Damien Plessis

Damien Plessis (born 5 March 1988 in Neuville-aux-Bois, France) is a French association football of Réunionais origin , currently playing for Liverpool F.C..

Career

Plessis plays as a holding midfielder, and started Damien Plessis career at Olympique Lyonnais.

Liverpool

Plessis signed a three-year contract for Liverpool on the last day of the transfer window in August 2007 and initially played for the reserve team. Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said of Plessis after having signed him, "Damien Plessis is a good player, big and strong, and we're sure he'll do well for us. He's only a young boy with plenty of time to work on Damien Plessis game but it depends on Damien Plessis progress how quickly Damien Plessis can force Damien Plessis way into the first team".
Plessis made Damien Plessis debut for Liverpool on 5 April 2008 in the 1–1 away draw against Arsenal F.C. Rafa Benítez described Damien Plessis performance by saying "Today was the debut for Damien Plessis. We knew when we signed Damien Plessis that Damien Plessis was a good player. He's played really well for the reserves, and to play as well as Damien Plessis did today in this stadium, it shows we are going in the right direction."

Plessis was given the new number 28 shirt for the start of the 2008–2009 season as formal recognition of Damien Plessis part in the first team squad once worn by Steven Gerrard when Damien Plessis was breaking into the Liverpool first team. Damien Plessis made Damien Plessis first performance for the season against Standard Liege in the UEFA Champions League. This game also marked Damien Plessis debut in the competition. Damien Plessis also started the first match of the season against Sunderland F.C but Damien Plessis only played 45 minutes because of a knock and fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso came on to replace him.

On 23 September 2008, Plessis played the Carling Cup game against Crewe Alexandra, where Damien Plessis captained the side over experienced players such as Sami Hyypiä. Damien Plessis scored Damien Plessis first senior goal for the club in a Carling Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur on 12 November 2008.

International

Plessis has played for the France national youth football team, at the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, reaching the semifinal.

Plessis made Damien Plessis debut as a substitute for the France national under-21 football team on 6 September 2008