Alexandre Lacazette is a French footballer who plays for French club Lyon and the France
national team as a forward.
He has also represented France across all youth levels.
He won the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the France under-19 team, scoring the
match-winning goal in the final against Spain.
Club career Lyon
Upon his arrival at the club, Lacazette began training at the Centre Tola Vologe, the club's
training center.
While undergoing training, he was likened to former Lyon striker Sonny Anderson by many
coaches, including the player himself.
As a youth player, Lacazette played on the club's under-18 team that finished in third
place in the Championnat National 18 ans during the 2007–08 season.
The following season, he began making appearances with the club's Championnat de France amateur
team appearing in 19 matches and netting five goals.
In the 2009–10 season, Lacazette had a stellar campaign in the CFA scoring 12 goals in 22
appearances.
During the latter part of the season, he was called up to the senior team by manager Claude
Puel and appeared on the bench in the team's 1–0 victory over Montpellier on 2 May 2010.
Three days later, Lacazette made his professional debut in a league match against Auxerre.
On 3 July 2010, Lacazette signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year
deal.
Due to still having another year left on his aspirant contract, the contract will start
on 1 July 2011.
Lacazette's successful international campaign saw the player draw interest from Italian
club Roma.
He also drew praise from the media, alongside international teammates Yannis Tafer and Clément
Grenier, for his club dedication after playing in a pre-season Emirates Cup match hours after
playing in the final of the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.
Lacazette began the 2010–11 campaign training full-time with the first team, though he did
have a stint with the club's CFA team in September 2010.
He scored his first professional goal on 31 October in a league match against Sochaux.
The goal gave Lyon a 2–1 lead, which was the final scoreline.
Three days later, Lacazette made his UEFA Champions League debut against Portuguese
club Benfica appearing as a substitute in the second half with Lyon trailing 4–0.
Minutes after entering, he provided the assist on Lyon's opening goal scored by Yoann Gourcuff.
Lacazette later assisted on the team's second goal in the 85th minute.
Lyon, however, were unable to complete the comeback losing 4–3.
Lacazette scored Lyon's equaliser in the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Paris Saint-Germain,
however his side later lost 2–1.
In September 2014, Lacazette signed a two-year extension to his contract, tying him to the
club until 2018.
International career Youth
Lacazette has featured for all of France's national youth teams beginning with the under-16
team making his debut in the team's 2–0 victory over Cameroon on 3 April 2007 at the
Montaigu Tournament.
He finished the campaign with four appearances with all of them coming at the tournament.
With the under-17 team, Lacazette was a regular and contributed to the team's qualification
for the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.
In the competition, he scored the game-winning goal in the team's 2–1 win over the Republic
of Ireland in the group stage.
France later reached the final where the team was defeated 4–0 by Spain.
With the under-18 team, Lacazette made his debut in the team's opening match against
the Ukraine.
He featured in ten of the eleven matches the team contested scoring one goal, which came
against Denmark in the Tournio de Limoges.
For under-19 duty, Lacazette was again called upon by coach Francis Smerecki making his
first appearance with the team in a 4–2 defeat to the Netherlands on 9 November 2009.
He scored his first goal for the team on 4 March 2010 in a 2–1 win against the Ukraine.
On 7 June 2010, Lacazette was named to coach Smerecki's 18-man squad to participate in
the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.
In the tournament, he scored two goals in the team's 5–0 victory over Austria.
France later reached the final where they faced Spain, which was essentially composed
of the same players that defeated France in the 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
final.
In the match, France came back from a goal down to win 2–1 with Lacazette netting the
game-winning goal in the 85th minute after heading in a cross from Gaël Kakuta.
The title is the country's second UEFA Under-19 championship.
Due to France's victory at the UEFA Under-19 championship, the nation qualified for the
2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which merited under-20 team appearances for Lacazette.
He made his debut with the team on 7 October 2010 in a friendly match against Portugal.
The match ended 3–3 with Lacazette scoring the opening goal of the match.
Three days later, Lacazette scored a double in the team's 5–0 thrashing of the Juventus
Primavera team.
The match was unofficial and was contested as part of the celebration of the Treaty of
Turin.
On 9 February 2011, Lacazette scored the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over England.
In March 2011, Lacazette scored goals in back-to-back matches against Peru.
On 10 June 2011, he was named to the 21-man squad to participate in the U-20 World Cup.
He made his debut in the competition on 30 July 2011 in the team's 4–1 defeat to the
hosts Colombia appearing as a substitute.
In the team's next group stage match against South Korea, Lacazette appeared as a substitute
again and responded by scoring the team's final goal in a 3–1 victory.
Senior On 23 May 2013, Lacazette received his first
call-up to the senior squad following the withdrawal of Jérémy Ménez through injury.
He made his international debut as a 59th-minute substitute in a friendly match against Uruguay
on 5 June 2013.
Career statistics Club
As of 19 October 2014
International As of 11 August 2014.
Honours Club
Lyon Coupe de France: 2011–12
Trophee des Champions: 2012 International
France UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship:
2010 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup: Fourth Place
References
External links Alexandre Lacazette profile at olweb.fr
Alexandre Lacazette French league stats at LFP.fr
Alexandre Lacazette – FIFA competition record Alexandre Lacazette – UEFA competition record
Alexandre Lacazette at L'Équipe Football France profile at FFF