Mickaël Landreau

Mickaël Landreau

Landreau in 2007
Personal information
Full name Mickaël Vincent André-Marie
Landreau[1]
Date of birth (1979-05-14) 14 May 1979
Place of birth Machecoul, France
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1985–1992 Étoile arthonnaise
1992–1993 GS Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire
1993–1996 Nantes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1996–2006 Nantes 335 (0)
2006–2009 Paris Saint-Germain 114 (0)
2009–2012 Lille 119 (0)
2013–2014 Bastia 50 (0)
Total 618 (0)
National team‡
2001–2014 France 11 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 May 2014.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 October 2013

Mickaël Vincent André-Marie Landreau (French pronunciation: ​[mikaɛl lɑ̃dʁo]; born 14 May 1979 in Machecoul) is a former French professional football goalkeeper who last played for Bastia. He has 11 caps for the French national team. Landreau has made the most top-flight appearances of any player in the French league.

Club career

Nantes

Landreau graduated from the Nantes Atlantique "Centre of Excellence" in La Jonelière. His first professional match for Nantes was a 0–0 draw against Bastia on 2 October 1996 and saved the penalty from Ľubomír Moravčík Since 1996, he remained a mainstay in the Nantes starting line-up, and consistently produced excellent performances. At age 19, Landreau became captain. He was selected to represent the France youth national team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Landreau during a casting organized by Adidas.

In the next ten years, he hardly missed a mandatory meeting, completed in July 2005 his 300th Point game and was an important support for his team during their successes around the turn of the millennium. Having won two consecutive Coupe de France trophies in 1999 and 2000 (captained in the 2000 final), Nantes were crowned 2001 Ligue 1 champions for the first time since 1995. In the same when Nantes won the Ligue 1, Landreau signed a new contract, keeping him until 2006.[2] His good performance at Nantes led Landreau drew strong interest from clubs like Barcelona,[3] Monaco, Roma, Juventus,[4] Marseille,[5] Manchester United[6] and Celtic.[7]

On 11 October 2003, Landreau had an operation on his articular disk which was a serious injury in his football career.[8] On 22 November 2003, Landreau made his return in a 3–1 win over his (first match in his career) against Bastia. In the semi-final of the 2004 French Cup, Landreau produced several saves, but to no avail as the team could not score and were eliminated from the competition. In the final of Coupe de la Ligue against Sochaux-Montbéliard, the match was 1–1 and played until the penalty shootout. Landreau scored the seventh penalty, only to be saved by Teddy Richert. Nantes lose the game when Pascal Delhommeau miss, allowing Benoît Pedretti to score the winning penalty. After the match, Landreau says he has regret nothing on missing the penalty.[9]

At the end of the 2005–06 Ligue 1 season, Landreau's contract with Nantes was set to expire but Nantes was set to offer Landreau a new contract along with Mauro Cetto and Jérémy Toulalan.[10] He gave a press conference and announced that after thirteen years, he would leave FC Nantes to meet new challenges in a more important team. He announced his intention to leave his first club just before the end of the 2005–2006 season. As his contract expired, Arsenal[11] and A.C. Milan[12] were among interested signing him. During his last match at Stade de la Beaujoire on 6 May 2006, he received a tribute from the fans who saluted his dedication and loyalty to the club for thirteen years. The season following his departure, Nantes was relegated to Ligue 2 for the first time since 1963.

Landreau in training before a match between PSG 0–0 Monaco.

Paris Saint-Germain

He then joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, signing a four-years contract on 15 May 2006.[13] After his move to Paris, Landreau says moving to Paris could earned him a call up from France.[14]

Landreau in training just before the final of the Coupe de France match with Lille.

At Paris Saint-Germain, Landreau established himself as a first choice goalkeeper beating Jérôme Alonzo and youngster Nicolas Cousin He also become a fan favorite. On 5 August 2006, Landreau made his debut for PSG in a 3–2 loss against Lorient. In both 2006/7, 2007/8 and 2008/9, Landreau played all 38 appearance in his PSG Career. At his last appearance at PSG in a match against AS Monaco which resulted in a 0–0 draw and his last clean sheet, he thanked the fans for his time at the club and they passed him with a rare standing ovation. After a 2007/8 season ended, Landreau had been linked with a move away from the club after Gregory Coupet remained keen to play abroad at PSG, who could replaced him as a first choice goalkeeper. However, Charles Villeneuve said he had not confirmed Landreau's place in the squad for next season and had hinted at an interest in Coupet but Sebastien Bazin (the chairman of PSG's majority shareholders Colony Capital) insisted Landreau will not be leaving the club.[15] Reports claims Landreau could be set to move to Real Madrid in order to become Iker Casillas’ understudy.[16] Eventually, Coupet eventually move to Paris Saint Germain putting Landreau future in doubt.[17]

Lille

After the 2009-10 season, Lille made a €2 million (£1.7 million) offer for Landreau who wanted him to replace the veteran goalkeeper Grégory Malicki (who left Lille to join Dijon on a free transfer and was the first choice goalkeeper for Lille in the 2008-09 season.) The move was agreed[18] and was completed.[17] Five days after signing for Lille, he suffered a massive blow by damaging cruciate ligaments during a training session which kept him out of action for around six months. During his absence due to injury, Ludovic Butelle get more playing time and played about 10 matches until Landreau returned and he later became the first choice-goalkeeper ever since. On 22 October 2009, Landreau was back on the bench in Europa League during the match against Genoa (3–0) and made his league debut for Lille in a 2–0 win over Grenoble on 30 October 2009.

Landreau wearing a medal of the title.

In 2010-11, Landreau was involved the Lille squad that won the Ligue 1 for the third time in club history and the first time since 1954. He made history by becoming the first player ever to compete in the Trophée des champions with three different clubs.

On 7 November 2012 he allowed six goals from Bayern Munich during a Champions League match. In December 2012 as a remaining first choice goalkeeper, Landreau left Lille by mutual consent after a strained relationship with general manager Frederic Paquet.[19] In the press conference, Landreau says "The most important thing is to blossom on the pitch. I could not anymore. And a year and a half is a long way to go when you have hard days." and left the club both sportingly and psychologically.

SC Bastia

On 23 December 2012, Landreau signed a six-months contract with the Corsican club SC Bastia.[20] Upon moving to SC Bastia, Landreau revealed that he had turned down a move to Italian side Inter Milan.[21] On 4 Dec 2013, Landreau broke the record for the most appearances by any player in Ligue 1 or Division 1 - the top flight in French football - when he started in the AC Ajaccio-SC Bastia match. That match was Landreau's 603rd Ligue 1 match. Three days earlier, he had equalled the previous record of 602 Ligue 1 or Division 1 matches held by former AS Monaco goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori when he appeared in the SC Bastia-Evian TG match.[22]

International career

Landreau was called up to the French squad for the 2006 World Cup by French national team manager Raymond Domenech. He wore the number 1 shirt for France at the tournament, despite being third-choice keeper behind Fabien Barthez and Grégory Coupet. Landreau later became the second choice behind Coupet even though Barthez, who had retired after the World Cup, returned to professional football in December 2006. Landreau was surprisingly not named to the French squad for Euro 2008, with Steve Mandanda and Sébastien Frey being named ahead of him.[23] Steve Mandanda and then Hugo Lloris have since emerged as the country's first-choice goalkeepers. Landreau was recalled to the French national team in 2012 by newly appointed manager Didier Deschamps for France's upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Finland on 7 September and Belarus on 11 September, thus replacing Cedric Carrasso as France's number 3 goalkeeper, including for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Landreau retired from both international and club soccer following the World Cup.

Career statistics

Club

(Correct as of 16 May 2014) [24]
Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Europe Other[nb 2] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Nantes 1996–97 29010——300
1997–98 3301020—360
1998–99 31060——370
1999–2000 330106010410
2000–01 330308010450
2001–02 3301011010460
2002–03 36030——390
2003–04 34040——380
2004–05 37050——420
2005–06 36070——430
Total 3350320270303970
Paris Saint-Germain 2006–07 3804010010530
2007–08 38070——450
2008–09 38050100—530
Total 1140160200101510
Lille OSC 2009–10 2802070—370
2010–11 3807090—540
2011–12 380305010470
2012–13 1500060—210
Total 1190120270101590
SC Bastia 2012–13 190———190
2013–14 31020——330
Total 500200000520
Career total 6180620740507590

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
France 200110
200200
200310
200410
200500
200610
200700
200870
200900
201000
201100
201200
201300
201400
Total110

Honours

Club

Nantes

Paris Saint-Germain

Lille

Country

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue matches.
  2. ↑ Includes Trophée des champions, UEFA Supercup, and FIFA Club World Cup matches.

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Germany 2006: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 May 2010. p. 11. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "LANDREAU AGREES NEW NANTES DEAL". Sky Sports. 5 June 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "LANDREAU REJECTED BARCA CHANCE". Sky Sports. 24 July 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Juve watch Nantes pair". Sky Sports. 15 April 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "L'OM ready for summer splash". Sky Sports. 8 May 2003. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Bouchet denies Red Devils talks". Sky Sports. 19 March 2003. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Landreau plays down move". Sky Sports. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Landreau set for surgery". Sky Sports. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Landreau: No regrets". Sky Sports. 19 April 2004. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Nantes talking to key trio". Sky Sports. 20 January 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Arsenal 'targeting' Landreau". Sky Sports. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Landreau in Milan link". Sky Sports. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "Landreau completes PSG move". Sky Sports. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Landreau plans bright future". Sky Sports. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Uncertain future for Landreau". Sky Sports. 31 May 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  16. ↑ "PSG Goalkeeper Mickael Landreau: I Could Leave France For Spain Or England". Goals.com. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  17. 1 2 "PSG capture Coupet". Sky Sports. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  18. ↑ "Lille agree Landreau fee". Sky Sports. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  19. ↑ "Ligue 1 – France keeper Landreau leaves Lille". Yahoo! Eurosport. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  20. ↑ "Mickaël Landreau au Sporting" (in French). SC Bastia. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "Mickael Landreau has revealed he turned down the chance to move to Inter Milan to join Bastia". Sky Sports. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Keeper Landreau sets new record mark". France24. 4 December 2013.
  23. ↑ French Euro 2008 Squad
  24. ↑ Mickaël Landreau – French League Stats at LFP.fr (French)

External links

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