Mehdi Lacen

• Full name: Mehdi François Lassaâd Lacen
• Date of birth: January 1, 1984
• Place of birth: Paris, France
• Nationality: Algerian (also French-born)
• Position: Defensive midfielder / central midfielder
• Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Club career (highlights)

• Early career: Youth and early senior career in France and Belgium; notably played for Racing Club de France and ASOA Valence early on.
• Spain: Moved to Spain and spent much of his career there. Played for Racing de Santander B, Racing de Santander (briefly), CD Leganés (on loan), and later had his most prominent spells at Getafe CF and Málaga CF.
• Getafe CF: Signed for Getafe in 2010. At Getafe he established himself as a regular in midfield, known for his defensive work rate, positional discipline, tackling and passing. He played for Getafe until 2013 before moving to Málaga CF.
• Later career: After Málaga he returned to Leganés (where he previously had a loan spell) and contributed to their rise; he also played for other Spanish clubs before retiring.

International career

• Chose to represent Algeria at international level. Earned multiple caps for the Algeria national team.
• Part of Algeria's squad for major competitions including Africa Cup of Nations and played in international qualifiers and friendlies during his international tenure.

Playing style

• Primarily a defensive/holding midfielder. Known for effective tackling, ball-winning, simple distribution, good stamina and team discipline. Provided balance in midfield rather than attacking flair.

Notable facts

• Born in France to Algerian parents and opted to represent Algeria internationally.
• Well-regarded by managers for reliability and professionalism during his years in La Liga.