Famous footballers who were refugees, immigrants or foreign-born by Alicia Bankhofer https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball In the spirit of the EM 2016, please post a photo and a short description of a well-known footballer who was previously a refugee or is an immigrant. en-us 2016-05-17 13:46:39 UTC 2025-09-24 16:07:40 UTC hello@padlet.com David Alaba (posted by Alicia) aliciabankhofer https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/111241538 David Alaba is a professional Austrian footballer who plays for the national team and for Bayern Munich. His mother hails from the Philippes and his father is from Nigeria. ]]> 2016-05-17 13:50:19 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/111241538 Kler Heh (Maria del Carmen Flores) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114470817 Kler Heh, who is from the oppressed Karen ethnic group, grew up playing football on the streets of the Umpiem Mai refugee camp on the Thailand-Burma border and never dreamed he'd be in the position he finds himself today.]]> 2016-06-13 10:45:02 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114470817 Christian Benteke(Georgia Alexouda ) alexouda https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114479738 Christian Benteke Liolo (born 3 December 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Liverpool and the Belgium national team. Benteke was born in Kinshasa in 1990. He and his family fled during the Mobutu regime and emigrated to Liege, Belgium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Benteke


]]> 2016-06-13 12:26:13 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114479738 Taulant Xhaka (posted by Cristina Antal, Romania) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114483096 Taulant was born in Basel, Switzerland, his parents are Albanians and he chose to play in the Albanian National Team. His brother Granit, plays for Switzerland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/10/euro-2016-brothers-granit-and-taulant-xhaka-line-up-for-opposing/

]]> 2016-06-13 12:51:51 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114483096  Zinedine Yazid Zidane (posted by Anica S.) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114483500 He is a French retired footballer and current manager of Real Madrid. He was born on 23 June 1972 in La Castellane, Marseille, in France. Zidane is of Algerian Kabyle Berber descent. His parents, Smaïl and Malika, emigrated to Paris from the village of Aguemoune in the Berber-speaking region of Kabylie in northern Algeria in 1953 before the start of the Algerian War.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinedine_Zidane


]]> 2016-06-13 12:54:42 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114483500 Loris Karius (posted by Stavroula Siatira) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114486215 Goalkeeper

Loris Karius (born 22 June 1993) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Liverpool in the Premier League.


]]> 2016-06-13 13:12:50 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114486215 Lukas Podolski (posted by Nils Kersten) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114498149 Lukas Josef Podolski; born Łukasz Józef Podolski on 4 June 1985 in Gliwice, Poland) is a German footballer who plays as a forward for Turkish club Galatasaray and the Germany national team. He is a left-footed attacker known for his strong shot, technique and probing attacks from the left side.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lukas_Podolski]]> 2016-06-13 14:32:07 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114498149 Jérôme Agyenim Boateng (posted by Katerina Kostaki)  katkos2003 https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114523696 Jérôme Agyenim is a German footballer who currently plays for the Germany national team. Boateng is an Afro-German and was born by a German mother and Ghanaian father in Berlin. He has never been to Ghana.]]> 2016-06-13 18:07:35 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114523696 Christopher Wreh (Irene Pateraki) renia_95 https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114531247 former Arsenal footballer and Liberian refugee]]> 2016-06-13 19:39:16 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114531247 Mehmet Aurélio (born Marco Aurélio Brito dos Prazeres, 15 December 1977[1]) is a Brazilian-Turkish football coach and retiredfootballer, who was the assistant manager of Kasımpaşa in Turkey. (posted by Güner ÖZEN) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114535403

]]> 2016-06-13 20:33:19 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114535403 Claudia from Italy claudia_massaregli https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114539993 Ferrara, March 23, 2014 - IN A FIELD football of the suburban area, a team of very young is losing 3-0. Technical opponent screams until the last minute giving directions to her; on the bench instead of the defeated is a coach who assists seated and keep silent apparent defeat. Despite the result of the day, this coach is anything but a loser: Aboubacar Traoré, born in 1973, is since 2012 the head of the youth sector dell'Acli San Luca San Giorgio, as well as gym teacher in various Primary schools, and in a few weeks it will turn five years as a political refugee in Italy.]]> 2016-06-13 21:47:06 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114539993 Ana Isabel Sousa, Portugal sousaanaisabel https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114545080 Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Madeira island (Portugal). He is a famous football player and one of the best players in the world. He came out from Portugal to the UK and then to Madrid and is admired all over the world.]]> 2016-06-13 23:13:24 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114545080 Luljeta Koci Albania https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114593796 Granit Xhaka is albanian who plays for Zvicerland team and his brodher Taulant Xhaka plays for Albania team]]> 2016-06-14 10:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114593796 MOHAMED COULIBALY (Aranzazu Iturrioz) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114614710 Born in Senegal in 1988 he's now playing in Santander Racing Club (Spain). He has been playing in France and in Switzwerland too.]]> 2016-06-14 14:04:15 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114614710 George Weha https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114614793 Liberian football player, born in 1966 in a bidonville of Clara Town, Monrovia, one of the poorest places of the country. In 1995 he won the Golden Ball, being the first non-european player who won it . In 1999 he was declared the best African football player of the century. In 1998 he recorded a disc in support of the UNICEF. He was constantly social committed, becoming a symbol of peace and justice for all the Liberian and African people.]]> 2016-06-14 14:04:54 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114614793 Rosaria Calabria https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114639974  two brothers Xhaka – Granit e Taulant,
EURO2016 is an example that multiculturality is now part of our daily life]]> 2016-06-14 18:00:32 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114639974 Saido Berahino (Maria Magga) mmagga https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114643885 Saido Berahino (born 4 August 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club West Bromwich Albion. His father was killed in 1997 during the Burundian Civil War. He travelled to England alone at the age of 10, fleeing the ongoing war to join his mother, brother and sisters who had already been granted asylum in Newtown, Birmingham. ]]> 2016-06-14 18:39:54 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114643885 Rachid Ghezzal https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114644743 Rachid Ghezzal (born 9 May 1992) is a French-born Algerian footballer who plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais . (by Anamaria Golumbeanu using Wikipedia) ]]> 2016-06-14 18:53:33 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114644743 Mario Stanić ( Çiğdem BOZKURT) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114651503 (born 10 April 1972) is a former Croatian footballer...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Stani%C4%87]]> 2016-06-14 20:31:51 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114651503 Rio Antonio Zoba Mavuba (Cristina Gila) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114652948  (born 8 March 1984) is a French footballer who plays for Lille OSC as a midfielder. Mavuba's father was a footballer in Zaire while his mother was an Angolan. He was born on board a boat during the period of the Angola Civil War. He received French nationality in September 2004.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Mavuba)]]> 2016-06-14 20:50:23 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114652948 Liban Abdi (Despoina Amarantidou) damarant https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114655591 Liban Abdi was born in 1988 in Burco, Somalia and moved to Norway when he was only 2 years old to escape the civil war. His early school years were spent in Oslo but he moved to England in his teens. He was recommended to Sheffield United by staff of Football Unites, Racism Divides having attended FURD's coaching session. Abdi scored the winning goal on his first team debut for United against first division Hungarian side Ferencvanos in 2008.

http://www.furd.org/resources/Refugee%20Footballers%20Exhibition%20-%20Final.pdf




]]> 2016-06-14 21:30:58 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114655591 https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114721003 KICKING PREJUDICE AWAY


In Naples there is a whole new football team made up only of political refugees. They come mostly from Africa, they arrived in Europe after dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea and most of them landed in the Sicilian island of Lampedusa. Since February of this year, 2016, they have been training very seriously and they have played in numerous matches and tournaments. Maybe they are not famous yet, but I'm sure that some of them will be the European footballers of the next championships. (posted by Adele Ceccon)
http://napoli.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/03/20/foto/il_calcio_contro_i_pregiudizi_la_squadra_dei_rifugiati_politici-135936062/1/#1
]]> 2016-06-15 13:06:07 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114721003 George Weah (Grazia del Tito, Italy) https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114765629
George Weah is a Liberian humanitarian, politician, and retired footballer regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time. 
After starting his career in his home country Liberia, Weah spent fourteen years of his professional football career playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England. 
He has been heavily involved in politics in his homeland Liberia and
in 2014 he  was elected to the Senate.

]]> 2016-06-15 21:05:23 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114765629 Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Bernardo another great player Portuguese.Currently plays for Beşiktaş and the Portuguese national team. https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114771307 https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Quaresma

]]> 2016-06-15 23:01:15 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114771307 Souca Valentina. https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114823042
VIDEO U17 National Team captain Syria 's refugee in Germany and dreaming to play at Real Madrid 

]]> 2016-06-16 12:18:04 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114823042 Athéna Varsamidou-Greece https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114855361 Rio MAVUBA
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Mavuba]]> 2016-06-16 18:07:43 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114855361 Saido Berahino   (Athanasia Papachristou-Greece) nancy_papa https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114857545 Saido Berahino (born 4 August 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier Leagueclub West Bromwich Albion.
Having fled his native Burundi as a child, he received political asylum in Birmingham, where he claimed that his interest in football helped him integrate into English society.
[Wikipedia]


]]> 2016-06-16 18:35:39 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114857545 Chrysanthi chrismos67 https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114936569 Luca Modric
He came from Croatia as a refugee in 1992, now he plays for Real Madrid

]]> 2016-06-17 21:15:47 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114936569 Vasilica Gazdac,Romania vasilicagazdac https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114956278 Lomana LuaLua]]> 2016-06-18 16:04:52 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114956278 Uta Steinel-Schrenk steinel_schrenk https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114962842 First of all, I don't like football very much. Khedira and Boateng are stars, but they are German. They are born in Germany and they are no refugees. Podolski, born in Poland is a footballstar who is refugee. I think so.]]> 2016-06-18 21:09:47 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114962842 Viktoriia Harbuz, Ukraine https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114984535 Taulant Ragip Xhaka (born 28 March 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Swiss club Basel and the Albania national football team.]]> 2016-06-19 15:59:51 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114984535 MAariCarmenMM/Murcia. Spain https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114986255 Mario Stanić (born 10 April 1972) is a former Croatian footballer.
Stanić started his career with Željezničar Sarajevo. He was considered to be one of the most talented young players in former Yugoslavia. In 1992, war began and Stanić escaped to Slavonski Brod wading the Sava and moved to Croatia, where he played for Croatia Zagreb. After only one season, he moved to Spanish Sporting de Gijón, and year later to S.L. Benfica in Portugal. In 1995, he arrived at Club Brugge and was top scorer of the Belgian First Division that year with 20 goals. Then Parma bought him in late 1996 and he played four seasons with that side.
Stanić joined Chelsea on a £5.6 million transfer in June 2000.
He was forced to retire at the age of 32 after developing a serious knee injury during the 2003-04 league season. ]]> 2016-06-19 17:02:26 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/114986255 Sabine Prechter https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115020833 People usually don't think of him as such - but Eusébio, the one and only Panther, was an immigrant as well. Even though he was born in colonial Mocambique, it was Africa that was his home, and he had to move to Europe to play. I had the pleasure to work with him several times, and I always had the impression that his roots were always with him, even though Portugal did not always want to acknowledge them.
]]> 2016-06-20 06:00:17 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115020833 Maria Michael Kollyfa kyriakos_vageli https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115036894 Sydney defender Aliir Aliir will make his AFL debut this weekend against Brisbane, making him only the second player of Sudanese heritage to play in the competition.

The 21-year-old, who has waited until his third season for the chance to prove himself at the highest level, replaces injured veteran Ted Richards, who is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured eye socket.

Aliir was born in a Kenyan refugee camp after his parents fled war-torn Sudan, and moved to Australia as a young child.


]]> 2016-06-20 10:10:04 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115036894 Dhurata Myrtollari  Albania https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115328164 Albanian national football team composed of Albanian players, teams that play in European countries. As Lorik Cana, Sadiku, Shaqiri, Xhaka Brothers, etc. For the first time we took part in Euro 2016. Thanks Coach Gianni de Biazi

Viktoriia Harbuz, Ukraine
Taulant Ragip Xhaka (born 28 March 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Swiss club Basel and the Albania national football team.
�]]> 2016-06-23 14:45:42 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115328164 Litsa Glarou, Greece seagullitsa https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115395920 Greek football teams that were established by Greek refugees before or after they fled to Greece.]]> 2016-06-24 15:02:55 UTC https://padlet.com/aliciabankhofer/refugeefootball/wish/115395920