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Sébastien Squillaci

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Sébastien Squillaci
Personal information
Full name Sébastien Squillaci
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 18
Youth career
1986–1996 Seynois
1996–1997 Toulon
1998–2000 Monaco
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Toulon 5 (0)
2000–2006 Monaco 117 (11)
2000–2002 → Ajaccio (loan) 69 (7)
2006–2008 Lyon 62 (3)
2008–2010 Sevilla 49 (1)
2010– Arsenal 22 (1)
International career‡
2001–2002 France U21 4 (0)
2004– France 21 (0)
Medal record
Representing  France
Men's Football
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Tunis Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2011
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 May 2011

Sébastien Squillaci (French pronunciation: [sebastjɛ̃ skilaˈsi]; born 11 August 1980) is a French international footballer who plays for Arsenal in the Premier League. He plays as a central defender and is described as a player who "reads the game well" and is "strong in the air and on the ground".[2] Squillaci is nicknamed in France as simply Toto in reference to his surname, which is similar to former Italian international Salvatore Schillaci, who was the first to acquire the nickname.[3]

Squillaci began his football career playing for hometown club club FC Seynois in the commune of La Seyne-sur-Mer. In 1996, he joined Sporting Toulon and made his professional debut in the 1997–98 season, while the club was playing in Ligue 2. After a year with Toulon, Squillaci joined Monaco. He spent two seasons on the club's reserve team before joining AC Ajaccio on loan for two years. Squillaci returned to Monaco in 2002 and contributed to the team that won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2003. He also featured in European competition for the first time in his career and, in the 2003–04 season, played on the Monaco team that reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final. In that same season domestically, Squillaci was named to the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 1 Team of the Year. In 2006, Squillaci signed a long-term contract with league rivals Olympique Lyonnais and won two consecutive league titles, as well as the Coupe de France in 2008 before departing for Spain in 2008 to join Sevilla. With Sevilla, he appeared in over 65 matches and won the Copa del Rey in his final season with the club. In 2010, Squillaci signed a three-year contract with English club Arsenal.

Squillaci is a France international. Prior to playing at senior level, he played at under-20 and under-21 level. At under-21 level, he played on the team that won the bronze medal at the 2001 Mediterranean Games. Squillaci made his senior international debut in August 2004 in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has participated in UEFA Euro 2008, as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup for his nation. In both major tournaments combined, Squillaci has appeared in only one match, which came in the team's final group stage match against South Africa at the 2010 World Cup.

Personal life

Squillaci was born in the commune of Toulon and was raised in nearby La Seyne-sur-Mer. On 12 May 2007, for his positive representation of La Seyne, the commune honored the player by naming a stadium after him. The Stade de Squillaci is currently being occupied by amateur club Avenir Sportif de Mar.[4] Squillaci is of Corsican descent through both his mother and father. The couple moved to the mainland from the commune of Ghisonaccia in Haute-Corse. Squillaci is married and has a son, Aaron.[5] He is a member of Champions for Peace, which is a group of 54 athletes that are committed to serving peace in the world through sport. The group was created by Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organization.

Club career

Early career

Squillaci began his football career playing for hometown club FC Seynois. While training at La Seyne, he was described by his coach Franck Seva as a "lovely, quiet boy".[6] Squillaci spent a decade at the club before moving to professional club Sporting Toulon in 1996 at the age of 16. He was originally a defensive midfielder and spent only one season in the club's youth academy, where he was supervised by former club player Christian Dalger.[5] Squillaci began the 1997–98 season playing on the club's reserve team. Following the firing of Albert Emon mid-season, he was replaced with Dalger. In March 1998, Dalger, subsequently, called up Squillaci to the first team and he made his professional debut on 7 March 1998 in a 1–0 league win over Nice appearing as a substitute for Victor Agali.[7] With Toulon in a relegation battle, Squillaci made substitute appearances in wins over Lille, Le Mans, and Lorient and defeats to Martigues and Red Star Paris.[8][9][10][10][11] Toulon ultimately finished the campaign in 20th place, which resulted in the club's relegation to the Championnat National, the third level of French football. Squillaci finished the season with five appearances in the league and one in the Coupe de France. Toulon, surprisingly, reached the Round of 16 in the latter competition.

Monaco

Due to not being under a professional contract while playing with Toulon, Squillaci was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer. He was recruited by Monaco and joined the club in 1998. Following his signing, Squillaci was inserted onto the club's reserve team, which was playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football. He spent two years playing on the club's reserve team from 1998 to 2000 amassing over 45 appearances. After failing to establish himself under Claude Puel, Monaco officials announced that Squillaci would be heading to Corsica to join Ligue 2 club AC Ajaccio on loan. In two seasons with the club, Squillaci appeared in over 70 matches and helped the club achieve promotion to Ligue 2.

After Puel's departure and the appointment of new manager Didier Deschamps, Squillaci joined Monaco in 2002. In his first full season as a player for his side. Facing Real Madrid in the quarter finals of the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, they progressed despite losing 4–2 in Madrid, due to the 3–1 victory in the return leg, thus advancing through to the semi-finals on the away goals rule where they beat Chelsea.[12][13][14] Their run came to an end when they suffered a 3–0 defeat to Portuguese giants FC Porto in the final.[15][16] Squillaci made 117 appearances for the club over six seasons.

Olympique Lyonnais

After the departure of Deschamps and a disappointing 11th place finish after years of European qualification, Squillaci opted to play elsewhere. He was linked to several clubs before inking a four-year deal with Olympique Lyonnais with Lyon's Sylvain Monsoreau heading the other way as compensation for Monaco.[17] Squillaci made his debut for Lyon in their opening match of the Ligue 1 season pairing with the Brazilian centre back Cris. Lyon would go on to dominate the season winning the league by an unprecedented 18 points. Squillaci went on to establish himself as the first choice centre back, along with Brazilian international Cris, at Lyon.

Sevilla FC

On the 14 July 2008, it was reported that Lyon had reached an agreement with Sevilla FC for the transfer of Squiallaci for a transfer fee of £6m.[18] Squillaci agreed to a three-year deal.[19] Six months after his departure from Sevilla, in January 2011, officials of Squillaci's second club Toulon confirmed that the club was seeking €150,000 in compensation from Spanish club Sevilla. The compensation Toulon is seeking is related to a trainers' fee, in which clubs who trained a player from ages 12–18 are guaranteed 5% of any future transfer fee. Sevilla has agreed to meet with the Toulon, but no agreement has been reached.[20]

Arsenal

Squillaci joined Arsenal F.C. on a three-year contract in the summer of 2010, taking squad number 18, after it was vacated by Mikaël Silvestre. Following an injury to centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, Squillaci formed a central defensive partnership with fellow new signing, Laurent Koscielny. However as the season developed, Wenger preferred Johan Djourou instead of Squillaci. Squillaci scored his first goal for Arsenal in the Champions League group stage against Partizan Belgrade. His first Premier League goal came in a match against Stoke on 23 February 2011 following a cross from Nicklas Bendtner. During the 2010–11 season, Squillaci made 32 appearances and has scored 2 goals for the Gunners in all competitions.

International career

Squillaci has been a regular France international since 2004, making his debut in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[21] He currently has 21 caps for France.

Club career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of 15 May 2011

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Toulon 1997–98 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0
Total 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0
Monaco B 1998–99 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 1 0
1999–00 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 0
Total 48 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 48 1 0
Ajaccio (loan) 2000–01 36 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 37 2 0
2001–02 33 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 34 5 0
Total 69 7 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 71 7 0
Monaco 2002–03 35 2 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 40 3 0
2003–04 27 5 0 3 0 0 11 1 0 41 6 0
2004–05 28 2 0 2 0 0 6 0 0 36 2 0
2005–06 27 2 0 3 0 0 6 1 0 36 3 0
Total 117 11 0 13 1 0 23 2 0 153 14 0
Lyon 2006–07 28 3 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 37 3 0
2007–08 34 0 0 4 1 0 8 0 0 46 1 0
Total 62 3 0 8 1 0 13 0 0 83 4 0
Sevilla 2008–09 33 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 38 0 0
2009–10 16 1 0 9 0 0 6 2 0 31 3 0
Total 49 1 0 11 0 0 9 2 0 69 3 0
Arsenal 2010–11 22 1 0 4 0 0 6 1 0 32 2 0
Total 22 1 0 4 0 0 6 1 0 32 2 0
Career total 371 24 0 38 2 0 50 5 0 459 33 0

International

Statistics accurate as of 22 June 2010[22]

National team Season Apps Goals Assists
France 2004–05 8 0 0
2005–06 2 0 0
2006–07 1 0 0
2007–08 2 0 0
2008–09 3 0 0
2009–10 5 0 0
2010–11 0 0 0
Total 21 0 0

Honours

Club

Ajaccio
Monaco
Lyon
Sevilla

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Sébastien Squillaci Premier League Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  2. ^ "Sébastien Squillaci ESPN Profile". ESPN. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  3. ^ Benedict, Luke (24 August 2010). "Sebastien Squillaci comes to the rescue for Arsene Wenger as Arsenal land £6.5m defender". Daily Mail. UK. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Un Seynois À La Coupe Du Monde" (in French). Arthur Paecht. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Sébastien Squillaci sort l'Arsenal" (in French). Var-Matin. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  6. ^ "La Seyne "Toto" et "Bafé" : deux Seynois à l'Euro" (in French). Var-Matin. 31 May 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Toulon v. Nice Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 7 March 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Toulon v. Le Mans Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 24 April 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Lorient v. Toulon Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 8 May 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Toulon v. Red Star Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 5 May 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  11. ^ "Toulon v. Martigues Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 7 April 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Madrid felled by Morientes". Union of European Football Assoictaions. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  13. ^ "Ten-man Monaco dazzle Chelsea". Union of European Football Assoictaions. 20 April 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  14. ^ "Morientes has the final say". Union of European Football Assoictaions. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  15. ^ "Porto 3–0 Monaco". BBC Sport. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Porto perform to perfection". Union of European Football Assoictaions. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  17. ^ Patrick Haond. "Squillaci poised for Lyon". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  18. ^ "Sevilla strike defender deal". Sky Sports. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  19. ^ "Squillaci à Séville mercredi" (in French). Football 365. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  20. ^ "Le Sporting de Toulon réclame toujours 150 000 euros pour Squillaci" (in French). Var-Matin. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  21. ^ "France go for youthful line-up". ESPNsoccernet. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  22. ^ "SQUILLACI Sébastien". French Football Federation. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
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