Laurent Merlin
Encyclopedia
Laurent Merlin is a French footballer who plays for Latina. A midfielder
, he started his career as a youngster with the Olympique de Marseille
reserve team, where he quickly progressed into the senior squad and earned two caps over two seasons with the seniors. Laurent was then snapped up by Corsica
based French
league team, AC Ajaccio
. He got his first senior goal with the club before being loaned to LB Chateauroux
and on his return was sold to Chivas USA.
, France
, at the age of just ten, Merlin was training with hometown club Olympique de Marseille. From the youth team there he was able to make a name for himself, and soon found himself in Olympique de Marseille 2, the Marseille reserve team. Whilst at Marseille, Laurent only played in two matches and soon found himself surplus to requirements at l'Ohème.
side, Corsica
-based, AC Ajaccio
. At Ajaccio, he played twelve games in his first two seasons, ten more than when at Olympique de Marseille, a club at which he had been a part of the senior squad for two seasons. In these twelve games, he scored one goal.
In the following season, Merlin started just the one single game for Ajaccio, soon becoming another back-up player.
In the early months of 2006 Merlin was loaned to lower league, French side, LB Chateauroux
. However, he started three games before returning to Ajaccio.
side Los Angeles Galaxy
's first ever open tryout in February 2007. The tryout was highly publicized in anticipation of the signing of David Beckham by the Galaxy. Through two days of intense competition with over 800 players from all over the world, he was one of two to survive four rounds of cuts and earn a trial with the Galaxy. However he then signed for local rivals side Chivas USA
. He played 22 games for the club, scoring one goal, before he was waived in 2007.
side Cassis Carnoux
. He left the club following their relegation at the end of the season.
In July 2010, he had trials in England with Premier League sides Wigan Athletic
and Blackpool
.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, he started his career as a youngster with the 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...
reserve team, where he quickly progressed into the senior squad and earned two caps over two seasons with the seniors. Laurent was then snapped up by Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
based French
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...
league team, AC Ajaccio
AC Ajaccio
Athletic Club Ajaccio is a French association football club based in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2. The club president is Alain...
. He got his first senior goal with the club before being loaned to LB Chateauroux
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...
and on his return was sold to Chivas USA.
Olympique de Marseille
Born in MarseilleMarseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, 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...
, at the age of just ten, Merlin was training with hometown club Olympique de Marseille. From the youth team there he was able to make a name for himself, and soon found himself in Olympique de Marseille 2, the Marseille reserve team. Whilst at Marseille, Laurent only played in two matches and soon found himself surplus to requirements at l'Ohème.
AC Ajaccio and Châteauroux loan
In 2004 Merlin signed for fellow Ligue 1Ligue 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....
side, Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
-based, AC Ajaccio
AC Ajaccio
Athletic Club Ajaccio is a French association football club based in the city of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The club was founded in 1910 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, having finished 2nd in the 2010–11 campaign in Ligue 2. The club president is Alain...
. At Ajaccio, he played twelve games in his first two seasons, ten more than when at Olympique de Marseille, a club at which he had been a part of the senior squad for two seasons. In these twelve games, he scored one goal.
In the following season, Merlin started just the one single game for Ajaccio, soon becoming another back-up player.
In the early months of 2006 Merlin was loaned to lower league, French side, LB Chateauroux
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...
. However, he started three games before returning to Ajaccio.
Chivas USA
Merlin took part in Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
side Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
's first ever open tryout in February 2007. The tryout was highly publicized in anticipation of the signing of David Beckham by the Galaxy. Through two days of intense competition with over 800 players from all over the world, he was one of two to survive four rounds of cuts and earn a trial with the Galaxy. However he then signed for local rivals side Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
. He played 22 games for the club, scoring one goal, before he was waived in 2007.
Cassis Carnoux
During the 2009-10 season, Merlin played for French Championnat NationalChampionnat 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...
side Cassis Carnoux
SO Cassis Carnoux
Stade Olympique Cassis Carnoux is a French association football team founded in 2002. They are based in Cassis, Bouches-du-Rhône, and are currently playing in the Championnat de France amateur - the fourth tier of French football...
. He left the club following their relegation at the end of the season.
In July 2010, he had trials in England with Premier League sides Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.