Yohan Mollo
Encyclopedia
Yohan Mollo is a French
footballer. He currently plays for Spanish
club Granada
in La Liga
. Mollo is often deployed as a winger and can play on both the right and left flanks. He is the cousin of fellow Martégal
André-Pierre Gignac
, who plays for Mollo's former club Marseille
in France.
in 1996, who were at the time attempting to bounce back from the bribery scandal
the club had endured in the early 1990s
. After spending nearly eight years in Marseille's youth system, Mollo had a one-year spell at local club Aubagne FC before moving to the principality
-based side Monaco
.
Just before the end of the 06–07 season, Mollo and Monaco agreed to terms on a professional contract with the player signing for three years. He spent the next season
in the CFA
contributing to Monaco's squad that won the reserve's professional title. Due to his positive performances that season, he was dubbed the "Cristiano
de Monaco" (Cristiano of Monaco
), primarily due to his footballing ability being similar to the former Manchester United
star and also because they both wore the number 7 shirt.
Mollo was promoted to the first-team and handed the number 26 kit for the 2008–09 season
. He made his professional debut on 18 October 2008 in a 1–2 loss to OGC Nice
appearing as a substitute. He scored his first goal for the club against Lorient
in a 1–1 draw.
On 7 December 2009, the Mollor signed his first professional contract with Monaco. During the 2010–11 season, Mollo was loaned to newly promoted Caen appearing in 35 matches and scoring four goals as Caen retained its first division status.
After the season, Mollo returned to Monaco, who were now playing in Ligue 2
. On 29 July 2011, he moved to Spain
to join promoted club Granada
.
, who were looking for a fresh start after their elimination from the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, for a friendly against Denmark
. He made his under-21 debut in that match appearing as a substitute in the 68th minute. France would go on to win the match 1–0.
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...
footballer. He currently plays for Spanish
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...
club Granada
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. Mollo is often deployed as a winger and can play on both the right and left flanks. He is the cousin of fellow Martégal
Martigues
Martigues is a commune northwest of Marseille. It is part of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the eastern end of the Canal de Caronte....
André-Pierre Gignac
André-Pierre Gignac
André-Pierre Gignac is a French professional football player who currently plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings. Gignac is described as a "powerful and dangerous" striker who is known for his "aerial presence"...
, who plays for Mollo's former club 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...
in France.
Football career
Mollo began his football career with Olympique de MarseilleOlympique 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...
in 1996, who were at the time attempting to bounce back from the bribery scandal
Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, a businessman specializing in recovery for bankrupted companies, among which Adidas is the most famous ; and owner of sports teams...
the club had endured in the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
. After spending nearly eight years in Marseille's youth system, Mollo had a one-year spell at local club Aubagne FC before moving to the principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
-based side Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
.
Just before the end of the 06–07 season, Mollo and Monaco agreed to terms on a professional contract with the player signing for three years. He spent the next season
CFA 2007-08
The 2007–08 Championnat de France Amateurs season was the 10th edition of the competition since its establishment. The competition officially began on 11 August 2007 and ended in May 2008...
in the CFA
Championnat de France Amateurs
The Championnat de France amateur, commonly referred to as simply CFA and formerly known as National 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fourth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the Championnat National...
contributing to Monaco's squad that won the reserve's professional title. Due to his positive performances that season, he was dubbed the "Cristiano
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
de Monaco" (Cristiano of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
), primarily due to his footballing ability being similar to the former Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
star and also because they both wore the number 7 shirt.
Mollo was promoted to the first-team and handed the number 26 kit for the 2008–09 season
Ligue 1 2008-09
The 2008–09 Ligue 1 season was the 71st since its establishment. Bordeaux became champions for the sixth time on the last weekend of the season. The fixtures were announced on 23 May 2008. The season began on 9 August 2008 and ended on 30 May 2009...
. He made his professional debut on 18 October 2008 in a 1–2 loss to OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
appearing as a substitute. He scored his first goal for the club against Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
in a 1–1 draw.
On 7 December 2009, the Mollor signed his first professional contract with Monaco. During the 2010–11 season, Mollo was loaned to newly promoted Caen appearing in 35 matches and scoring four goals as Caen retained its first division status.
After the season, Mollo returned to Monaco, who were now playing in 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...
. On 29 July 2011, he moved to 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...
to join promoted club Granada
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
.
International career
Yohann has appeared on and off with the France U-19 squad. He received a surprise call-up to the under-21 squadFrance 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...
, who were looking for a fresh start after their elimination from the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
, for a friendly against Denmark
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
. He made his under-21 debut in that match appearing as a substitute in the 68th minute. France would go on to win the match 1–0.