Yohan Benalouane
A tough, journeyman defender who traded the pitches of France and England for a triumphant late-career chapter with Tunisia's national team.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Tunisian footballer·Birthday: March 28·Millennials
Biography
Born in France to a Tunisian father, Yohan Benalouane carved out a solid, if peripatetic, career across European leagues. A no-nonsense central defender known for his physicality and occasional outbursts of temper, he learned his trade at Saint-Étienne before embarking on a tour that included stops in Italy's Serie A with Cesena, Parma, and notably Leicester City. His time at Leicester was brief but historic, as he collected a Premier League winner's medal in 2016 despite limited playing time during the club's miraculous title run. His international allegiance switch to Tunisia in 2018 proved transformative, earning him a call-up to the World Cup squad that year. Benalouane's career is a story of persistence, adaptability, and seizing a rare chance at football immortality.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Yohan was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Yohan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Yohan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Premier League with Leicester City in the 2015-16 season, making five appearances.
- Represented Tunisia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
- Played over 100 Ligue 1 matches in France for Saint-Étienne and AS Monaco.
- Won the Ligue 2 title with AS Monaco in the 2012-13 season.
- Earned 7 caps for the Tunisia national team after declaring his allegiance in 2018.
Did You Know?
He is a devout Muslim and has spoken about the importance of his faith in his life.
Benalouane has a large, distinctive eagle tattoo across his chest and back.
He was sent off just 15 minutes into his debut for Nottingham Forest in 2019.
His father played amateur football in Tunisia before moving to France.
“I am a warrior on the pitch; I fight for every ball.”
