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Yoann Miguel Gourcuff (; born 11 July 1986) is a List of France international footballers who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. Yoann Gourcuff operates mainly as an Midfielder Attacking midfielder, but can also be utilized as a Forward (association football) Second striker and is described as a "playmaker of real quality" who "is an accomplished passer of the ball". Gourcuff has been described by former France national football team David Ginola as the best French player of Yoann Gourcuff generation. Yoann Gourcuff playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to French legend Zinedine Zidane.

Gourcuff is the son of Christian Gourcuff, the current manager of Ligue 1 club FC Lorient, where Yoann began Yoann Gourcuff career. In 2001, Yoann Gourcuff followed in Yoann Gourcuff father's footsteps and joined Stade Rennais F.C.. After progressing through the youth ranks and making the senior team, Gourcuff quickly became a fan favorite among supporters and Yoann Gourcuff individual achievements soon led to interest from clubs abroad, which resulted in a move to Italian club A.C. Milan. Gourcuff achieved many club honours despite not being able to break into the starting eleven, which resulted in the player being sent on loan to Ligue 1 club Bordeaux in Yoann Gourcuff home country of France. Following a successful season, in which Bordeaux captured the Double (association football) and Gourcuff attained several individuals honours, Yoann Gourcuff signed with the club permanently. Gourcuff is a former winner of the UNFP Ligue 1 Trophées UNFP du football Player of the Year award and, in December 2009, was named the France Football French player of the year for the 2009 calendar year. In August 2010, Yoann Gourcuff joined Olympique Lyonnais on a five-year contract.

Gourcuff is a France national football team. Prior to playing at senior level, Yoann Gourcuff played on the France national under-19 football team that won the 2005 European Under-19 Football Championship. Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff senior national team debut in August 2008. Yoann Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first international goal two months later against Romania national football team. Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff first major tournament appearance for France at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Since joining the national team, Yoann Gourcuff has been inserted into the playmaker role, a position that was vacated and never filled following the retirement of Zidane in 2006.

Early and personal life

Gourcuff was born on 11 July 1986 in Ploemeur, Morbihan, Brittany to parents Dr. Marine Thalouarn and Christian Gourcuff, both being Breton people. Gourcuff comes from a very athletic family. Yoann Gourcuff mother was a basketball player, Yoann Gourcuff older brother, Erwan, is a competitive swimmer and cyclist, while Yoann Gourcuff father was a former footballer who played for several clubs in such countries as France, Switzerland, and Canada, however, Yoann Gourcuff is best known for Yoann Gourcuff time at Stade Rennais F.C., FC Lorient, and Le Mans Football Club. Gourcuff's father later moved into the managerial role having stints at Rennes, Le Mans, Lorient (twice), and Qatari club Al-Gharafa Sports Club. Yoann Gourcuff currently serves as manager of Lorient, Yoann Gourcuff third stint at the club, whom Yoann Gourcuff has managed since 2003. As a youth, the younger Gourcuff excelled at both football and tennis, becoming the top player of Yoann Gourcuff age group (12), but eventually opted to focus on football. While beginning Yoann Gourcuff career as a football player, Gourcuff admired and drew inspiration from the playing style of the Brazil national football team from the 1970s, whom Yoann Gourcuff discovered from watching tapes with Yoann Gourcuff father. Yoann Gourcuff often attempted to emulate the skills of Brazilian legend Pelé.

Club career

Early career and Rennes

Gourcuff began Yoann Gourcuff career with FC Lorient, who were, at the time, managed by Yoann Gourcuff father in 1992. During Yoann Gourcuff time at Lorient, Yoann Gourcuff also trained at PEF Ploufragan, a regional academy located in the Brittany (administrative region) that trained players similarly to the Clairefontaine academy in the Île-de-France (region). Included on that team with Gourcuff were future club and international teammates Jimmy Briand and Sylvain Marveaux.

Ahead of the 2003–04 Ligue 1. Gourcuff was promoted to the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of Football in France, Gourcuff appeared in 15 matches and scored two goals with the team before signing Yoann Gourcuff first professional contract in November 2003, which resulted in Yoann Gourcuff promotion to the senior team by manager Laszlo Bölöni. Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff professional debut on 25 January 2004 in a 2–0 victory to Évian Thonon Gaillard FC in the Coupe de France appearing as a substitute. On 7 February, Yoann Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff league debut in a 2–0 defeat to AJ Auxerre appearing as a substitute. Following the match, Yoann Gourcuff was relegated back to the reserve team. Gourcuff returned to the senior team in late March making two more substitute appearances against Strasbourg and Lille OSC. On 18 April, Yoann Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff first professional start in a 3–1 win over FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff second career start on the final match day of the season assisting on a goal in a 4–0 victory over Montpellier HSC.

For the 2004–05 Ligue 1 under Bölöni, Gourcuff rotated between the club's reserve team and the senior team. Yoann Gourcuff appeared in nine matches with the reserve team and 21 with the senior team. Gourcuff only started six matches with the latter team scoring no goals and providing one assist. In the 2005–06 Ligue 1, Yoann Gourcuff was re-assigned the number 10 shirt by Bölöni and giving a starting place within the team. In Yoann Gourcuff first season as a starter, Gourcuff appeared in 42 total matches and scored six goals. Yoann Gourcuff formed midfield partnerships with fellow Frenchman Olivier Monterrubio and the Sweden Kim Källström and made Yoann Gourcuff UEFA debut on 15 September in a UEFA Cup first round tie against Spanish club CA Osasuna appearing as a substitute. Rennes won the tie 3–1 on aggregate and were later eliminated in the group stage portion of the competition. Three days after Yoann Gourcuff European debut, on 18 September, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first professional goal against AS Monaco FC in a 2–0 win. In November, Gourcuff scored goals in back-to-back matches against Troyes AC and Toulouse FC. In the latter part of the season, Gourcuff went on a scoring run netting three goals in a span of four weeks. Yoann Gourcuff scored the first of these goals on 25 February 2006 in a 4–1 away win over Olympique Lyonnais. After going a week without a goal, Gourcuff responded by scoring goals in back-to-back weeks in wins over AC Ajaccio and FC Metz. In the Coupe de France, Gourcuff appeared in all four of the team's matches as Rennes reached the semi-finals where the club was defeated 3–0 by Olympique de Marseille. Rennes ultimately finished the season in 7th place in the league, which resulted in the club qualifying for the UEFA Intertoto Cup 2006. Gourcuff finished Yoann Gourcuff Rennes career with 80 appearances, six goals, and nine assists.

Milan

Following the season, Gourcuff was linked to a host of big name European clubs such as Netherlands club AFC Ajax, Spanish club Valencia CF, and English club Arsenal F.C.. Yoann Gourcuff ultimately joined Italy club A.C. Milan. Gourcuff was assigned the number 20 shirt and made Yoann Gourcuff competitive debut for the Rossoneri on 9 August 2006 in the club's 2006–07 UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round tie against Serbian club Red Star Belgrade. Yoann Gourcuff appeared as a substitute in the 81st minute for Andrea Pirlo as Milan won the match 1–0. In Yoann Gourcuff next competitive match with the club against Greece outfit AEK Athens F.C. in the Champions League group stage, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first career goal for the club in a 3–0 win. Gourcuff didn't make Yoann Gourcuff Serie A debut until 20 September playing the entire match in a 1–0 win over Ascoli Calcio 1898. In the ensuing matches, Gourcuff rotated between the starting lineup and the bench and capped the season by scoring in Milan's final match of the Seria A season; a 3–2 defeat to Udinese Calcio. Despite not appearing in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, which Milan won, Gourcuff did earn a winner's medal with the club as a result of Yoann Gourcuff participation in the group stage and knockout round matches.

Due to Milan winning the UEFA Champions League, Gourcuff was included in the squads that competed in the 2007 UEFA Super Cup and the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, though Yoann Gourcuff didn't appear in the former match and appeared infrequently in the latter competition. In the 2007–08 Serie A season, Gourcuff struggled for playing time as Yoann Gourcuff was in direct competition with the Brazil national football team and 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year winner Kaká. Gourcuff's development and attitude at the club was also questioned by manager Carlo Ancelotti who critically stated that the player had psychological issues. Gourcuff only appeared in 15 league matches for the club starting only four. Yoann Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff only goal of the season on 31 October 2007 in a 5–0 hammering of U.C. Sampdoria. On 24 February 2008, after appearing as a half-time substitute, Gourcuff assisted on the game-winning goal scored in the 90th minute by Filippo Inzaghi in Milan's 2–1 win over U.S. Città di Palermo. In the final nine matches of the season, Gourcuff was an unused substitute in seven of them. In Gourcuff's final match at the club, Yoann Gourcuff asssisted on the final goal by Alexandre Pato in the club 5–1 win over Reggina Calcio.

Following the season, on 31 May 2008, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed that the club would loan Gourcuff to French club FC Girondins de Bordeaux for the entire 2008–09 Ligue 1 to allow Yoann Gourcuff more playing time. Gourcuff did not respond to the comments, but Yoann Gourcuff father, Christian, did stating to France Football that there was some sort of conspiracy out there looking to tarnish Yoann Gourcuff son's image. The elder Gourcuff responded to Maldini's charges stating Yoann Gourcuff son "took two hours (of Italian language courses) per day and spoke Italian after two months" and that "he is passionate about tactics" in response to Maldini saying Gourcuff refused to learn Italian and Yoann Gourcuff was limited tactically. Gourcuff was also defended by Yoann Gourcuff club president Jean-Louis Triaud at Yoann Gourcuff former club Bordeaux who stated in response to Maldini's comments "Yoann is not like that. A number ten who does not play with the group is a little weird. This does not correspond at all to what we saw with Yoann at Bordeaux. Yoann Gourcuff was well integrated with Yoann Gourcuff teammates, and collectively with them on the ground. Yoann Gourcuff left good memories here."

Bordeaux

At Bordeaux, Gourcuff quickly asserted himself into the squad for the 2008–09 Ligue 1 scoring on Yoann Gourcuff league debut against SM Caen in a 2–1 victory and also helping Bordeaux capture their 2nd 2008 Trophée des Champions title. Yoann Gourcuff scored Bordeaux's 4^th and final goal in the team's 4–0 triumph over Vannes OC in the 2008-09 Coupe de la Ligue Coupe de la Ligue Final 2009. Gourcuff also provided the assist on the third goal. Yoann Gourcuff scored two goals in Bordeaux's 2008–09 UEFA Champions League against A.S. Roma and CFR Cluj. On 11 January 2009, Gourcuff scored a goal that was voted the goal of the season by fans against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in a 4–0 victory. Upon receiving the ball from teammate Matthieu Chalmé, just outside of the box, Gourcuff performed a swift Marseille turn, eluding PSG defender Sylvain Armand, followed by quickly shifting the ball from Yoann Gourcuff right foot to Yoann Gourcuff left causing Sammy Traoré to lose balance, before bringing the ball back to Yoann Gourcuff right foot and blasting it past Paris Saint-Germain Goalkeeper (association football) Mickaël Landreau with the outside of Yoann Gourcuff right foot.

The following two weeks, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff fifth and sixth goals, respectively, against FC Nantes in a 2–1 victory and Lille OSC in a 2–2 draw. After going goalless in the league for seven straight weeks, Gourcuff got back on track scoring against relegation-bound Le Havre AC. On 20 April 2009, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first career double against Yoann Gourcuff former club Rennes in a 3–2 victory. In the ensuing three weeks, Gourcuff maintained Yoann Gourcuff form scoring in all three matches, against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, Valenciennes FC, and Le Mans Union Club 72 giving Yoann Gourcuff a tally of 12 league goals for the season. Bordeaux won all three matches, which effectively put them in first place position heading into the final week of the season. Bordeaux eventually won the league capturing the sixth title in the club's history. The club also recorded its second ever Double (association football), as a result of its Coupe de la Ligue title. For Yoann Gourcuff efforts during the 2008–09 season, Gourcuff was awarded the UNFP Ligue 1 Trophées UNFP du football Player of the Year award. Yoann Gourcuff was also named in the organization's Ligue 1 Trophées UNFP du football 2009.

Due to Gourcuff's impressive season, Yoann Gourcuff parent club announced that it would be open to the player returning to Milan for the 2009–10 season. However, the club's plans were put on halt after learning of Bordeaux's intent to meet Gourcuff's buy-out clause of €15 million included in the loan deal. Despite general manager Adriano Galliani and new manager Leonardo Araújo's efforts to persuade Gourcuff to return, on 28 May, it was announced that Bordeaux had signed Gourcuff permanently from Milan with Gourcuff agreeing to a four-year deal. The transfer fee was €13.6 million.

Gourcuff began the Ligue 1 2009–10 claiming Yoann Gourcuff fourth silverware with Bordeaux on 25 July 2009, winning the 2009 Trophée des Champions title in a 2–0 victory over En Avant de Guingamp. As a result of Yoann Gourcuff performance, Yoann Gourcuff was named Man of the Match. Two weeks later, Yoann Gourcuff scored a double in the club's opening match of the league season against RC Lens. The final result was 4–1. The victory set a record in league play for most consecutive wins for the club with 12. On 23 August, Yoann Gourcuff scored another set of goals, this time against OGC Nice in a 4–0 victory.

In the UEFA Champions League, Gourcuff assisted on Bordeaux's only goal in the club's opening 1–1 draw against Italian club Juventus F.C. scored by Jaroslav Plašil. On 30 September, Gourcuff suffered a groin injury in the club's 1–0 victory over Israeli club Maccabi Haifa F.C., which forced Yoann Gourcuff to miss two league matches and an international call up. Bordeaux lost both matches. Yoann Gourcuff returned to the team for Bordeaux's back-to-back matches with German club FC Bayern Munich. In the first match, which Bordeaux won 2–1, Gourcuff missed a Penalty kick after attempting to cheekily chip the ball over Goalkeeper (association football) Hans-Jörg Butt, however in the second match, Yoann Gourcuff made amends scoring the game winning goal in Bordeaux's 2–0 victory at the Allianz Arena. Bordeaux eventually finished the group stage portion undefeated.

For most of November and the early part of December, Gourcuff suffered a dip in form in league play going scoreless and also not providing any assists. Manager Laurent Blanc later stated that Gourcuff had lacked confidence since returning from Yoann Gourcuff injury following Gourcuff's second penalty miss of the season in the club's midweek 1–0 victory over Montpellier HSC on 16 November. However, three days later, Gourcuff returned to form scoring a goal and providing the assists on the other three goals in Bordeaux's 4–1 win over FC Lorient. On 20 December, Yoann Gourcuff was declared by magazine France Football the France Football French player of the year for 2009 beating out the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Hugo Lloris, Thierry Henry, and Franck Ribéry; the latter having won the award the past two seasons prior.

On 23 February 2010, Gourcuff assisted on Bordeaux's only goal, scored by Michaël Ciani, in the club's shutout victory away to Greek club Olympiacos CFP in the first leg of its UEFA Champions League knockout round match following Yoann Gourcuff delivery of a powerful and driven free kick into the box that landed at the head of the defenseman. In the second leg, Yoann Gourcuff scored the opening goal in the 5^th minute converting a Direct free kick to put Bordeaux up 2–0 on aggregate. The team won the tie with a 3–1 aggregate scoreline to advance to the quarter-finals where Bordeaux faced league rivals Olympique Lyonnais. In the first leg, which Lyon won 3–1, Gourcuff provided the assist on an away goal scored by Marouane Chamakh. In the second leg, Bordeaux recorded a first half goal, but were unable to score another as Lyon advanced to the semi-finals on a 3–2 aggregate scoreline. On 24 April in a league match against Lorient, Gourcuff endured a recurring groin injury during the early stages of the match. Despite showing signs of injury, Gourcuff remained in the match until the end of the first half. Due to the injury, Gourcuff missed the Bordeaux's final five league matches. The club recorded two wins, one draw, and two losses in the five matches which resulted in Bordeaux failing to qualify for UEFA 2010–11 Ligue 1.

In the 2010–11 season, Gourcuff appeared in Bordeaux's first three league matches of the season. On 22 August 2010, French media reported that, on the eve of the team's match against Paris Saint-Germain F.C., the midfielder had informed Bordeaux officials of Yoann Gourcuff intent to join Olympique Lyonnais. Gourcuff was, subsequently, relegated to the bench for the match. In Yoann Gourcuff final match with the club, Yoann Gourcuff appeared as a substitute and assisted on the game-winning goal scored by Ciani in injury time.

Lyon

On 23 August 2010, Olympique Lyonnais confirmed on its website that the club had reached an agreement with Bordeaux for the transfer of Gourcuff. After passing Yoann Gourcuff medical on 25 August, Gourcuff signed a five-year contract with the club for a fee of €22 million, to be paid in three installments by 31 December 2012. Gourcuff selected the number 29 shirt and made Yoann Gourcuff club debut on 28 August in the team's 2–0 defeat to FC Lorient. Gourcuff appeared as a substitute in the match for the injured César Delgado. On 17 October, Yoann Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first goal for the Lyon in the club's 3–1 win over Lille. In the UEFA Champions League, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first goal in the team's 4–3 group stage defeat to Portugal club S.L. Benfica on 2 November. In mid-November, Yoann Gourcuff assisted on game-winning goals in back-to-back weeks against OGC Nice and RC Lens.

In early February 2011, Gourcuff admitted that Yoann Gourcuff was "disappointed and frustrated" with Yoann Gourcuff performances with Lyon since joining the club stating ""I expected a lot more of myself" and "It's clear that my attacking contribution is not enough". Gourcuff also admitted that Yoann Gourcuff was struggling to adapt to the style of manager Claude Puel, though the player later clarified Yoann Gourcuff statements stating that they were misinterpreted. Two weeks after Yoann Gourcuff comments, on 18 February 2011, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff third goal for Lyon in the club's 4–0 win over AS Nancy. He, subsequently, went scoreless for the next two months with Yoann Gourcuff only statistical output being an assist on a Jimmy Briand goal in a 3–0 win over Lens on 10 April. On 27 April, Gourcuff scored the match-winning goal in a 3–2 victory against Montpellier after appearing as a substitute two minutes prior. A week later, Yoann Gourcuff season was ended prematurely after suffering an adductor injury in a 2–0 defeat to Toulouse. Gourcuff finished Yoann Gourcuff debut campaign at Lyon with 36 total appearances, four goals, and five assists.

On 26 July 2011, it was reported by Lyon that Gourcuff would undergo ankle surgery in order to heal a niggling ankle complaint. The surgery ruled Gourcuff out for the club's entire 2011–12 pre-season campaign. In September 2011, Yoann Gourcuff suffered an injury setback in training, which prevented the player from making Yoann Gourcuff debut under new manager Rémi Garde against Marseille on 18 September. Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff season debut a month later appearing as a substitute in a 3–1 win over Nancy. Two weeks later, Yoann Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first goal of the season in a 2–0 win over rivals Saint-Étienne.

International career

Youth

Gourcuff was cap (sports) for France at the France national youth football team earning Yoann Gourcuff first youth cap with the France national under-17 football team in a 0–0 draw with Spain national under-17 football team on 18 September 2002. Yoann Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first goal for the team on 5 February 2003 in a friendly match against the Czech Republic national football team. Gourcuff finished the season with the under-17 team accumulating twelve appearances and netting two goals as the squad failed to qualify for the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. Gourcuff made only four appearances with France national under-18 football team scoring Yoann Gourcuff only goal on 30 October in a 2–2 friendly draw with the Ukraine national football team. Gourcuff returned to international level with France national under-19 football team and was a part of the winning team at the 2005 European Under-19 Football Championship. Leading up to the tournament, Gourcuff scored goals against Armenia national football team in the first qualifying round and Spain national under-19 football team in the Elite round. The 1–0 victory over Spain assured France's qualification for the tournament. In the tournament, Gourcuff scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 victory over Norway national football team converting two penalty kicks and scoring in the run of play. Yoann Gourcuff assisted on two goals in the team's 3–2 semi-final win over Germany national youth football team Germany national under-19 squad and played the entire match in the championship match against England national under-19 football team. France won the match 3–1 giving the nation its sixth under-19 title and Gourcuff Yoann Gourcuff first international honor. In total with the under-19 team, Gourcuff featured in 17 matches and scored seven goals.

Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff debut for the France national under-21 football team on 18 May 2006 in a preparatory friendly match for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship against Croatia national under-21 football team. In the tournament, Gourcuff was the team's lone underage player and played in all four of the team's matches as France reached the semi-finals losing in extra time to the Netherlands national football team. On 5 September 2006, Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first under-21 goal in a 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification match against Slovenia national under-21 football team. France, however, failed to qualify for the tournament. On 27 March 2007, Gourcuff captained the under-21 team for the first time in a 1–0 defeat to Norway national under-21 football team. Due to injury, Yoann Gourcuff missed the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification play-offs against Germany national under-21 football team. France lost the tie 2–1 on aggregate. The negative result ended Gourcuff's under-21 career.

Senior

Gourcuff earned Yoann Gourcuff first call up to the senior team on 11 August 2008 for the team's Exhibition match against Sweden national football team that was played on 20 August. Yoann Gourcuff earned Yoann Gourcuff first cap in that match appearing as a substitute in the 92^nd minute when France's 3–2 victory had been all but confirmed. Yoann Gourcuff scored Yoann Gourcuff first goal for Les Bleus on 11 October 2008 against Romania national football team in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. The wonder strike from almost 30 yards out drew the match at 2–2 ensuring France's positioning in the group. Since the match against Serbia national football team, held a month before the match against Romania, manager Raymond Domenech has installed Gourcuff in the Midfielder Attacking midfielder position, just behind the Forward (association football), a position that some believe has yet to be filled since the retirement of Zinedine Zidane following the 2006 FIFA World Cup. On 30 May, Gourcuff assisted on the equalizing goal scored by William Gallas in the team's 1–1 draw with Tunisia national football team.

Gourcuff was a member of France's 23-man team that competed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On 11 June 2010, Gourcuff made Yoann Gourcuff FIFA World Cup debut in the team's opening group stage match against Uruguay national football team. The match ended 0–0 with Gourcuff being substituted out in the second half. Following the match against Uruguay, former international Just Fontaine stated that Gourcuff "was lost" during the match. It was later reported by the media that midfielder Franck Ribéry and striker Nicolas Anelka had purposely "froze-out" Gourcuff in the Uruguay match. In the team's final group stage match against the hosts South Africa national football team, Gourcuff was sent off in the first half after the referee ruled that Yoann Gourcuff intentionally elbowed an opposing player in the face. France lost the match 2–1, which resulted in its elimination from the competition.

Due to Yoann Gourcuff red card suspension in the World Cup, Gourcuff missed two call-ups to the national team in August and September. In October 2010, Yoann Gourcuff was called back into the team by Yoann Gourcuff former manager at Bordeaux Laurent Blanc for UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Romania national football team and Luxembourg national football team. In the match against Romania, Gourcuff appeared as a substitute and scored the final goal in the team's 2–0 victory. Yoann Gourcuff was inserted into the starting lineup against Luxembourg and responded by assisting on the opening goal scored by Karim Benzema and scoring the second goal in another 2–0 win.