Lucien Laurent
Encyclopedia
Lucien Laurent was a French
association football player. He is famous for having scored the first ever FIFA World Cup
goal.
, Val-de-Marne
, near Paris
.
Between 1921 and 1930, he played for the semi-professional team Cercle Athlétique de Paris, before being taken on by Sochaux
, then a works team for the car manufacturer Peugeot
, where he worked. As an amateur
player, he only received basic expenses from the French Football Federation
while at the tournament in Uruguay
.
It was in Uruguay
that Laurent made history by scoring the first ever World Cup goal: a volley in the 19th minute of a game against Mexico
on 13 July 1930. France
won the game 4-1, but lost their remaining group matches to Argentina
and Chile
, and were thus eliminated. Laurent was ruled out of the third game due to injury.
Injury then also denied Laurent a place in the squad for the 1934 World Cup and he moved to Rennes
, playing for them until 1937, then for RC Strasbourg
until 1939. In all, Laurent played 10 times for France, but scored only one other goal.
When World War II
came, Laurent was called up to join the armed forces and was taken prisoner by the Germans
. He spent three years as a POW
, was released in 1943 and played the remaining two years of wartime football for Besançon
. In 1946, Laurent retired from playing and went on to become a trainer and youth coach. He was the only surviving member of the 1930 French team to see France lift the 1998 World Cup
on home soil, and died seven years later at the age of 97 in Besançon
.
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...
association football player. He is famous for having scored the first ever 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...
goal.
Career
Laurent was born in Saint-Maur-des-FossésSaint-Maur-des-Fossés
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 11.7 km. from the center of Paris.-The abbey:...
, Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne is a French department, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France region. The department is situated to the southeast of the city of Paris.- Geography :...
, near Paris
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...
.
Between 1921 and 1930, he played for the semi-professional team Cercle Athlétique de Paris, before being taken on by 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...
, then a works team for the car manufacturer Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
, where he worked. As an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
player, he only received basic expenses from the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
while at the tournament in Uruguay
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
.
It was in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
that Laurent made history by scoring the first ever World Cup goal: a volley in the 19th minute of a game against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
on 13 July 1930. France
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...
won the game 4-1, but lost their remaining group matches to Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
, and were thus eliminated. Laurent was ruled out of the third game due to injury.
Injury then also denied Laurent a place in the squad for the 1934 World Cup and he moved to Rennes
Stade Rennais FC
Stade Rennais Football Club is a French association football club based in Rennes. The club was founded in 1901 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Rennes plays its home matches at the Stade de la Route de Lorient located within the city...
, playing for them until 1937, then for RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
until 1939. In all, Laurent played 10 times for France, but scored only one other goal.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
came, Laurent was called up to join the armed forces and was taken prisoner by the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He spent three years as a POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, was released in 1943 and played the remaining two years of wartime football for Besançon
Besançon RC
Besançon Racing Club is a French football club based in Besançon. It was founded in 1904-1905. They play at the Stade Léo Lagrange.- Current squad :As of September 2011.- Coaching staff :...
. In 1946, Laurent retired from playing and went on to become a trainer and youth coach. He was the only surviving member of the 1930 French team to see France lift the 1998 World Cup
1998 World Cup
1998 World Cup may refer to:*1998 IAAF World Cup*1998 Men's Hockey World Cup*1998 Women's Hockey World Cup*1998 FIFA World Cup*1998 Alpine Skiing World Cup...
on home soil, and died seven years later at the age of 97 in Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
.