Biography of Nicolas Anelka

About

Nicolas Anelka (born March 14, 1979 in Versailles, France) is a French footballer who plays in the forward position. After winning the 1998–99 PFA Young Player of the Year award and making his name at Arsenal, he has changed clubs several times playing for eight teams in scarcely more than ten years, earning himself the nickname "Le Sulk" in the process. He plays for Chelsea in the Premier League after signing from Bolton Wanderers for a reported £15 million in January 2008. As a result, he became the most expensive player in football history having commanded more than 85 million GBP in transfer fees.

Background

Club Football

Paris Saint-Germain (1995-1997)

Anelka started his career at Paris Saint-Germain as a youth player and was said to have great potential.

Arsenal (1997-1999)

In February 1997, at the age of 17, he joined English Premier League club Arsenal for a fee of £500,000 under newly appointed manager Arsène Wenger. Anelka scored his first goal for Arsenal against Manchester United in a 3–2 home win. His first team opportunities were limited in the 1996–97 season, but in the 1997–98 season he broke into the first team, after a long-term injury to striker Ian Wright. Anelka was a key player in Arsenal's "Double" win, of both the Premier League championship and the FA Cup trophy that season. Anelka scored the second goal in Arsenal's 2–0 win over PFA Young Player of the YearAward in the 1998–99 season, but Arsenal failed to defend their Premiership title and made little progress in the UEFA Champions League and Anelka wanted a better salary, taking into consideration he was not a beginner anymore. In all he made 90 appearances for Arsenal (including 17 as a substitute), scoring 28 goals and establishing himself as a top class striker.

Real Madrid

He was transferred to Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer of 1999 following much speculation, for £22.3m. Anelka began brightly, arriving as a record signing to the Madrid side. He had initial success, but soon fell out of favor with fans, fellow players, and new coach Vicente del Bosque, at one point receiving a 45-day suspension for refusing to train. Despite eventually returning to favor and figuring in the successful capture of the 1999-2000 Champions' League campaign (he scored vital goals in both legs of the semi-finals against Bayern Munich), he was surplus to the requirements of the club and his tenure at Real Madrid, despite the Champions' League medal, was disappointing relative to his cost and potential.

Paris Saint-Germain

Anelka signed a professional contract at Paris Saint-Germain, a return to the club at which he used to play as a youth player, in a transfer deal worth £20 million.

Liverpool

After 18 months at Paris St-Germain, Anelka returned to the English Premiership in January 2002 with Liverpool on a short term loan deal until the end of the season. He contributed to Liverpool's late push to come second in the league but manager Gérard Houllier decided not to offer him a permanent deal after the end of the season in favour of signing El Hadji Diouf. Nevertheless, he was placed 96th in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.

Manchester City

Anelka opted to join newly promoted Manchester City and the £13 million fee paid by manager Kevin Keegan was a club record. Manchester City was the first club Anelka wore the number 39 shirt for. He has since worn it for Fenerbahçe, Bolton, Chelsea and the French national team.

In his three seasons at Manchester City, although scoring freely, the addition of Anelka to the club's squad hardly made a drastic difference to its playing fortunes. They finished ninth in 2002-03 season, 16th in 2003-04 season and midway through the 2004-05 season they were looking set for a mid-table finish at best. There was increasing speculation as to whether Anelka was going to be transferred to a bigger club.

Fenerbahçe

In January 2005, the speculation ended when Manchester City announced that Anelka had completed a £7 million transfer to Turkish team Fenerbahçe. Anelka helped the Turkish club win the league title in 2005. In August of that same year, there was considerable speculation in the press that Anelka was being courted by Newcastle United for a return to English football, although the transfer never came about. Anelka stayed on at the Turkish club where he played with them in the UEFA Champions League, but they finished bottom of their group. They also fell short in the title race in 2006, as rivals Galatasaray won the title on the season's final day.

During the summer transfer window of 2006, press reports once again linked Anelka with a return to English football. Portsmouth manager, Harry Redknapp, was allegedly willing to either pay £8.2 million to bring the striker to Fratton Park, or take him on a season long loan.

Bolton Wanderers

On 25 August 2006, Bolton Wanderers's manager, Sam Allardyce, announced that he had signed Anelka on a four year deal for a club record of £8m. Anelka made his debut for Bolton against Watford on 9 September 2006.

Anelka took time to settle in at Bolton. Although he did finish the 2006-07 season as Bolton's top scorer with 11 goals.

During January 2007, Anelka stated that he would be willing to leave Bolton Wanderers for a return to former club Arsenal. However, Anelka pledged his future to Bolton Wanderers in July 2007, following talks with manager Sammy Lee. Anelka later said he would reluctantly consider leaving the club if Bolton's poor start to the 2007-08 season continues. However, Anelka signed a new four year contract with Bolton Wanderers on 30 August, which would expire in 2011.

Speculation linking him with top clubs continued throughout the start of the 2007-08 season and Anelka continued to enhance his reputation with a consistent run of goalscoring form, capped with the winning goal in a 1-0 win over reigning league champions Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium in November. On January 2, 2008, it was announced by several sportspapers that Bolton Wanderers were in negotiations with Chelsea over a transfer for Anelka, with the French international himself kept informed of all progress in the negotiations.

Chelsea confirmed on 7 January 2008 that they had made an official offer for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka which was discussed with Bolton Wanderers, this offer was rejected. He was later sold to Chelsea for £15m.

Chelsea F.C.

On 11 January 2008 it was confirmed that Anelka would join Chelsea for £15 million, making him the most expensive player in footballing history, with £87 million having been spent on his services since he left Paris Saint Germain for Arsenal in 1997. Anelka made his debut for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur on January 12, 2008, earning rave reviews for his performance after drawing a fine stop from Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Černý with his first attempt at goal and the second hitting the crossbar. Anelka scored his first goal for Chelsea on 26 January 2008 in the FA Cup 4th-round against Wigan Athletic with a sublime touch over the advancing Chris Kirkland. He scored his first league goal on 2 February against Portsmouth.

On 30 April during the semi-finals for the UEFA Champions League, he came off the bench in injury time and kalou provided a cross which led to a goal against Liverpool.

International Football

At youth level, Anelka played for the French U-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and made his senior team debut for France in a goalless draw with Sweden on April 22, 1998. Quickly developing into a world-class striker, Anelka played an integral role in France's forward line to give his country victory in Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands. When striker Djibril Cissé was forced out of 2006 World Cup due to injury, Olympique Lyonnais' striker Sidney Govou was called up as Cissé's replacement rather than Anelka. He declared he felt this decision as a "real shame. I was completely available and ready to play in this World Cup. I think I could have helped France."

Anelka came on as a substitute in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania on 24 March 2007, and scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory. Following his performance, Anelka was praised by Raymond Domenech: "It is the Nicolas I like to see... when he shows these qualities, he is a candidate for a permanent place." [19] He also scored in the 2–0 victory against Ukraine on 2 June 2007, and is now one of Raymond Domenech's first-choice strikers, forming France's number one attacking partnership with Thierry Henry.

He plays with number 39 for both club and country.

International Goals

Awards and Honours

Personal Awards

Career Statistics

M = Matches, G = Goals, A = Assists

Personal Info

Wife / Girlfriend

Sponsors

Important Links

References