Valérien Ismaël

Valérien Ismaël in 2008

Valérien Ismaël ( born September 28, 1975 in Strasbourg ) is a French former football player and current coach, who also has German nationality. He currently coaches the second team of VfL Wolfsburg.

Playing career

Association

Valerian Ismael was son of a father from Guadeloupe and an Alsatian in Strasbourg directly on the border with Germany and grew up there. The father was stationed as a soldier in the neighboring German town of Kehl.

From the ninth to the eighteenth year Ismaël played in the youth department of Racing Strasbourg, for their first team he spent four years, came in Division 1, the first French League from 1993 are used. In 87 league games, he scored a goal. In 1997 he moved to England for the first division promoted Crystal Palace, but came in the second half of the season 1997 /98 in 13 games for use. By his own admission he was not comfortable there and returned to France for the reigning champions RC Lens.

During his four-year club membership he was loaned to Racing Strasbourg in 2001, which led him to start the 2002/03 season finally committed. Opposite end of the season he fell out of favor with Racing Strasbourg, when he had a feud with then- coach Ivan Hašek and a short time later was banished to the stands.

After only one season at Strasbourg Ismaël moved abroad again, this time to Germany for Werder Bremen; his Bundesliga debut was on August 2, 2003 ( 1st Round ) 3-0 win in the away game at Hertha BSC. With Werder Bremen, he won in his first season in 2003/ 04 both the championship and the DFB-Pokal. From 2005 until the winter break of the season 2007/ 08 he played at Bayern Munich, who had secured the services of the Frenchman for a transfer fee of around 8.5 million euros.

As long as Ismaël was spared from injury, he was regarded as a safe central defender. On August 15, 2006, he retired in training both a calf and a broken leg to after him was a few weeks earlier a benign tumor removed at this point. Only 3 March 2007 came Ismaël again in a competitive fixture for use: In the Regionalliga Süd, he scored in the 1-2 defeat by Bayern II at SV Elversberg a goal.

In January 2008, Ismaël moved to Hannover 96, but in September 2008 he was again a blow to the two years previously operated knee; since it was the pain from a bone edema not let go. The last game of his career, he played on 19 September 2008 ( 5th Round ) in the 0-4 defeat at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Because of ongoing knee problems and with acceptance of his application for disability he ended his career in September 2009.

National

Ismaël played for various U- national teams of France. A senior international was denied him.

In 2005 he speculated on an insert for the German national team. His ties to Germany he founded with his Alsatian origin and with his German girlfriend and today's wife. The DFB said Ismaël from however.

Coaching career

After his time as an active player Ismaël acquired in November 2011, the A- license and then took over on 27 November 2011, the coach of the second team of Hannover 96 in the Regionalliga Nord.

For the 2013/14 season took Ismaël the U23 VfL Wolfsburg in place of Lorenz -Günther Köstner. He signed a contract until 30 June 2016.

Achievements

• German Championship: 2004 ( with Werder Bremen ), 2006 ( Bayern Munich )
• DFB Cup: 2004 ( with Werder Bremen ), 2006 ( Bayern Munich )
• Coupe de France: 2001 ( with Racing Strasbourg)
• Coupe de la Ligue: 1997 ( with Racing Strasbourg ), 1999 ( with RC Lens )

Others

As Ismael moved to Bremen, he did not speak German - although already his maternal grandmother and his mother German had spoken - but learned the language in a very short time, and said it better than his team-mates Aílton and Johan Micoud which may substitute at this time already six. almost two years playing in Bremen.

Valérien Ismaël synchronized in the German version of the French film Asterix at the Olympic Games, the role of Numérodix (played by Zinedine Zidane ) and attended the Germany premiere of the film in Munich. On the audiobook Gustav ago, even a goal! Valérien Ismaël speaks the role of the referee.

2008 Ismaël occupied parallel to his involvement with Hannover 96 the degree program in Business Administration specializing in International Management at the FHDW in Hanover. In November 2009 he became assistant to the Sports Director of Hannover 96

Ismaël is married since July 19, 2013 in second marriage with a German woman. From the first marriage he has a son (* 1995). Since April 24, 2013, holds German citizenship.