Lakhdar Belloumi says hard work has driven son Bachir’s Hull City rise

Algerian football great Lakhdar Belloumi has attributed his son Bachir’s impressive progress to a sustained commitment to hard work.

Bachir played a major role in his club’s promotion last season and has continued that form during the current campaign with Hull City. At the time of writing, the 24-year-old Algeria international had made eight appearances for the Tigers, including six starts, and had contributed three goals and two assists.

His performances earned him a recall to the Algeria squad in September, ending a three-year wait to return to international football. He marked his comeback with two goals: one in the 2-2 draw with Burundi in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and another in the 2-1 victory over Niger in a friendly on 6 October.

Speaking on Radio Algerienne, Lakhdar Belloumi said his son’s development had been built on determination, including during a difficult period in France.

The former Algeria forward, who won 96 caps and scored 26 goals, explained that Bachir had continued to work hard after unsuccessful trials in France. Those experiences came before the player moved to Farense, his final club before joining Hull City.

Lakhdar Belloumi, the 1981 African Ballon d’Or winner, had also expressed his pride in his son at the end of September while suggesting that his performances should attract interest from bigger clubs.

“With the level Bachir is showing at the moment, he deserves to play for a more important team – clubs that compete for domestic and continental titles, such as Barca, Real, PSG, OM or City,” he said.

The remarks prompted criticism from some observers, who interpreted them as belittling Hull City. Belloumi firmly rejected that interpretation.

Bachir suffered his second Premier League defeat of the season with the Tigers on Saturday, despite producing a strong individual display. Hull City were beaten 1-0 away by Fulham.

For Lakhdar Belloumi, however, the result did not alter the wider picture of his son’s progress. His return to the Algeria squad, goals at international level and regular involvement for Hull City have followed the period of hard work he identified as central to the player’s rise.