Jérémy Mathieu

Jérémy Mathieu

Mathieu playing for Barcelona in 2014
Personal information
Full name Jérémy Mathieu
Date of birth (1983-10-29) 29 October 1983
Place of birth Luxeuil-les-Bains, France
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Defender
Club 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 53 (3)
National team‡
2000–2001 France U18 7 (0)
2001–2002 France U19 3 (1)
2002–2006 France U21 6 (2)
2011– France 5 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 October 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016 (UTC)

Jérémy Mathieu (French pronunciation: ​[ʒeʁemi matjø]; born 29 October 1983) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or a left-back for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the France national team.

He made 172 Ligue 1 appearances across seven seasons, split equally between Sochaux and Toulouse. He played five campaigns in La Liga with Valencia before joining Barcelona in 2014, where he won the treble in his first season.

A full international for France since 2011, he was selected in the squad to represent France at UEFA Euro 2016 but dropped out with injury on 28 May, to be replaced by Samuel Umtiti.[2]

Club career

Sochaux

Born in Luxeuil-les-Bains, Haute-Saône, Mathieu started his career with the biggest club in his Franche-Comté region, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. He made his Ligue 1 debut, during the 2002–03 season, in a league match against CS Sedan-Ardennes coming on as a late-match substitute.[3] 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 Stade Rennais.[4] He made 23 league appearances that season scoring four goals, which included an equalising goal against Paris Saint-Germain,[5] and two game-winning goals against Nantes[6] and Le Havre.[7] 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,[8] English clubs Newcastle United, Everton, and Southampton.[9]

Toulouse

Mathieu with Toulouse in 2008

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.[10] 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.[11] He continued this positive play appearing in 36 league matches and scoring two goals against AC Ajaccio and Troyes AC. 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,[12] and Toulouse finishing just one spot short of relegation. This led to Mathieu pondering his future with the Midi-Pyrénées-based side.[13]

Despite heavy interest from Italian side Roma and other Italian outfits,[14][15][16] 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 free 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.[17]

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

Mathieu challenging Chris Burke for the ball in a 2009 friendly at Cardiff City

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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20]

Barcelona

On 23 July 2014, Mathieu signed a contract with FC Barcelona for the next four seasons, with an optional season.[21] The cost of the transfer was €20 million and the buyout clause was set at €50 million.[22]

On 15 January 2015, he scored his first goal for Barça in a 4–0 Copa del Rey away win against Elche CF (9–0 on aggregate) after a spectacular direct free kick.[23] Mathieu scored his first La Liga goal for the club against rivals Real Madrid in a 2–1 El Clásico win at Camp Nou on 22 March 2015. In the team's next fixture, Mathieu scored the only goal in a 1–0 win at Celta de Vigo, to keep his team four points clear at the top of the league.[24]

In the 2015 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla FC in Tbilisi, he conceded a penalty with a foul on Vitolo, which was converted by Kévin Gameiro as the opponents came from 1–4 down to take the game into extra time; Barcelona nonetheless triumphed 5–4 with a goal scored by Pedro from a Lionel Messi free kick.[25]

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.[26]

Mathieu was named in France's squad for their hosting of UEFA Euro 2016, but dropped out with injury on 28 May, to be replaced by Samuel Umtiti.[27]

Career statistics

Club statistics

As of 19 October 2016[28]

Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sochaux 2002–03 2343000—264
2003–04 293326[lower-alpha 1]1—386
2004–05 342218[lower-alpha 1]1—444
Total 86983142—10814
Toulouse 2005–06 36220——382
2006–07 5220——72
2007–08 141002[lower-alpha 2]0—161
2008–09 31040——350
Total 8658020—965
Valencia 2009–10 171106[lower-alpha 3]0—241
2010–11 291207[lower-alpha 2]0—381
2011–12 3106013[lower-alpha 4]0—500
2012–13 171601[lower-alpha 2]0—241
2013–14 3234010[lower-alpha 3]1—464
Total 1266190371—1827
Barcelona 2014–15 282617[lower-alpha 2]0—413
2015–16 210703[lower-alpha 2]03[lower-alpha 5]0340
2016–17 4100101[lower-alpha 6]061
Total 53313111040814
Career totals 351234846434046730
  1. 1 2 All appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. 1 2 All appearances in Europa League
  4. ↑ Six appearances UEFA Champions League,Seven Appearances in Europa League
  5. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in Supercopa de España
  6. ↑ One appearance in Supercopa de España

    International statistics

    As of 12 February 2015[29]
    France
    YearAppsGoals
    201110
    201310
    201420
    201500
    201610
    Total50

    Honours

    Club

    Sochaux
    Barcelona

    Notes

    1. ↑ Includes cup competitions such as the Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue ,and Copa del Rey

    References

    1. ↑ "Jérémy Mathieu profile". FC Barcelona. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
    2. ↑ Parrish, Rob (28 May 2016). "UMTITI REPLACES MATHIEU IN FRANCE'S EURO 2016 SQUAD". Goal.com. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
    3. ↑ Sedan v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    4. ↑ Rennes v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    5. ↑ PSG v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    6. ↑ Nantes v. Sochaux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    7. ↑ Sochaux v. Le Havre Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    8. ↑ Juve watch Sochaux stars. Skysports.com (2012-12-23). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    9. ↑ Patrick Haond . Sochaux starlet in demand. Skysports.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    10. ↑ Patrick Haond . Sochaux open Mathieu talks. Skysports.com (2012-12-23). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    11. ↑ Sochaux v. Toulouse Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    12. ↑ James Dall (2007-09-09) Mathieu to undergo surgery. Skysports.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    13. ↑ Aurélien Léger-Moëc (2009-02-24) une destination surprise pour Jérémy Mathieu?. Footmercato.net. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    14. ↑ Jeremy Mathieu (2008-06-14) Mathieu eyes Roma move. Skysports.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    15. ↑ Fiorentina, Palermo chasing Toulouse wing-back Mathieu. Tribalfootball.com (2009-11-03). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    16. ↑ Genoa closing in on Mathieu. Ontheminute.com (2009-02-26). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    17. ↑ Toulouse block Mathieu move. Skysports.com. Archived 9 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
    18. ↑ Jeremy Mathieu, nuevo jugador del VCF. Valenciacf.com (2009-06-13). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
    19. ↑ "Last-gasp Sevilla snatch final berth from Valencia". UEFA. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
    20. ↑ "Ronaldo snatches a point for Real". Sky Sports. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
    21. ↑ "Barcelona complete £16m signing of Jérémy Mathieu from Valencia". The Guardian. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
    22. ↑ "Agreement for the incorporation of Jérémy Mathieu". FC Barcelona. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
    23. ↑ "Cuando el trámite se convierte en un placer" [When the procedure becomes a pleasure] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
    24. ↑ "Celta de Vigo 0-1 Barcelona". BBC. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
    25. ↑ "Barcelona 5-4 Sevilla". BBC Sport. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
    26. ↑ "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.
    27. ↑ Parrish, Rob (28 May 2016). "UMTITI REPLACES MATHIEU IN FRANCE'S EURO 2016 SQUAD". Goal.com. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
    28. ↑ Jérémy Mathieu profile at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
    29. ↑ Mathieu at National-Football-Teams.com
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