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Sidney Govou

Govou in 2018

Personal information

Full name

Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou

Date of birth

27 July 1979 (age 44)

Place of birth

Le Puy-en-Velay, France

Height

1.75 m

Playing position

Striker / Winger

Youth career

1992–1996

Brives-Charensac

1996–1997

CO Le Puy

1997–2000

Lyon

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2000–2010

Lyon

292

(49)

2010–2011

Panathinaikos

(3)

2011–2013

Évian

(1)

2013–2014

Lyon B

(0)

2014–2015

Monts d'Or Azergues

(0)

2015

FC Miami City

(3)

2015–2017

Limonest

(2)

Total

417

(58)

National team

2002–2010

France

(10)

Honours

FIFA World Cup

Representing France
Runner-up	2006
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner	2003
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
	2002

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

Sidney Rodrigue Noukpo Govou (born 27 July 1979) is a French former professional footballer who played primarily as a winger, but was occasionally deployed as a striker. He is most prominent for his lengthy playing career at Lyon where he won seven Ligue 1 titles.

Club career
International career
Personal life
Career statistics
- International
Honours
See also

Club career

Lyon

Staying at school to complete his studies to a comparatively late age for a footballer, Govou was a late-comer to the sporting world, joining Lyon's youth academy at the age of 17 in 1996. Loyal to his first club, until 2010, Govou had played at the Stade Gerland for his entire professional career. Govou broke onto the scene during the 2000–01 Ligue 1 season helping Lyon finish in second, just four points behind champions FC Nantes. Because of his great performances for the club, Govou won the 2001 Young Player of the Year Award in Ligue 1.

During the 2004–05 season, Paul Le Guen handed Govou the captain's armband during the long absence of club captain Claudio Caçapa due to injury. Le Guen's decision was largely motivated by the loyalty displayed towards the club by Govou, in face of much speculation linking him with moves away from the club. Indeed, for the last three seasons, Govou had been regularly linked to possible transfers away from Lyon, much helped by Govou's admittance to finding the possibility of playing abroad an attractive one. On 24 May 2008, Govou scored the only goal of the game in added extra time, volleying home a cross, and was named "Man of the Match" as Lyon defeated PSG in the final of the Coupe de France, the club's first cup success since 1973.

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. In November 2009, Lyon hosted Marseille at the Stade Gerland in what would become an epic encounter. Govou scored a memorable goal in the 14th minute, making a sensational run with the ball from beyond midfield and then slotting it past Steve Mandanda to give the hosts a 2–1 lead. The game would go back and forth for the rest of the match, with Lyon leading 5–4 in the 90th minute until an own goal from teammate Jérémy Toulalan meant that the points would be shared. Lyon eventually finished in second spot, securing an automatic place in the group stage of the Champions League.

Panathinaikos

On 2 July 2010, Govou signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos in Greece, with the playmaker 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. The player was partly released because of Panathinaikos' financial problems, and it was reported that other French players Djibril Cissé and Jean-Alain Boumsong would exit to free up the cheque book. During his time at the club, he was punished twice for inappropriate behavior related to "late night activities." Govou appeared in 24 games and scored three goals in all competitions for Panathinaikos.

Évian

Govou playing for Evian in 2011

On 5 July 2011, Govou signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Ligue 1 side Évian. He made his debut for the club in their first ever Ligue 1 game away to Stade Brest. Govou played the full 90 minutes and helped his new squad to a 2–2 draw, earning their first ever point in the French top flight.

Govou recorded his first goal for Évian in a 3–2 defeat to Stade Rennais on 7 February 2012, a result which eliminated his side from the Coupe de France in the Round of 16. His first league goal came 11 days later when he netted a 90th-minute equalizer to prevent Stade Malherbe Caen from getting all three points.

Govou made his first appearance of the 2012–13 Ligue 1 season on 24 August 2012, replacing Daniel Wass in the 90th minute of a 1–1 draw with former club Lyon. On 10 November, Govou provided the assist from which Youssef Adnane scored the game-winning goal for Evian, a 2–1 defeat of Reims.

Return to Lyon

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.

Monts d'Or Azergues

On 27 January 2014, Govou signed with fourth division side Monts d'Or Azergues, partnering up with former International Ludovic Giuly. 21 February, rumours surfaced Govou had been fired by the club for participating in the viral Internet drinking game Neknomination. However, the club denied taking any action against the player the following day.

FC Miami City

On 1 June 2015, Govou signed with FC Miami City Champions in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division.

International career

Govou was not selected initially for the Euro 2004 or 2006 World Cup competitions, but was called up to join the French squads to replace players Ludovic Giuly and Djibril Cissé, respectively, both suffering injuries shortly before the start of the competitions.

Govou scored two goals in France's 3–1 win over world champions Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifier. The game was the first meeting between the two teams since Italy beat France in the 2006 World Cup Final. Govou scored his first goal by heading, just 67 seconds into the game. His second came in the 55th minute.

Govou also represented his country at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Govou appeared in all three group games for France, as Les Bleus finished last in Group A and managed just one goal. Govou started against Uruguay and Mexico and came on as a late substitute against South Africa.

Personal life

Govou was born in France, and is of Beninese descent. He married Clémence Catherin on 18 June 2011 at Replonges (Ain, France). To date, they have two children: a son named Marley, born 25 February 2009, and a daughter named Jude, born on 20 February 2014. He has also, with his ex-girlfriend Pascale, an elder daughter named Naomy, born on 11 February 2005.

..... The report also stated that two of the players were already questioned as witnesses by judge André Dando and a group of magistrates. The report described the two players as being one who "is a major player in a big foreign club" and that the other "plays in the championship of France Ligue 1". Later that day, the players were discovered to be Govou, Karim Benzema and Franck Ribéry. On 29 April, the country's Secretary of State for Sports Rama Yade, after refusing to publicly comment on the case in its infancy, declared that any player placed under investigation should not represent the France national team. The following day, a judicial source confirmed that the players would not be placed under official investigation, if at all, before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. .....

Career statistics

International

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	12 October 2002	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Slovenia	5 – 0	5 – 0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2.	20 June 2003	Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne, France	Japan	2 – 1	2 – 1	2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
3.	18 February 2004	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	1 – 0	2 – 0	Friendly
4.	6 September 2006	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Italy	1 – 0	3 – 1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
5.	6 September 2006	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Italy	3 – 1	3 – 1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
6.	16 November 2007	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Morocco	1 – 1	2 – 2	Friendly
7.	21 November 2007	Olimpiysky, Kyiv, Ukraine	Ukraine	2 – 1	2 – 2	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
8.	20 August 2008	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Sweden	2 – 1	3 – 2	Friendly
9.	20 August 2008	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Sweden	3 – 1	3 – 2	Friendly
10.	6 September 2008	Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Austria	1 – 2	1 – 3	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification