Sidney Govou facts for kids
.jpg)
Govou in 2018
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 July 1979 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Le Puy-en-Velay, France | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Striker / Winger | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1996 | Brives-Charensac | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | CO Le Puy | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Lyon | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2010 | Lyon | 292 | (49) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Panathinaikos | 24 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Évian | 36 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Lyon B | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Monts d'Or Azergues | 28 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | FC Miami City | 11 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Limonest | 24 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 417 | (58) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2010 | France | 49 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Honours
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou (born 27 July 1979) is a French former professional footballer. He mostly played as a winger, but sometimes as a striker. He is best known for his long career at Lyon, where he helped the team win seven Ligue 1 titles.
Contents
Sidney Govou's Football Journey
Playing for Lyon
Sidney Govou joined Lyon's youth academy when he was 17 years old in 1996. He stayed with Lyon for a long time, playing at the Stade Gerland for his entire professional career until 2010.
Govou became well-known during the 2000–01 Ligue 1 season. He helped Lyon finish in second place, just behind the champions FC Nantes. Because of his great playing, Govou won the Young Player of the Year Award in Ligue 1 in 2001.
During the 2004–05 season, coach Paul Le Guen made Govou the team captain. This happened when the main captain, Claudio Caçapa, was injured. Le Guen chose Govou because he was very loyal to the club. Govou had been linked to other teams, but he always stayed with Lyon.
On 24 May 2008, Govou scored the only goal in extra time during the Coupe de France final. Lyon beat PSG, winning their first cup since 1973. Govou was named "Man of the Match" for his amazing performance.
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was tough for Govou and Lyon. He played in 30 league games, starting 22 of them. He scored two goals and made two assists. Lyon finished second in the league, behind Olympique de Marseille. In November 2009, Lyon played Marseille in an exciting game. Govou scored a memorable goal in the 14th minute, running with the ball from midfield and scoring. The game ended in a 5–5 draw. Lyon's second-place finish helped them get a spot in the Champions League.
Moving to Panathinaikos
On 2 July 2010, Govou signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos in Greece. He reportedly earned €1.5 million a year. On 14 September 2010, he scored against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou, giving Panathinaikos the lead. However, they lost the game 5–1.
On 2 July 2011, Panathinaikos announced that Govou had left the club. This happened partly because Panathinaikos was having financial problems. Govou played in 24 games and scored three goals for Panathinaikos.
Playing for Évian
On 5 July 2011, Govou signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 team Évian. This team had just been promoted to the top league.
He played his first game for Évian in their first ever Ligue 1 match against Stade Brest. Govou played the whole game, helping his new team get a 2–2 draw. This earned Évian their first point in the French top league.
Govou scored his first goal for Évian in a 3–2 loss to Stade Rennais on 7 February 2012. This game was in the Coupe de France, and Évian was eliminated. His first league goal came 11 days later. He scored in the 90th minute to help Évian draw 2–2 with Stade Malherbe Caen.
Govou played his first game of the 2012–13 Ligue 1 season on 24 August 2012. He came on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with his former club, Lyon. On 10 November, Govou helped Évian win 2–1 against Reims by assisting the winning goal.
Returning to Lyon's Reserve Team
In October 2013, Govou signed an amateur contract with his old club, Lyon. This meant he could only play with the club's reserve team.
Later Career
On 27 January 2014, Govou joined Monts d'Or Azergues, a team in the fourth division. He played alongside former international player Ludovic Giuly.
On 1 June 2015, Govou signed with FC Miami City Champions in the USL Premier Development League (PDL). This is a football league in the United States.
International Career
Govou was not first chosen for the Euro 2004 or 2006 World Cup. However, he was called up to join the French teams when other players, Ludovic Giuly and Djibril Cissé, got injured just before the competitions.
Govou scored two goals in France's 3–1 win over world champions Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifier. This was the first time the two teams played since Italy beat France in the 2006 World Cup Final. Govou scored his first goal with a header just 67 seconds into the game. His second goal came in the 55th minute.
Govou also played for France in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He played in all three group games for France. France finished last in their group and scored only one goal. Govou started against Uruguay and Mexico. He came on as a substitute against South Africa.
Personal Life
Sidney Govou was born in France and has family roots in Benin. He married Clémence Catherin on 18 June 2011. They have two children: a son named Marley, born in 2009, and a daughter named Jude, born in 2014. He also has an older daughter named Naomy, born in 2005, from a previous relationship.
Career Statistics
International Goals
Sidney Govou scored 10 goals for the French national team during his career. Here are some of his notable goals:
- His first goal was on 12 October 2002 against Slovenia in a Euro 2004 qualifier.
- He scored against Japan in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
- He scored two goals against Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifier on 6 September 2006.
- He scored two goals against Sweden in a friendly match on 20 August 2008.
- His last international goal was against Austria in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 6 September 2008.
Honours and Awards
Lyon
- Division/Ligue 1: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 (7 times champion!)
- Coupe de France: 2007–08
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2000–01
- Trophée des Champions: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
France
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003 (Winner)
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2006 (Second place)
Individual
- Division 1 Young Player of the Year: 2000–01
