Gervinho

Gervinho

Personal information
Full name	Gervais Yao Kouassi
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Winger / Striker
Team information
Current team	Lille
Number	27
Youth career
1998–2002	Mimosas
2002–2004	Toumodi
2004–2005	Beveren
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Beveren	61	(14)
2007–2009	Le Mans	59	(8)
2009–	Lille	54	(25)
International career‡
2007–	Côte d'Ivoire	19	(5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 April 2011 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 December 2010 (UTC)

Gervais Yao Kouassi (born 27 May 1987), commonly known as Gervinho, is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a forward for French Ligue 1 club Lille OSC.

Career

Gervinho was born in Anyama, the same town as Hannover 96 striker, and Ivorian international Arouna Koné. He began his career in the famed ASEC Abidjan youth academy, where he spent five years. The Brazilian coach of this team gave him the Portuguese-Brazilian nickname 'Gervinho', derived from his surname 'Gervais.'

Following this, he moved to Ivorian Deuxieme Division Zone Four side Toumodi F.C., where Al-Ittihad striker Ibrahim Touré, the brother of Manchester City players Kolo Touré and Yaya Touré, spent some time playing.

After two seasons at Toumodi, he followed the well-trodden path of Ivorian players to Belgium Jupiler League outfit K.S.K. Beveren. He stayed here until the end of the 2006/07 season when he moved to French Ligue 1 side Le Mans, where he played alongside Ivorian international midfielder Romaric.

In May 2008, after an impressive first season in Ligue 1, it was reported that the striker was being monitored by French sides AS Monaco, Paris-Saint Germain and Marseille, as well as English Premiership's Arsenal. The report stated that the North London-based team had been long time admirers of Gervinho, with an offer having been tabled whilst he was playing in Belgium in the 2006/07 season.

Gervinho had been linked with a move to Arsenal F.C. Gervinho reiterated his desire for a "dream" move to Arsenal, confirming speculation that Arsenal were interested in him. He said he would have to keep working hard at Le Mans and Arsenal would "open the door" for him [3]. On 21 July 2009 the Ivory Coast striker, moved from Le Mans UC72 to league rivals Lille OSC, for a €8 million transfer fee and signed a three-year contract.

On 17 March 2011, he has been heavily linked with a £12 million move to Newcastle United along with fellow striker Moussa Sow. Gervinho was quoted saying "Newcastle are a good team, but Lille are currently top of Ligue 1 and I want to play in Europe next year, so we'll have to wait until summer to see where I am going". On 26 and 27 May, Gervinho was once again linked with a move to Arsenal.

International career

Gervinho is the captain for the Ivory Coast Olympic team. In September 2007 he scored along side Metin from the penalty spot to help secure the Ivorians a 3–1 victory over Mali in a Beijing 2008 qualifying game.

He was named in the Ivorian senior squad for the first time for the friendlies against Angola and Qatar in November 2007, and was picked for the Ivorian squad for their 2008 African Cup of Nations campaign in Ghana where he was given the number 97 shirt. He made his competitive debut for the Ivorian team during the 2008 Nations Cup where h two substitute appearances.

On 15 January 2010, Gervinho scored his third international goal in the CAF group stage game against Ghana.

He represented his country at the 2008 Olympic tournament. After Côte d'Ivoire lost to Argentina in the first match, Gervinho scored one goal and set up two others in a 3–2 victory over Serbia.

On 15 June 2010, Gervinho played his first match in a World Cup. He played 82 minutes of their opening match in Group G against European rivals Portugal. He was voted man of the match by ITV1 viewers for his contribution during the match.

Honours

• Ligue 1: 2011
• Coupe de France: 2011

External links

• Profile on ESPN
• Profile on Eurosport.fr
• Profile on Football.fr

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