Gaël Givet

Gaël Givet

Givet posing for picture after Brighton & Hove Albion vs Blackburn Rovers game on 13 February 2013
Personal information
Full name Gaël Givet-Viaros[1]
Date of birth (1981-10-09) 9 October 1981
Place of birth Arles, France
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Arles-Avignon
Number 28
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Monaco B 44 (1)
2000–2007 Monaco 178 (8)
2007–2009 Marseille 29 (0)
2009 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 14 (0)
2009–2013 Blackburn Rovers 101 (3)
2013–2014 Arles-Avignon 32 (1)
2014 Evian TG 1 (0)
2014–2015 Arles-Avignon 18 (0)
2015– FC Tours 0 (0)
National team
2004–2006 France 12 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 October 2015.


Gaël Givet-Viaros (born 9 October 1981), known as Gaël Givet, is a French footballer who currently plays for Arles-Avignon in Ligue 2. He is a left-footed centre back who can also play left-back. Givet was a Champions League runner-up with Monaco in 2004 and was part of the French team which reached the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Monaco

Born in Arles, France, Givet started his professional career at AS Monaco as a left back before moving to centre half. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Guingamp in December 2000. He played for Monaco between 2000 and 2007, making 178 league appearances and scoring a respectable 8 goals. The highlights of his time at the club were winning the French League Cup in 2003 and reaching the UEFA Champions League Final in 2004, where he missed out on a winner's medal with a 3–0 defeat against Jose Mourinho's FC Porto. He played a pivotal role in their success, making 13 Champions League appearances during the campaign. He made a name for himself in the 2003-04 season where he blossomed in the Monaco defense alongside Patrice Evra, Julien Rodriguez and Sébastien Squillaci.

Marseille

Givet playing for Marseille in February 2008

After a successful career at Monaco, Givet moved to Marseille. During the 2007–08 season he featured 29 times in the French league and made nine appearances in the UEFA Champions League. However at the beginning of the next season he found his opportunities very limited in the first team.

Blackburn Rovers

On 10 January 2009, L'Equipe reported that Givet would be flying to England to finalize a six-month loan deal with English club Blackburn Rovers on 12 January. On 14 January, Sky Sports announced that Blackburn had completed the signing of Givet on a six-month loan deal with a view to a permanent move at the end of the season. This was confirmed by Marseille on 15 January. He appeared in his first match for Blackburn against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light coming on from off the bench in the FA Cup fourth round on 24 January 2009 appearing as a substitute.[3][4] The match finished 0–0, which resulted in a return fixture at Ewood Park on 4 February. Givet made his home debut in that match, which resulted in a 2–1 win for Blackburn. On Saturday 21 February 2009, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 2–1 defeat.

On 15 May 2009, an agreement in principle was made with Marseille to make his loan switch to Blackburn permanent.[5] On 26 June 2009, Blackburn completed the signing of Givet on a four-year contract for £3.5 million. He scored his first goal in over three years against Sunderland on 22 August 2009 in a 2–1 away defeat.[6] He scored his second goal for Rovers at home against Bolton Wanderers at Ewood Park on 21 February 2010 in a 3–0 victory. Following the 2009–10 season, Givet was awarded the 'Player's Player of the Year' award by the club.

On 14 August 2010, he started and completed the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 win over Everton on the opening day of the new Premier League season. On 22 September 2010, he scored a volley from the edge of the area on 34 minutes against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the League Cup third round 3–1 defeat. On 13 November 2010, Givet scored a goal against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane and played the full 90 minutes at left-back in a 4–2 defeat. On 8 January 2011, he suffered a knee injury whilst playing in the FA Cup third round fixture against Queens Park Rangers in a 1–0 win for Rovers when he accidentally collided with Jamie Mackie and both players had to be stretchered off the field on around about the half-hour stage. In April 2011, Givet was left out of the squad as his future is in doubt after a £275,000 tax dispute with the club.[7] At the end of the 2010–11 season, Givet made 32 appearances and scored two goals in all competitions.

On 24 August 2011, Givet made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season, playing the full 90 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park in the League Cup 2nd round. On Saturday 27 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Christopher Samba in a 1–0 defeat against Everton at Ewood Park. On Sunday 11 September 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Fulham in a 1–1 draw at Craven Cottage. On Saturday 17 September 2011, Givet started the league game with Arsenal and completed the full 90 minutes at Ewood Park in a 4–3 victory in the left-back berth. On Tuesday 20 September 2011, he captained Rovers in their League Cup third round tie against Leyton Orient at Ewood Park which ended in a 3–2 win for Rovers and also played the full 90 minutes alongside Grant Hanley. On Saturday 24 September 2011, Givet started and played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle United at St. James' Park in a 3–1 defeat. On Saturday 1 October 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes at left-back in a 4–0 loss against Manchester City at Ewood Park.[8] He was forced to leave the game versus Sunderland on 11 December due to heart palpitations.[9] Immediately suffering heart palpitations, Givet was taken to hospital and will be monitored by club doctors, tested for an ongoing heart condition and the club are hopeful that the routine tests will show no problems.[10] After suffering heart palpitations, manager Steve Kean recalled Givet suffering heart palpitations, told Givet to get off pitch before he collapsed and Club doctor was unable to regulate heart beat.

“ We had a taste of this (what happened to Fabrice Muamba), although not to this level, with Gaël Givet. Gaël's heart went into a state where we couldn't regulate it. We were fortunate to get him off the pitch before we got to the state where he collapsed. We felt we got away with it there. The doc was telling me, 'You need to get him off, this is very dangerous' He actually said to the doc: 'I'm struggling here.' We stuck a heart rate monitor on him and it was going through the roof. The doc tried to calm it down but he couldn't regulate it, we had to get him off." Of the 30-year-old's recovery Kean added: "The doctors said it was a very straight forward procedure, even if it didn't sound like it – burning nerve-endings and all that. He had a problem near one of the chambers and it moved to another so they had to do it but since then he's been great.

Kean recalls Gaël Givet's heart palpitations[11]

 ”
Givet playing for Blackburn in February 2012

Also in the match between Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic the second half was delayed due to Givet and paramedics were treating him. This was a scare but they thankfully revealed it was because he had suffered a hamstring strain.

On 4 February 2012, Givet received a red card just two minutes before half-time after a challenge on Robin van Persie as Blackburn were beaten heavily by Arsenal 7–1.[12] Since his sending off, Givet had not made his first appearance and rumors begin to spread that Kean will offered Givet a contract clause because of his recent absence but Kean however dismissed about it.[13] Despite not on the bench for Blackburn in a 3–0 defeat to Swansea City, Kean revealed he didn't choose Givet stating was 'not in the right frame of mind' to play.[14] After, Givet said that he wanted to leave Blackburn in the summer. In a stunning turn of events, Givet was selected to start against Norwich City at Ewood Park in the Premier League on 21 April 2012 and played the full 90 minutes, replacing the injured Scottish defender Grant Hanley. On Monday 7 May 2012, Givet started the Premier League game alongside Scott Dann versus Wigan Athletic at Ewood Park in a crucial game knowing that a win would put them on course for survival, but during half-time, he suffered a heart scare after a row with manager Steve Kean and from being upset that Rovers were going down. He therefore was substituted for midfielder Radosav Petrovic. The match finished 1–0 to Wigan, relegating Blackburn.[15]

AC Arles-Avignon

On August 30, 2013, Givet made a return to his boyhood team Arles-Avignon after four and a half years with Blackburn Rovers.[16] He left the club in September 2014, signing for Evian TG.[17] However, after only one Ligue 1 game against his former team Marseille, he returned to Arles after falling out with Evian as they described his beard as "jihadist" and ordered him to shave it.[18][19]

International career

Givet has represented France at international level. He made his debut as a half-time substitute for Monaco clubmate and fellow debutant Sébastien Squillaci on 18 August 2004 in a 1-1 friendly draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.[20] In 2006, he was a member of the French squad that reached the Final of the FIFA World Cup held in Germany, though he did not play. He has earned 12 caps for his country, last appearing on 16 August 2006.[21]

Club career statistics

Statistics accurate as of 21 March 2013 (UTC)[22]
Club Season League Cup[23] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Monaco 2000–01 Ligue 110000010
2001–02 Ligue 12220000222
2002–03 Ligue 12110000211
2003–04 Ligue 133200130462
2004–05 Ligue 13100091401
2005–06 Ligue 13120060370
2006–07 Ligue 13210000321
Total 1718002811999
Marseille 2007–08 Ligue 12900090380
Total 2900090380
Blackburn Rovers 2008–09 Premier League1404000180
2009–10 Premier League3424000382
2010–11 Premier League2913100322
2011–12 Premier League2205100271
2012–13 Championship1600000160
2013–14 Championship00100010
Total 1153172001325
Arles-Avignon 2013–14 Ligue 250000050
Total 50000050
Career Total 3231117237138114

Personal life

He is married to Anne-Sophie and has a son named Gabriel (born 8 May 2006), and a daughter Anna (born 12 May 2009).

Honours

Club

AS Monaco

International

France

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Germany 2006: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 May 2010. p. 11. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Givet Completes Loan Move to Blackburn Rovers, Blackburn Rovers F.C., accessed 15 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Zack (13 January 2009). "Gael Givet set to join Blackburn Rovers". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  5. ↑ Deal agreed for on-loan Blackburn Rovers defender. lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 15 May 2009
  6. ↑ "Sunderland 2–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Givet set to leave Blackburn in summer after being frozen out by Kean". Daily Mail. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Blackburn Rovers (6 August 2011). "Givet 90 vs Kilmarcnock". Blackburn Rovers. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
  9. ↑ "Heart worry for Blackburn's Givet". PA Sport. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  10. ↑ "Givet to under-go heart tests". Sky Sports. December 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "Steve Kean recalls Gaël Givet's heart palpitations at Blackburn Rovers". The Guardian. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Arsenal 7 Blackburn 1: Van Persie sets up a fitting Emirates farewell for king Henry". Daily Mail. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kean scotches Givet rumours". Sky Sports. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "Kean – Givet not right to play". Sky Sports. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "Givet set to leave Blackburn in summer after being frozen out by Kean". Daily Mail. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "Au revoir Gael". Blackburn Rovers. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gaël Givet à Evian Thonon-Gaillard" (in French). arlesavignon.net. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "Gaël Givet revient !" (in French). arlesavignon.net. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Givet hits out at Evian for making him shave his 'jihadist' beard". Mail Online. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  20. ↑ "France 1-1 Bosnia". EU-football.info. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "Gael Givet". EU-football.info. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "Gael Givet Career Stats". Soccerbase. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  23. ↑ Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield
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