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SALAHEDDINE BASSIR
Date of Birth: 5 September, 1972
Nationality: Morroco (international)
Period at Deportivo: 1997 - 2001
Transfer: ca. €1,4 million (1997, Al-Hilal)
Previous Clubs: Al-Hilal, WAC Casablanca, Rayah
Sold: Free Transfer (2001, to Lille)
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 64 kg
Position: Attacker
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 Nobody knew what to expect when Lendoiro took the "Maradona of the Desert" to La Coruña. It was the year 1997 and what Deportivo lacked was a good striker. The experiences with Madar and Renaldo that previous campaign hadn't worked out, and so 24-year old BASSIR was given a chance.
He had made name playing with Saudi club Al-Hilal and had started his career in Morroco at Rayah and WAC Casablanca. But Moroccan King Hassan II had to convince Al-Hilal to let Bassir try his luck in Europe, as the club didn't want to let him go. But the King succeeded and so the national Moroccan idol (voted best youth player in 1994) ended up in La Coruña.
Bassir can be characterized as a fast player who preferred to play from the right side, but also was able to perform as attacking central midfielder. He was opportunistic and always looking for a moment to take a shot. Furthermore, he used to press opposing defenders and always showed determination.
But at Deportivo things didn't work out. He made his debut in a disappointing 1-1 home draw of Deportivo against Mallorca and played twenty-one Liga matches that season. In many of them he came on as a substitute and only played ten of them from finish to start. He only scored his first goal in the Copa match against Osasuna (2-1) on 21 January, 1998 and two months later produced his first Liga goal against Zaragoza (2-1).
Although these were important goals, of course they weren't enough to make him win the fight against players like Luizão, Madar, Manjarín and Abreu. The season of Deportivo was a big disappointment because it precisely lacked scoring goals. Bassir ended the season at five goals because ha added ones against Betis Sevilla (2-0), Salamanca (1-0) and two at Sporting de Gijón (0-3).
Despite a disappointing season, Bassir was picked without questioning for the Moroccan squad playing the World Cup 1998 tournament in France. Morocco displayed some good football against Norway (2-2) but proved to be too inexperienced against Brazil (0-3). Bassir played both matches from finish to end, like he did in the final match against Scotland when he produced two goals in a 3-0 victory.
It may have given Bassir confidence for the season 1998/1999, but new coach Javier Irureta decided otherwise. In the meantime the club had signed strikers 'Turu' Flores and Pauleta, and once again Bassir was condemned to the bench. This time it was more serious as he started just one Liga match that campaign and was given a handful of opportunities in the Copa del Rey. He didn't score a single goal in his fifteen Liga appearances, and only found the net twice in the Copa matches against little Jerez de los Caballeros. What Bassir did achieve that campaign was to score six times against little Negreira (0-8) during a friendly on 31 March, 1999.
When the club signed Roy Makaay after that season, it was clear that Bassir had no future at the club. He spent two miserable other seasons at the club and saw new additions like Pandiani and Tristán having success. On 30 June, 2001 his contract with Deportivo ended and both parties showed no wishes of extending it. Bassir signed for Olympique Lille in France but again didn't produce a league goal in twenty-one matches. The season 2002/2003 he played for Greek club Aris Saloniki.
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