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name: Mehdi Ballouchy
position: M height: 5-11 weight:169 Birthdate: April 06, 1983 Hometown: Casablanca, Morocco last club: Real Salt Lake (MLS) |
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| Regular Season Stats | full bio l year-by-year stats l video highlights |
| year | club | gp | gs | min | g | a | sht | sog | fc | fs | c | ej |
| 2009 | Colorado | 28 | 23 | 2,148 | 2 | 7 | 34 | 11 | 28 | 33 | 5 | 0 |
| Career | 102 | 83 | 7,363 | 6 | 15 | 108 | 31 | 132 | 138 | 18 | 1 | |
| Most Recent Video Highlights |
| date | clubs | video description |
| 05/30/09 | Rapids @ Red Bulls |
 Ballouchy nets a PK
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| 07/04/08 | Red Bulls @ Rapids |
Mehdi Ballouchy scores on the Red Bulls
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| 09/08/07 | Rapids @ Galaxy |
Mehdi Ballouchy Goal
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Acquired
RSL: Selected in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft on 1/20/06From Casablanca to Salt Lake City and everywhere in between, the journey to the ranks of Major League Soccer and Real Salt Lake has been an expansive one for midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy. But after moving to America as a teenager and making stops in Denver, Palo Alto, Omaha, and Santa Clara, it seems the Moroccan-born talent has finally found a home base in Utah after making an impressive professional debut for RSL in 2006, one in which he appeared in all 32 contests - including 26 starts - and concluded the season as one of three finalists for the MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year Award.
You can't spell Ballouchy without the ball, which makes the former Moroccan youth international's switch to a true #10 role this season all the more fitting. After serving mostly on the left flank during his rookie season, RSL Head Coach John Ellinger had seen enough from Ballouchy to determine that Mehdi was ready to handle the central playmaking role in the squad's new-look 4-3-3 offensive formation. After honing his skills on the streets of Casablanca, the 2007 season could end up looking a lot like those playground games for Ballouchy if he can continue live up to the potential he displayed during his rookie campaign.
Coach Ellinger's Call
"Mehdi is a special player; I was thrilled when we were able to draft him last season. I really believe he was the best player available in the draft, and he was certainly able to step in and play for us right away. What impressed me most about Mehdi was his willingness to learn and improve. After a strong start, I think he ran out of gas a bit, but he refocused and finished off the season very strong. It's good to see that attitude in a young player, especially one as skilled and talented as Mehdi. Anyone who has seen him play will tell you that he has what it takes to become a superstar; he just needs to continue to work and learn the professional game."
MLS Experience
2006: Appeared in all 32 games, including 26 starts, while logging 2,162 minutes and tallying two goals along with two assists Named one of three finalists for the 2006 MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year Award One of 10 field players, including teammate Chris Klein, to see minutes in all 32 contests for his squad in 2006 Made MLS debut in the starting XI on 4/02 at CHV, playing 73 minutes in a 3-0 defeat Notched first career MLS assist on 4/29 vs. LA, coming off the bench to help on Atiba Harris's 74th minute goal in a 3-2 loss His first career MLS goal on 5/20 vs. KC in the 78th minute sparked RSL to a 2-1 comeback win His assist on 9/09 at DC on Klein's 65th minute tally helped RSL salvage a road point out of a 1-1 draw against the Eastern Conference leaders His goal on the hour mark on 10/07 vs. HOU led RSL to a 1-1 draw against the eventual MLS Cup champs Also made three substitute appearances for RSL's Reserve Division side, logging 118 minutes of action.
International
Ballouchy was a member of the Moroccan U-17 and U-16 National Teams prior to moving to the United States at the age of 16.
College
2005: Scored a goal and notched seven assists while starting 21 of Santa Clara's 22 contests in his junior season Accolades included First-Team All-American nods from the NSCAA/adidas Men's Division I, Soccer America, Soccer Times and College Soccer News West Coast Conference Player of the Year and First-Team All-WCC selection One of 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy Award First-Team NSCAA Far West All-Region selection 2004: Started all 20 appearances in his first season for the Broncos as a sophomore All-WCC First-Team honoree and Third-Team NSCAA/adidas Men's Division I All-American Tallied 15 points on three goals and a team-high nine assists (second in WCC) Earned diadora Classic MVP and WCC Player of the Week honors in his first weekend as a Bronco after scoring two goals and an assist Named the WCC Player of the Month for September after posting double digit points and four assists 2002: Started 20 of 24 contests for Creighton University during his freshman season, scoring five goals and four assists while earning College Soccer News' Freshman All-American Team, Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team and NSCAA All-Midwest First-Team honors Helped lead the Bluejays to the NCAA College Cup semifinals and the MVC Tournament championship Named to the All-MVC Tournament Team.
High school
A 2002 graduate of Henry Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Calif., which he attended for his senior season Spent junior season at South High School in Denver, Colo. Earned all-league honors while at South Played at Yassine High School in Casablanca, Morocco, in first two prep seasons, earning All-League honors both years in 1998 and 1999 Named MVP for club team in Raja, Morocco Played in youth program of the local professional team, Raja Casablanca.
Personal
Born April 6, 1983 in Morocco Parents are Driss and Malika Ballouchy Has an older sister and older brother Father is a former French second division player Hobbies: listening to music, watching soccer and hanging out with friends Major in college: Finance Most Memorable Moments: Making the professional ranks Favorite Music: Enjoys a little bit of everything Favorite Movies: Scarface and Gladiator Favorite Food: Moroccan, Italian and Mexican Favorite Book: Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona by Jimmy Burns and It's Not about the Bike by Lance Armstrong Favorite TV Show: That 70s Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien Favorite athlete outside of soccer: Lance Armstrong Greatest Accomplishments: Getting picked No. 2 in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.
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