Yoann Folly

Infobox Football biography
playername = Yoann Folly
fullname = Yoann Folly


nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|6|6|df=y
cityofbirth = Paris
countryofbirth = France
height = height|m=1.75
currentclub = Plymouth Argyle
clubnumber = 8
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2002–2003
2003–2006
2005
2005
2006
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = St. Étienne
Southampton
→ Nottingham Forest (loan)
→ Preston North End (loan)
→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
Sheffield Wednesday
Plymouth Argyle
caps(goals) = 0 (0)
14 (0)
1 (0)
2 (0)
14 (0)
39 (0)
9 (0)
nationalyears = 2006-2008
2008–
nationalteam = France under-21
Togo
nationalcaps(goals) =
01 (0)
pcupdate = 08:43, 15 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 08:43, 15 September 2008 (UTC)

Yoann Folly (born 6 June, 1985 in Paris) is a French born Togo international footballer who currently plays for Plymouth Argyle. His preferred position is in central midfield, but he can also play on the wing. He is a hardworking athletic player who can read the game well.

Playing career

Folly was brought to England in 2003 by then Southampton manager Gordon Strachan who paid St. Étienne £250,000 to secure his signature. After numerous managerial changes at Southampton, Folly struggled to get in the team and loan spells at Nottingham Forest (where he scored his first goal in English Football against QPR in the League Cup) and Preston North End followed.

In January 2006, Folly was signed on loan by Sheffield Wednesday to ease injury problems as the then manager Paul Sturrock had been impressed by him after taking over as Saints manager from Strachan in 2004. He made his debut on 31 January at Hillsborough, suffering a 2-0 defeat against Luton Town.

Folly's promising displays meant that he joined Wednesday on a permanent basis following the end of the season, rejecting the offer of a new contract at St. Mary's - however, Southampton received an undisclosed compensation fee under FA rules due to him being under the age of 24.

On 28 August 2007, Folly climbed off the substitutes' bench at Hillsborough to score an extra-time winner for Wednesday in the League Cup 2nd round versus Hartlepool United.

Despite becoming an increasingly important member of the side over the 07/08 season, Folly handed in a transfer request to the club on the 4th of January 2008, citing concerns about his lack of first team football. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/7172203.stm |title=Folly completes Plymouth transfer |publisher=BBC Sport]

On 11 January 2008, it was announced that Folly had signed for Plymouth Argyle for a fee believed to be around £200,000, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/7280741.stm |title=Folly doubtful for Argyle again |publisher=BBC Sport] joining manager Paul Sturrock for the third time in his career. [cite web |url=http://www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~1212401,00.html |title=Sheer Folly |publisher=pafc.premiumtv.co.uk]

Folly played for France Under-21s, but later switched his alliance to Togo. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4491654.stm |title=Togo want Ismael |publisher=BBC Sport] He was called up to Togo's 2006 World Cup squad, but did not make the final cut. [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/worldcup2006/groups/teams/togo.html |title=CBC.ca - Sport - World Cup 2006 - Teams - Togo |publisher=CBC.ca] On 22 August 2008, Folly made his debut for Togo in their 2-1 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

References

External links

* [http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10364~27760,00.html Yoann Folly player profile] at pafc.co.uk
* [http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10304~27760,00.html Yoann Folly player profile] at swfc.co.uk
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