Bafétimbi Gomis

Bafétimbi Gomis

Personal information
Full name	Bafétimbi Fredius Gomis
Date of birth	6 August 1985 (1985-08-06)
Place of birth	La Seyne-sur-Mer, France
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Lyon
Number	18
Youth career
2001–2004	Saint-Étienne
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2009	Saint-Étienne	161	(47)
2005	→ Troyes (loan)	13	(6)
2009-	Lyon	82	(29)
National team‡
2001	France U-16	1	(0)
2008–	France	6	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 October 2011 (UTC)

Bafétimbi Gomis (French pronunciation: [bafetimbi ɡɔmis]; born 6 August 1985) is a French footballer who currently plays as a striker for Lyon and the French national team.

Club career

Saint-Étienne

Bafétimbi, also known as Baby Drogba, made thirteen appearances for Saint-Étienne in his first season with the club, scoring two league goals. In the next season, he made six goalless appearances for the club before going on loan to Troyes AC in a successful six-month loan deal, where he scored six goals in 13 games. The 2005–06 season was not as successful as the previous season as he made 24 league appearances for Saint-Étienne, scored only two league goals.

The 2006–07 season was when Gomis established himself with Saint-Étienne, scoring ten goals in 30 appearances. Gomis continued this form into the 2007–08 season where he scored an impressive 16 goals in 34 appearances.

On his future with Saint-Étienne, he said: "I am very happy to play for Saint-Étienne, but I don't know if I will still be there next season. The coach did his best for me to stay last summer, and he has improved me a lot. I am very happy with him at the helm. His stay at the club will be an essential factor for my future". He was watched by Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, and was thought to be on his transfer list in the summer preceding the 2008–09 league season. However, a move never materialized and Gomis remained at Saint-Étienne.

In an interview with French newspaper L'Équipe, Gomis stated he was attracted by a possible move to England, but revealed Serie A would be his preference. In the weeks leading up to the 2009 January transfer window, his name was again touted in speculation surrounding various Premier League sides, though he moved to allay the rumors, stating his desire to see out the Ligue 1 season with his current club.

Gomis' form in the 2008–09 season was scrutinized more heavily than it was in the previous season. Despite this, Gomis successfully netted five times in 17 league appearances, and excelled with his performances in the UEFA Cup, converting three times in four games, causing some commentators to state "Gomis, he don't miss", in regards to his formidable goal scoring prowess.

Lyon

On 29 July 2009, Olympique Lyonnais announced on that they had signed the striker for €13 million and the player had agreed to a five-year contract. Lyon agree deal to sign Gomis from St Etienne. With the move, Gomis becomes just the sixth player in French football history to transfer directly from Saint-Étienne to Derby du Rhône rivals Lyon.

Gomis bagged 4 goals in the last round of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage. He also created a new record for the fastest Champion League hat-trick ever scored beating the record owned by Mike Newell.

Career statistics

Club

As of 21 December 2011

Club	Season	League	League		Cup		Europe		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AS Saint-Étienne	2003–04	Ligue 2	11	2	3	0	–		14	2
	2004–05	Ligue 1	6	0	1	0	–		7	0
ES Troyes AC	2004–05	Ligue 2	13	6	–				13	6
AS Saint-Étienne	2005–06	Ligue 1	24	2	2	0	–		26	2
	2006–07	Ligue 1	30	10	4	3	–		34	13
	2007–08	Ligue 1	35	16	2	0	–		37	16
	2008–09	Ligue 1	36	10	3	2	8	4	47	16
Olympique Lyonnais	2009–10	Ligue 1	37	10	4	1	10	4	51	15
	2010–11	Ligue 1	35	10	3	2	7	2	45	14
	2011–12	Ligue 1	20	9	0	0	8	6	28	14
Career Total			246	73	22	8	33	16	301	97

International career

Although born in France, Gomis was eligible to play for both France and Senegal through his ancestry. On 8 May 2008, he said regarding his international future "I don't have to choose between the French or Senegalese teams, as I have not been called yet. The French team? It would be pretentious to ask for it, but I am not adverse to the French team".

On 18 May 2008, Gomis was called up for the provisional French Euro 2008 squad, ahead of experienced striker David Trézéguet. This was due to his particularly good form towards the end of Saint-Étienne's Ligue 1 campaign. Gomis scored two goals in 26 minutes in a Euro 2008 warm-up match against Ecuador on 27 May 2008. He was the first player to score twice in his debut for the national team since Zinédine Zidane. On 28 May 2008, he was selected in the French Euro 2008 squad ahead of Olympique de Marseille striker Djibril Cissé. On 9 June 2008, Gomis won his third cap by coming on as a substitute for Nicolas Anelka in the scoreless draw against Romania. On 7 October 2009 he collapsed in the training for the game against the Faroe Islands.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	May 27, 2008	Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, France	Ecuador	1–0	2–0	Friendly
2.	May 27, 2008	Stade des Alpes, Grenoble, France	Ecuador	2–0	2–0	Friendly

Honours

Saint-Étienne

• Ligue 2: 2003–04

Personal

• UNFP Player of the Month: January 2007

Internal link

• Journal pseudo-intime de Bafétimbi Gomis on paper but by numeric way through free download

External links

• Bafétimbi Gomis French league stats at LFP.fr (French)
• France U-17 season 2001–02