" [Halbouni before moving to Vancouver]. Kicker (in German). January 12, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Whitecaps FC sign Canadian defender Belal Halbouni". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 5, 2024.
  28. ^ Saad, Michel (December 25, 2021). بلال حلبوني مدافع فيردر بريمن المرشح للانضمام إلى منتخب سوريا بطلب من تيتا - مقابلة مع ميشيل سعد [Bilal Halbouni, Werder Bremen defender, who is nominated to join the Syrian national team at the request of Tita - Interview with Michel Saad]. YouTube.
  29. ^ Davidson, Neil (January 21, 2021). "Canada men's soccer set for 1st action in over a year with scrimmage against U.S." CBC Sports.
  30. ^ Sammert, Yannik (September 22, 2022). "FCM: Diese Neuzugänge stellten sich den Start im Club ganz anders vor" [FCM: These newcomers had a completely different idea of starting at the club]. Volksstimme (in German).
  31. ^ "Belal Halbouni verletzt sich bei Länderspiel-Debüt schwer und fällt lange aus" [Belal Halbouni is seriously injured in his international debut and is out for a long time]. Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (in German). September 26, 2022.
  32. ^ سوريا - أمير الخرباوي (Al-Kharbawi, Amir) (September 24, 2022). "طبيب سوريا يكشف تفاصيل إصابة حلبوني أمام الأردن" [A Syrian doctor reveals the details of Halbouni's injury in front of Jordan]. Kooora (in Arabic).
  33. ^ Belal Halbouni at Soccerway
  34. ^ "Belal Halbouni statsistics". WorldFootball.
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