Player Profile
A former France youth international, M’Bolhi made his senior Algeria debut in May as a 68th-minute substitute against the Republic of Ireland. He conceded one goal, from a penalty, in the 3-0 defeat. The 24-year-old was born in Paris to an Algerian mother and Congolese father.
The former Heart of Midlothian goalkeeper had a trial at Manchester United in May following a breakthrough season in the Bulgarian top flight. He joined Slavia Sofia a year ago and has since been named as the League’s Best Goalkeeper for 2009 and player of the season by Slavia’s supporters. M’Bolhi had joined Scottish club Hearts as a 19-year-old in January 2006 following his release by Marseille, but he left at the end of that season without making an appearance.
M’Bolhi made his league debut in the 2006/07 season with Greek Second Division club Ethnikos Piraeus. Brief spells followed in the Greek and Japanese Third Divisions before he rekindled his career in Bulgaria.