André-Pierre Gignac
Encyclopedia
André-Pierre Gignac is a French
professional football player who currently plays for French club Marseille
in Ligue 1
. He primarily plays as a striker
whose influence can extend out to the wings. Gignac is described as a "powerful and dangerous" striker who is known for his "aerial presence". He is known personally by teammates and friends as simply Dédé.
Of Romani heritage, Gignac began his career in his home region
of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
playing for local club Fos and Martigues
. In 2002, he ventured to the Brittany region to join professional club Lorient
. He starred for the club for two seasons, which included a loan stint at amateur club Pau
. In 2007, he joined Toulouse
, amid controversial circumstances. After early struggles, Gignac reached prominence during the 2008–09 season becoming the league's top scorer
netting 24 goals. After a sub-par 2009–10 season with Toulouse, in August 2010, Gignac joined the defending champions Marseille
on a five-year contract. He is the cousin of Grenoble
defender Jacques Abardonado
and Caen winger Yohan Mollo
.
Gignac is a France international
and made his debut with the team in April 2009 against Lithuania
as a result of his good form with Toulouse. He scored his first international goal five months later against the Faroe Islands
. Gignac made his first major international appearance for his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
. He played in all three matches the team contested.
in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
in the south of France
to a French father and a French mother of Algeria
n origin. He is married and has a son, also named André-Pierre. In an interview with French football magazine So Foot, Gignac revealed he is of Romani descent, but considers himself to be an adopted Manouche stating, "I grew up with them, my wife is Manouche, so my son is automatically Manouche. My family live in caravans and work in the markets. When I am given clothes, I pass them on to my mother-in-law so she can sell them. Sometimes I go with her and stand behind the stall."
. After almost seven years at the club, Gignac was rejected after being informed he needed to bulked up. He, subsequently, moved over 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) to the Brittany region
to join the youth academy of professional club FC Lorient
. After developing in the club's academy for two seasons, Gignac was promoted to the club's senior team for the 2004–05 Ligue 2 season by manager Christian Gourcuff
.
. Within seconds of coming on, he scored the winning goal giving Lorient a 2–1 victory. An elated Gignac later stated after scoring the game-winning goal that he "thought he was Ronaldo
". In subsequent matches, Gignac was minor presence within the team featuring primarily as a substitute. Gignac scored his only other goal in the season against Stade Reims in a 4–1 victory on 29 October. The following week, he made his first professional start in a 2–1 defeat to Le Mans playing 70 minutes.
The following season, Lorient achieved promotion to Ligue 1
, though without Gignac's services as he was loaned out to Championnat National
club Pau
during the winter transfer period. Prior to the loan, Gignac had appeared in only one match for the club in the season. At Pau, Gignac featured as a starter for the first time in his career. He appeared in 20 league matches for the club and scored eight goals. Notable appearances with the team included a double in a victory over Toulon
and a hat-trick
against Châtellerault
. The week before the match against Châtellerault, Gignac scored the equalizing goal against Romorantin
in a 1–1 draw.
Gignac's newfound confidence saw the player return to Lorient senior team for the 2006–07 Ligue 1 season where he was inserted as starter. He began the season, initially, as a substitute appearing as a replacement in the first three league matches. In the team's fourth league match against Bretagne rivals
Nantes, Gignac started the match and repaid coach Gourcuff by converting a hat-trick in 27 minutes in a 3–1 victory. On 4 November 2006, he scored the game-winning goal away to Marseille and, in December, scored goals in back-to-back matches against Sedan
and Auxerre
. Gignac finished the campaign with 37 appearances in the league and nine goals, which was a club best.
. However, it was revealed soon after that Lorient had accepted a €
4.5 million bid from Lille
and that the player had already agreed to a pre-contract with the Northern side, putting his move to Toulouse
in jeopardy. Despite this, Toulouse trumped Lille's offer by offering the player more than double the salary he had been offered by Lille. The clubs entered a war of words with Toulouse questioning the legitimacy of Lille's agreement while Gignac and Lille questioned the ethics and tactics of Toulouse. Eventually, Gignac's move to Toulouse was validated.
Gignac made his competitive debut for Toulouse in the first leg of the club's UEFA Champions League
third qualifying round match against Liverpool
, coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute. Toulouse lost the match 1–0 and conceded the two-legged tie 5–0 on aggregate, thus being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League
. On 4 October 2007, after coming on as a substitute for Elmander, Gignac scored a last-minute goal
against Bulgaria
n club CSKA Sofia
to cancel out Claudinei
's opening goal from the penalty spot and enable Toulouse to progress to the group stages of the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule
. Despite the hype, both Gignac and Toulouse had disappointing 2007–08 seasons
with Gignac appearing in 28 matches and scoring only two goals. Toulouse finished the season in 17th place, just one place above the relegation zone. Some media outlets attributed Gignac's struggle for form to him playing second fiddle to Swedish
striker Johan Elmander
. Gignac also struggled with weight problems during the season.
In the 2008–09 season, Gignac's form blossomed as he became first-choice striker due to the departure of Johan Elmander
to Bolton Wanderers
. He scored his first goal of the season in just the second match against Le Havre
with an 88th minute strike to seal a 2–1 victory. Over the course of the season, Gignac scored several vital goals for his club notably braces against Sochaux
, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne
, Marseille, and Nice
twice, including his final two goals of the season. He overtook Elmander (Toulouse's top scorer last year with 11 goals) during the 19th match. For his efforts, he was awarded the UNFP Player of the Month
award twice for September and March, nominated for the Ligue 1 Player of the Year Award, which was won by Yoann Gourcuff
, selected to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year, and received the league's top scorer award.
Gignac switched to the number 10 shirt for the 2009–10 season
and, on 14 August 2009, signed a one-year contract extension tying him to Toulouse until 2013. The extension signaled an end to rumors of a move during the fall transfer window, where the player had been linked with moves to fellow Ligue 1 club Lyon
, Premier League clubs Arsenal
and Manchester United
, and Serie A
clubs Juventus
and Milan
.
Gignac scored his first goal of the season on 15 August 2009 in a 3–1 victory over Saint-Étienne
. Five days later, he scored a brace in the first leg of the club's playoff round match against Turkish
club Trabzonspor
. The 3–1 result in the first leg was enough for Toulouse to reach the group stage of the competition where Gignac struck again, this time against Belgian
club Brugge in a 2–2 draw. After going scoreless for seven weeks in the league, on 24 October, Gignac bagged the second goal in the club's 2–0 away win over Lens
. Two weeks later, Gignac netted the game winning goal against Rennes. Two months later, he scored both goals in another 2–0 victory, this time against Sochaux. On 16 January 2010, Gignac provided the assists on all three goals scored by the club in its 3–1 win over Valenciennes
. Despite being injured for the majority of the spring campaign, Gignac finished the season as the club's top scorer.
, Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier
confirmed that the club had reached a tentative agreement with Toulouse for the transfer of Gignac. Gignac underwent a medical the following day and signed a five-year contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but was reported to be within the region of €16–18 million. Gignac was assigned the number 10 shirt and made his club debut on 29 August 2010 in a league match against Bordeaux
. He scored his first goal for the club two months later in a 1–1 draw with Saint-Étienne. On 3 November, Gignac scored a hat-trick in the 7–0 away win against Slovak
club MŠK Žilina
in a Champions League group stage match.
Gignac endured a rough patch for the majority of the fall season, which led to criticism from local media, club supporters, and former club players, most notably Jean-Pierre Papin
who stated Gignac's game had "become too predictable". Gignac admitted that the criticism was justified and stated that "you will see the real Gignac in 2011". Following the winter break, Gignac attempted to live up to his declaration by scoring in the team's first league match in a 2–1 win over Bordeaux. Three days later, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Auxerre in the Coupe de la Ligue
. The win sent Marseille to the competition's final match. On 5 February, he scored a goal in a win over Arles-Avignon and, in the following week, scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over Sochaux.
According to Fulham manager Martin Jol, Gignac was set to sign for Fulham on the 31st August 2011, but his club Marseilles pulled the plug on the deal at 11PM on Transfer Deadline Day.
On November 26, 2011, Gignac was relegated to Marseille's reserve squad.
for World Cup
qualifiers against Lithuania
. He missed the first match due to injury, but was fit enough to earn his first cap on 1 April 2009 coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute and providing the assist to Franck Ribéry
's goal in the 1–0 victory. On 12 August 2009, Gignac scored France's lone goal after 42 minutes against last-place Faroe Islands
in a World Cup qualifier in Tórshavn
. On 10 October 2009, he scored a brace in a five-minute span, again against the Faroe Islands, in France's 5–0 thrashing of the Faroes in the return leg in Guingamp
. Four days later, Gignac struck again against Austria
scoring the final goal in France's 3–1 victory after appearing as a substitute for Thierry Henry
in the second half.
On 11 May 2010, Gignac was named to Domenech's 30-man preliminary squad to participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
. He was later named in the 23-man team to compete in the competition, and was handed the number 11 shirt for the tournament. On 11 June 2010, Gignac made his FIFA World Cup
debut in the team's opening group stage match against Uruguay
appearing as a substitute in the second half, replacing Sidney Govou
in the 85th minute. The match ended in a 0–0 stalemate. Gignac appeared in the final two group stage matches, which included a start against the hosts South Africa
. France lost the match 2–1, which resulted in the team's elimination from the competition.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
professional football player who currently plays for French club Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. He primarily plays as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
whose influence can extend out to the wings. Gignac is described as a "powerful and dangerous" striker who is known for his "aerial presence". He is known personally by teammates and friends as simply Dédé.
Of Romani heritage, Gignac began his career in his home region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
playing for local club Fos and Martigues
FC Martigues
FC Martigues play in the Championnat National, which is the third level of football in France. The club was formed in 1921 and played regional football until the early 1970s when the club gained promotion to the professional Second Division.The club's greatest achievement was winning promotion to...
. In 2002, he ventured to the Brittany region to join professional club Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
. He starred for the club for two seasons, which included a loan stint at amateur club Pau
Pau FC
Pau FC is a French football club based in Pau. The team, founded in 1904 as Bleuets Notre-Dame de Pau, are currently competing in the CFA, the fourth tier of French football. They play at the Stade du Hameau. The team plays in a yellow and blue strip....
. In 2007, he joined Toulouse
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
, amid controversial circumstances. After early struggles, Gignac reached prominence during the 2008–09 season becoming the league's top scorer
Top goalscorers in Ligue 1
The following is a list of the highest goalscorers in Ligue 1's history*1932/1933 : Walter Kaiser and Robert Mercier 15 goals*1933/1934 : Istvan Lukacs 28 goals...
netting 24 goals. After a sub-par 2009–10 season with Toulouse, in August 2010, Gignac joined the defending champions Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
on a five-year contract. He is the cousin of Grenoble
Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger...
defender Jacques Abardonado
Jacques Abardonado
Jacques Abardonado is a French football defender, currently playing for French team Grenoble Foot 38.- External links :...
and Caen winger Yohan Mollo
Yohan Mollo
Yohan Mollo is a French footballer. He currently plays for Spanish club Granada in La Liga. Mollo is often deployed as a winger and can play on both the right and left flanks...
.
Gignac is a France international
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
and made his debut with the team in April 2009 against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
as a result of his good form with Toulouse. He scored his first international goal five months later against the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
. Gignac made his first major international appearance for his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. He played in all three matches the team contested.
Early and personal life
Gignac was born in the city of MartiguesMartigues
Martigues is a commune northwest of Marseille. It is part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the eastern end of the Canal de Caronte....
in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
in the south of France
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
to a French father and a French mother of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n origin. He is married and has a son, also named André-Pierre. In an interview with French football magazine So Foot, Gignac revealed he is of Romani descent, but considers himself to be an adopted Manouche stating, "I grew up with them, my wife is Manouche, so my son is automatically Manouche. My family live in caravans and work in the markets. When I am given clothes, I pass them on to my mother-in-law so she can sell them. Sometimes I go with her and stand behind the stall."
Early career
Gignac began his career with local club ES Fos-sur-Mer. He spent five years at the club before joining hometown club FC MartiguesFC Martigues
FC Martigues play in the Championnat National, which is the third level of football in France. The club was formed in 1921 and played regional football until the early 1970s when the club gained promotion to the professional Second Division.The club's greatest achievement was winning promotion to...
. After almost seven years at the club, Gignac was rejected after being informed he needed to bulked up. He, subsequently, moved over 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) to the Brittany region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
to join the youth academy of professional club FC Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
. After developing in the club's academy for two seasons, Gignac was promoted to the club's senior team for the 2004–05 Ligue 2 season by manager Christian Gourcuff
Christian Gourcuff
Christian Gourcuff in Hanvec, Brittany is a French football manager and former player. He currently manages French Ligue 1 side Lorient....
.
Lorient
Gignac made his professional debut with Lorient on 13 August 2004 coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute with the score tied 1–1 against ChâteaurouxLB Châteauroux
La Berrichonne de Châteauroux is a French association football club based in Châteauroux. The football team is a part of a sports club that consists of several other sports and was founded in 1883. The team currently plays in Ligue 2, the second division of French football, having finished 16th in...
. Within seconds of coming on, he scored the winning goal giving Lorient a 2–1 victory. An elated Gignac later stated after scoring the game-winning goal that he "thought he was Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
". In subsequent matches, Gignac was minor presence within the team featuring primarily as a substitute. Gignac scored his only other goal in the season against Stade Reims in a 4–1 victory on 29 October. The following week, he made his first professional start in a 2–1 defeat to Le Mans playing 70 minutes.
The following season, Lorient achieved promotion to Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, though without Gignac's services as he was loaned out to Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
club Pau
Pau FC
Pau FC is a French football club based in Pau. The team, founded in 1904 as Bleuets Notre-Dame de Pau, are currently competing in the CFA, the fourth tier of French football. They play at the Stade du Hameau. The team plays in a yellow and blue strip....
during the winter transfer period. Prior to the loan, Gignac had appeared in only one match for the club in the season. At Pau, Gignac featured as a starter for the first time in his career. He appeared in 20 league matches for the club and scored eight goals. Notable appearances with the team included a double in a victory over Toulon
Sporting Toulon Var
Sporting Toulon Var is a football club from Toulon, France, who currently play in the French sixth division . The club, which was founded in 1944, is presided by Jacques Jayet and managed by Luigi Alfano.- History :...
and a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Châtellerault
SO Châtellerault
Stade Olympique Châtellerault is a French association football team founded in 1914. They are based in Châtellerault, Poitou-Charentes, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur 2, Groupe G...
. The week before the match against Châtellerault, Gignac scored the equalizing goal against Romorantin
SO Romorantin
Stade Olympique Romorantinais is a French association football team founded in 1930. They are based in Romorantin-Lanthenay, Centre, France and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur. They play at the Stade Jules Ladoumègue in Romorantin-Lanthenay, which has a capacity of 8,033...
in a 1–1 draw.
Gignac's newfound confidence saw the player return to Lorient senior team for the 2006–07 Ligue 1 season where he was inserted as starter. He began the season, initially, as a substitute appearing as a replacement in the first three league matches. In the team's fourth league match against Bretagne rivals
Derby Breton
The Derby de la Bretagne is a football match. The match can potentially designate any match-up between two sporting football associations based in the historic province of Brittany, however, most of the time, it is employed by each club's supporters to mention a football match contested between...
Nantes, Gignac started the match and repaid coach Gourcuff by converting a hat-trick in 27 minutes in a 3–1 victory. On 4 November 2006, he scored the game-winning goal away to Marseille and, in December, scored goals in back-to-back matches against Sedan
CS Sedan Ardennes
Club Sportif Sedan Ardennes, commonly referred to as CS Sedan or simply Sedan , is a French association football club based in Sedan. The club was formed in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Sedan plays its home matches at the Stade Louis Dugauguez located...
and Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
. Gignac finished the campaign with 37 appearances in the league and nine goals, which was a club best.
Toulouse and controversy
At the end of the season, on 25 June 2007, it was announced that Gignac had signed a four-year deal with ToulouseToulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
. However, it was revealed soon after that Lorient had accepted a €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
4.5 million bid from Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
and that the player had already agreed to a pre-contract with the Northern side, putting his move to Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
in jeopardy. Despite this, Toulouse trumped Lille's offer by offering the player more than double the salary he had been offered by Lille. The clubs entered a war of words with Toulouse questioning the legitimacy of Lille's agreement while Gignac and Lille questioned the ethics and tactics of Toulouse. Eventually, Gignac's move to Toulouse was validated.
Gignac made his competitive debut for Toulouse in the first leg of the club's UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
third qualifying round match against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute. Toulouse lost the match 1–0 and conceded the two-legged tie 5–0 on aggregate, thus being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. On 4 October 2007, after coming on as a substitute for Elmander, Gignac scored a last-minute goal
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
against Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n club CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
to cancel out Claudinei
Claudinei Alexandre Aparecido
Nei , is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Changchun Yatai F.C. in China, as a striker.-Football career:After solid performances in Portugal for A.D...
's opening goal from the penalty spot and enable Toulouse to progress to the group stages of the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
. Despite the hype, both Gignac and Toulouse had disappointing 2007–08 seasons
Ligue 1 2007-08
The 2007–08 Ligue 1 season is the seventieth since its establishment, and started in August 2007 and ended on 17 May 2008. The fixtures were announced in June 2007. Lyon became French champions, having won a record seventh consecutive title ....
with Gignac appearing in 28 matches and scoring only two goals. Toulouse finished the season in 17th place, just one place above the relegation zone. Some media outlets attributed Gignac's struggle for form to him playing second fiddle to Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
striker Johan Elmander
Johan Elmander
Johan Erik Calvin Elmander is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Galatasaray and the Sweden national football team. He joined in a free transfer after his contract with English club Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League expired...
. Gignac also struggled with weight problems during the season.
In the 2008–09 season, Gignac's form blossomed as he became first-choice striker due to the departure of Johan Elmander
Johan Elmander
Johan Erik Calvin Elmander is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Galatasaray and the Sweden national football team. He joined in a free transfer after his contract with English club Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League expired...
to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He scored his first goal of the season in just the second match against Le Havre
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
with an 88th minute strike to seal a 2–1 victory. Over the course of the season, Gignac scored several vital goals for his club notably braces against Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
, Marseille, and Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
twice, including his final two goals of the season. He overtook Elmander (Toulouse's top scorer last year with 11 goals) during the 19th match. For his efforts, he was awarded the UNFP Player of the Month
UNFP Player of the Month
The UNFP Player of the Month trophy is awarded to the best player in the French football championship Ligue 1 by the UNFP, RTL and L'Équipe.A similar award goes to the best player in Ligue 2 and is set up by the UNFP, France Football and Eurosport....
award twice for September and March, nominated for the Ligue 1 Player of the Year Award, which was won by Yoann Gourcuff
Yoann Gourcuff
Yoann Miguel Gourcuff is a French international footballer who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. He operates mainly as an attacking midfielder, but can also be utilized as a withdrawn striker and is described as a "playmaker of real quality" who "is an accomplished...
, selected to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year, and received the league's top scorer award.
Gignac switched to the number 10 shirt for the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Ligue 1
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated...
and, on 14 August 2009, signed a one-year contract extension tying him to Toulouse until 2013. The extension signaled an end to rumors of a move during the fall transfer window, where the player had been linked with moves to fellow Ligue 1 club Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, Premier League clubs Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, and Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
clubs Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
and Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
.
Gignac scored his first goal of the season on 15 August 2009 in a 3–1 victory over Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
. Five days later, he scored a brace in the first leg of the club's playoff round match against Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
. The 3–1 result in the first leg was enough for Toulouse to reach the group stage of the competition where Gignac struck again, this time against Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
club Brugge in a 2–2 draw. After going scoreless for seven weeks in the league, on 24 October, Gignac bagged the second goal in the club's 2–0 away win over Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. Two weeks later, Gignac netted the game winning goal against Rennes. Two months later, he scored both goals in another 2–0 victory, this time against Sochaux. On 16 January 2010, Gignac provided the assists on all three goals scored by the club in its 3–1 win over Valenciennes
Valenciennes FC
Valenciennes Football Club is a French association football club based in Valenciennes. The club was founded in 1913 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Valenciennes plays its home matches at the recently-built Stade du Hainaut located within the city...
. Despite being injured for the majority of the spring campaign, Gignac finished the season as the club's top scorer.
Marseille
On 20 August 2010, prior to the start of the press conference for new signing Loïc RémyLoïc Rémy
Loïc Rémy is a French international footballer who plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. Rémy primarily plays in the lead striker role, but also operates on the wings and as a second striker...
, Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier
Jean-Claude Dassier
Jean-Claude Dassier is the president of Olympique de Marseille between June 2009 and June 2011. Before, he was a journalist and the news director of TF1.-References:...
confirmed that the club had reached a tentative agreement with Toulouse for the transfer of Gignac. Gignac underwent a medical the following day and signed a five-year contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but was reported to be within the region of €16–18 million. Gignac was assigned the number 10 shirt and made his club debut on 29 August 2010 in a league match against Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
. He scored his first goal for the club two months later in a 1–1 draw with Saint-Étienne. On 3 November, Gignac scored a hat-trick in the 7–0 away win against Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
club MŠK Žilina
MŠK Žilina
MŠK Žilina is a Slovak football club, based in the town of Žilina. They play in the Slovak Superliga and are one of the most successful clubs in this competition, having won five championships since the league's inception in 1993. The club and their supporters alike are nicknamed Šošoni...
in a Champions League group stage match.
Gignac endured a rough patch for the majority of the fall season, which led to criticism from local media, club supporters, and former club players, most notably Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin is a former French professional football player who was European Footballer of the Year in 1991.Papin achieved his greatest success while playing for Olympique Marseille between 1986 and 1992...
who stated Gignac's game had "become too predictable". Gignac admitted that the criticism was justified and stated that "you will see the real Gignac in 2011". Following the winter break, Gignac attempted to live up to his declaration by scoring in the team's first league match in a 2–1 win over Bordeaux. Three days later, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory over Auxerre in the Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
. The win sent Marseille to the competition's final match. On 5 February, he scored a goal in a win over Arles-Avignon and, in the following week, scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over Sochaux.
According to Fulham manager Martin Jol, Gignac was set to sign for Fulham on the 31st August 2011, but his club Marseilles pulled the plug on the deal at 11PM on Transfer Deadline Day.
On November 26, 2011, Gignac was relegated to Marseille's reserve squad.
International career
Gignac received his first international call-up for FranceFrance national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
for World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifiers against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
. He missed the first match due to injury, but was fit enough to earn his first cap on 1 April 2009 coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute and providing the assist to Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and...
's goal in the 1–0 victory. On 12 August 2009, Gignac scored France's lone goal after 42 minutes against last-place Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
in a World Cup qualifier in Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
. On 10 October 2009, he scored a brace in a five-minute span, again against the Faroe Islands, in France's 5–0 thrashing of the Faroes in the return leg in Guingamp
Guingamp
Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
. Four days later, Gignac struck again against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
scoring the final goal in France's 3–1 victory after appearing as a substitute for Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
in the second half.
On 11 May 2010, Gignac was named to Domenech's 30-man preliminary squad to participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. He was later named in the 23-man team to compete in the competition, and was handed the number 11 shirt for the tournament. On 11 June 2010, Gignac made his FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
debut in the team's opening group stage match against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
appearing as a substitute in the second half, replacing Sidney Govou
Sidney Govou
Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou is a French international footballer of Beninese descent who currently plays for Évian Thonon Gaillard FC. Govou is a naturally attacking player but rarely plays as a striker, he is more commonly deployed as a winger. His main attribute is his pace...
in the 85th minute. The match ended in a 0–0 stalemate. Gignac appeared in the final two group stage matches, which included a start against the hosts South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
. France lost the match 2–1, which resulted in the team's elimination from the competition.
Club
| Club | Season | League | CupIncludes Coupe de France Coupe de France The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation... , Coupe de la Ligue Coupe de la Ligue The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel... , Trophée des Champions Trophée des champions The Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries... |
Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... Includes UEFA Supercup |
Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Lorient FC Lorient Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian... |
2004–05 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| 2005–06 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | 37 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 9 | 5 | |
| Total | 51 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 11 | 7 | |
| Pau Pau FC Pau FC is a French football club based in Pau. The team, founded in 1904 as Bleuets Notre-Dame de Pau, are currently competing in the CFA, the fourth tier of French football. They play at the Stade du Hameau. The team plays in a yellow and blue strip.... |
2005–06 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 4 |
| Total | 18 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 4 | |
| Toulouse Toulouse FC Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by... |
|||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2008–09 | 38 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Ligue 1 The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated... |
31 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2010–11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 98 | 34 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 116 | 38 | 11 | |
| Marseille Olympique de Marseille Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In... |
|||||||||||||
| 2010–11 | 30 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 12 | 3 | |
| 2011–12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 12 | 3 | |
| Career total | 202 | 59 | 26 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 226 | 69 | 26 | |
International
- (Correct as of 22 June 2010)
National team Season Apps Goals Assists France France national football teamThe France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...2008–09 3 0 1 2009–10 13 4 0 Total 16 4 1
International Goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 August 2009 | Tórsvøllur Tórsvøllur Tórsvøllur is a football stadium on the sport site Gundadalur in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. The stadium holds 6,040 people and was built in 1999 to provide a grass surface in the island's capital on which international football matches could be played... , Tórshavn Tórshavn Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn... , Faroe Islands Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland... |
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament... |
|||
| 2 | 10 October 2009 | Stade du Roudourou Stade du Roudourou Stade du Roudourou is a stadium in Guingamp, France that is the home ground of French League 2 side En Avant Guingamp. The stadium is able to hold 18,040 people.... , Guingamp Guingamp Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament... |
|||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | 14 October 2009 | Stade de France Stade de France The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for... , Saint-Denis Saint-Denis Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis.... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament... |