At 50, a former Algerian international continues his career in Europe

At 50 years old, former Algerian international Nassim Akrour continues to defy time by playing in Europe.

Born in Courbevoie, France, Akrour recently renewed his contract with Chambéry SF, a club in the National 3 division.

His remarkable career began at Havre AC, where he scored three goals in 18 matches before moving to Grenoble Foot 38.

At Grenoble, Akrour made his Ligue 1 debut in the 2008-2009 season, scoring on the opening day against Sochaux and repeating the feat against Rennes. He ended that season with six league goals and three in the Coupe de France, becoming his club’s top scorer and contributing to a 13th-place finish in Ligue 1.

The following season was tougher for Grenoble, who were relegated to Ligue 2 despite Akrour’s six goals. After five and a half years at Grenoble, Akrour joined FC Istres in 2010, where he scored 30 goals in 78 matches. In 2013, he returned to Grenoble before signing with FC Annecy in 2016 and finally with Chambéry SF in 2020.

At Chambéry, Akrour has demonstrated leadership as captain, though his performances have been affected by age, scoring only three goals in the 2021-2022 season. The following season, Chambéry struggled in the league but impressed in the Coupe de France, reaching the fourth round before losing to Olympique Lyonnais.

In 2024, Nassim Akrour, nearly 50 years old, is the oldest player competing in a French national league, demonstrating his passion and resilience. His exceptional career and longevity inspire many young players, showing that age is just a number when the love for football endures.