André-Pierre Gignac

Lore & Background

Gignac began his career in his home department of Bouches-du-Rhône, playing for local clubs Fos-sur-Mer and Martigues. In 2002, he ventured to the Brittany region to join professional club Lorient. He starred for the club for two seasons, which included a loan stint at amateur club Pau. Gignac joined Toulouse in 2007. After early struggles, he reached prominence during the 2008–09 season, becoming the league's top scorer with 24 goals. After a sub-par 2009–10 season with Toulouse, Gignac joined the defending champions Marseille in August 2010 on a five-year contract. He scored 77 goals in 186 matches across all competitions for OM, winning two consecutive Coupe de la Ligue titles and the 2011 Trophée des Champions. After his contract expired, he moved to Mexico to play for Tigres UANL, where he became the club's all-time top scorer in all competitions. Gignac was a France international from 2009 to 2016. He made his debut with the team in April 2009 against Lithuania as a result of his good form with Toulouse. He scored his first international goal five months later against the Faroe Islands. Gignac made his first major international appearance for his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, featuring in all three matches the team contested. He also represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016, playing in several matches including the final, which France lost to Portugal after extra time.

Reader's Guide

Gignac spent the first five years of his career at ES Fos-sur-Mer before joining hometown club Martigues. After almost seven years at Martigues, he was released after being informed he needed to bulk up. Subsequently, Gignac moved over 1000 km to the Brittany region to join the youth academy of professional club Lorient. After developing in the club's academy for two seasons, Gignac was promoted to the club's senior team for the 2004–05 Ligue 2 season by manager Christian Gourcuff. He made his professional debut with Lorient on 13 August 2004, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute with the score tied 1–1 against Châteauroux. Within seconds of coming on, he scored the winning goal to bring Lorient a 2–1 victory. Gignac scored his only other goal in the season against Reims in a 4–1 victory on 29 October. The following week he made his first professional start, in a 2–1 defeat to Le Mans, playing 70 minutes. The following season, Lorient achieved promotion to Ligue 1, though without Gignac's services as he was loaned out to Championnat National club Pau during the winter transfer period. At Pau, Gignac featured as a starter for the first time in his career. He appeared in 20 league matches for the club and scored eight goals. Gignac's newfound confidence saw the player return to Lorient senior team for the 2006–07 Ligue 1 season where he was inserted as starter. He finished the campaign with 37 appearances in the league and nine goals, a club best. On 25 June 2007, it was announced Gignac had signed a four-year deal with Toulouse. Gignac made his competitive debut for Toulouse in the first leg of the club's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match against Liverpool, coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute. In the 2008–09 season, Gignac's form blossomed as he became first-choice striker following the departure of Johan Elmander to Bolton Wanderers. He received the league's top scorer award with 24 goals to his name. Gignac switched to the number 10 shirt for the 2009–10 season and, on 14 August 2009, signed a one-year contract extension tying him to Toulouse until 2013. Gignac totalled 34 Ligue 1 goals for Toulouse, remaining their highest scorer in the league in the 21st century until September 2014, when his record was surpassed by Wissam Ben Yedder.

Did You Know?

• Gignac is of partial Romani descent, but has stated he considers himself to be an adopted Manouche.
• He is the cousin of former defender Jacques Abardonado and winger Yohan Mollo.
• After scoring his first professional goal within seconds of coming on as a substitute, Gignac said he 'thought he was Ronaldo'.
• Gignac scored a hat-trick in 27 minutes in a 3–1 victory against Derby Breton rivals Nantes in the 2006–07 season.
• His coach Alain Casanova once promised to kiss Gignac's left foot if he scored with his left foot; Gignac practiced all week and scored the only goal of the match with his left foot.