Ballon d'Or: Yoann Gourcuff Profile

Nov 23, 2009 3:15:00 AM

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Players

Yoann Gourcuff

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YOANN GOURCUFF
Club: Bordeaux
Country: France
Age: 23 (DOB July 11 1986)
Position: Midfielder
Previous Placings: None

Dubbed the ‘next Zinedine Zidane’ by the French media, the exciting young creative midfielder played a pivotal role in Girondins de Bordeaux’s charge towards the Ligue 1 title last season.

Signed initially on loan from Milan, the playmaker took little time to settle back into action in Le Championnat, prompting the Bordeaux offence with authority that belied his years almost immediately. His performances improved as the season reached its crescendo, and Gourcuff was on hand on several occasions to provide telling moments for Laurent Blanc’s side.

Christened as Le Championnat’s best player last term, Gourcuff was snapped up by the Aquitaine outfit on a permanent basis for the princely sum of €13 million, and he is now a regular in Raymond Domenech’s France squad.

Attributes

Scooped individual honours such as Ligue 1 Player of the Year and Goal of the Year.
Claimed the Ligue 1 title with Bordeaux, as well as Coupe de la Ligue success.
UNFP Player of the Month for April, hinting at his match-winning contributions for Bordeaux.
Thirteen league goals in the calendar year, as well as eight assists.
Has struggled to live up to such a billing in the early stages of this season.

They Say...

“[I get] the same sensations with Gourcuff that I had when I played in the team with [Zinedine] Zidane. We feel that everything will soon be okay between us. He has a sort of sixth sense, which gives rise to good relationships [on the playing field],” – Franck Ribery on his relationship with Gourcuff, speaking to France Football.

Prediction

Still a rising talent in the world game, Gourcuff must be considered something of a rank outsider to claim the crown, especially as he has not featured in one of Europe’s Big Four league. The 2010 World Cup could be his stage to really break through, but until them he will have to make do with a spot in the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, et al.