Morgan Amalfitano

Morgan Amalfitano

Amalfitano with West Ham United in July 2015
Personal information
Full name Morgan Amalfitano[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-20) 20 March 1985
Place of birth Nice, France
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Lille
Number 31
Youth career
Cannes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2008 Sedan 126 (0)
2008–2011 Lorient 110 (14)
2011–2014 Marseille 60 (2)
2013–2014 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 28 (4)
2014–2015 West Ham United 24 (3)
2016– Lille 10 (2)
National team‡
2012 France 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:38, 10 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 February 2012

Morgan Amalfitano (born 20 March 1985 in Nice) is a French professional footballer who is currently playing for Lille. He plays as a midfielder and has played for Cannes, Sedan, Lorient, Marseille, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United. Amalfitano has earned one cap for the France national team, representing his country in a friendly in February 2012.

His main position is as a wide midfielder but he can also operate as an attacking or central midfielder. His younger brother Romain also plays professional football.

Club career

Early career

Amalfitano made his professional debut with CS Sedan Ardennes in a 1–1 draw against Marseille on 6 August 2006 under coach Serge Romano. He went on to play 30 games that season, starting in 28 of them. However, Sedan finished 19th and they were relegated to Ligue 2. The next season, Sedan managed to finish fourth failing to regain promotion under coach Jose Pasqualetti.

In the summer of 2008, Amalfitano moved to Ligue 1 side Lorient. He scored his first goal for Lorient, and his first professional goal, on 15 November 2008, scoring his side's first goal as they came from 2–0 down to defeat Marseille 2–3.[3] On 23 December 2009, Amalfitano scored two goals as Lorient twice came from a goal behind to defeat Valenciennes 3–2.[4]

On 28 March 2010, Amalfitano provided an assist and scored a goal as Lorient completed a 4–0 rout over Saint-Étienne.[5] On 5 May, Amalfitano had a hand in both goals as Lorient drew 2–2 with Monaco, scoring his side's first equalizer before setting up Kévin Gameiro for a late equalizer that secured a point for the club.[6] On 6 November 2010, Amalfitano provided assists for both of Gameiro's goals as Lorient defeat Saint-Étienne by a score of 2–1.[7] In three seasons with the club, Amalfitano played 121 matches and scored 15 goals in all competitions.

Morgan Amalfitano (19) lining up with Marseille for the 2011 Trophée des champions.

Marseille

In July 2011, Amalfitano joined Marseille on a free transfer, signing a contract until 2015.[8] He made his debut for the club in the Trophée des Champions against Lille in a 5–4 win on 27 July, coming on as a substitute and later hitting the woodwork with his first show for the club.[9] His competitive debut for the club came on 6 August in the first round of the new Ligue 1 season, he was substituted in the 66th minute for Mathieu Valbuena as Marseille had to settle for a 2–2 draw at home to Sochaux.[10] He made his Champions League debut in a 1–0 win against Olympiacos on 13 September 2011.[11][12] He scored his first goal for the club on 27 November 2011 in a 3–0 home victory against Paris Saint-Germain,[13] as well as providing the assist for Jordan Ayew's goal that sealed the emphatic win.[14] On 6 December 2011, in the final match of the group stage of the Champions League, Amalfitano provided assists for Loïc Rémy and André Ayew as a late Valbuena strike earned Marseille a 3–2 victory over Borussia Dortmund and a place in the knockout phase.[15]

Amalfitano played the full 120 minutes on 14 April 2012 as Marseille defeated Lyon 1–0, thanks to a late Brandão strike, to win the Coupe de la Ligue trophy.[16][17] Amalfitano finished the season with 49 appearances for the club, but the up-and-down campaign which ended with the club missing out on the Champions League resulted in Amalfitano asking for a transfer request.[18]

West Bromwich Albion (loan)

Amalfitano playing for West Brom against Cardiff City in December 2013.

On 1 September 2013, it was confirmed that Amalfitano had signed for West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.[19] He scored his first goal for West Brom against Sunderland on 21 September 2013 in a 3–0 win.[20] He scored his second league goal the following weekend, taking the ball from midfield and then knocking it through Rio Ferdinand's legs, Amalfitano then nonchalantly dinked the ball over David de Gea, helping West Brom to a 2–1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, their first win at Old Trafford in 34 years.[21]

After a positive start to life at The Hawthorns, his form declined up until the run-in in which he scored an audacious lob from 35 yards in the thrilling 3–3 draw against fellow relegations rivals Cardiff City on 29 March 2014.[22] He followed that strike up the following week with the solitary goal in West Brom's away win over Norwich City.[23] Upon finishing his loan at West Brom, he returned to Marseille in July 2014.

West Ham United

On 1 September 2014, Amalfitano signed for West Ham United on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[24] He made his West Ham debut two weeks later against Hull City on 15 September, replacing Diafra Sakho in the second-half of the 2–2 draw.[25]

On 20 September 2014, Amalfitano made his home debut for the Hammers, coming on in the second half and scoring his first goal for West Ham, against Liverpool, to complete a 3–1 victory and secure the club's first home win of the season.[26] Amalfitano's second goal for the club came on 25 October at home to Manchester City when he netted the opener in a 2–1 victory over the reigning champions.[27]

Amalfitano replaced Kevin Nolan after 60 minutes of West Ham's FA Cup fifth round game at West Brom; ten minutes later he was booked for a heavy challenge. He then put his hand in an opponents face resulting in the referee issuing the red card in an eventual 4–0 defeat.[28] In March 2015, Amalfitano signed a new, two-year contract with West Ham which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2016–17 season.[29] In August 2015, Amalfitano was disciplined for a breach of club rules by new manager Slaven Bilić. Amalfitano was banned from the first-team squad and ordered to train with the under-21 team.[30] On 6 October 2015, Amalfitano left West Ham by mutual consent.[31]

Lille

On 7 January 2016, Amalfitano joined French side Lille on a two-and-a-half-year deal upon his contract expiry from West Ham United in 2015. Amalfitano was given the number 31 jersey upon arrival.[32]

International career

Amalfitano made his debut in a 2–1 victory for France in a friendly against neighbors Germany on 29 February 2012.[33] He replaced his then Marseille teammate Mathieu Valbuena after 67 minutes and provided the cross from which Florent Malouda scored their second goal of the game.[34]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 23 July 2015[35][36][37]

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[38] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sedan 2004–05 26000000000260
2005–06 34000000000340
2006–07 31000000000310
2007–08 35000000000350
Total 1260000000001260
Lorient
2008–09 35310100000373
2009–10 37610410000427
2010–11 38530100000425
Total 110145061000012115
Marseille
2011–12 32131409010492
2012–13 26110108000361
Total 582415017010853
West Bromwich Albion
2013–14 26410100000284
Total 26410100000284
West Ham United
2014–15 24340000000283
2015–16 000000400040
Total 24340004000323
Career total 343221511212101038025

Honours

Marseille

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 4 February 2014. p. 38. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile Morgan Amalfitano". Premier League. Barclays Premier League. 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Olympique Marseille vs. Lorietn 2–3". Soccerway. 15 November 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Lorient vs. Valenciennes 3–2". Soccerway. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Lorient 4–0 St. Etienne". ESPNFC. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Lorient 2–2 AS Monaco". ESPNFC. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "St. Etienne 1–2 Lorient". ESPNFC. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Morgan Amalfitano". Sky Sports News.
  9. ↑ "Lille 4–5 Marseille: Andre Ayew scores hat-trick as stunning OM comeback seals Trophee des Champions". Goal.com. 27 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Marseille 2 -2 Sochaux". ESPN. 6 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "Marseille make winning start at Olympiacos". UEFA. 13 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Olympiakos 0 – 1 Marseille". ESPN. 13 September 2011.
  13. ↑ "Olympique de Marseille 3–0 Paris Saint-Germain: Remy, Amalfitano and Andre Ayew on target as OM hammers PSG". Goal.com.
  14. ↑ "Marseille 3 – 0 Paris Saint-Germain". ESPN. 27 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "Dramatic comeback secures Marseille's passage". UEFA. 6 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Olympique Lyonnais — Olympique de Marseille". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 14 April 2012.
  17. ↑ Bairner, Robin (14 April 2012). "Olympique Lyonnais 0–1 Olympique de Marseille (aet): Brandao secures Coupe de la Ligue for record-breaking OM". Goal.com.
  18. ↑ "Amalfitano keen to leave Marseille — report". Goal.com. 26 May 2012.
  19. ↑ "Transfer deadline day: Morgan Amalfitano joins West Brom". BBC Sport. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "West Brom 3 – 0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  21. ↑ "Manchester United 1 West Brom 2: Boos at Old Trafford as Moyes faces more misery". London: Daily Mail. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  22. ↑ "Mats Moller Daehli scored a 95th-minute equaliser in reply to Thievy Bifouma's injury-time goal as Cardiff twice came back to steal a potentially crucial point against West Brom.". BBC Sport. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Premier League: West Bromwich Albion beat Norwich City 1–0 at Carrow Road". Sky Sports. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "West Ham sign French midfielder Morgan Amalfitano". BBC Sport. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  25. ↑ "Hull City 2–2 West Ham: Mo Diame scores on his debut against his former club as spoils are shared at the KC Stadium". Daily Mail. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "Morgan Amalfitano completes frantic West Ham victory against Liverpool". The Guardian. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  27. ↑ "West Ham United 2:1 Manchester City". BBC Sport. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "West Brom 4-0 West Ham". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  29. ↑ "Amalfitano pens new deal". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: Why I disciplined Morgan Amalfitano". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Amalfitano departs". http://www.whufc.com/. Retrieved 6 October 2015. External link in |publisher= (help)
  32. ↑ "OFFICIAL: MORGAN AMALFITANO ENGAGES LOSC!". Lille OSC. 7 January 2016.
  33. ↑ "French claim German scalp". Sky Sports. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  34. ↑ White, Jim (29 February 2012). "Germany 1 France 2: match report". The Daily Telegraph (London).
  35. ↑ "La Carrière de Morgan Amalfitano". LFP. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  36. ↑ "Morgan Amalfitano Player Profile". ESPNFC. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Morgan Amalfitano". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  38. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Trophée des champions, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

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