Gilles Grimandi

Gilles Jean-Christophe Grimandi (born 11 November 1970) is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre back or midfielder.

Gilles Grimandi

Grimandi playing for Arsenal
Personal information
Full name	Gilles Jean-Christophe Grimandi
Date of birth	(1970-11-11) 11 November 1970 (age 53)
Place of birth	Gap, France
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Centre back, midfielder^[2]
Youth career
1987–1988	Gap
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1988–1991	Gap
1991–1997	Monaco	80	(3)
1997–2002	Arsenal	114	(4)
2003	Colorado Rapids	0	(0)
Total		194	(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In his playing career, he went from hometown team Gap to top-flight Monaco before arriving at Arsenal of the Premier League in 1997. He won two league-and-cup doubles with them before leaving in 2002.^[3]

Early life and playing career

Gilles Jean-Christophe Grimandi^[4] was born on 11 November 1970 in Gap, Hautes-Alpes.^[1]

Grimandi began his professional career with Monaco in 1990 and made his first-team debut in 1991 against AS Nancy in Division 1. His career briefly interrupted by French military service, he went on to make 80 appearances and score three goals for the club, mostly as a centre back. He helped the club reach both a UEFA Champions League and a UEFA Cup semifinal, and won the league title in 1996–97.^{[citation needed]}

The following season, Grimandi left to join his former manager Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, making his debut at Elland Road against Leeds United, and helped achieve The Double in his first season. He made 113 league appearances as a midfielder, centre back, and right wingback, winning a second Double in his final season (2001–02) with the club.^[3]

Grimandi signed with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer on 8 January 2003, after turning down an offer from Middlesbrough.^[5] Grimandi was the first Frenchman to sign for MLS, and played a pre-season friendly against Santos Laguna of Mexico on 12 March. On 30 April he quit the club for family reasons to return to France. The Rapids' management described themselves as "deeply saddened" by his decision.^[6]

Post-playing career

Grimandi has remained active in the sport, taking his first administrative position in 2004 as football director at ASOA Valence. Valence were playing in the Championnats National, the French third division at the time of his appointment. Grimandi became a French-based scout for Arsenal in 2006.^[7] He also took part in Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium in July of that year, making a controversial tackle on Edgar Davids as the Dutchman looked to tap into an empty net to open the scoring for Ajax.^[3]

Grimandi was linked with a director of football position at Arsenal in July 2007, in charge of acquiring new players.^[8] However, no appointment to the role was made.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2019, Grimandi left his position at Arsenal to become technical director at OGC Nice, joining forces with former teammate Patrick Vieira. Grimandi resigned by mutual agreement on 7 October 2019.^[9]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[10]

Club	Season	League			Cup^[a]		Continental^[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Monaco	1991–92	Division 1	5	0	0	0	–		5	0
	1992–93		8	0	0	0	–		8	0
	1993–94		19	1	2	0	7	0	28	1
	1994–95		9	0	2	1	–		11	1
	1995–96		15	1	4	0	–		19	1
	1996–97		24	1	2	0	6	0	32	1
	Total		80	3	10	1	13	0	103	4
Arsenal	1997–98	Premier League	22	1	9	0	–		31	1
	1998–99		8	0	4	0	2	0	14	0
	1999–2000		28	2	5	1	10	1	43	4
	2000–01		30	1	3	0	8	0	41	1
	2001–02		26	0	6	0	8	0	40	0
	Total		114	4	27	1	28	1	169	6
Career total			194	7	37	1	41	1	272	10

1. Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, FA Community Shield, EFL Cup and FA Cup.
2. Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.

Honours

Monaco

• Division 1: 1996–97^[11]

Arsenal

• Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02^[12]
• FA Cup: 1997–98;^[13] runner-up: 2000–01^[14]
• FA Charity Shield: 1998,^[15] 1999^[16]
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1999–2000^[17]

References

1. "Gilles Grimandi". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
2. "Gilles Grimandi". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
3. . Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 30 October 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
4. "La Casse Deserte". Verif.com (in French). Retrieved 8 June 2023.
   "Gilles Grimandi". Verif.com (in French). Retrieved 8 June 2023.
5. Chen, Albert. . Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
6. "Defender returns to France". ESPN FC. 30 April 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
7. "Grimandi explains Arsenal scouting policy". Sky Sports.com.
8. Wenger turns to Grimandi as he ushers in new era, The Guardian, 25 June 2007. Retrieved on 15 July 2007
9. GILLES GRIMANDI LEAVES THE CLUB, ogcnice.com, 7 October 2019
10. Gilles Grimandi at WorldFootball.net
11. "Gilles Grimandi". Eurosport.com.
12. "Gilles Grimandi: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
13. Moore, Glenn (18 May 1998). "Football: Gunners train sights on European glory". The Independent. London. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
14. "Owen shatters Arsenal in Cup final". BBC Sport. 12 May 2001. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
15. "Arsenal show no charity at home from home". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 August 1998. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
16. "Parlour gives Gunners Wembley win". BBC News. 1 August 1999. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
17. "Penalty heartbreak for Arsenal". BBC News. 17 May 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2019.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gilles Grimandi.

• – French league stats at LFP – also available (archived)