Khaled Badra

Khaled Badra
Personal information
Full name	Khaled Badra
Date of birth	8 April 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Kairouan, Tunisia
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team
1994–1995	JS Kairouan
1995–2000	Esperance de Tunis
2000–2001	Denizlispor
2001–2002	Genoa C.F.C.
2002–2003	Al-Ahli
2003–2006	Esperance de Tunis
2006–2007	Al-Ahli
International career‡
1995–2006	Tunisia
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 June 2006; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2006

Khaled Badra (Arabic: خالد بدرة, born 8 April 1973 in Kairouan) is a retired Tunisian footballer, who recently retired from international football, he last played for Tunisian League side Espérance of Tunis. Reliable and strong in the tackle, he has even been labelled the Tunisian Desailly.

Career

After beginnings with his hometown's squad, Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise, Badra joined Espérance in 1996 and made a name for himself in the country as a powerful and uncompromising centre-back, who could also score from set pieces. He earned a call up to the Tunisian national football team for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta at the age of 23^[1] and became a virtual ever-present after that. His good form for the national side was mirrored in Tunisian competitions, where he has led Espérance to continuous league triumphs.

His club football career has been varied – solid and loyal service interspersed by short spells abroad. He also played for Genoa C.F.C. in Seria B, Al-Ahli Jeddah in Saudi Premier League, and Denizlispor in the Turkish league. He plans to see out his career at Espérance.

International career

Badra featured in both 1998 World Cup and 2002 World Cup, as well as the three African Nations Cups in that time. His finest hour came in the 2004 African Nations Cup when Tunisia hosted the games. He scored two penalties in the semi final against Nigeria (one in normal time and another in the shootout), but also picked up a yellow card meaning he was suspended for the final.^[2] He decided to retire from international football following this.