Camel Meriem

Camel Meriem (Arabic: كامل مريم‎‎; born 18 October 1979) is a French footballer who played for Cypriot First Division club Apollon Limassol as a midfielder, having previously played for Sochaux, Bordeaux, Marseille, Monaco, Aris and Arles-Avignon. He has represented France at international level.

Born in Montbéliard to Algerian parents, Meriem began his career with Sochaux, where he played 82 games and scored eight goals in five years. After the end of the 2001–02 season, he signed for Bordeaux. He played three season with Bordeaux, representing his team in another 82 games, scoring eight goals before playing in the 2003/2004 season on loan for Marseille, for whom he played in the 2004 UEFA Cup Final. After the end of the season 2003–04 he returned to Bordeaux before signing in August 2005 for Monaco. After 110 games and eight goals in four seasons he was in the summer of 2009 released from AS Monaco. He became a free agent and joined Bolton Wanderers F.C. on trial on 14 October 2009. On 26 October 2009 it was revealed that Meriem was now training and having talks with Sam Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers in a deal that could see him joining the Lancashire based club until the end of the 2009–10 Premier League season. He returned to Rovers for a second round of trials, however the trial was terminated early when Meriem picked up a knee injury. He returned to Rovers just after the new year (2009–2010) for a third trial and talks over a deal to join the club. On 5 February 2010 free of any contractual relationship, the French midfielder has signed a new contract with Aris Saloniki, he was without a club since last June after the experience at Monaco, the player has signed with the Greek club for a year and a half. On 24 June 2010 his club Aris Thessaloniki re-signed his contract and released the French midfielder into the free agent pool. On 9 August, Meriem signed a one-year contract plus an option for another year with newly promoted Ligue 1 club AC Arles-Avignon. He left AC Arles-Avignon in June 2011 on a free transfer and OGC Nice who released him recently after having played against Apollon Limassol for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League play-off

Apollon Limassol announced the signing of 33-year-old French midfielder Camel Meriem on a 1+1 year contract. At the end of the season 2014-15 Camel Meriem decided to leave the island of Cyprus, leaving behind two successful years with Apollon Limassol. Apollon Limassol finished 3rd and participated in the Europa League Group Stages both years. Camel proved with his 61 appearances during those two years that despite his age he is still a great football player.

He earned his first national cap on 17 November 2004 against Poland in a 0–0 draw. He is a playmaker well known for his vision and precision passing.

His brother is FC Tournai midfielder Samir Meriem.

Sochaux

• Division 2 winner: 2000–01

Bordeaux

• Coupe de la Ligue winner 2001–02