Willy Guéret
Encyclopedia
Willy July Guéret is a French
professional footballer
with Kettering Town
. He is a goalkeeper
.
in 1996, playing alongside a young Didier Drogba
, but moved to England
on 28 July 2000 when he signed for Millwall
. First-team opportunities were limited, however, and Guéret made only 18 appearances for Millwall (with a further two as substitute) in all competitions.
On 1 July 2004, Guéret signed for Swansea City
. The club achieved promotion from League Two
in his first season, but Guéret's joy was somewhat curtailed when he was arrested following the season's final game at Bury
, allegedly after a complaint from stewards unhappy at his over-zealous celebrations. He was released without charge and was able to travel back from Lancashire to Swansea with his team-mates. Willy expressed his wish to stay at the club until the end of his career.
However, having fallen out of favour at Swansea, Guéret signed for MK Dons on the opening day of the 2007-08
season. He was hailed by Ray Mathias
as the best goalkeeper in League Two
.
Willy Guéret has been widely recognised and became a fans favourite at MK Dons, for his heroic penalty saves on the way to both the Football League Trophy
and the League Two championship in 2008.
On 1 February 2011, Guéret signed for Kettering Town
after leaving the Dons by mutual consent.
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...
professional footballer
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...
with Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
. He is a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Playing career
Guéret joined Le MansLe Mans UC72
Le Mans Football Club is a French association football club based in Le Mans. The club was founded in 1985 as a result of a merger under the name Le Mans Union Club 72. In 2010, Le Mans changed its name to Le Mans FC to coincide with the re-modeling of the club, which includes moving into a new...
in 1996, playing alongside a young Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
, but moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 28 July 2000 when he signed for Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. First-team opportunities were limited, however, and Guéret made only 18 appearances for Millwall (with a further two as substitute) in all competitions.
On 1 July 2004, Guéret signed for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. The club achieved promotion from 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....
in his first season, but Guéret's joy was somewhat curtailed when he was arrested following the season's final game at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, allegedly after a complaint from stewards unhappy at his over-zealous celebrations. He was released without charge and was able to travel back from Lancashire to Swansea with his team-mates. Willy expressed his wish to stay at the club until the end of his career.
However, having fallen out of favour at Swansea, Guéret signed for MK Dons on the opening day of the 2007-08
The Football League 2007-08
The Football League is contested through three divisions in England and Wales. The divisions are the League Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner up of the League Championship will be automatically promoted to the Premier League and they will be joined by the winner of...
season. He was hailed by Ray Mathias
Ray Mathias
Raymond "Ray" Mathias is an English football coach and former player. He has spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football. He was appointed Interim Manager of Stockport County on the 9th March 2011 until the end of the season, when County were relegated from the Football...
as the best goalkeeper in 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....
.
Willy Guéret has been widely recognised and became a fans favourite at MK Dons, for his heroic penalty saves on the way to both the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
and the League Two championship in 2008.
On 1 February 2011, Guéret signed for Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
after leaving the Dons by mutual consent.
Honours
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
: 2006, 2008 - Football League 2 (IV): 2008; Third place 2005
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: Runner-up 2004
External links
- Willy Guéret player profile at mkdons.com
- LFP profile