Romain Larrieu

Football player infobox
playername = Romain Larrieu


fullname = Romain Larrieu
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|8|31
cityofbirth = Mont-de-Marsan
countryofbirth = France
height = height|ft=6|in=2
currentclub = Plymouth Argyle
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 1994–1996
youthclubs = Montpellier
years = 1996–1998
1998–2000
2000–
2007
2007
clubs = Montpellier
ASOA Valence
Plymouth Argyle
→ Gillingham (loan)
→ Yeovil Town (loan)
caps(goals) = 000 (0)
001 (0)
203 (0)
014 (0)
006 (0)
pcupdate = 5 October, 2008

Romain Larrieu (born August 31, 1976 in Mont-de-Marsan, Landes) is a French footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English Football League club Plymouth Argyle.

Playing career

Larrieu started his career in his native France at Montpellier, but finding it impossible to dislodge the experienced French international Bruno Martini, he decided to move on. His next club was ASOA Valence where he played with another future Plymouth player, David Friio, until their relegation into the French Third Division when Larrieu was released along with Friio in the summer of 2000.

Following a six-month break he was recommended to Argyle's manager, Paul Sturrock and was signed on a one-month trial contract, making his debut on December 6, in the Football League Trophy versus Bristol City. Having been signed as a back-up keeper, he played 14 league games following injury to regular goalkeeper Jon Sheffield and despite obvious rustiness and nerves he was rewarded with a permanent contract.

Larrieu was surprisingly made first choice for the 2001–02 season but this decision proved to be a masterstroke. Plymouth became champions of Division Three with Larrieu conceding only 28 goals, keeping 27 clean-sheets and pulling off many a fine save. He was also named in the PFA Division Three team of the year [cite news
date=2002-04-15
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1930771.stm
title=Plymouth players rewarded
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2008-08-09] . He was again first choice for the 2002–03 season, but his 2003–04 season was cut short after 6 games after sustaining damaged knee ligaments. In 2004–05 he shared goalkeeping duties with Luke McCormick in the Championship.

The following season (2005–06) Larrieu resumed duties as first choice goalkeeper playing in 45 of the 46 league fixtures again putting in impressive displays. In the 2006–07 season, however, he lost his place to McCormick and was allowed to go out on loan to Gillingham.

He made his debut for Gillingham in a 2–0 away defeat to Swansea City on 23 January, 2007. What was originally intended to be a short term loan was extended until mid-April, because of injury to Gillingham goalkeeper Kelvin Jack.

The 2007–08 season was another disappointment for Larrieu. With McCormick continuing to be the first choice goalkeeper, Larrieu was sent on loan to Yeovil Town for a month long loan, where he made six appearances in the league for them. After some impressive form he returned to Plymouth and established himself as the number one goalkeeper until Christmas, where a bout of ill health ended up ruling him out for the rest of the season, meaning he was only able to play 15 games for Plymouth all year.

Honours

=Plymouth Argyle=

* 2001-02 Division Three Champions
* 2003-04 Division Two Champions

References

External links

* [http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10364~10545,00.html Romain Larrieu player profile] at pafc.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=23706|name=Romain Larrieu