Éric Abidal

Éric Abidal during training in 2008

Éric Sylvain - Bilal Abidal ( Éric Abidal short; born September 11, 1979 in Lyon, France ) is a French football player with martiniquinischer descent. Abidal plays as internal or left-back in the French national team and is at AS Monaco under contract.

Career

Association

Abidal started at AS Lyon- Duchère, an amateur club from Lyon, with football games. In 2000 he joined AS Monaco, where he completed his competitive debut in the match against Toulouse FC on 16 September 2000. 2002 brought him Claude Puel, who had trained him in Monaco, the OSC Lille. Was he at first only borrowed, the club took the option to purchase true. Abidal back in 2004 returned to his birthplace, and signed a four -year contract with Olympique Lyon. For Lyon Abidal scored two competitive goal, one in the French Cup and French League Cup.

In the summer of 2007, he spent 15 million euros to FC Barcelona, where he received a four-year contract. He was inducted in the first year with the Catalans 46 times. In his second season he played 30 games and won with his team the Triple. However, the victory of his team in the Champions League final in 2009 had Abidal track from the stands, as he had seen a red card in the semi-final second leg against Chelsea for a foul on Nicolas Anelka. In his third season with the Catalans, he was the first choice, despite the commitment of Maxwell at the beginning of the season. Barcelona then extended on 25 November 2009 the contract with Abidal by one year to 2012. In February 2010, Abidal suffered a knee injury that put him out of action for two months. Subsequently, he was plagued with a groin injury, by which he lost his place in favor of Maxwell during the season. In the season 2010/11 he won back his place and moved after the injury of Carles Puyol in the position of central defender. On 5 January 2011, he scored in the Cup second leg against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames stadium 's first goal in the jersey of FC Barcelona. The game ended 1-1 and FC Barcelona moved on away goals in the next round.

On 15 March 2011, FC Barcelona announced that a tumor was discovered in Abidals liver. Two days later this was removed without complications. The doctors predicted him a break of several months. However, in early May 2011 Abidal already been called to the squad for the Champions League second leg against Real Madrid and substitute a standing ovation of the audience in the 90th minute for Carles Puyol. In the final of the same competition, he was part of the starting lineup and took summarily determined by Carles Puyol to captain, first the trophy won against.

Early February 2012, Abidal extended his contract with Barcelona until 2013. The contract also included the option of each annual renewal by 2015. On April 9, 2012 Abidal underwent due to his cancer liver transplantation. He and his donor, a cousin, the operation survived well. Six months later, Abidal completed early October 2012 his first training session after transplantation, two months later, he returned to team training. On 21 February 2013, the club doctors declared him to play again. His comeback, he completed on April 6, 2013, when he came off the bench in the 5-0 win against RCD Mallorca in the 70th minute.

On May 30, 2013 said Abidal, he would leave Barcelona after six years, since his end of the season expiring contract would not be renewed, although he would have liked to stay. In July 2013 he signed for AS Monaco one-year contract with an option for another year.

National

Éric Abidal was used on 18 August 2004 for the first time in the French national team when the team against Bosnia and Herzegovina played. Slowly Abidal worked out a regular place as a left-back. He sat through at this position against Mikaël Silvestre.

He also belonged to the 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup. In Germany he got in the first two group matches a yellow card, which Abidal forced to be mere spectators in their final group game. He could otherwise participate in any game of the World Cup the French to the finals and played in his games always through. In the final against Italy Abidal could convert his penalty kick in a penalty shootout to 4:3. France lost anyway and was runner-up.

In the European Championship finals in 2008, he belonged also to the French squad. After a disappointing start against Romania, Abidal was not used in the following match against Netherlands. In the final and decisive group game he was after only 24 minutes on the tragic character of the game by being sent off after an emergency brake to Luca Toni. France difference in the group stage as a group last.

Also for the 2010 World Cup Abidal was appointed by Raymond Domenech in the 23 - man squad. At the World Championships the Bleus disappointed across the board and adopted as a group last early from the tournament. A 0-0 draw against Uruguay was followed by a 0-2 against Mexico in which Abidal mitverschuldete the last goal. In the final defeat against hosts South Africa Abidal no longer belonged to the starting lineup. Domenech's successor Laurent Blanc sat still on the full-back who came in eleven other international matches until February 2012 for use.

Achievements

Club:

• French Cup: 2005, 2006, 2007
• Trophée des Champions: 2005, 2006, 2007
• Spanish Cup: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
• Copa del Rey: 2009
• Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010, 2011
• UEFA Champions League: 2009, 2011
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011

National team:

• Vice World Cup: 2006

Individual:

• UEFA Team of the Year: 2007

Others

Abidal married in 2007, the Algerian Hayet, with whom he had two daughters (* 2004 and * 2006). He converted to Islam in 2003 and adopted the Muslim name Bilal.