Samir Bellahcene Retires from French National Team
French goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene, 29, has announced his immediate retirement from the national team. The 2024 European champion cited personal and family reasons, saying his move to Dinamo Bucharest this season gave him the stability he was looking for after years in Germany with Kiel and Stuttgart. His last major tournament was the 2025 World Championship, where an early injury made him rethink his international career.
“I thought a lot this summer. My arrival in Bucharest reinforced this choice: I’ve found a stable environment and a rhythm of life that suits me, on and off the court. It reminds me of my best years in Dunkerque. It’s a well-considered decision, and for me, the right one, even if I loved these two years with the national team,” Bellahcene told the FFHB.
His exit opens the door for Valentin Kieffer to join Rémi Desbonnet and Charles Bolzinger as France’s new goalkeeping trio.
