Clément Grenier

Clément Grenier

Personal information
Full name	Clément Grenier
Date of birth	7 January 1991 (1991-01-07) (age 20)
Place of birth	Annonay, France
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Lyon
Number	7
Youth career
1997–2002	FC Annonay
2002–2008	Lyon
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2008–	Lyon	13	(0)
National team‡
2007	France U16	6	(1)
2007–2008	France U17	16	(8)
2008–2009	France U18	7	(0)
2009–2010	France U19	13	(1)
2010–2011	France U20	11	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 August 2011

Clément Grenier (French pronunciation: [klemɑ̃ gʁənje]; born 7 January 1991 in Annonay) is a French football player who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. He is a France youth international having played with at all levels for which he has been eligible. He is known for his technical ability, dribbling, and free-kick taking. Grenier can play on the right side of midfield, as well as in the attacking midfield position just behind the striker.

Career

Early career

Grenier began his career with his hometown club FC Annonay starring with the club's under-9 Benjamins team. With the team, he helped the club reach the departmental final of the National Cup for under-9 players.^[1] Grenier later drew interest from professional club Olympique Lyonnais whose scouts informed the youngster to continue his great play in order to join the club at a later date. Eventually, in July 2002, he secured a move to Lyon joining the club's youth academy.^[2]

Lyon

Grenier continued his development while at Lyon quickly becoming one of the club's best prospects. He caught noticeable attention during the 2007–08 season performing well enough domestically and internationally to garner interest from Spanish club Real Madrid, English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea, and Italian club Internazionale, whose scouts likened the player to Brazilian international Kaká.^[3][4][5][6] Despite the interest, on 15 May 2008, Grenier, alongside fellow youth player Yannis Tafer, signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal until 2011.^[7] He was promoted to the senior team and assigned the number 22 shirt.

Though, Grenier was on the senior team and featured in several of the club's preseason matches ahead of the 2008–09 season, he spent the majority of the campaign playing with the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. Grenier played in 16 league matches and scored his only one goal with the team against Adge.^[8] He also played in the 2008–09 edition of the Coupe Gambardella appearing in seven matches and scoring three goals as the squad reach the semi-finals. Due to being marred by tendinitis in his patella, he did not play in any matches with the senior team.^[9] Similar to the previous season, Grenier began the 2009–10 season, with the club's reserve team. He scored on his debut against Gap.^[10] On 24 September 2009, Grenier was named to the senior squad to play in a league match against Toulouse on 26 September. He made his debut in that match appearing as a substitute for Bafétimbi Gomis. Lyon won the match 2–1.^[11] Grenier returned to the reserve team afterwards and failed to make another senior appearance for seven months. On 17 April 2010, he made his return appearing as a substitute in a 2–2 draw with Bordeaux. Two weeks later, Grenier made another substitute appearance in a 1–0 win over Montpellier.

International career

Grenier has featured for all of France's national youth teams beginning with the under-16 team making his debut in the team's 0–0 draw with Poland on 13 March 2007.^[12] In the return match in Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf, Grenier assisted on two goals in the team's 5–0 victory.^[13] He scored his first and only goal for the team on 3 April in the team's opening group stage match against Cameroon in the Montaigu Tournament. France won the match 2–0.^[14] With the under-17 team, Grenier was a regular and scored on his debut in a 4–0 victory over Switzerland.^[15] In qualification for the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, Grenier scored a hat trick in the team's 6–0 thrashing of Albania in the first qualifying round.^[16][17] At the Algarve Cup in Portugal, he helped the team to a 2nd place finish by scoring a brace in the team's 4–2 win against Denmark.^[18] In the Elite Round portion of qualification, Grenier scored his only goal against Israel in the team's second group stage match.^[19][20] France finished the round unbeaten, which led to qualification to the UEFA-sanctioned tournament. At the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, Grenier scored in the team's 3–3 draw with Spain converting on a curling free-kick in the 43rd minute. France later reached the final where they were defeated 4–0 by Spain.^[21][22]

With the under-18 team, Grenier made his debut in the team's opening match against the Ukraine.^[23] For the first time in a youth international campaign, Grenier went scoreless making seven total appearances with the team. For under-19 duty, Grenier was again called upon by coach Francis Smerecki making his first appearance with the team at the 2009 edition of the Sendaï Cup. He scored his only goal for the team in the Tournio de Limoges against Greece in a 3–3 draw. On 7 June 2010, Grenier was named to coach Smerecki's 18-man squad to participate in the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. In the tournament, he missed a penalty in the team's opening 4–1 victory over the Dutch.^[24] Despite missing the team's final two matches, Grenier became a European champion following the team's 2–1 comeback victory against Spain in the final match. The title is the country's second UEFA Under-19 championship.^[25]

Due to France's victory at the UEFA Under-19 championship, the nation qualified for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which merited under-20 team appearances for Grenier. He made his debut with the team on 7 October 2010 in a friendly match against Portugal, which ended 3–3. In the match, Grenier scored his first goal for the team netting the equalizing third goal.^[26] On 9 February 2011, he scored the opening goal for France in its 2–1 win over England. After appearing in two more matches with the team during the 2010–11 campaign, on 10 June 2011, Grenier was named to the 21-man squad to participate in the U-20 World Cup. He made his debut in the competition on 30 July 2011 in the team's 4–1 defeat to the hosts Colombia appearing as a substitute.^[27]

Career statistics

Club

(Correct as of 15 September 2011)

Club	Season	League			Cup[nb 1]			Europe[nb 2]			Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Lyon	2009–10	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	2010–11	7	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	0
	2011–12	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	6	0	2
	Total	14	0	1	2	0	0	2	0	1	18	0	2
Career total		14	0	1	2	0	0	2	0	1	18	0	2

Honours

International

• France
  • UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2010
  • 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup: Fourth Place

Notes

1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions
2. ^ Includes UEFA Supercup

References

1. ^ "Football Club Annonay" (in French). Football Club Annonay. 27 September 2009. http://pagesperso-orange.fr/fc.annonay/Presses/Saison_08_09/Reveil_du_Vivarais_du_12_03_09.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
2. ^ "Football Club Annonay" (in French). Le Dauphine. 2 May 2009. http://www.ledauphine.com/football-olympique-lyonnais-clement-grenier-itineraire-d-un-enfant-doue-@/index.jspz?article=22380. Retrieved 27 September 2009. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "El Madrid sigue los pasos de Clement Grenier" (in Spanish). Marca. 10 April 2008. http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/real_madrid/es/desarrollo/1110257.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
4. ^ "Arsenal, Chelsea eyeing Lyon kid Grenier". Tribal Football. 11 April 2008. http://www.tribalfootball.com/node/178183/talk. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
5. ^ "Quartet track Lyon youngster". Sky Sports. 15 April 2008. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_3427822,00.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
6. ^ "Arsenal reported to be looking at French prodigy". Guardian Series. 3 April 2008. http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/2168852.arsenal_reported_to_be_looking_at_french_prodigy/. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
7. ^ "Yanis Tafer – Clément Grenier, les nouvelles pépites de l’OL!" (in French). Foot Mercato. 17 May 2008. http://www.footmercato.net/Yanis-Tafer-Clement-Grenier-les_article20888.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
8. ^ "Lyon v. Agde Match Report" (in French). 8 February 2009. http://www.foot-national.com/fiche-match-football-11355.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
9. ^ "Football: après la pluie, le beau temps?" (in French). Hebdo-Ardeche. 3 May 2009. http://www.hebdo-ardeche.fr/2009/06/14/nord-ardeche-28/. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
10. ^ "Lyon v. Gap Match Report" (in French). Foot-National. 8 August 2009. http://www.foot-national.com/fiche-match-football-14212.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
11. ^ "Lyon v. Toulouse Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 27 September 2009. http://lfp.fr/ligue1/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2009/2010&code_evt=D1&num_ordre=6&code_jr_tr=J07. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
12. ^ "Match nul pour débuter (0–0)" (in French). French Football Federation. 13 March 2007. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m16ans/actualite/365487.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
13. ^ "Belle victoire tricolore (5–0)" (in French). French Football Federation. 15 March 2007. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m16ans/actualite/366143.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
14. ^ "Débuts réussis pour la France (2–0)" (in French). French Football Federation. 3 April 2007. http://www.fff.fr///selections/m16ans/actualite/369431.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
15. ^ "Reprise réussie pour les Tricolores (4–0)" (in French). French Football Federation. 2 October 2007. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m17ans/actualite/398158.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
16. ^ "France v. Albania Match Report". Union of European Football Associations. 25 October 2007. http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2008/round=15028/match=300569/index.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
17. ^ "Large victoire et qualification (6–0)" (in French). French Football Federation. 25 October 2007. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m17ans/actualite/403519.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
18. ^ "Une victoire (4–2) pour finir" (in French). French Football Federation. 5 February 2008. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m17ans/actualite/422300.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
19. ^ "France v. Israel Match Report". Union of European Football Associations. 27 March 2008. http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/history/season=2008/round=15029/match=301994/index.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
20. ^ "Une victoire (4–2) pour finir" (in French). French Football Federation. 5 February 2008. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m17ans/actualite/422300.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
21. ^ "Stupendous Spain win U17 crown". Union of European Football Associations. 16 May 2008. http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/under17/fixturesresults/round=15032/match=302551/report=rp.html. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
22. ^ "L'Espagne réalise le doublé". French Football Federation. 16 May 2008. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m17ans/actualite/441710.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
23. ^ "Défaite pour les Tricolores (1–3)" (in French). French Football Federation. 30 September 2008. http://www.fff.fr/selections/m18ans/actualite/466233.shtml. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
24. ^ "France flurry too much for Dutch". Union of European Football Associations. 18 July 2010. http://www.uefa.com/under19/matches/season=2010/round=15348/match=2002375/index.html. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
25. ^ "France fight back to claim U19 crown". Union of European Football Associations. 30 July 2010. http://www.uefa.com/under19/matches/season=2010/round=15350/match=2002411/report/index.html. Retrieved 5 August 2010. 
26. ^ "France 3–3 Portugal". French Football Federation. 7 October 2010. http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=1320. Retrieved 5 November 2010. 
27. ^ "Colombia 4–1 France". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 30 July 2011. http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145857/index.html. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 

External links

• Clement Grenier profile at OLWeb.fr
• Clément Grenier French league stats at LFP.fr (French)

Persondata
Name	Grenier, Clement
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	7 January 1991
Place of birth	Annonay, France
Date of death
Place of death