Sidney Govou

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Govou joined Lyon's youth academy at age 17 in 1996 and played at Stade Gerland for his entire professional career until 2010. He won the 2001 Young Player of the Year Award in Ligue 1. During the 2004–05 season, he was given the captain's armband during Claudio Caçapa's injury absence. On 24 May 2008, he scored the only goal in extra time and was named Man of the Match as Lyon defeated PSG in the Coupe de France final, the club's first cup success since 1973. In the 2009–10 season, he appeared in 30 league games, starting 22, with two goals and two assists as Lyon finished runners-up to Marseille. He scored a memorable goal against Marseille in November 2009. On 2 July 2010, he signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos, earning €1.5 million a year. He scored against Barcelona at Camp Nou on 14 September 2010. He was released by mutual consent on 2 July 2011 due to Panathinaikos' financial problems. He appeared in 24 games and scored three goals for Panathinaikos. On 5 July 2011, he signed a two-year contract with Évian. He made his debut in their first ever Ligue 1 game, a 2–2 draw at Stade Brest. His first goal for Évian came in a 3–2 Coupe de France defeat to Stade Rennais on 7 February 2012; his first league goal came 11 days later as a 90th-minute equalizer against Caen. In October 2013, he signed with Lyon on an amateur contract, restricting him to the reserve team. On 27 January 2014, he signed with fourth division side Monts d'Or Azergues, partnering with Ludovic Giuly. On 1 June 2015, he signed with FC Miami City in the USL Premier Development League. He later returned to France to play for FC Limonest in the Championnat de France Amateur 2 from 2015 to 2017, making approximately 24 appearances and scoring 2 goals before retiring. He remained with the club as a sporting advisor starting in 2018.

In Their Own Story

Govou and Lyon endured a difficult 2009–10 Ligue 1 campaign. He appeared in 30 league games for Lyon, starting 22, but managed just two goals and two assists as Lyon finished runners up to Olympique de Marseille. Lyon eventually finished in second spot, securing an automatic place in the group stage of the Champions League. After leaving Lyon in 2010, Govou signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos in Greece, reportedly earning €1.5 million a year. On 14 September 2010, he scored against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou to give Panathinaikos the lead, although they eventually lost the game 5–1. On 2 July 2011, it was announced by Panathinaikos that Govou had been released from the club by mutual consent, partly because of Panathinaikos' financial problems. He then signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Ligue 1 side Évian. In October 2013, Govou signed with his former club Lyon on an amateur contract, restricting him to play only with the club's reserve team.

Reader's Guide

Govou was not selected initially for Euro 2004 or the 2006 World Cup but was called up as a replacement for injured players Ludovic Giuly and Djibril Cissé, respectively. He scored two goals in France's 3–1 win over Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifier, the first goal 67 seconds into the game. He represented France at the 2010 World Cup, appearing in all three group games as France finished last in Group A. He started against Uruguay and Mexico and came on as a late substitute against South Africa.

Did You Know?

• Govou was of Beninese descent.
• He married Clémence Catherin on 18 June 2011 at Replonges.
• He has three children: Naomy (born 11 February 2005), Marley (born 25 February 2009), and Jude (born 20 February 2014).
• In 2010, he was among four French national team players investigated for involvement with a prostitution ring; the case was later dropped in November 2011.