Lamine Gassama

Lamine Gassama
Personal information
Full nameLamine Gassama
Date of birth20 October 1989
Place of birthMarseille, France
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionRight back
Club information
Current team
Lorient
Number25
Youth career
1997–2002Nouvelle Vague Jeunes
2002–2003Pennes Mirabeau
2003–2005Martigues
2005–2006Aubagne FC
2006–2008Lyon
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2012Lyon17(0)
2012–Lorient48(0)
National team‡
2008France U213(0)
2011–Senegal2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 May 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 February 2008

Lamine Gassama (born 20 October 1989) is a French-born Senegalese football player who plays for French club Lorient in Ligue 1.[1]

Football career

Early career

Gassama grew up in the neighbourhood of La Castellane in the city of Marseille.[2] He began his career playing for FC Martigues, just north of his hometown. After spending two years in the youth system, he returned to Marseille and joined local club Aubagne FC. There, he caught the attention of Olympique Lyonnais and joined the club's academy the following year.

Lyon

Before the start of the 2008–09 season, Gassama was promoted to the first-team squad participating in Lyon's pre-season tour. He appeared in all five matches including starts against Nîmes Olympique, Rapid Bucureşti, and AS Nancy. On 2 September 2008, it was announced by Lyon that Gassama had signed a professional contract keeping him with the champions until 2011.[3] He made his professional football debut on 29 October 2008 against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard starting in the right back position. The match resulted in a 2–0 victory with Gassama playing the full 90 minutes.[4]

Gassama made seven league appearances, and also made his debut in the UEFA Champions League starting Lyon's final group stage match against Bayern Munich, with his primary responsibility being to contain fellow Frenchman and the much more experienced Franck Ribéry. The matchup, in the end, was unquestionably in Ribéry's favor, as Lyon lost the match 2–3 with the French talisman being involved in two of Bayern's goals and Gassama being substituted out in the 64th minute.[5]

Lorient

On January 26, 2012, Gassama joined Lorient on a free transfer, after Olympique Lyonnais decided not to extended his contract.[6]

International career

Gassama made no appearances with any of France's youth squads. However, due to his performances with Lyon, he received a surprise call-up to the under-21 squad, who were looking to start fresh after their elimination from the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, for a friendly against Denmark. He made his under-21 debut in that match starting the match in the right back position before being subbed out in the 82nd minute. France would go on to win the match 1–0.

In May 2011, it was confirmed that Gassama would be representing Senegal at senior international level.[7] He made his debut on 10 August 2011 in a 0–2 friendly home defeat against Morocco.[8]

Career statistics

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Olympique Lyonnais 2008–09 70101010100
2009–10 6010002090
2010–11 4010000050
Total 170301030240
Career Total 170301030240

References

  1. ↑ "Lorient signs defender Gassama from Lyon". Fox News. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Razik Brikh, Gassama : "Pour gagner des trophées, c'est à l'OL qu'il faut jouer", Lyon Capitale, 13 December 2008
  3. ↑ Lamine Gassama passe pro (02/09/2008 )
  4. ↑ Lyon v. Sochaux Match Report
  5. ↑ Bayern hold on to edge past Lyon
  6. ↑ "Gassama joins Lorient". Olympique Lyonnais official website. 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  7. ↑ "Sénégal: M’Bengue, Gassama et Traoré, merci papa merci maman" (in French). Afrik. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "Morocco beats Senegal 2–0 in Dakar in friendly". Fox Sports. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.

External links