Hacène Benali

Hacène Benali was born in Poitiers and started out in the city's own youth football, coming through ES Buxerolles and Migné-Auxances before joining Poitiers itself. He broke into Stade Poitevin FC's senior side in 2018 after being promoted from the reserves the year before, and scored seven goals in a little over twenty appearances in Championnat National 3.

A move to US Concarneau as a free agent followed in the summer of 2019. Over two seasons there he settled into Championnat National football, scoring ten goals in 47 appearances before joining Red Star FC 93 in August 2021, again on a free transfer.

Red Star is where Benali had his best years. Across his time at the club he scored somewhere in the mid-thirties in Championnat National and Ligue 2 combined, but it was the 2023-24 season that stood out: he finished as the club's top scorer with 13 goals, the fourth-highest tally in the division, as Red Star won the Championnat National title and went up to Ligue 2. His form that season was central to the promotion.

In July 2026 Benali moved on again, joining Pau FC in Ligue 2 as a free agent, taking the number 7 shirt confirmed by the club on social media. He has made a handful of appearances since arriving, without yet finding the net in his new colours.