David Sommeil facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Laurent Sommeil | ||
| Date of birth | 10 August 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Saint-Lô | ||
| 1993 | Caen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1998 | Caen | 119 | (1) |
| 1998–2000 | Rennes | 64 | (1) |
| 2000–2002 | Bordeaux | 77 | (1) |
| 2002–2006 | Manchester City | 49 | (4) |
| 2004 | → Marseille (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Sheffield United | 5 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Valenciennes | 20 | (0) |
| Total | 347 | (7) | |
| International career | |||
| 2007 | Guadeloupe | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
David Laurent Sommeil, born on August 10, 1974, is a former professional football player from Guadeloupe. He was a strong defender on the field.
He played his whole career in France and England. He started with Caen, then played for Rennes and Bordeaux. Later, he joined Premier League teams Manchester City and Sheffield United. He also had a loan spell back in France with Marseille. David retired from playing in 2008 with Valenciennes. He played eight times for the Guadeloupe national team and took part in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Contents
David's Football Journey
Starting in France
David Sommeil was born in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. He began his football journey with a non-league team called Saint-Lô. He then became a professional player with SM Caen. His first professional game was on February 8, 1994, against Le Havre AC.
After playing for Caen, he moved to Rennes. He became well-known when he played for Bordeaux. While at Bordeaux, he even played for the French national 'B' team.
Playing in England: Manchester City
In January 2003, Kevin Keegan, the manager of Manchester City, signed David Sommeil. He joined the team for about £3 million and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract.
David started well, playing in many first-team games. He was the first Manchester City player to score a league goal at the City of Manchester Stadium. This happened in the first home game of the 2003–04 season. However, he lost his regular spot in January and did not play as much in the next two seasons.
Loan to Marseille and Injuries
In February 2004, David went on loan to Olympique Marseille in France. This was part of a deal where another player, Daniel Van Buyten, came to Manchester City on loan.
David returned to Manchester City for the 2004–05 season. But he had many injuries that year and only played in two games. In the 2005–06 season, he played in only 16 games. This was partly because he fractured his cheek bone, which made him wear a protective mask when he returned. He also received a three-game ban for a challenge during a match.
Moving to Sheffield United
David's contract with Manchester City ended in May 2006. He had played less than 50 games for the club. He was one of ten players released by Manchester City.
However, he quickly returned to the Premier League. On May 24, 2006, he signed a two-year contract with Sheffield United, a team that had just been promoted. David played only five league games for Sheffield United after joining them.
Return to France and Health Scare
On July 19, 2007, David left Sheffield United. He signed a two-year deal with Valenciennes FC, a team in France's Ligue 1.
During a training session with Valenciennes on August 20, 2008, David had a serious health issue. The 34-year-old player collapsed. After six days in a coma, he woke up but could not speak right away. By October 9, he had started to speak again and could use both of his arms. He was also able to walk again, and his condition kept getting better.
Achievements and Awards
David Sommeil achieved some notable successes during his football career:
- Caen
* Won the French Division 2 title in 1996.
- Bordeaux
* Won the Coupe de la Ligue (French League Cup) in the 2001–02 season.
See also
In Spanish: David Sommeil para niños
