view Kerrouche's match-by-match record
 
Mehdi KERROUCHE

A former Algerian under-21 international striker signed on a two-year contract in July 2011, after it was originally thought he was arriving in the country for a trial period, Town boss Paolo di Canio praised Kerrouche's battling qualities after he made his first appearance for the Town in a pre-season friendly at Supermarine. A knee injury kept the forward out of the season's opener - and though he made the squad for the trip to Dagenham in mid-August, where he made his debut as a second half substitute, he lasted just twenty minutes in his second game, limping off after joining a local derby with Oxford at half time.

Returning to action at the end of the month, Kerrouche netted his first Town goal with a precise free-kick in a Carling Cup tie against Southampton - his display earning him his first start in a televised game against Rotherham, which the Town won 3-2. Though he occasionally showed his petulant side and often drifted in and out of games, Kerrouche intially became somewhat of a cult hero - scoring his first League goal in a 2-0 win over Southend, followed by a brace in a superb 3-0 win at Crawley - and a "Kerrouche is on fire" chart was born.

Over the coming months, despite being in and out of the side as di Canio rotated his starting eleven to suit the opposition, and also missing a game through suspension after picking up five yellow cards in his first twelve games, the Algerian moved to the top of the Town goalscoring charts - with further strikes against Barnet, Hereford and Huddersfield in the FA Cup, until a groin injury sidelined him for a spell in November.

When he returned to action for another FA Cup tie at Colchester in December, di Canio was clearly unhappy with Kerrouche's performance - substituting him midway through the first half, calling for more "anger and desire" from the striker and dropping him for the trip to Southend after being unhappy with his reaction in training. Amid rumours of a training ground disagreement which di Canio denied, Kerrouche was recalled for a visit to Bristol Rovers the following weekend, but after being substituted early in the second half, he was dropped again - the Italian calling it a "technical decision".

When the transfer window opened, di Canio conceded that he was prepared to let Kerrouche leave the County Ground - again commenting on his lack of application in training compared to other players on the fringes of the first team squad. Clearly out of favour, Kerrouche agreed a loan move to Oxford in early February, stating that he wanted to prove the Town boss wrong - for his part, di Canio claimed he wasn't worried about sending a player with "good technical quality" to their promotion chasing local rivals, as his Swindon side was "1,000 miles ahead of them". Kerrouche played just four matches for the yellows, not impressing enough to earn an extended deal, and he returned to SN1.

Though he didn't feature at all for the rest of the season at Swindon, Kerrouche was however involved in the celebrations as the Town sealed the League Two title - before being named as one of four players that di Canio wanted to remain at the club for extra training after the season finished. At the end of June though, it was announced that Kerrouche's contract had been cancelled - the Algerian soon moving back to his homeland to sign for top flight club CS Constantine. Shortly after signing, Kerrouche was scathing in his assessment of di Canio in an interview with French blog Onlysportall.com - and in confirming that he had confronted di Canio about his coaching methods, he claimed that his former boss was "an impulsive person who cannot stand not being centre of attention", and that his grandmother could have coached Swindon to the championship.

PLAYING RECORD:

Season LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP OTHER TOTAL
Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls
'11/'12 9 (+4) 6 1 (+1) 1 (+1) 1 1 (+1) - 11 (+7) 8
TOTAL 9 (+4) 6 1 (+1) 1 (+1) 1 1 (+1) - 11 (+7) 8


TRANSFER INFORMATION:

DATE IN/OUT TRANSFER DETAIL
18 JUL 2011 IN Al-Oruba
(unattached)
9 FEB 2012 OUT Oxford United
(loan)
10 MAR 2012 IN Oxford United
(loan return)
25 JUN 2012 OUT (released)
» Club Sportif Constantinois


 ALGERIA
U-21 international apps


 FRANCE

date of birth
11 October 1985


           
             
             
             
             
             

usual positions
centre forward

youth career
RC Lens 

senior career
AC Cambrai 
KSK Ronse 
USM Alger 
Gazélec Ajaccio 
Naval 
Al Urooba
SWINDON TOWN
Oxford United (loan)
CS Constantine 
Episkopi 
Finn Harps