Karim Benzema

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Karim Benzema
Personal information
Full name	Karim Benzema
Date of birth	December 19, 1987 (1987-12-19) (age 20)
Place of birth	Lyon, France
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Olympique Lyonnais
Number	10
Youth clubs
1995–1996 1996–2004	Bron Terraillon Olympique Lyonnais
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004–	Olympique Lyonnais	112 (49)
National team2
2007–	France	19 0(5)[2]
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 20, 2008. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Karim Benzema (born December 19, 1987 in Lyon, Rhône-Alpes) is a French footballer who plays in a forward role for Olympique Lyonnais and the French national team.

[edit] Lyon

Of Algerian descent, ^[3], Benzema is a product of the Olympique Lyonnais Academy, he is very capable of playing as a striker in Lyon's preferred 4-3-3 formation, but he can also play on both wings. In the 2006-07 season, after forming special relationship with new manager Alain Perrin, he was given the first team role in which he responded with 24 goals in 37 games. On March 13, 2008, Benzema extended his contract with Lyon until 2013 with a 1 year extension option.^[4] After signing his new contract, Benzema became one of the highest paid footballers in France.^[5] He was recently voted the best player in France, while ex-Lyon colleague Hatem Ben Arfa was voted the best young player.^[6]

[edit] 2008/09 Season

After getting off to a tender start to the 2008-2009 season, netting six goals in his team's first five matches, Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas has quelled the many transfer rumors surrounding Benzema by placing a €100 million price tag on the striker. He got his 7th goal of the league October 29 scoring in the 2-0 win over Sochaux. Benzema scored again the following weekend, in a 2-0 win over Le Mans, he scored a fast break right foot goal in the 18 yard area. He was assisted by Jérémy Toulalan. He later came off after Juninho doubled the lead in the second half. He was replaced by Ederson.^[7]

He was nominated alongside Franck Ribéry to be featured on the French cover of the game FIFA 09 .^[8]

[edit] Career statistics

Correct as of November 30, 2008^[9][10]

[edit] International career

On March 28, 2007, Benzema won his first cap for France against Austria, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for France. His next two goals came in one game against the Faroe Islands, who France subsequently beat 6-0. He was selected to represent France at Euro 2008. France's Euro 2008 campaign got off to a bad start with a 0-0 draw against Romania and after a muted performance, he was substituted in the second half and played no part in their following game, a 4-1 defeat to The Netherlands. In the last group game France played Italy and Benzema featured in the starting lineup. He has now adopted the number 9 for France.He scored his last goal for France against Tunisia in a friendly where they won 3-1.

[edit] Honours

• Ligue 1 :
  • 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
• Trophée Des Champions
  • 2006, 2007
• Peace Cup:
  • 2007
• Coupe de France:
  • 2008
• Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer:
  • 2007-08
• Ligue 1 Player of the Year:
  • 2007-08
• Ligue 1 Team of the Year:
  • 2007-08

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (French) Karim Benzema French league stats at lfp.fr
• Goal.com profile

v • d • e France squad – UEFA Euro 2008 1 Mandanda • 2 Boumsong • 3 Abidal • 4 Vieira • 5 Gallas • 6 Makélélé • 7 Malouda • 8 Anelka • 9 Benzema • 10 Govou • 11 Nasri • 12 Henry • 13 Evra • 14 Clerc • 15 Thuram • 16 Frey • 17 Squillaci • 18 Gomis • 19 Sagnol • 20 Toulalan • 21 Diarra • 22 Ribéry • 23 Coupet • Coach: Domenech