Medhi Benatia

Medhi Benatia, born on April 17, 1987, is a distinguished former professional footballer who made his mark as a centre-back. Currently serving as the sporting director of Ligue 1 club Marseille, Benatia's career is celebrated for his impactful tenures across France, Italy, and Germany.

Benatia's football journey began at Marseille, where he was initially loaned to Tours and Lorient before making a significant move to Clermont in 2008. His talent shone brightly, leading him to Udinese two years later, where he spent three successful seasons. His impressive performances caught the attention of Roma, where he played a pivotal role in helping the team secure a Serie A runners-up finish during his sole season.

In a landmark transfer, Benatia joined Bayern Munich for twenty-six million euros, clinching the Bundesliga title in both of his seasons with the club. His career continued to flourish at Juventus, where he initially joined on loan in 2016 and was signed permanently the following year. During his time with Juventus, he contributed to three league titles and played a key role in the team's journey to the Champions League final in 2017.

On the international stage, Benatia represented Morocco, earning sixty-six caps and captaining the team to their first World Cup appearance in twenty years. He participated in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and announced his retirement from international football in 2019. After concluding his playing career with stints at Al-Duhail in Qatar and Fatih Karagümrük in Turkey, Benatia hung up his boots in 2021.