Gaël Clichy

Gaël Clichy (born 26 July 1985 in Toulouse) is a French football (soccer) player, who currently plays for Arsenal F.C. of the Premier League. Gaël Clichy is Arsenal's first-choice left back and can also play as a left winger.

Biography

Early career

Clichy grew up in Toulouse, France. In Gaël Clichy early years, after climbing over a metal fence, a ring Gaël Clichy was wearing got caught and tore Gaël Clichy finger off. Gaël Clichy had a seven-hour operation to sew it back on, but during the operation, Gaël Clichy heart stopped beating due to a problem with Gaël Clichy lungs. After 15 seconds it restarted and, thankfully, Gaël Clichy recovered. Doctors described it as a "miracle" that Clichy survived. Gaël Clichy mother had the resources to help Gaël Clichy recover after years of experience in medical school as a nurse.

When AS Cannes was relegated to the Championnat National, Arsène Wenger persuaded Clichy's parents to let Gaël Clichy join Arsenal.

Arsenal

After Ashley Cole suffered a fractured foot in October 2005, it seemed that Clichy would earn some valuable first-team action during Cole's time out; indeed, with rumours linking Cole with a transfer to Spain, it seemed that Clichy could make a strong case for continual first-team action. However, Clichy ironically suffered an injury identical to Cole's, leaving Arsenal with a crisis at the left-back position.

Clichy returned to first team action on 25 April 2006 in a UEFA Champions League semi-final against Villarreal CF, and came on as a substitute for the injured Mathieu Flamini. Clichy suffered a re-occurrence of Gaël Clichy injury and missed the end of the season including the Champions League Final, and would not return to the first team until 14 October 2006.

When Cole left for Chelsea F.C. in August 2006, Clichy became the first choice left-back at Arsenal. As Cole's understudy, Clichy made 62 appearances (including 39 in the league) for Arsenal in three seasons. In the season which followed Cole's departure, Clichy made 27 league appearances in a total of 40, and has since become Arsenal's first-choice left back. In the 2007–08 season, Clichy was selected in the PFA Team of the Year as left back. This fine form was rewarded on 20 June 2008, when Gaël Clichy signed a new "long-term" contract. Gaël Clichy came in second in the Arsenal fans' poll for Player of the Season. Gaël Clichy captained Arsenal for the first time against Barnet in Arsenal's first preseason game of 2008–09.
Clichy scored Gaël Clichy first goal for Arsenal on 1 November 2008, with a late goal against Stoke City, as Arsenal went down 2–1. After being sidelined for several weeks, it was announced in early May that Clichy would miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season due to a back injury.

International career

In 2007 Gaël Clichy was called up for the France national football team. Gaël Clichy was called up again in January 2008, for the French game against Spain national football team, and the 5 February 2008 B friendly against Congo DR national football team.

Clichy made Gaël Clichy senior international debut for France national football team on 10 September 2008 in their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Serbia national football team.

Career honours

Arsenal
Winner
- Premier League: 2003–04
- FA Cup: 2005
- FA Community Shield: 2004

Runner-up
- UEFA Champions League: 2005–06
- FA Premier League: 2004–05
- FA Community Shield: 2005

Personal
- Member of PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08

Arsenal career statistics

Footnotes