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Gaël Clichy
Gael Clichy, Premier League parade 11-12 (cropped).jpg
Clichy with Manchester City, celebrating winning the Premier League in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-07-26) 26 July 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Toulouse, France
Height 1.76 m
Playing position Left-back
Youth career
1990–1996 Hersoise
1996–1997 Matador F.C
1997–1998 Muret
1998–2000 Tournefeuille
2000–2002 Cannes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Cannes 15 (0)
2003–2011 Arsenal 187 (1)
2011–2017 Manchester City 138 (2)
2017–2020 İstanbul Başakşehir 87 (3)
2020–2023 Servette 79 (1)
Total 506 (7)
National team
2004–2005 France U21 13 (0)
2008–2013 France 20 (0)
Teams managed
2023– France U21 (assistant)
Honours
Men's football
Representing  France
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runner-up 2002
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Gaël Dimitri Clichy (born 26 July 1985) is a French former professional footballer. He played as a left-back. He is currently an assistant coach for the France national under-21 team. Clichy was known for his incredible stamina and speed on the field. He was also very good at tackling and moving the ball forward.

Clichy was born in Toulouse, France. He started his football journey at small amateur clubs. In 2001, he joined the professional club Cannes. He made his professional debut in the 2002–03 season. In 2003, Arsène Wenger, a famous French manager, convinced Clichy to join Arsenal in England.

In his first season with Arsenal (2003–04), Clichy was part of the famous "Invincibles" team. This team went the entire league season without losing a single match! At just 18 years old, Clichy became the youngest player to win a Premier League medal. After playing for Arsenal for many years, he moved to Manchester City in 2011. There, he won two more Premier League titles and two League Cups. In 2017, he moved to Turkey to play for İstanbul Başakşehir, where he won another league title in 2020.

Clichy also played for the French national team. He represented France at different youth levels before playing for the senior team. He played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.

Early Life and a Big Scare

Gaël Clichy grew up in Toulouse, France. His mother was a nurse, and his father was an educator. His father also coached and refereed football games, helping Gaël with his early training.

When Gaël was 15 and playing for Cannes, he had a very serious accident. While climbing a fence, his ring got caught, and he badly injured his finger. During the long surgery to fix it, he faced a serious health scare, but thankfully, he recovered fully. This experience made him realize how precious life is. He said it taught him to enjoy every moment and not to have regrets.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in France

Clichy began playing football at age five for his local club, AS Hersoise. His father played a big role in his training. Even though Gaël was naturally right-footed, his father encouraged him to use his left foot. He even joked that he would disallow goals scored with Gaël's right foot! This helped Gaël become very skilled with his left foot.

After playing for a few local clubs, Clichy joined Cannes in 2000. He started in their youth academy. He later moved up to the senior team in the 2002–03 season. He played 15 matches for Cannes before moving to England.

Joining Arsenal: The Invincibles!

Gael Clichy Arsenal vs Birmingham 2010-11
Clichy with Arsenal

In 2003, Arsène Wenger, the manager of Arsenal, saw Clichy's talent. Wenger visited Clichy's family and promised him a chance to play. This convinced Gaël to join Arsenal.

Clichy started as a backup to Ashley Cole, a famous English player. He made his debut for Arsenal in October 2003. In his first season, Arsenal had an amazing year. They went undefeated in the Premier League, earning the nickname "The Invincibles." Clichy, at 18 years and 10 months, became the youngest player to win a Premier League medal.

He also won the FA Community Shield with Arsenal in 2004. Clichy faced some injuries during his time at Arsenal, especially with his foot. However, he worked hard to recover.

Becoming a Regular Starter

Antonio Valencia vs Gael Clichy
Clichy defending against Antonio Valencia in the 2007–08 season.

In 2006, Ashley Cole left Arsenal, which opened the door for Clichy to become the main left-back. He made a strong return from injury in October 2006.

The 2007–08 season was one of Clichy's best. He played in all 38 league matches and had a career-high six assists. His great performances earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year, which is a team made up of the best players in the league. Arsenal fans also voted him second for the club's Player of the Season. He signed a new contract with Arsenal in 2008.

Clichy continued to be an important player for Arsenal. He scored his first professional goal in November 2008 against Stoke City. He played a total of 264 matches for Arsenal, scoring two goals.

Moving to Manchester City

Gael Clichy vs Arsenal 2012
Clichy taking a throw-in for Manchester City in April 2012, against former club Arsenal.

In July 2011, Clichy joined Manchester City. He quickly became their first-choice left-back. On the final day of the 2011–12 season, Manchester City won the Premier League title in a thrilling match. This was Clichy's second Premier League medal.

He signed a new four-year deal with City in May 2013. Clichy won another Premier League title with Manchester City in 2014. He also won two League Cups with the club. In November 2014, he scored his first goal for Manchester City. After six successful years, Clichy left Manchester City in 2017.

Playing in Turkey and Switzerland

After leaving England, Clichy moved to Turkey to play for İstanbul Başakşehir. He signed a three-year contract in July 2017. In 2020, he helped Başakşehir win their first-ever league title, which was a historic moment for the club.

In December 2020, Clichy joined Servette in the Swiss Super League on a free transfer. He played for Servette until 2023.

International Career

Youth Teams

Clichy played for all of France's youth teams. He started at the under-15 level and played in several tournaments. At the under-17 level, he helped France reach the final of the 2002 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. They lost to Switzerland in the final.

He also played for the under-21 team. He helped them win the 2004 Toulon Tournament.

Playing for France's Senior Team

Gaël Clichy and Zlatan Ibrahimović Sweden-France Euro 2012
Clichy challenging for the ball with Zlatan Ibrahimović of Sweden at UEFA Euro 2012.

Clichy was first called up to the senior national team in January 2008. He made his official debut in September 2008 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Serbia.

He was part of France's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played in one match during the tournament against South Africa. He was also in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012, where he played in some group matches and the quarter-final. His last international appearance was in 2013.

Coaching Career

In August 2023, Gaël Clichy began a new chapter in his football career. He was appointed as an assistant coach for the French junior team and the French Olympic team. He works alongside his former teammate, Thierry Henry.

Sponsorship

In 2012, Gaël Clichy signed a sponsorship deal with the German sports company Puma SE. He wore their evoSPEED football boots.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cannes 2002–03 Championnat National 15 0 15 0
Arsenal 2003–04 Premier League 12 0 4 0 5 0 1 0 22 0
2004–05 Premier League 15 0 5 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 24 0
2005–06 Premier League 7 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 11 0
2006–07 Premier League 27 0 5 0 2 0 6 0 40 0
2007–08 Premier League 38 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 49 0
2008–09 Premier League 31 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 41 1
2009–10 Premier League 24 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 33 0
2010–11 Premier League 33 0 2 1 3 0 6 0 44 1
Total 187 1 17 1 11 0 48 0 1 0 264 2
Manchester City 2011–12 Premier League 28 0 0 0 1 0 7 0 1 0 37 0
2012–13 Premier League 28 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 37 0
2013–14 Premier League 20 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 31 0
2014–15 Premier League 23 1 1 0 0 0 6 0 1 0 31 1
2015–16 Premier League 14 0 2 0 4 0 8 0 28 0
2016–17 Premier League 25 1 5 0 2 1 7 0 39 2
Total 138 2 16 0 10 1 36 0 3 0 203 3
İstanbul Başakşehir 2017–18 Süper Lig 31 0 1 0 9 0 41 0
2018–19 Süper Lig 25 1 0 0 2 0 27 1
2019–20 Süper Lig 31 2 2 0 12 0 45 2
Total 87 3 3 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 113 3
Servette 2020–21 Swiss Super League 23 0 1 0 24 0
2021–22 Swiss Super League 29 0 0 0 2 0 31 0
2022–23 Swiss Super League 27 1 1 0 28 1
Total 79 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 83 1
Career total 506 7 38 1 21 1 109 0 4 0 676 9

International

National team Season Competitive Friendlies Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
France 2008–09 1 0 1 0 2 0
2009–10 2 0 1 0 3 0
2010–11 4 0 1 0 5 0
2011–12 3 0 2 0 5 0
2012–13 1 0 1 0 2 0
2013–14 1 0 2 0 3 0
Total 12 0 8 0 20 0

Honours

Arsenal

Manchester City

  • Premier League: 2011–12, 2013–14
  • Football League Cup: 2013–14, 2015–16
  • FA Community Shield: 2012
  • FA Cup runner-up: 2012–13

Istanbul Basaksehir

France U21

  • Toulon Tournament: 2004

Individual

  • PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08 Premier League

See also

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