Lassad Hassen Nouioui (Arabic: لسعد النويوي; born 8 March 1986), known simply as Lassad, is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.
After playing amateur football in his country of birth, he went on to represent Deportivo for several seasons, appearing in 107 official matches and scoring 29 goals.[2] He also competed professionally in Scotland, Portugal, Japan and Tunisia.
On 13 February 2009, after some good overall performances, Lassad signed a professional contract, committing himself to the club until 2012.[6] He scored his first La Liga goal on 5 April, in a 3–1 defeat at RCD Espanyol.[7] After a successful campaign, he was officially promoted to the main squad for 2009–10, but struggled with several injuries, making only 19 league appearances.[8]
In the 2010–11 season, a healthy Lassad played 33 matches and scored five goals but the team finished in 18th place, which resulted in relegation to Segunda División for the first time in 20 years. The following year, he helped them to win the championship and subsequently promote with 18 official goals.[9]
On 2 September 2012, Lassad signed for Celtic on a two-year deal, after being released from his contract at Deportivo and passing his medical.[11] His transfer was surrounded by controversy after Levante UD claimed to also have signed the player, who said Celtic was always his first choice.[12][13][14]
Lassad scored his first goal for his new club on 17 November 2012, in a 2–0 away victory at Aberdeen.[15] He netted his second 11 days later in another away fixture, against Heart of Midlothian.[16]
On 31 August 2013, after featuring in 19 games across all competitions, Lassad was released.[17]
On 14 April 2018, Nouioui suffered cardiac arrest prior to a match against Real Madrid Castilla, being taken to the intensive care unit of an hospital in Toledo.[23] One month later, he announced his retirement at the age of 32.[24]
International career
Although born in France, Lassad opted to represent Tunisia at international level. He was called up to the senior team for the first time in March 2009 to participate in a 2010 FIFA World Cupqualifier against Kenya, but failed to make an appearance in the match.
Lassad earned his first cap three months later on 4 June, playing 15 minutes against Mozambique in another World Cup qualifier.[25]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Barreiros, Pedro (9 September 2011). ""Las lesiones son pasado"" ["Injuries a thing of the past"]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2011.