Willy Sagnol

William "Willy" Sagnol (born March 18, 1977 in Saint-Étienne, France) is a France national football team Defender (football) currently playing for Bayern Munich in Germany's Bundesliga (football). He was part of the French squad at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 European Football Championship and 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is considered as one of the best right backs in professional football.

Biography

Willy first made his way in the world of football at his father's former club in Haute-Loire, Montfaucon-en-Velay where he developed his defensive game at right-back, as well as performing exceptionally on the right-hand side of midfield.

From there he progressed, eventually joining the region's flagship club AS Saint-Étienne. An impressive two year spell saw him earn a transfer to AS Monaco in 1997 and he experienced his first taste of success, winning Ligue 1 in 2000. His excellent form saw him pressing for a call up to represent Les Bleus, but he was initially overlooked by national coach Roger Lemerre.

The summer of 2000 saw Sagnol's career take on a completely different dimension. Transferred to the prestigious German club Bayern Munich, he didn't take long to finally break into the national team. At Bayern Sagnol consolidated his reputation as one of the best full-backs of his generation. A solid defender but also equally comfortable operating in attacking positions (often as a wing-back) Sagnol's superb crossing ability marked him out as a key player in Bayern's attacking play. With the Bavarian club With Bayern, he won the Fußball-Bundesliga in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006, as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2001 and the German Cup in 2003, 2005 and 2006. At international level he had less success, often finding himself on the bench playing second fiddle to Lilian Thuram on the right-hand side of the French defense. It wasn't until the retirement of Marcel Desailly and Thuram's consequent move into the centre of the French defense that Sagnol finally became first choice right-back in 2004.

Sagnol was part of France's squad for the World Cup in Germany, starting each of his country's seven games en route to the Final. His competent performances, aided by France's progression to the final led to him being named as one of the outstanding defensive performers in the tournament. He saved his best dispay for the biggest stage of them all, the World Cup Final, and was one of the game's better performers in a game largely remembered for off the ball events rather than on the field performances. Indeed, Sagnol’s name could have been immortalized had his strong effort on goal not been successfully repelled by Gianluigi Buffon. Nonetheless, his performance was notable for a solid defensive contribution as well as important involvement in several attacking moves, such as when he provided a cross for his captain Zinedine Zidane, whose header was again superbly saved by Buffon.

In the qualification campaign for Euro 2008 we have seen a completely new side to Sagnol. On several occasions Willy has had good efforts on goal as well as still supplying his trademark crosses for teammates like Thierry Henry. Against Scotland at Hampden Park on 7 October 2006 Sagnol was one of his country's better performers in France's shock loss, having an impressive three efforts on goal from his right-back berth, one in particular forcing a superb save from the goalkeeper. The following match, against the Faroe Isles in Paris, was his fiftieth for his country. His displays in the current qualification campaign has once more provided proof that Sagnol can be counted on for his consistent defensive play and also to provide extra quality when joining the attack.

Unfortunately for Willy, on April 3rd 2007, during his club's first quarterfinal tie in Milan for the Champions League, he severely injured his right knee. Meniscus and ligament damage currently has him side-lined until at least August 2007. This has been a big blow not only to Bayern Munich, but to the French national side, where Willy is the choice right back for Raymond Domenech's squad.

With Oliver Kahn set to retire in the next couple years, Sagnol is said to be next in line to captain the frequent Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich.

Personal Life

He has two children, Chiara and Sandro, with his ex-girlfriend Laetitia.

Honours

Club Titles

- Bundesliga (football): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006
- German Cup: 2003, 2005, 2006
- Liga-Pokal: 2004, 2007

- UEFA Champions League: 2001
- Intercontinental Cup (football): 2001

- Ligue 1
- - Winners (1): 2000
- Trophée des champions
- - Winners (2) 1997, 2000