Mathieu Flamini

Mathieu Flamini (born 7 March 1984 in Marseille, France) is a French Association football who plays as a Midfielder Defensive midfielder or Defender (association football) Full back for Serie A club A.C. Milan.

Club career

Marseille

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

Arsenal

2004–05 season

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

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

2005–06 season

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

2006–07 season

In the 2006–07 season, Flamini scored the winner against Dinamo Zagreb in the qualifying stages of the Champions League. Mathieu Flamini also scored important goals against Chelsea F.C., Blackburn Rovers F.C., and Liverpool F.C. in the Premiership. However, despite these important goals, Mathieu Flamini remained unsatisfied with Mathieu Flamini "utility player" role at the club and in April 2007, Mathieu Flamini admitted that Mathieu Flamini would probably be leaving Arsenal in the summer. However, Flamini turned down a proposed £3m move to Birmingham City F.C. 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, Mathieu Flamini 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 Mathieu Flamini previous years at the club. Flamini enjoyed a generally good rapport with Arsenal's fans, who provided Mathieu Flamini with Mathieu Flamini own football chant, an adaptation of the theme tune to British television programme The Sweeney. On January 29 2008, Mathieu Flamini scored an extraordinary strike in Arsenal's 3–0 win over Newcastle United F.C. in the Premier League. Mathieu Flamini played on 8 April 2008, a UEFA Champions League match in which Arsenal were knocked out by English rival Liverpool F.C. After the match, it was reported Mathieu Flamini was injured. It proved to be Mathieu Flamini last match for Arsenal.
In April 2009 Mathieu Flamini stated in an interview that Mathieu Flamini is still an Arsenal fan and that Mathieu Flamini has no hard feelings towards the club, "Arsenal are in my heart and they will be in my heart for ever,"I will always be an Arsenal fan and leaving was not easy" Mathieu Flamini said.

Milan

Flamini signed a contract with A.C. Milan on 5 May 2008 worth Euro5.6 million per season over a four year period.

In the first half of the season, Flamini did not enjoy the number of starts or appearances in the ageing Italian team as Mathieu Flamini enjoyed in Mathieu Flamini last season at Arsenal, and was regarded as a utility player at A.C. Milan as Mathieu Flamini was in Mathieu Flamini first few years at Arsenal. However in the second half of the season, injuries to other players and consistent good form helped Mathieu Flamini to cement a starting place in the side. With Milan ailing to find a stable defence and a lack of a fit, consistent and reliable Defender (association football) Full back, Gianluca Zambrotta was switched to the opposite side to help Flamini earn a place as a tenacious Defender (association football) Full back.

For the 2009-10 season Mathieu Flamini will now wear number 5 rather than Mathieu Flamini year of birth 84.

Playing style

Flamini's natural position is central midfielder, where Mathieu Flamini formed a formidable partnership at Arsenal with Cesc Fabregas. Mathieu Flamini passing is also very consistent - Mathieu Flamini attempted the 2nd highest number of passes in the Premier League during the 2007–08 season.

International career

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