Mathieu Debuchy
Encyclopedia
Mathieu Debuchy is a French
football
midfielder
who currently plays for Ligue 1
side Lille OSC
. He is often deployed as a midfielder usually acting as a deep-lying playmaker. He can also play as a right back.
-based side since childhood arriving at the club in 1993. After spending nearly a decade in Lille's youth system
, he was promoted to the senior squad after the winter
break of the 2003–04
season. He was given the number 33 shirt and made his debut and first career start on January 31, 2004 in a Ligue 1 match against FC Metz
. Lille won the match 1–0 with Debuchy playing the entire 90 minutes before being subbed out in injury time. He would make five more appearances that season, two starts and 3 substitute appearances, before being rested.
The following season
, he changed his shirt to the current number 2 and his playing time would increase significantly appearing in 19 matches and scoring 3 goals, which included his first career goal against Bordeaux
. He scored the goal inside the first minute of the match. Lille's solid form helped them finish 2nd in the league and thus qualified for the UEFA Champions League
. Mathieu was also instrumental in Lille's run to the Round of 16 in that year's UEFA Cup where they were eliminated by fellow Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre
.
Mathieu continued his solid play until damaging knee ligaments against RC Strasbourg
on March 26, 2006. The injury required surgery ruling him out for six months, as well as the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, which was contested in May of that year. Despite the injury, then-manager Claude Puel
still gave the young midfielder a four-year extension keeping him at the club until 2010. After returning from injury, Debuchy quickly return to his solid form.
squad. On 5 August 2010, Debuchy was called up to the senior team
for the first time by new manager Laurent Blanc
for the team's friendly match against Norway
on 11 August 2010. In addition, he was called up to replace Arsenal right-back, Bacary Sagna after he sustained a leg break playing against Tottenham Hotspur
in the North London Derby.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder
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...
who currently plays for 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....
side Lille OSC
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...
. He is often deployed as a midfielder usually acting as a deep-lying playmaker. He can also play as a right back.
Football career
Mathieu has been with the Nord-Pas de CalaisNord-Pas de Calais
Nord-Pas de Calais , Nord for short, is one of the 27 regions of France. It consists of the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, in the north and has a border with Belgium. Most of the region was once part of the Southern Netherlands, within the Low Countries, and gradually became part of France...
-based side since childhood arriving at the club in 1993. After spending nearly a decade in Lille's youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
, he was promoted to the senior squad after the winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
break of the 2003–04
Ligue 1 season 2003-04
Olympique Lyonnais won Ligue 1 season 2003/2004 of the French Association Football League with 79 points.- 20 participating clubs :* AC Ajaccio* AJ Auxerre* SC Bastia* Girondins de Bordeaux* En Avant de Guingamp* Le Mans Union Club 72* RC Lens...
season. He was given the number 33 shirt and made his debut and first career start on January 31, 2004 in a Ligue 1 match against FC Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
. Lille won the match 1–0 with Debuchy playing the entire 90 minutes before being subbed out in injury time. He would make five more appearances that season, two starts and 3 substitute appearances, before being rested.
The following season
Ligue 1 season 2004-05
The 2004/2005 season of Ligue 1 was a very close-run battle. Separating fourth placed Rennes, who enter the UEFA Cup and 18th placed Caen, who get relegated to Ligue 2, were 13 mere points. Lyon were long time leaders and had won the league back in April 2005...
, he changed his shirt to the current number 2 and his playing time would increase significantly appearing in 19 matches and scoring 3 goals, which included his first career goal against 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....
. He scored the goal inside the first minute of the match. Lille's solid form helped them finish 2nd in the league and thus qualified for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. Mathieu was also instrumental in Lille's run to the Round of 16 in that year's UEFA Cup where they were eliminated by fellow Ligue 1 side AJ 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...
.
Mathieu continued his solid play until damaging knee ligaments against 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...
on March 26, 2006. The injury required surgery ruling him out for six months, as well as the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Klaas Jan Huntelaar3 goals Thomas Kahlenberg Nicky Hofs2 goals Bryan Bergougnoux Ruslan Fomin Artem Milevskiy...
, which was contested in May of that year. Despite the injury, then-manager Claude Puel
Claude Puel
Claude Puel is a French football manager and former player. He spent 17 years playing for AS Monaco.-Managerial career:...
still gave the young midfielder a four-year extension keeping him at the club until 2010. After returning from injury, Debuchy quickly return to his solid form.
International career
Debuchy has been capped with the under-21France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
squad. On 5 August 2010, Debuchy was called up to the senior team
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...
for the first time by new manager Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French association football manager and former player. He is the head coach of the French national team, having replaced Raymond Domenech in the wake of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He was previously the manager of Bordeaux...
for the team's friendly match against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on 11 August 2010. In addition, he was called up to replace Arsenal right-back, Bacary Sagna after he sustained a leg break playing against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in the North London Derby.
Club
Lille OSCLille 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...
- Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe 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...
: 20112011 Coupe de France FinalThe 2011 Coupe de France Final was the 93rd final of France's most prestigious football cup competition. The final took place on 14 May 2011 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and was contested between Paris Saint-Germain and Lille... - Ligue 1Ligue 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....
: 2011 champion