Caroline Pizzala

Caroline Pizzala

Caroline Pizzala during PSG-Montpellier (season 2012-2013)
Personal information
Full name	Caroline Pizzala
Date of birth	(1987-11-23) 23 November 1987
Place of birth	Marseille, France
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Paris Saint-Germain
Number	20
Youth career
1994–1997	Marseille Sud d'Espagne
1997–2001	ASPTT Marseille
2001–2004	Celtic Marseille
2004–2005	CNFE Clairefontaine
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2006	CNFE Clairefontaine	22	(0)
2006–2007	Celtic Marseille	12	(3)
2007–	Paris Saint-Germain	78	(15)
National team‡
2007–	France	17	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 June 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 August 2011 (UTC)

Caroline Pizzala (born 23 November 1987 in Marseille) is a French football player who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain of the Division 1 Féminine. She plays as a central midfielder and is a member of the France women's national football team.

Club career

Early career

Pizzala began her career playing for local club in her hometown before settling in at Celtic Marseille in 2001. While playing with Celtic, she was teammates with fellow international Louisa Necib. Both players were instrumental in helping the club win the Division 3 Féminine, the third level of French women's football in 2004. In the league's final match, Pizzala scored a goal in a 4–0 win over Le Mans.^[1] In 2004, Pizzala and Necib were both selected to attend CNFE Clairefontaine, the women's section of the Clairefontaine academy. She spent three years at the academy and made 22 appearances scoring no goals in her final season. After departing the academy, Pizzala returned to Celtic Marseille and played with the club's senior team, who were now playing in D2 Féminine, the second division of football for women in France. With Celtic, she made 13 league appearances scoring two goals.

Paris Saint-Germain

Following the 2006–07 season, Pizzala signed with Paris Saint-Germain. Her inaugural season at the club saw Pizzala earn her international debut with France, though her domestic club struggled finishing mid-table. For the 2009–10 season, fellow internationals Camille Abily, Sonia Bompastor, and Élise Bussaglia joined Les Parisiens. The arrival of veterans have paid off for Paris Saint-Germain as the club reached first place in the league after the first ten matches. Pizzala appeared in all ten of those matches scoring two goals against Soyaux and La Roche-sur-Yon. In the 2009–10 edition of the Challenge de France, Pizzala scored two goals as Paris Saint-Germain reached the final. In the final, she scored a double as PSG cruised to a 5–0 victory over Montpellier. Pizzala finished the season with 25 total appearances and eight goals. Pizzala remained a starter for the 2010–11 season. She appeared in all 22 league matches scoring three goals as Paris Saint-Germain finished runner-up to the champions Lyon. The second-place finish resulted in Paris Saint-Germain qualifying for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

International career

Pizzala had previously starred with the women's under-17 team helping France win the bronze medal at the 2003 European Youth Festival, an early incarnation of what is now the UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship.^[2] In 2009, Pizzala appeared for her nation at the 2009 University Games, held in Belgrade, Serbia. Pizzala captained the team that finished in 4th place position after losing 4–1 to Great Britain in the bronze medal match. On 1 November 2007, she earned her first cap with the senior women's national team in a match against Netherlands. Since making her debut, Pizzala has featured in only one competitive match for France; a 2–0 away win over Slovenia in qualifying for UEFA Women's Euro 2009. The rest of her appearances have been in friendly matches.

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 12 June 2011^[3]

International

(Correct as of 25 August 2011)^[4]

Honours

Club

Celtic Marseille

• Division 3 Féminine (1): 2003–04

Paris Saint-Germain

• Challenge de France (1): 2009–10

References

External links

• Soccerway profile
• Caroline Pizzala – FIFA competition record

France squad – 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup 1 Deville 2 Renard 3 Boulleau 4 Georges 5 Meilleroux 6 Soubeyrand (c) 7 Franco 8 Bompastor 9 Le Sommer 10 Abily 11 Lepailleur 12 Thomis 13 Pizzala 14 Nécib 15 Bussaglia 16 Sapowicz 17 Thiney 18 Delie 19 Brétigny 20 Viguier 21 Philippe Coach: Bini