“My heart beats for 96”
That’s what Hannover’s former defense chief Karim Haggui is doing today
Updated June 4, 2026 – 8:36 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Karim Haggui played for Tunisia at the 2006 World Cup and experienced the Europa League years with Hannover 96. Today the former central defender continues to work in football.
Karim Haggui joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2009 Hannover 96. The Tunisian central defender stayed with Lower Saxony for four years. During this time, 96 reached fourth place in the Bundesliga and then played twice in the European Cup. Haggui was a regular member of the squad during these years and played more than 100 competitive games for Hannover.
After his time at 96, Haggui played for VfB Stuttgart, Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC St. Gallen. He ended his active career there in 2018. The former national player is now 42 years old.
Today Haggui works for the CAF
After his playing career, Haggui stayed in football. In August 2025, he said in an interview with Hannover 96: “I am an ambassador for the African Association CAF. I am also involved on television as an expert.” He continues to follow the Bundesliga regularly.
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Haggui had already said in 2023 that he was working as an expert on Arabic television, including at World Cups and the Africa Cup of Nations. He had also acquired his trainer B license at that time. After his playing career ended, he returned to Tunisia with his family. Today, Haggui is primarily active in the African football environment: as a CAF ambassador, TV expert and former national player.
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Regular contact with Hanover
Contact with Hanover continues. Haggui says he comes to a 96 game about once a year. His sister lives in the region and he also has many friends there. He is also still in touch with former teammates. In the 96 interview he named Lars Stindl, Mohammed Abdellaoue, Altin Lala and Steven Cherundolo.
About his time at Hannover, Haggui said: “I can clearly say that the time at 96 was the best of my career.” At the same time, he pointed out that his first year was marked by the death of Robert Enke. This was followed by fourth place in the Bundesliga and the European Cup games. Haggui named the 2-1 win against Borussia Dortmund in September 2011 as a special game. He equalized shortly before the end, and Didier Ya Konan scored the winner in stoppage time.