Abdelnasser Ouadah may not be the highest profile name in Ligue 1, but he proved invaluable in Ajaccio’s fight against relegation in the 2004/05 season. His tireless midfield displays did not go unnoticed and a host of clubs, including Espanyol, were keen to sign him in 2005. He eventually plumped to stay in France, signing for ambitious Lorraine club Metz.

The 2004/05 campaign was an eventful one for Ouadah. The Algeria international controversially turned down a call-up to the national squad for a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in March 2005, claiming that he preferred to focus his efforts on Ajaccio’s fight for survival. The decision infuriated Algeria Coach Ali Fergani and left a huge cloud hanging over the Ajaccio star’s international future.

"He turned his back on us and will never wear the national team's colours while I am in charge," an angry Fergani declared.

Ajaccio boss Rolland Courbis will no doubt have taken a very different view at the time - particularly after witnessing Ouadah’s extraordinary end-of-season displays.

The energetic ball-winner had an extra motivation for trying to keep Ajaccio in the top flight - he knows all about the difficulties of trying to get out of Ligue 2 having spent much of his career doing just that.

Ouadah graduated from Nancy’s youth academy before making his professional debut in Ligue 2 in 1993, but had to wait another five years to taste Ligue 1 action for the first time. After two years of struggling in the top flight, Nancy were relegated in 2000 and Ouadah quit to join another Ligue 2 side Niort. He scored 16 goals in 60 games for Niort – easily the most prolific spell in his career – and sealed a move to Corsica in 2002.