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Infobox: A.C. Milan confirmed
Line 8: Line 8:
| cityofbirth = [[Marseille]]
| cityofbirth = [[Marseille]]
| countryofbirth = [[France]]
| countryofbirth = [[France]]
| currentclub = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| currentclub = [[A.C. Milan]]
| clubnumber = 16
| clubnumber = N/A
| position = [[Defensive Midfielder]]
| position = [[Defensive Midfielder]]
| youthyears =
| youthyears =
| youthclubs =
| youthclubs =
| years = 2001-2003<br />2003-2004<br />2004-
| years = 2001-2003<br />2003-2004<br />2004-2008<br />2008-
| clubs = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille B]]<br />[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]<br />[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| clubs = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille B]]<br />[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]<br />[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]<br />[[A.C. Milan]]
| caps(goals) = {{0}}23 (2)<br />{{0}}14 (0)<br />102 (7)
| caps(goals) = {{0}}23 (2)<br />{{0}}14 (0)<br />102 (7)<br /> N/A
| nationalyears = 2004-2005<br />2007- | nationalteam = [[France national under-21 football team|France U21]]<br />[[France national football team|France]]
| nationalyears = 2004-2005<br />2007- | nationalteam = [[France national under-21 football team|France U21]]<br />[[France national football team|France]]
| nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}{{0}}8 (1)<br />{{0}}{{0}}1 (0)
| nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}{{0}}8 (1)<br />{{0}}{{0}}1 (0)

Revision as of 00:42, 5 May 2008

Mathieu Flamini
Personal information
Full name Mathieu Flamini
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defensive Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 A.C. Milan
Number N/A
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:09, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Mathieu Flamini (born 7 March 1984 in Marseille) is a French international footballer currently playing for Arsenal. His natural position is defensive midfielder, but he has also been used as a fullback.

Club career

Olympique de Marseille

Flamini was a youth team player for his local professional club Olympique de Marseille. He made his debut for the senior team on 20 December, 2003 in the 1–0 victory over Toulouse FC. He impressed for the team as a hardworking midfield player playing 14 times for the club. However it was his performances in Marseille’s UEFA Cup campaign that brought him to the attention of the general football world, including the semi-final victory over Newcastle United. He played in the final in Gothenburg which Valencia won 2–0. Due to his age, Marseille was unable to offer him a long term professional contract.

Arsenal

2004–05 season

On July 23 2004, Flamini signed a professional contract for Arsenal, rejecting Marseille's long-term senior contract offer to which he had already verbally agreed to. Soon after the incident, Marseille manager José Anigo stated, "This is a beautiful treason. He used me."

Flamini made his Arsenal début in the 4–1 win at Everton on 15 August 2004. He was used as a utility player starting 9 games but being used as a substitute in 12. The following season saw him filling in for a number of injured players, but unable to command a first team place in his favoured position.

2005–06 season

While he is naturally a defensive midfielder, he has been used as a right winger. Due to injuries in Arsenal's back line, he has also operated in the left back position, after injuries to Ashley Cole, Gaël Clichy, Pascal Cygan, Lauren and Kerrea Gilbert . However, despite being right-footed, Flamini performed respectably during the remainder of Arsenal's Premiership and Champions League campaign. When Ashley Cole became fit again, though, he returned to the starting lineup. In May 2006 he came on as a 76th minute substitute in the Champions League Final which Arsenal lost to Barcelona in Paris.

2006–07 season

In the 2006–07 season, Flamini scored the winner against Dinamo Zagreb in the qualifying stages of the Champions League. He also scored important goals against Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers, and Liverpool in the Premiership. However, despite these important goals, he remained unsatisfied with his "utility player" role at the club and in April 2007, he admitted that he would probably be leaving Arsenal by buying out the remaining year on his contract at the end of the current season. However, he reconsidered after a long talk with manager Arsène Wenger and remained with the team.

2007–08 season

Flamini started in central midfield for Arsenal's first match of the 2007–08 Premier League season, due to the absence of Gilberto Silva and Abou Diaby. During the start of Arsenal's 2007–08 campaign, he struck up a strong partnership with Cesc Fabregas, keeping the likes of Gilberto Silva out of the starting XI with displays widely regarded by Arsenal fans as a vast improvement on those during his previous years at the club. On 11 December 2007, The Evening Standard reported that Flamini was on the verge of signing a new lucrative five-year deal with Arsenal, which would put him in a middle band of earners at the club. Flamini enjoys a generally good rapport with Arsenal's fans, who have provided him with his own song, an adaptation of the theme tune to British television programme The Sweeney. On 29 January 2008, he scored an extraordinary 25-yard strike in Arsenal's 3–0 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League. According to Sky Sport Italia, Flamini has signed a contract with A.C. Milan where he will be earning €5.6 million per season over a four year period. [1]

Playing style

Flamini's natural position is central midfielder, where he has formed a formidable partnership with Fabregas. Although he plays a more defensive role than Fabregas, he does make attacking forays, and is especially known for his ability to "ghost" into the penalty area and score crucial goals. His passing is also very consistent - he has attempted the 2nd most passes in the Premier League during the 2007–08 season, with a higher completion rate than the 1st place player, his midfield partner Fabregas. In addition, his tackling ability, stamina, and work rate have improved since moving to Arsenal.

International career

Flamini accepted his first call up to France by coach Raymond Domenech for a friendly against Argentina at the Stade de France on February 7 2007 after Jérémy Toulalan was ruled out due to injury. He later made his international debut in a friendly against Morocco on November 16 2007 as a substitute.[1]

Club career statistics

(correct as of 11 April 2008)[2]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Marseille 2003–04 14 0 - - - - 9 0 - 23 0 -
Arsenal 2004–05 21 1 2 7 0 0 4 0 0 32 1 2
2005–06 31 0 3 6 0 0 12 0 0 49 0 3
2006–07 20 3 1 6 0 1 6 1 0 32 4 2
2007–08 30 3 2 2 0 0 8 0 1 40 3 3
Arsenal Total 102 7 8 21 0 1 30 1 1 153 8 10
Career totals 176 8 10

France career statistics

(correct as of 25 January 2008)
France Total
Apps Goals Assists
France 1 0 0

Honours

Marseille:

Arsenal

References

  1. ^ France 2–1 Maroc, fff.fr, 16 November 2007, accessed 17 November 2007.
  2. ^ History, soccernet.espn.go.com, accessed 22 September 2007.


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