Nicolas Anelka

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Nicolas Anelka
Personal information
Full name Nicolas Anelka
Date of birth 14 March 1979 (1979-03-14) (age 29)
Place of birth    Versailles, France
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Chelsea
Number 39
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1995–1997
1997–1999
1999–2000
2000–2002
2002
2002–2005
2005–2006
2006–2008
2008–
Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal
Real Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain
Liverpool (loan)
Manchester City
Fenerbahçe
Bolton Wanderers
Chelsea
10 0(1)
65 (23)
19 0(2)
39 (10)
20 0(4)
89 (38)
39 (14)
53 (21)
14 0(1)   
National team2
1998– France 48 (11)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 10:40, 9 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of June 3, 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

Nicolas Anelka (born March 14, 1979 in Versailles, France)[1] is a French football striker who plays for Chelsea F.C. of the Barclays Premier League. After making his name at Arsenal F.C., he has since played for eight teams in scarcely more than ten years, earning himself the nickname "Le Sulk"[2] in the process.

He transfered to Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers F.C. for a reported £15 million in January 2008. As a result, he became the most expensive player in football history having commanded more than 85 million GBP in transfer fees.[3]

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Family background

Anelka's parents are from Martinique. He has two brothers, Claude, and Didier.

[edit] Club Career

Anelka started his career at Paris Saint-Germain as a youth player and was said to have great potential for striking a ball and set play goals. In February 1997, at the age of 17, he joined English Premier League club Arsenal for a fee of £500,000[4] under newly appointed manager Arsène Wenger. Anelka scored his first goal for Arsenal against Manchester United in a 3–2 home win.[5] His first team opportunities were limited in the 1996–97 season, but in the 1997–98 season he broke into the first team, after a long-term injury to striker Ian Wright. Anelka was a key player in Arsenal's "Double" win, of both the Premier League championship and the FA Cup trophy that season. Anelka scored the second goal in Arsenal's 2–0 win over PFA Young Player of the Year Award in the 1998–99 season, but Arsenal failed to defend their Premiership title and made little progress in the UEFA Champions League, while Anelka wanted a better salary. In all he made 90 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 28 goals.

He transferred to Real Madrid C.F. in the summer of 1999 for £22.3 million pounds.[6] Anelka began brightly, arriving as a record signing to the Madrid side. He had initial success, but soon fell out of favor with fans, fellow players, and new coach Vicente del Bosque, at one point receiving a 45-day suspension for refusing to train. Despite eventually returning to favor and figuring in the successful capture of the 1999-2000 Champions League campaign[7] (he scored vital goals in both legs of the semi-finals against Bayern Munich), he was surplus to the requirements of the club.

Anelka signed a professional contract at Paris Saint-Germain, a return to the club at which he used to play as a youth player, in a transfer deal worth £20 million. After eighteen months, Anelka returned to the English Premiership in January 2002 with Liverpool on a short term loan deal until the end of the season. He contributed to Liverpool's late push to come second in the league but manager Gérard Houllier decided not to offer him a permanent deal after the end of the season in favour of signing El Hadji Diouf. Nevertheless, he was placed 96th in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop. Anelka opted to join newly promoted Manchester City F.C., and the £13 million fee paid by manager Kevin Keegan was a club record.

In January 2005, the speculation ended when Manchester City announced that Anelka had completed a £7 million transfer to Turkish team Fenerbahçe.[8] Anelka helped the Turkish club win the league title in 2005. In August of that same year, there was considerable speculation in the press that Anelka was being courted by Newcastle United for a return to English football, although the transfer never came about. Anelka stayed on at the Turkish club where he played with them in the UEFA Champions League, but they finished bottom of their group.

During the summer transfer window of 2006, press reports once again linked Anelka with a return to English football. Portsmouth F.C. manager Harry Redknapp was allegedly willing to either pay £8.2 million to bring the striker to Fratton Park, or take him on a season long loan.[9]

On 25 August 2006, Bolton Wanderers signed Anelka on a four-year deal for a club record of £8m.[10] Anelka made his debut for Bolton against Watford on 9 September 2006.[11] He finished the 2006-07 season as Bolton's top scorer with 11 goals.

During January 2007, Anelka stated that he would be willing to leave Bolton Wanderers for a return to former club Arsenal.[12] However, Anelka pledged his future to Bolton Wanderers in July 2007, following talks with manager Sammy Lee.[13] Anelka later said he would reluctantly consider leaving the club if Bolton's poor start to the 2007-08 season continues.[14] However, Anelka signed a new four year contract with Bolton Wanderers on 30 August, which would expire in 2011.[15]

Anelka with Chelsea
Anelka with Chelsea

On 11 January 2008 it was confirmed that Anelka would join Chelsea for £15 million[16], making him the most expensive player in footballing history, with £87 million having been spent on his services since he left Paris Saint Germain for Arsenal in 1997[17]. Anelka made his debut for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur on January 12, 2008. [18]. He scored his first goal for Chelsea on 26 January 2008 in the FA Cup 4th-round against Wigan Athletic, and scored his first league goal on 2 February against Portsmouth F.C..

In the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final, Anelka's seventh and decisive penalty was stopped by Edwin van der Sar, ultimately resulting in Manchester United winning the Champions League.

[edit] International career

At youth level, Anelka played for the French U-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and made his senior team debut for France in a goalless draw with Sweden on April 22, 1998. When striker Djibril Cissé was forced out of 2006 World Cup due to injury, Olympique Lyonnais' striker Sidney Govou was called up as Cissé's replacement rather than Anelka, who described the decision as a "real shame...I was completely available and ready to play in this World Cup. I think I could have helped France."

Anelka came on as a substitute in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania on 24 March 2007, and scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory. Following his performance, Anelka was praised by Raymond Domenech: "It is the Nicolas I like to see... when he shows these qualities, he is a candidate for a permanent place." [19] He also scored in the 2–0 victory against Ukraine on 2 June 2007, and is now one of Raymond Domenech's first-choice strikers, forming France's number one attacking partnership with Thierry Henry.

[edit] Personal

Anelka acted in the 2002 film Le Boulet as a footballer named Nicolas. He has stated that when he hangs up his boots, he would like to work in the film industry, because he has a friend in the business.[20] He said: "I have a friend who's a producer, who makes lots of films. He recently did Asterix. So it's already agreed that I'm going to do other films. It helps to know actors and producers. It's different to football and it's something I enjoy very much because there's no ball. I like pretending to be somebody else, it's fun."

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Club performance

As of 4 February 2008.[1][21]
Club Season Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Chelsea F.C. 2007-08 4 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 2
Club Season Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Bolton Wanderers 2007-08 18 10 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 22 11
2006-07 35 11 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 39 12
Club Season Prem League Turkish Cup --------- Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Fenerbahçe 2006-07 0 0 0 0 - - 2 0 0 0 2 0
2005-06 25 10 6 2 - - 6 0 0 0 37 12
2004-05 14 4 2 0 - - 2 0 0 0 18 4
Club Season Premiership FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Manchester City 2004-05 19 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 7
2003-04 32 17 4 4 2 0 5 4 0 0 43 25
2002-03 38 14 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 41 14
Liverpool Loan 2001-02 20 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 5
Club Season Ligue 1 French Cup Ligue Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Paris Saint-Germain 2001-02 12 2 0 0 0 0 7 3 0 0 19 5
2000-01 27 8 0 0 1 0 9 5 0 0 37 13
Club Season Primera Div Spanish Cup La Liga Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Real Madrid 1999-00 19 2 0 0 - - 9 2 11 4 39 8
Club Season Premiership FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Arsenal F.C. 1998-99 35 17 5 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 46 19
1997-98 26 6 9 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 40 9
1996-97 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Club Season Ligue 1 French Cup Ligue Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Paris Saint-Germain 1996-97 8 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 1
1995-96 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 338 114 33 11 11 1 52 16 12 5 446 147

[edit] International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 October 1998 Moscow, Russia Flag of Russia Russia 1-0 3-2 Euro 2000 qualification
2. 10 February 1999 London, England Flag of England England 1-0 2-0 Friendly match
3. 10 February 1999 London, England Flag of England England 2-0 2-0 Friendly match
4. 6 June 2000 Casablanca, Morocco Flag of Morocco Morocco 4-1 5-1 Friendly match
5. 16 August 2000 Marseille, France FIFA XI 5-0 5-1 Exhibition match
6. 30 May 2001 Daegu, Korea Flag of South Korea Korea Republic 3-0 5-0 2001 Confederations Cup
7. 9 November 2005 Fort-de-France, France Flag of Costa Rica Costa Rica 1-2 3-2 Friendly match
8. 11 October 2006 Sochaux, France Flag of the Faroe Islands Faroe Islands 3-0 5-0 Euro 2008 qualification
9. 24 March 2007 Kaunas, Lithuania Flag of Lithuania Lithuania 1-0 1-0 Euro 2008 qualification
10. 2 June 2007 Saint-Denis, France Flag of Ukraine Ukraine 2-0 2-0 Euro 2008 qualification
11. 13 October 2007 Torshavn, Faroe Islands Flag of the Faroe Islands Faroe Islands 1-0 6-0 Euro 2008 qualification

[edit] Career honours

Winner
Runner Up

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Soccerbase - Nicolas Anelka. Soccerbase.
  2. ^ Le future of Le Sulk. ITV-Football. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.
  3. ^ Sky Sports | Football | News | Anelka signs for Chelsea
  4. ^ ArseWEB - number 9 Nicolas Anelka. arseweb. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  5. ^ 39 Nicolas Anelka. ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved on 2007-07-09.
  6. ^ Nicolas Anelka. Football-heroes. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  7. ^ Apology Behind Him, Real Madrid's Forward Helps Break Bayern : A Goal Returns Anelka to Favor. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  8. ^ "Anelka completes Fenerbahce move", BBC Sport, 2005-01-31. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  9. ^ Portsmouth Close To Securing Transfer Deal With Fenerbahçe For Former Liverpool, Arsenal & Man City Striker Nicolas Anelka | Premiership Latest Football News
  10. ^ "Bolton sign Anelka in record deal", BBC Sport, 2006-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-07-09. 
  11. ^ "Allardyce buoyed by Anelka debut", BBC Sport, 2006-09-11. Retrieved on 2007-07-09. 
  12. ^ "Anelka's Wenger admiration", Sky Sports, 2007-01-23. Retrieved on 2007-07-09. 
  13. ^ "Anelka makes commitment to Bolton", BBC Sport, 2007-07-09. Retrieved on 2007-07-09. 
  14. ^ "Bolton form may mean Anelka exit", BBC Sport, 2007-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  15. ^ "Anelka signs new deal with Bolton", BBC Sport, 2007-08-30. Retrieved on 2007-08-30. 
  16. ^ Anelka signs for Blues.
  17. ^ Premier League Clubs Break Transfer Record.
  18. ^ Anelka shines as Chelsea win.
  19. ^ Daily Express: The World's Greatest Newspaper :: Other Sport :: Ronaldo rejoices
  20. ^ Football - Knowledge: has a journalist ever won an international cap? | Football | guardian.co.uk
  21. ^ Nicolas ANELKA. Yahoo! Sport. Retrieved on 2007-07-09.

[edit] External links


Awards
Preceded by
Michael Owen
PFA Young Player of the Year
1999
Succeeded by
Harry Kewell