Jean-Louis Valois
Encyclopedia
Jean-Louis Valois is a French
retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr
.
but was unable to command a first-team position in Burgundy
, and opted for a move to Ligue 2
side Gueugnon
in 1997. Three years later he moved north to join Lille Olympique
before crossing the English Channel
in September 2001, when he signed for League Two
side Luton Town
.
Valois enjoyed an impressive 2001–02 season
with the Hatters, helping them to clinch promotion - one highlight being his debut game at Kenilworth Road, a 5-1 victory over Torquay United. Displaying immense skill, flair & ability far and above the English third division, Jean Louis netted a 30 yard strike into the top corner in one of the finest ever Luton Town debuts. Further spectacular goals followed that season against Leyton Orient and Hartlepool. However, a dispute with manager Joe Kinnear
saw him leave for SPL
side Hearts
in August 2002 on a free transfer. An explosive start saw him named Man of the Match on his Tynecastle
debut, a 5–1 defeat of city-rivals Hibernian
, despite fellow debutant Mark de Vries
scoring 4 goals. Valois maintained this form during the remainder of the 2002–03 season
as Hearts achieved European qualification, however an indifferent period in early 2003–04
led to his release in January 2004.
Spain
was Valois' next port of call, although when his 6-month contract with UD Almería
was not renewed in the summer of 2004 the mercurial Frenchmen returned to Britain. After a month with Clyde
, where he scored once in the Scottish Challenge Cup against Stranraer, he signed for Championship
side Burnley
in September, with whom he stayed until May 2005.
After leaving Burnley, Jean-Louis made the move to the United Arab Emirates and a lucrative contract with UAE Second Division side Al-Khaleej. Departing in June 2006, Jean-Louis joined Al Nasr – which he left in June 2007.
After four years of inactivity, Valois turned out for Cheltenham Town's reserve team on 23 August 2011 in a friendly match away against Coventry City. However, according to Cheltenham he was just training and was not in contention to be offered a contract.
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...
retired professional footballer. A left-sided player capable of playing on either wing, his last senior club was Al-Nasr
Al-Nasr Sports Club
Al-Nasr Sports Club , is a professional association football club located in Dubai and plays in the UAE Pro-League. Al-Nasr, literally translating to "victory" in Arabic was founded in 1945 and considered as the first and the oldest club in the UAE...
.
Career
Valois began his professional career under the tutelage of renowned coach Guy Roux at AJ AuxerreAJ 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...
but was unable to command a first-team position in Burgundy
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
, and opted for a move to 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...
side 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...
in 1997. Three years later he moved north to join Lille Olympique
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...
before crossing the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
in September 2001, when he signed for League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
.
Valois enjoyed an impressive 2001–02 season
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
with the Hatters, helping them to clinch promotion - one highlight being his debut game at Kenilworth Road, a 5-1 victory over Torquay United. Displaying immense skill, flair & ability far and above the English third division, Jean Louis netted a 30 yard strike into the top corner in one of the finest ever Luton Town debuts. Further spectacular goals followed that season against Leyton Orient and Hartlepool. However, a dispute with manager Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
saw him leave for SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in August 2002 on a free transfer. An explosive start saw him named Man of the Match on his Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
debut, a 5–1 defeat of city-rivals Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, despite fellow debutant Mark de Vries
Mark de Vries
Mark de Vries is a Dutch footballer currently playing for Dutch Jupiler League club SC Cambuur.- Early career :...
scoring 4 goals. Valois maintained this form during the remainder of the 2002–03 season
2002-03 in Scottish football
The 2002–03 season was the 106th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won on goal difference by Rangers by a single goal over Celtic. Both Rangers and Celtic qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and...
as Hearts achieved European qualification, however an indifferent period in early 2003–04
2003-04 in Scottish football
The 2003–04 season was the 107th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League season was won by Celtic with 98 points, 17 points ahead of closest challengers Rangers. Both Rangers and Celtic therefore gained the two UEFA...
led to his release in January 2004.
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...
was Valois' next port of call, although when his 6-month contract with UD Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
was not renewed in the summer of 2004 the mercurial Frenchmen returned to Britain. After a month with Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, where he scored once in the Scottish Challenge Cup against Stranraer, he signed for Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in September, with whom he stayed until May 2005.
After leaving Burnley, Jean-Louis made the move to the United Arab Emirates and a lucrative contract with UAE Second Division side Al-Khaleej. Departing in June 2006, Jean-Louis joined Al Nasr – which he left in June 2007.
After four years of inactivity, Valois turned out for Cheltenham Town's reserve team on 23 August 2011 in a friendly match away against Coventry City. However, according to Cheltenham he was just training and was not in contention to be offered a contract.
Personal
Jean Louis mentioned in a interview while at Luton Town his dream clubs to play for were Barcelona and Real Madrid, describing both teams as 'mythical'.Personal awards and achievements
- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
Player of the Month: September 2002