Biography
Who is Laurent Koscielny?
Early life and career
Laurent Koscielny was born in Tulle, France, on September 10, 1985. He began his youth football career playing for various local youth clubs before joining En Avant de Guingamp in 2003. He progressed through the youth ranks and made his professional debut the following season, playing mostly as a right back during his time at the club. After growing frustrated with playing out of position, he transferred to Tours FC in search of a chance to play in his preferred position as a centre back.
At Tours FC, Laurent quickly established himself as a star player and helped the club secure promotion into Ligue 1. His impressive defensive performances earned him a spot in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season. In 2009, he moved to fellow French club F.C. Lorient for a transfer fee of around €1.7 million. During his single season with Lorient, he established himself as a regular starter in central defence and helped the club finish in seventh place in the league table.
Career at Arsenal
Following his impressive performances in France, Laurent signed with Premier League side Arsenal F.C. In July 2010 for a reported fee of £8.45 million. He was handed the number six shirt and quickly established himself as a core component in the Arsenal first team. Despite facing some disciplinary issues early on, including red cards in his debut and against Newcastle United, he soon became regarded as one of the best central defenders in the league.
During his time with Arsenal, Laurent helped the club end a nine-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup in 2014, where he scored a crucial equalizer in the final. He went on to win another FA Cup and the FA Community Shield twice with the club. He signed a new long-term contract in July 2012 and continued to deliver key performances in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League until later moving to FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
International career
Although he was also eligible to represent Poland internationally, Laurent chose to represent the France men's national association football team. He made his first appearance for the national side in a match against Brazil in February 2011. He established himself as a regular starter for the team in major international tournaments, featuring in UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Laurent played a key role in leading France to the final of UEFA Euro 2016, which the team ultimately lost to Portugal. He scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Scotland in 2016. Across his career with the national team, he amassed fifty-one appearances before announcing his retirement from international football in 2018.
Height and personal profile
Standing at a height of 186 cm, Laurent possessed the physical presence needed to excel as a central defender. His aerial ability and positional awareness earned him a reputation as a clever and agile ball-playing defender throughout his playing days. Following his retirement from playing professional football, he transitioned into coaching and took on a role as a sporting director at Ligue 1 club Lorient.
Birthday and age
Laurent Koscielny was born on September 10, 1985, which makes Laurent 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Laurent shares the date with 23 other famous people.
Explore more
