Guillaume Hoarau
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Hoarau is a French football player who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1
. He is noted for his imposing height standing at 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) and his prolific goal-scoring.
in his native Réunion. In 1995, Le Havre AC
scouts considered him too "thin" and signed his then-teammate Florent Sinama-Pongolle
. After gaining the attention of then-Le Havre manager Jean-François Domergue
, Hoarau signed his first professional contract at the age of 20 for Le Havre AC
in January 2004. He made his league debut on 12 May 2004 against LB Châteauroux
in a 1–2 loss coming on as a substitute.
Despite being signed, Hoarau spent the majority of his career under Domergue playing in the reserves often earning call ups to the senior squad, but then quickly getting sent back down. He registered his first career goal in just the second match of the 2004–05 season
in a 2–1 victory over Amiens. Despite this, his play was heavily limited following the firing of Domergue and the appointment of temporary manager Philippe Hinschberger
. The following season
under new manager Thierry Uvenard, his playing time increased. He appeared in 28 matches scoring 5 goals. The next season
, he only made 5 appearances for Le Havre before being sent on loan to FC Gueugnon
where he made 21 appearances and scored 8 goals.
, his 4th different manager in four years, Hoarau was installed as the lead striker and flourished. Playing in all 38 league matches, he was top scorer scoring 28 goals and, at one point during the season, scored at least one goal in 12 straight matches. His performances led to the French media naming him the "Karim Benzema
of Ligue 2
" as Benzema was having a similar season in Ligue 1
. His performances caught the eye of several Ligue 1 clubs, such as Auxerre
, Marseille, and Paris Saint-Germain
to name a few, and English clubs Arsenal
, Blackburn Rovers
, and Chelsea
, who likened the player to Peter Crouch
. Eventually, it was announced in January 2008 that Hoarau had signed with Parisian club Paris Saint-Germain on a four-year deal after reportedly snubbing the club's primary rival Olympique de Marseille. PSG paid Le Havre fee of €500,000 and also allowed the player to finish the Ligue 2 season with his former club, whom he helped achieve promotion to Ligue 1.
and live up to comments made by former president Alain Cayzac
, who referred to Hoarau as being the "signing of the century" for Paris Saint-Germain.
He made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain in a 1–0 defeat at Monaco
on 9 August 2008. After going scoreless the first week, Hoarau responded in the second week scoring his first goal for the club on his home debut in a 1–0 victory over Bordeaux
. His breakthrough into the team came in the annual Classique against rivals Marseille
on 26 October 2008. In a huge 4–2 victory for the club, Hoarau scored a brace. He followed this up by scoring another brace, this time against his former club Le Havre in a 3–1 victory. His next set of goals were against Le Mans earning another brace in another 3–1 victory. Hoarau also continued his solid form on the European stage scoring a brace in the club's first leg match against VfL Wolfsburg
on 18 February 2009 in the UEFA Cup. In total for the season
, Hoarau made 45 appearances, 32 in league play, and scored 20 goals, 17 in league play, contributing to the club's successful season where they reached as high as the 2nd position in the league and made it to the UEFA Cup quarterfinals.
Due to his great performances, Hoarau was linked to several clubs, most notably Olympique Lyonnais
, who offered €10 million for the player's services. However, both Hoarau and Paris Saint-Germain downplayed the offer and, two days later, Hoarau signed a contract extension until 2013.
Following his successful first season in Paris, Hoarau has struggled to reproduce the same kind of form. The arrival of a new striker in the form of Mevlut Erding failed to ignite a successful partnership, both players being often injured and profligate in front of goal whenever they managed to play. Since the signing of new striker Kevin Gameiro
in the summer of 2011, both Hoarau and Erding have been relegated to the substitutes' bench, and the former suffered a serious injury on the very first day of the 2011-12 season.
national team to replace injured Nicolas Anelka
.
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 is noted for his imposing height standing at 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) and his prolific goal-scoring.
Early career
Hoarau started his football career at JS Saint-PierroiseJS Saint-Pierroise
Jeunesse Sportive Saint-Pierroise, is a football club from Saint-Pierre, Réunion.-Achievements:*Réunion Premier League: 16*Coupe de la Réunion: 8*Coupe D.O.M: 3-Performance in CAF competitions:...
in his native Réunion. In 1995, Le Havre AC
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...
scouts considered him too "thin" and signed his then-teammate Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Florent Stéphane Sinama Pongolle is a French footballer who plays for AS Saint-Étienne on loan from Sporting Clube de Portugal....
. After gaining the attention of then-Le Havre manager Jean-François Domergue
Jean-François Domergue
Jean-François Domergue is a former French footballer who played defender, now manager of Montpellier HSC.Throughout his career he was called up nine times to the France national football team, where he scored only two goals – both in the semi-finals of the 1984 European Football Championship...
, Hoarau signed his first professional contract at the age of 20 for Le Havre AC
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...
in January 2004. He made his league debut on 12 May 2004 against LB Châteauroux
LB 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...
in a 1–2 loss coming on as a substitute.
Despite being signed, Hoarau spent the majority of his career under Domergue playing in the reserves often earning call ups to the senior squad, but then quickly getting sent back down. He registered his first career goal in just the second match of the 2004–05 season
Ligue 2 season 2004-05
The Ligue 2 season 2004/2005, organised by the LFP was won by AS Nancy and saw the promotions of AS Nancy, Le Mans UC72 and Troyes AC, whereas Angers SCO and SC Bastia were relegated to National.-20 participating teams:-Final table:-Recap:...
in a 2–1 victory over Amiens. Despite this, his play was heavily limited following the firing of Domergue and the appointment of temporary manager Philippe Hinschberger
Philippe Hinschberger
Philippe Hinschberger is a retired French football player who played with FC Metz.After retiring as a player Hinsberger has managed CS Louhans-Cuiseaux, Chamois Niortais and Le Havre; he has been manager of Laval since 2007.-References:...
. The following season
Ligue 2 season 2005-06
The Ligue 2 season 2005/2006, organised by the LFP was won by Valenciennes FC and saw the promotions of Valenciennes FC, CS Sedan Ardennes and FC Lorient, whereas AC Ajaccio, RC Strasbourg and FC Metz were relegated from Ligue 1.-20 participating teams:...
under new manager Thierry Uvenard, his playing time increased. He appeared in 28 matches scoring 5 goals. The next season
Ligue 2 2006-07
The Ligue 2 season 2006/2007, organised by the LFP was won by FC Metz and saw the promotions of FC Metz, SM Caen and RC Strasbourg, whereas FC Nantes Atlantique, CS Sedan Ardennes and Troyes AC were relegated from Ligue 1.-20 participating teams:-Results:...
, he only made 5 appearances for Le Havre before being sent on loan to FC Gueugnon
FC Gueugnon
Football Club Gueugnonnais was a French association football club based in Gueugnon. The club was formed in 1940 and played in the Championnat National, the third level of French football, before entering liquidation in April 2011. Gueugnon played its home matches at the Stade Jean Laville...
where he made 21 appearances and scored 8 goals.
Ligue 2 star
Under new manager Jean-Marc NobiloJean-Marc Nobilo
Jean Marc Nobilo is a former French Striker, and former coach and now chief executive of French Ligue 1 side Le Havre.- Career :On 18 December 2008 he bandies from Head Coach of Le Havre AC to chief executive...
, his 4th different manager in four years, Hoarau was installed as the lead striker and flourished. Playing in all 38 league matches, he was top scorer scoring 28 goals and, at one point during the season, scored at least one goal in 12 straight matches. His performances led to the French media naming him the "Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a French international footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability...
of Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
" as Benzema was having a similar season 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....
. His performances caught the eye of several Ligue 1 clubs, such as 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...
, Marseille, and Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain FC
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club , also known simply as Paris Saint-Germain and familiarly as Paris SG or PSG , is a professional association football club based in Paris, France. The club was founded on 12 August 1970, thanks to the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain...
to name a few, and English 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...
, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, who likened the player to Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch
Peter James Crouch is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Stoke City and the England national team.Crouch started his career as a trainee with Tottenham Hotspur...
. Eventually, it was announced in January 2008 that Hoarau had signed with Parisian club Paris Saint-Germain on a four-year deal after reportedly snubbing the club's primary rival Olympique de Marseille. PSG paid Le Havre fee of €500,000 and also allowed the player to finish the Ligue 2 season with his former club, whom he helped achieve promotion to Ligue 1.
Paris Saint-Germain
Hoarau arrived in Paris following the Ligue 2 season with high expectations as he was expected to replace club legend PauletaPauleta
Pedro Miguel Carreiro Resendes, OIH , commonly known as Pauleta , is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a striker....
and live up to comments made by former president Alain Cayzac
Alain Cayzac
Alain Cayzac, born in Évreux, Eure on 2 June 1941 is a French advertising agent and was the president of the Paris Saint-Germain Football Club between June 2006 and April 2008....
, who referred to Hoarau as being the "signing of the century" for Paris Saint-Germain.
He made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain in a 1–0 defeat at Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
on 9 August 2008. After going scoreless the first week, Hoarau responded in the second week scoring his first goal for the club on his home debut in a 1–0 victory over 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....
. His breakthrough into the team came in the annual Classique against rivals 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 26 October 2008. In a huge 4–2 victory for the club, Hoarau scored a brace. He followed this up by scoring another brace, this time against his former club Le Havre in a 3–1 victory. His next set of goals were against Le Mans earning another brace in another 3–1 victory. Hoarau also continued his solid form on the European stage scoring a brace in the club's first leg match against VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
on 18 February 2009 in the UEFA Cup. In total for the season
Ligue 1 2008-09
The 2008–09 Ligue 1 season was the 71st since its establishment. Bordeaux became champions for the sixth time on the last weekend of the season. The fixtures were announced on 23 May 2008. The season began on 9 August 2008 and ended on 30 May 2009...
, Hoarau made 45 appearances, 32 in league play, and scored 20 goals, 17 in league play, contributing to the club's successful season where they reached as high as the 2nd position in the league and made it to the UEFA Cup quarterfinals.
Due to his great performances, Hoarau was linked to several clubs, most notably Olympique Lyonnais
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...
, who offered €10 million for the player's services. However, both Hoarau and Paris Saint-Germain downplayed the offer and, two days later, Hoarau signed a contract extension until 2013.
Following his successful first season in Paris, Hoarau has struggled to reproduce the same kind of form. The arrival of a new striker in the form of Mevlut Erding failed to ignite a successful partnership, both players being often injured and profligate in front of goal whenever they managed to play. Since the signing of new striker Kevin Gameiro
Kevin Gameiro
Kévin Gameiro is a French international footballer who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. He plays as a striker whose influence can extend out on the wings and in the hole...
in the summer of 2011, both Hoarau and Erding have been relegated to the substitutes' bench, and the former suffered a serious injury on the very first day of the 2011-12 season.
International career
On 23 March 2009, Hoarau was called up to the 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...
national team to replace injured Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka
Abdul-Salam Bilal on 14 March 1979) is a French international footballer, who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Chelsea. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team...
.