Frédéric Déhu
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Déhu is a retired French
footballer who played as a central defender.
, becoming an undisputed starter from his third season onwards. In the 1996–97 season, he scored a career-best five goals, but the club could only rank 13th; in the following campaign, he was an essential defensive unit as the side won its first Ligue 1
title.
In the 1999 summer, after nearly 300 official matches for Lens, Déhu signed with La Liga
giants FC Barcelona
, but only played in 11 matches for the Louis van Gaal
club, being released by the Catalans
at the end of the season. He then returned to his country and joined Paris Saint-Germain FC, for about €
6 million, remaining with the capital
club for four years, and winning the domestic cup
in his final one.
At nearly 32, Déhu moved to Olympique de Marseille
and, after two years, he returned to Spain
, signing with lowly Levante UD
. As in his previous abroad adventure, he was sparingly used, also being sent off
twice, in home matches against Real Madrid
(1–4 loss) and Recreativo de Huelva
(2–1 win), as the Valencian Community
team narrowly avoided top flight relegation.
Amidst accusations of poor organization in the structure of his last club, Déhu retired from the game aged almost 36, in March 2008, after spending the first months of the new campaign without a team.
. His debut was on 19 August 1998 with Austria
, in a 2–2 friendly draw played in Vienna
.
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...
footballer who played as a central defender.
Club career
Déhu made his professional debuts with RC LensRC 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...
, becoming an undisputed starter from his third season onwards. In the 1996–97 season, he scored a career-best five goals, but the club could only rank 13th; in the following campaign, he was an essential defensive unit as the side won its first 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....
title.
In the 1999 summer, after nearly 300 official matches for Lens, Déhu signed with La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
giants FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, but only played in 11 matches for the Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal
Aloysius Paulus Maria "Louis" van Gaal OON is a Dutch football manager formerly in charge of Ajax, Netherlands, Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich...
club, being released by the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
at the end of the season. He then returned to his country and joined Paris Saint-Germain FC, for about €
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,...
6 million, remaining with the capital
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
club for four years, and winning the domestic cup
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...
in his final one.
At nearly 32, Déhu moved to Olympique de 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...
and, after two years, he returned to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, signing with lowly Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
. As in his previous abroad adventure, he was sparingly used, also being sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
twice, in home matches against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
(1–4 loss) and Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
(2–1 win), as the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
team narrowly avoided top flight relegation.
Amidst accusations of poor organization in the structure of his last club, Déhu retired from the game aged almost 36, in March 2008, after spending the first months of the new campaign without a team.
International career
In two years, Déhu played five matches for the French national teamFrance 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...
. His debut was on 19 August 1998 with 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 ....
, in a 2–2 friendly draw played in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Lens
- French LeagueLigue 1Ligue 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....
: 1997–98 - League CupCoupe de la LigueThe 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...
: 1998–99