Jérémy Mathieu
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jérémy Mathieu | ||
Date of birth | 29 October 1983 | ||
Place of birth | Luxeuil-les-Bains, France | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Barcelona | ||
Number | 24 | ||
Youth career | |||
2000–2002 | Sochaux | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2002–2005 | Sochaux | 86 | (9) |
2005–2009 | Toulouse | 86 | (5) |
2009–2014 | Valencia | 126 | (6) |
2014– | Barcelona | 13 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2000–2001 | France U18 | 7 | (0) |
2001–2002 | France U19 | 3 | (1) |
2002–2006 | France U21 | 6 | (2) |
2011– | France | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 December 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 October 2014 |
Jérémy Mathieu (born 29 October 1983) is a French professional footballer who plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left back.
Club career
Sochaux
Mathieu started his career with the biggest club in the Franche-Comté region, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. He made his Ligue 1 debut, during the 2002–03 season, in a league match against CS Sedan coming on as a late-match substitute.[1] Despite being 18, he was inserted into the starting 11, and quickly provided an impact scoring his first professional goal in just his third league match in a 2–2 draw against Rennes.[2] He made 23 league appearances that season scoring four goals, which included an equalising goal against Paris Saint-Germain,[3] and two game-winning goals against Nantes[4] and Le Havre.[5] His play, along with the team itself, was a main factor in the club finishing 5th and qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
Over the next two seasons, Mathieu continued his great form appearing in 63 league matches and scoring six league goals. He also performed well in Europe appearing in 14 matches and scoring two goals. He also helped Sochaux win the Coupe de la Ligue in 2004. His performances at Sochaux led to strong interest from Italian club Juventus,[6] English clubs Newcastle United, Everton, and Southampton.[7]
Toulouse
After announcing his desire to move to another club and only having one year left on his current deal, Sochaux agreed to listen to offers for the player.[8] Eventually, he agreed to join Toulouse after agreeing to a four-year deal. He made his league debut for Toulouse against his former club Sochaux playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory.[9] He continued this positive play appearing in 36 league matches and scoring two goals against AC Ajaccio and Troyes. The following season, he made 32 league appearances and score another two goals helping Toulouse qualify for the UEFA Champions League. However, both Mathieu and Toulouse had a horrible 2007–08 season with Mathieu fracturing a bone in his foot, which forced him to miss half the season,[10] and Toulouse finishing just one spot short of relegation. This led to Mathieu pondering his future with the Midi-Pyrénées-based side.[11]
Despite heavy interest from Italian side Roma and other Italian outfits,[12][13][14] Toulouse refused to budge with efforts to get Mathieu to remain at the club. Mathieu responded by turning down a contract extension, which effectively allowed him to leave on a Bosman transfer at the end of the 2008–09 season. Eventually it was agreed by Toulouse and Mathieu that the player would see out the season at Toulouse, after Toulouse turned down a €4.5 million move to Bordeaux.[15]
Despite the ongoing transfer situation, Mathieu remained civil in regards to playing. He made 31 league appearances during the 2008–09 season, contributing to Toulouse's successful league campaign, as well as the team's success in the Coupe de France, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by the eventual champions Guingamp.
Valencia
On 10 June 2009, it was announced that Mathieu would be Unai Emery's first signing of the summer after Spanish club Valencia CF secured the left back on a three-year deal. The transfer came into effect on 1 July 2009.[16] He made his debut for the club in a 2–0 win over Sevilla FC.
On 1 May 2014, Mathieu looked to have scored the goal to send Valencia through to the 2014 UEFA Europa League Final when he scored off of Ricardo Costa's lay-off, making the score 3−0 against Sevilla (3−2 on aggregate) but Stéphane Mbia scored a 94th minute header to win the semi-final on away goals for the Andalusian side.[17] Three days later, Mathieu headed in a corner to send Valencia into a 1−0 lead at the Santiago Bernabéu but Real Madrid battled back to secure a 2−2 draw as Valencia conceded another late stoppage time goal.[18]
Barcelona
On 23 July 2014, Mathieu signed a contract with FC Barcelona for the next four seasons, with an optional season.[19] The cost of the transfer was €20 million and the buyout clause was set at €50 million.[20]
International career
Mathieu has received caps with all of France's youth teams beginning with the U-15s. Though, he was a regular with the under-21 squad leading up to the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, he was not selected to participate in the event. He received his first call-up to the senior squad for their friendly against Slovakia. However, he played with the second team, France B, who were playing Slovakia B.
He made his national team debut in a friendly against the United States at the Stade de France on 11 November 2011, playing the full 90 minutes.[21]
Personal life
Mathieu is married and enjoys smoking cigarettes while off the pitch.[22] His smoking habit was so common while at Valencia that the club asked him to give up smoking on several occasions and even talked to his wife in hopes she could persuade him.[23]
Club statistics
As of 13 December 2014
Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Sochaux | 2002–03 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 4 |
2003–04 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 38 | 6 | |
2004–05 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 44 | 4 | |
Total | 86 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 108 | 14 | |
Toulouse | 2005–06 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
2006–07 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
2007–08 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
2008–09 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
Total | 86 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 5 | |
Valencia | 2009–10 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
2010–11 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
2011–12 | 31 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
2012–13 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
2013–14 | 32 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 46 | 4 | |
Total | 126 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 182 | 7 | |
Barcelona | 2014–15 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
Total | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
Career totals | 311 | 20 | 36 | 3 | 55 | 3 | 402 | 26 |
References
- ^ Sedan v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Rennes v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ PSG v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Nantes v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Sochaux v. Le Havre Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Juve watch Sochaux stars. Skysports.com (2012-12-23). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Patrick Haond . Sochaux starlet in demand. Skysports.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Patrick Haond . Sochaux open Mathieu talks. Skysports.com (2012-12-23). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Sochaux v. Toulouse Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ James Dall (2007-09-09) Mathieu to undergo surgery. Skysports.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Aurélien Léger-Moëc (2009-02-24) une destination surprise pour Jérémy Mathieu?. Footmercato.net. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Jeremy Mathieu (2008-06-14) Mathieu eyes Roma move. Skysports.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Fiorentina, Palermo chasing Toulouse wing-back Mathieu. Tribalfootball.com (2009-11-03). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Genoa closing in on Mathieu. Ontheminute.com (2009-02-26). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Toulouse block Mathieu move. Skysports.com.[dead link]
- ^ Jeremy Mathieu, nuevo jugador del VCF. Valenciacf.com (2009-06-13). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ "Last-gasp Sevilla snatch final berth from Valencia". UEFA. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "Ronaldo snatches a point for Real". Sky Sports. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "Barcelona complete £16m signing of Jérémy Mathieu from Valencia". The Guardian. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Agreement for the incorporation of Jérémy Mathieu". FC Barcelona. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Loic Remy scores only goal as Laurent Blanc's France beat Jurgen Klinsmann's USA in Paris". The Guardian. Associated Press. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "'I smoke when I want' - Mathieu risks Barcelona ire". Goal.com. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "Mathieu: "I don't smoke much but I do it when I want"". Marca. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
External links
- Use dmy dates from October 2011
- 1983 births
- Living people
- People from Luxeuil-les-Bains
- French footballers
- Association football defenders
- Association football midfielders
- Ligue 1 players
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players
- Toulouse FC players
- La Liga players
- Valencia CF players
- FC Barcelona players
- French expatriate footballers
- French expatriates in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- France international footballers
- France under-21 international footballers
- France youth international footballers