Biography
Who is Yoann Gourcuff?
Early life and family
Yoann Miguel Gourcuff was born on July 11, 1986, in Lorient, France. He comes from a very athletic family with deep roots in sports. His mother, Dr. Marine Thalouarn, was a basketball player, while his father, Christian Gourcuff, played football professionally before transitioning into a managerial career. His older brother, Erwan, also pursued competitive swimming and cycling. Growing up in this sports-focused environment, Yoann excelled at both tennis and football as a youth, eventually choosing to focus entirely on football.
As a young player, he admired the playing style of the Brazil national team from the 1970s and attempted to emulate the skills of Pelé after watching tapes with his father. He began his youth career at Lorient, where his father was managing at the time. He later trained at the PEF Ploufragan regional academy in Brittany before joining Rennes in 2001, following in his father's footsteps.
Club career highlights
Yoann Gourcuff began his professional career with Rennes, signing his first professional contract in November 2003. He made his professional debut in January 2004 during a Coupe de France match. By the 2005 to 2006 season, he became a regular starter wearing the number 10 shirt, making 42 total appearances and scoring six goals. His strong performances drew attention from abroad, leading to a transfer to Italian club AC Milan in 2006 for a fee of €4.58 million. During his time with Milan, he earned a winner's medal for the UEFA Champions League despite limited playing time.
Seeking more regular minutes, he joined Ligue 1 club FC Girondins de Bordeaux on loan. His time at Bordeaux proved exceptionally successful, as the team captured the league and league cup double. Yoann was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the 2008 to 2009 season and the French Player of the Year for 2009, prompting Bordeaux to sign him permanently. In August 2010, he transferred to Olympique Lyonnais on a five-year contract, though his time there was heavily impacted by persistent injuries.
International career
Yoann Gourcuff represented France at various youth levels before breaking into the senior national team. He was part of the under-19 team that won the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He made his senior international debut for France in August 2008 and scored his first goal two months later in a match against Romania.
He went on to earn 31 caps for the senior national team and made his first major tournament appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Following his integration into the squad, he frequently took on the playmaker role, a position previously held by Zinedine Zidane.
Birthday and age
Yoann Gourcuff was born on July 11, 1986, which makes Yoann 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Yoann shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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