# Marouane Chamakh
**Marouane Chamakh** (born 1984 in Tonneins, France) is a retired Moroccan footballer who played as a forward, most prominently for [FC Girondins de Bordeaux](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-girondins-de-bordeaux) and Arsenal, and won 65 caps for the Morocco national team.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) • [2](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/marouane-chamakh/228114) Born in France to Moroccan parents, he chose to represent Morocco internationally and was a member of the side that reached the 2004 [Africa Cup of Nations](https://www.edgepedia.org/africa-cup-of-nations) final.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) • [11](https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/associated_downloads/Trivquiz%20World%20Football%20Sample.pdf) He confirmed his retirement in May 2019, after nearly two and a half years without a club.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48415000)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Tonneins (Lot-et-Garonne), France, to Moroccan parents[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) |
| Position | Forward; 1.85 m tall[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/) |
| Bordeaux | Eight seasons, 56 goals in 230 Ligue 1 appearances; Ligue 1 champion 2008/09[7](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/) • [5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) |
| Arsenal | Free transfer, summer 2010; 11 goals and 8 assists in 44 matches in 2010/11[7](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/) • [8](https://as.com/us/us/2018/11/08/futbol/1541650651_363130.html) |
| Later clubs | West Ham United (loan, 2012/13), Crystal Palace 2013–2016, Cardiff City 2016[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/) |
| Morocco | 65 caps, 18 goals; Africa Cup of Nations runners-up 2004[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) • [11](https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/associated_downloads/Trivquiz%20World%20Football%20Sample.pdf) |
| Distinctive record | First player to score in six consecutive Champions League matches[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) |
| Retirement | Confirmed May 2019, after leaving Cardiff City in 2016[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48415000) |
## Youth and early career
Chamakh came through clubs in the Lot-et-Garonne region: SC Aiguillon from 1990 to 1998, FC Nérac in 1998/99, and FC Marmande 47 in 1999/2000, before joining the [Girondins](https://www.edgepedia.org/girondins) de Bordeaux youth setup in 2000.[3](https://www.transfermarkt.com/marouane-chamakh/transfers/spieler/19085/transfer_id/930025) He made his first Bordeaux first-team appearance in January 2003 in a League Cup match against Metz, played his first [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1) match a month later, and finished 2002/03 with ten league appearances and one goal alongside the Portuguese striker [Pauleta](https://www.edgepedia.org/pauleta).[4](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/scouting-report-exactly-how-will-marouane-chamakh-fit-arsenal)
Although he played for France at under-19 level, he elected to play for Morocco, making his senior international debut at the age of 19.[11](https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/associated_downloads/Trivquiz%20World%20Football%20Sample.pdf)
## Bordeaux
Chamakh spent eight professional seasons at Bordeaux's Stade Chaban-Delmas. Across his Bordeaux career he scored 56 goals in 230 Ligue 1 appearances, with a further 24 goals in 66 cup and European matches.[7](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/) • [4](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/scouting-report-exactly-how-will-marouane-chamakh-fit-arsenal) His best season was 2008/09, when his 13 league goals helped Bordeaux win their first Ligue 1 title in a decade, ending [Olympique Lyonnais](https://www.edgepedia.org/olympique-lyonnais)'s run of championships.[4](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/scouting-report-exactly-how-will-marouane-chamakh-fit-arsenal) • [7](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/) In the 2009/10 Champions League he scored five goals in nine matches as [Laurent Blanc](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurent-blanc)'s side reached the quarter-finals, and he was named Bordeaux Player of the Year in that final season.[7](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/) • [5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts)
**The transfer saga.** Chamakh's move to Arsenal took more than a year to complete. In August 2009, with [Sunderland](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunderland) also interested, Bordeaux rejected an Arsenal bid of 6 million euros for a striker entering the final year of his contract, having set his price at 15 million euros; Arsenal would not go beyond 10 million.[10](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/chamakh-bloque-par-les-girondins-01-08-2009-595979.php) Chamakh publicly accused Bordeaux of pricing him out of the move.[12](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/aug/03/marouane-chamakh-arsenal-bordeaux-transfer) Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud dismissed reports of a January 2010 sale, saying the club would not act against manager Laurent Blanc's wishes while the league and Champions League campaigns were at stake.[13](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bordeaux-dismiss-chamakh-arsenal-transfer-1831987.html) Rather than pay a fee, [Arsène Wenger](https://www.edgepedia.org/arsene-wenger) waited until Chamakh's contract expired and signed him on a free transfer in May 2010; the striker traveled to London by Eurostar during the volcanic ash flight disruption to finalize the deal.[9](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chamakh-rolls-into-town-to-finalise-arsenal-transfer-1975636.html)
## Arsenal
Wenger called Chamakh "a player we have admired for some time now" whose performances for Bordeaux and Morocco had proved his quality.[7](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/) His first season was his best in England: 11 goals and 8 assists in 44 matches across the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup, including 7 Premier League goals.[8](https://as.com/us/us/2018/11/08/futbol/1541650651_363130.html) • [6](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/) In November 2010 he scored against Wolves after 39 seconds, then a Premier League record for Arsenal, and in the same match scored again in the 92nd minute.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts)
His standing fell once [Robin van Persie](https://www.edgepedia.org/robin-van-persie) returned to fitness; by December 2011 he was restricted to brief substitute appearances, and Bordeaux explored re-signing him without being able to reach him or Arsenal.[14](https://www.europe1.fr/sport/Chamakh-l-Angleterre-ou-Bordeaux-350186) • [15](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/international/bordeaux-want-to-resign-arsenal-striker-marouane-chamakh-6262556.html) Over his following two Arsenal seasons he scored only three goals in total.[8](https://as.com/us/us/2018/11/08/futbol/1541650651_363130.html) In January 2013 he joined West Ham United on loan, playing three matches, none complete, without scoring.[8](https://as.com/us/us/2018/11/08/futbol/1541650651_363130.html) • [6](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/)
## Crystal Palace and Cardiff City
Chamakh joined Crystal Palace in August 2013 on a one-year contract, extended to June 2016 in July 2014.[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/) He scored 10 goals in 65 matches for the club, and his final Palace league goal was the only goal of the match against Swansea City on 24 May 2015.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) At Palace he first worked with [Neil Warnock](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-warnock), who later managed him at Cardiff.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts)
He signed for Cardiff City in October 2016 on a contract running to January 2017, made two Championship appearances as a substitute, and had his contract terminated in January 2017.[6](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/) • [8](https://as.com/us/us/2018/11/08/futbol/1541650651_363130.html) He remained without a club thereafter and confirmed his retirement in May 2019.[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48415000)
## Morocco
Chamakh won 65 caps and scored 18 goals for Morocco between his debut at age 19 and his retirement from international football.[5](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts) • [11](https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/associated_downloads/Trivquiz%20World%20Football%20Sample.pdf) He played in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and won a runners-up medal in 2004.[11](https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/associated_downloads/Trivquiz%20World%20Football%20Sample.pdf)
## Playing style
Scouting reports at the time of his Arsenal move described a strong but elegant forward who played just off the shoulder of the last defender, combining aerial ability with a good first touch rather than serving purely as a target man.[4](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/scouting-report-exactly-how-will-marouane-chamakh-fit-arsenal) [Bacary Sagna](https://www.edgepedia.org/bacary-sagna), his Arsenal teammate, highlighted his heading, his hold-up play, and his willingness to take physical contact.[9](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chamakh-rolls-into-town-to-finalise-arsenal-transfer-1975636.html) At Bordeaux he had operated as a lone striker with attacking midfielders playing off him, a role that suited Wenger's system, though analysts noted that Bordeaux's crossing game differed from Arsenal's short-passing approach.[4](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/scouting-report-exactly-how-will-marouane-chamakh-fit-arsenal) • [16](https://www.sofoot.com/articles/chamakh-la-derniere-cartouche-darsenal)
## References
1. [Marouane Chamakh: Former Arsenal and Morocco striker confirms retirement, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48415000)
2. [Marouane Chamakh, joueur de football, L'Équipe](https://www.lequipe.fr/fiche/marouane-chamakh/228114)
3. [Marouane Chamakh, Transfer history, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/marouane-chamakh/transfers/spieler/19085/transfer_id/930025)
4. [SCOUTING REPORT: Exactly how will Marouane Chamakh fit in at Arsenal?, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/scouting-report-exactly-how-will-marouane-chamakh-fit-arsenal)
5. [MAROUANE CHAMAKH: TEN FACTS, Cardiff City FC](https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2016/october/marouane-chamakh-ten-facts)
6. [Marouane Chamakh Football Player Statistics, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/players/marouane-chamakh-20256/)
7. [Wenger thrilled with Chamakh acquisition, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0d7cbae36af5-d8849cf2a198-1000--wenger-thrilled-with-chamakh-acquisition/)
8. [¿Qué fue de Marouane Chamakh? Del Arsenal al desempleo, AS](https://as.com/us/us/2018/11/08/futbol/1541650651_363130.html)
9. [Chamakh rolls into town to finalise Arsenal transfer, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chamakh-rolls-into-town-to-finalise-arsenal-transfer-1975636.html)
10. [Chamakh bloqué par les Girondins, Le Parisien](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/chamakh-bloque-par-les-girondins-01-08-2009-595979.php)
11. [Trivquiz World Football (sample), Pitch Publishing](https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/sites/default/files/associated_downloads/Trivquiz%20World%20Football%20Sample.pdf)
12. [Marouane Chamakh slams Bordeaux over Arsenal rejection, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/aug/03/marouane-chamakh-arsenal-bordeaux-transfer)
13. [Bordeaux dismiss Chamakh Arsenal transfer, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bordeaux-dismiss-chamakh-arsenal-transfer-1831987.html)
14. [Chamakh, l'Angleterre ou... Bordeaux ?, Europe 1](https://www.europe1.fr/sport/Chamakh-l-Angleterre-ou-Bordeaux-350186)
15. [Bordeaux want to re-sign Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/international/bordeaux-want-to-resign-arsenal-striker-marouane-chamakh-6262556.html)
16. [Chamakh, la dernière cartouche d'Arsenal, SO FOOT](https://www.sofoot.com/articles/chamakh-la-derniere-cartouche-darsenal)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Africa › Maghreb footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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