Sidney Govou

Sidney Govou

Personal information
Full name	Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou
Date of birth	27 July 1979 (1979-07-27)
Place of birth	Le Puy-en-Velay, France
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Right winger
Club information
Current club	Évian
Number	8
Youth career
1996–1999	Lyon
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2010	Lyon	294	(49)
2010–2011	Panathinaikos	18	(1)
2011–	Évian	11	(0)
National team‡
2002–2010	France	49	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:30, 16 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:30, 6 January 2012 (UTC)

Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou (French pronunciation: [sidnɛ ɡɔvu]) (born 27 July 1979) is a French international footballer of Beninese descent who currently plays for Évian Thonon Gaillard FC. Govou is a naturally attacking player but rarely plays as a striker, he is more commonly deployed as a winger. His main attribute is his pace. At the start of the 09/10 season Govou was given the captain's armband of Lyon after the departure of Juninho Pernambucano.

Club career

Lyon

Staying at school to complete his studies to a comparatively late age for a footballer, Govou was a late-comer to the sporting world, joining Lyon's youth academy at the age of 17 in 1996. Loyal to his first club, until 2010, Govou had played at the Stade Gerland for his entire professional career. Govou broke onto the scene during the 2000-01 Ligue 1 season helping Lyon finish in second, just four points behind champions FC Nantes. Because of his great performances for the club, Govou won the 2001 Young Player of the Year Award in Ligue 1.

Govou has often been criticised for his lack of composure in front of goal, especially in high-pressure situations, which partly explains why he now occupies a deeper role, often in wide positions, rather than playing as the focal point of the team's attack. His offensive role, however, does not prevent him from often playing an important role in recovering possession for his team, due largely to his great athletic capabilities and high levels of fitness. He also has a good heading ability.

During the 2004–05 season, Paul Le Guen handed Govou the captain's armband during the long absence of club captain Claudio Caçapa due to injury. Le Guen's decision was largely motivated by the loyalty displayed towards the club by Govou, in face of much speculation linking him with moves away from the club.^{[citation needed]} Indeed, for the last three seasons Govou had been regularly linked to possible transfers away from Lyon, much helped by Govou's admittance to finding the possibility of playing abroad an attractive one.

Govou and Lyon endured a difficult 2009-10 Ligue 1 campaign. He appeared in 30 league games for Lyon, starting 22, but managed just two goals and two assists as Lyon finished runners up to Marseille. In November 2009, Lyon hosted Marseille at the Stade Gerland in what would become an epic encounter. Govou scored a memorable goal in the 14' minute, making a sensational run with the ball from beyond midfield and then slotting it past Steve Mandanda to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. The game would go back and forth for the rest of the match, with Lyon leading 5-4 in the 90' minute until an own goal from Jeremy Toulalan meant that the points would be shared. Lyon eventually finished in second spot, securing Champions League football because of winning four of their last five league matches.

Panathinaikos

On 2 July 2010, Govou signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos, with the playmaker reportedly earning €1.5 million a year. On 14 September 2010, he scored against Barcelona at the Nou Camp to give Panathinaikos the lead, although they eventually lost the game 5–1. On 2 July 2011, it was announced by Panathinaikos that Govou had been released from the club by mutual consent. The player was partly released because of Panathinaikos' financial problems, and it was reported that other French players Djibril Cisse and Jean-Alain Boumsong would exit to free up the cheque book. During his time at the club, he was punished twice for inappropriate behavior related to "late night activities". Govou appeared in 23 games and scored three goals in all competitions for Panathinaikos.

Évian

On 5 July 2011, Govou signed a two-year contract with newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Évian. He made his debut for the club in their first ever Ligue 1 game away to Stade Brest. Govou played the full 90 minutes and helped his new squad to a 2-2 draw, earning their first ever point in the French top flight.

International career

He was not selected initially for the Euro 2004 or 2006 World Cup competitions, but was called up to join the French squads to replace players Ludovic Giuly and Djibril Cissé respectively, both suffering injuries shortly before the start of the competitions.

Govou scored two goals in France's 3–1 win over world champions Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifier. The game was the first meeting between the two teams since Italy beat France in the 2006 World Cup final. Govou scored his first goal by heading, just 67 seconds into the game. His second came in the 55th minute.

Govou also represented his country at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Govou appeared in all three group games for France, as Les Blues finished last in Group A and managed just one goal. Govou started against Uruguay and Mexico and came on as a late substitute against South Africa.

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	12 October 2002	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Slovenia	5 – 0	5 – 0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2.	20 June 2003	Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne, France	Japan	2 – 1	2 – 1	2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
3.	18 February 2004	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	1 – 0	2 – 0	Friendly match
4.	6 September 2006	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Italy	1 – 0	3 – 1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
5.	6 September 2006	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Italy	3 – 1	3 – 1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
6.	16 November 2007	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Morocco	1 – 1	2 – 2	Friendly match
7.	21 November 2007	Olimpiysky, Kiev, Ukraine	Ukraine	2 – 1	2 – 2	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
8.	20 August 2008	Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Sweden	2 – 1	3 – 2	Friendly match
9.	20 August 2008	Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Sweden	3 – 1	3 – 2	Friendly match
10.	6 September 2008	Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Austria	1 – 2	1 – 3	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

With Lyon

Winner:

• Ligue 1 in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Coupe de France: 2008
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2001
• Trophée Des Champions: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007

With France

Winner:

• FIFA Confederation Cup: 2003

Runner-up:

• FIFA World Cup: 2006

Personal life

He and his ex-girlfriend Pascale have a daughter named Naomy, she was born on 11 February 2005.

External links

• Sidney Govou statistics at uk.soccerway.com
• ESPN Profile
• Sidney Govou French league stats at LFP.fr (French)
• Sidney Govou at National-Football-Teams.com