Jonathan Bru

Jonathan Bru
Personal information
Full nameJonathan Bru
Date of birth2 May 1985
Place of birthNeuilly-sur-Seine, France
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionDefensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
Oliveirense
Number5
Youth career
1995–1998CS Brétigny
1998–2001Clairefontaine
2001–2003Rennes
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2006Rennes B75(5)
2006Rennes1(0)
2006–2008Istres23(1)
2008–2009AEP20(0)
2009–2010Académica3(0)
2010–2011Oliveirense28(2)
2011–2012Moreirense11(1)
2012–2014Melbourne Victory19(0)
2014–Oliveirense13(2)
National team‡
2000–2001France U166(0)
2001–2002France U1713(1)
2002–2003France U188(1)
2003–2004France U198(1)
2004–2005France U211(0)
2010–Mauritius11(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 April 2014

Jonathan Bru (born 2 May 1985) is a Mauritian professional footballer who plays for Portuguese club U.D. Oliveirense and the Mauritius national team as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

France

Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, Bru played youth football at CS Brétigny, INF Clairefontaine and Stade Rennais FC. He began his professional career with the latter, making only one Ligue 1 appearance during his spell.

In the 2006 summer Bru moved to FC Istres in Ligue 2, playing nine games in his first year and being relegated.

Cyprus / Portugal

After one season with AEP Paphos F.C. in the Cypriot First Division, Bru joined Académica de Coimbra in Portugal, appearing in only four official matches in his debut campaign in the Primeira Liga. On 26 July 2010 he signed a one-year deal with Liga de Honra side U.D. Oliveirense,[1] scoring his first goal for his new club on 23 October in a 1–1 home draw against S.C. Freamunde.[2]

In August 2011, Bru continued in Portugal's second level, signing with Moreirense FC. He netted his first goal against his former team, the 3–2 game-winner on 2 October (away fixture).[3]

Australia

On 20 June 2012 Bru signed a two-year deal with two-time A-League champions Melbourne Victory FC, as Ange Postecoglou's first import signing.[4] He helped his new team to the preliminary finals in his first year by making 19 out of a possible 29 appearances, but also nearly came to blows with teammate Danny Allsopp after a training ground incident.[5]

On 8 January 2014, after spending several weeks training on his own,[6] Bru was released by the Victory.[7] After almost nine months without a club, he returned to Oliveirense and the Portuguese second division.[8]

International career

Bru represented France in almost every youth team, but never made an appearance for the senior side. In June 2009 he told Mauritian newspaper L'Express that he hoped to play one day for Mauritius, since both of his parents were born in the country.[9] The dream became a reality when Mauritius head coach Akbar Patel called him to the squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.[10]

Bru made his debut on 4 September 2010 in a 1–3 defeat at the hands of Cameroon, scoring the national team's goal through a penalty kick.[11] His second goal came on 5 June of the following year against DR Congo, also for the CAN qualifiers and from the penalty spot.

In August 2011 Bru was called up by Mauritius for the 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games, and played in all of the matches en route to the final, a loss to Seychelles on penalties.[12]

International goals

As of 5 June 2011
# Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 4 September 2010 Belle Vue Harel, Mauritius  Cameroon 1–3 Loss 2012 CAN qualification
2. 5 June 2011 Belle Vue Harel, Mauritius  DR Congo 1–2 Loss 2012 CAN qualification

Honours

Personal life

Bru's younger brother, Kévin, is also a footballer and a midfielder. He spent his career in the French lower leagues, and also represented Mauritius internationally.

References

  1. ↑ "Bru assina por uma época" [Bru signs for one season] (in Portuguese). Record. 26 July 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Oliveirense-Freamunde 1–1: Caminho das igualdades" [Oliveirense-Freamunde 1–1: Path of draws] (in Portuguese). Record. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Oliveirense-Moreirense, 2–3: Bru dá vitória aos forasteiros" [Oliveirense-Moreirense, 2–3: Bru gives win to outsiders] (in Portuguese). Record. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Victory down under for Mauritius star Bru". BBC Sport. 23 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Fighting and fit for Victory". The Age. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "A look at the Melbourne Victory squad ahead of the 2013/14 A-League season". Herald Sun. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Victory releases Bru from contract". The World Game. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Médio Jonathan Bru regressa à Oliveirense" [Midfielder Jonathan Bru returns to Oliveirense] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Jonathan Bru, young footballer: "I dream of playing for Club M"". L'Express. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Five expatriates called". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  11. ↑ "Eto'o lance le Cameroun" [Eto'o thrusts Cameroon] (in French). L'Équipe. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Victory sign Mauritius international Bru; Sidney Morning Herald, 20 June 2012

External links