Olivier Dacourt facts for kids
Dacourt in 2005
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Olivier Yohan Dacourt | ||
| Date of birth | 25 September 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1989–1991 | Aulnay-sous-Bois | ||
| 1991–1992 | Strasbourg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1998 | Strasbourg | 127 | (4) |
| 1998–1999 | Everton | 30 | (2) |
| 1999–2000 | Lens | 26 | (1) |
| 2000–2003 | Leeds United | 57 | (3) |
| 2003 | → Roma (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2003–2006 | Roma | 76 | (2) |
| 2006–2009 | Inter Milan | 34 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Fulham (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Standard Liège | 8 | (0) |
| Total | 385 | (12) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2004 | France | 21 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Olivier Yohan Dacourt (born on September 25, 1974) is a French former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both defend and attack. Olivier Dacourt is well-known for playing with English club Leeds United and Italian clubs Roma and Inter Milan. He also played for the French national team.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in France
Olivier Dacourt was born in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France. He began his professional career with Strasbourg. His first game in France's top league, Division 1, was on March 20, 1993. Strasbourg lost that game 2–0 against Auxerre. He scored his first goal for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on May 24, 1997, in a match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Moving to England: Everton and Leeds United
In 1998, Dacourt moved to England to play for Everton. His first game in the Premier League was a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa. He quickly became a favorite among Everton fans. However, after one season, he returned to France to play for RC Lens.
His strong performances at Lens led to a big move back to the Premier League in 2000. He joined Leeds United for £7.2 million, which was a record transfer fee for the club at the time. At Leeds, Dacourt was known for his tough playing style and his ability to win the ball. He helped Leeds United reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and finish in the top four of the Premier League. He often played in midfield alongside David Batty. His excellent form at Leeds also helped him become a regular player for the French national team.
However, things changed when manager David O'Leary was replaced by Terry Venables. Dacourt found himself playing less. Due to Leeds' financial problems, he was loaned to Roma in Italy.
Success in Italy: Roma and Inter Milan
Olivier Dacourt joined Roma on loan in 2003, and the move became permanent later that year. He played for Roma for several seasons. In 2006, after losing the Coppa Italia final to Inter Milan, Dacourt joined Inter Milan on a free transfer.
At Inter Milan, he was initially expected to be a backup player. However, he became a very important part of the team that won the Serie A league title. This was especially true because another key player, Patrick Vieira, was injured. In December 2007, Dacourt suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out for most of the 2007–08 season. After recovering, he did not play as often under Inter's new manager, José Mourinho.
Final Club Chapters
In February 2009, Dacourt returned to England on loan to Fulham until the end of the season. He mostly came on as a substitute due to the strong performance of Fulham's other midfielders and some small injuries he picked up. His loan spell at Fulham ended, and he became a free agent when his contract with Inter Milan expired.
On September 23, 2009, Dacourt signed a one-year contract with Standard Liège in Belgium. He was brought in to help the team while another player, Steven Defour, was out with an injury. His contract with Standard Liège ended in February 2010.
International Career
Olivier Dacourt represented France in several international competitions. He played for France at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
His first senior appearance for the French national team was in 2001 against South Korea. France won that match 5–0 and went on to win the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was also part of the French team that won the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. Dacourt also played for France in the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament.
International Goals for France
Here is a goal Olivier Dacourt scored for France:
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 September 2003 | Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia |  Slovenia |
2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
Personal Life
Olivier Dacourt is related to fellow footballer Norman Sylla. Norman Sylla is his brother-in-law.
Honours and Achievements
Olivier Dacourt won several trophies during his career:
Strasbourg
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1995
- Coupe de la Ligue: 1996–97
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2006–07, 2007–08
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2006, 2008
France
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2001, 2003
See also
In Spanish: Olivier Dacourt para niños
