David Ginola

David Ginola

Personal information
Date of birth	25 January 1967 (1967-01-25) (age 44)
Place of birth	Gassin, France
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1985–1988	Toulon	82	(4)
1988–1990	Racing Club de Paris	61	(8)
1990–1992	Brest	50	(14)
1992–1995	Paris Saint-Germain	115	(33)
1995–1997	Newcastle United	58	(6)
1997–2000	Tottenham Hotspur	100	(13)
2000–2002	Aston Villa	32	(3)
2002	Everton	5	(0)
Total		503	(81)
National team‡
1990–1995	France	17	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:27, 06 June 2007 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:27, 06 June 2007 (UTC)

David Karl Ginola (English pronunciation: /ˈdʒɪnəlɑː/) (born 25 January 1967) is a French former international football player who has also worked as an actor and model.

Ginola was born in Gassin, Var. He began his football career in his native France before moving to England in 1995 when he signed for Newcastle United and stayed in the country until retiring seven years later, having subsequently turned out for Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton. Since his retirement from the game in 2002 he has become involved in several new pursuits, including acting.

Club career

Ginola played at club level for Toulon (1985–88), Racing Levallois 92 (1988–90), Brest (1990–92), Paris Saint-Germain (1992–95), Newcastle United (1995–97), Tottenham Hotspur (1997–2000), Aston Villa (2000–2002) and Everton (2002).

France

Ginola made his first senior appearance for Sporting Toulon as an eighteen year-old in a 1985 2–0 victory away at Metz.^[1] He played fourteen times in his first season, and by 1986 he was a regular in the Toulon line-up.

In 1988 he moved to Racing Club Paris, where he remained until signing for Brest in 1990. There, he began to impress observers with his flamboyant style of play. In 1991, he played a crucial role in a landmark victory (3-2) against the side who would go on to sign him, Paris Saint-Germain F.C..

Ginola joined the French capital club in January 1992, at a time when it was pushing for major honors with the financial backing of TV channel Canal+. He took little time to adapt to his new surroundings and soon conquered the Parc des Princes crowd with his elegant first touch and his pace.

At the same time, he was going through tough times with the national football team coached by Gerard Houllier, but the Parisian public never seemed to begrudge him for that. In fact, he would go on to become one of the most popular footballers among the notoriously uncompromising Parisian supporters. He became such a fan favorite that, even when he admitted that he supported Paris Saint-Germain's fierce rivals Olympique Marseille as a boy and that he would have joined them rather than PSG had an agreement been struck with Bernard Tapie, his popularity did not suffer any consequence.^[2]

In his first full season with PSG (1992-93), Ginola won the Coupe de France and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. At the end of 1993, he was also won the French Footballer of the Year award from the France Football magazine. 1993-94 would turn out to be the best season of his career, though it was also blighted by a personal all-time low for Ginola, occurring in November 1993. He was scapegoated for a defeat suffered by the French national football team against their Bulgarian opponents, which eliminated Les Bleus from the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

While suffering heartache with his country, Ginola was shining with his club. A star-studded PSG side featuring the likes of Paul Le Guen, Bernard Lama and Antoine Kombouaré and coached by Portuguese tactician Artur Jorge won the second league title of its history, losing only three times along the way. Ginola played an important role in this title-winning campaign, providing 13 goals in 38 games, which made him the top club goalscorer for the season.

The following season, under new manager Luis Fernandez, proved to be less successful in the league, with FC Nantes being crowned champions. Ginola scored 11 times in 28 league appearances. Paris Saint-Germain did shine in the cup competitions though, winning another Coupe de France as well as the first edition of the new Coupe de la Ligue. In the UEFA Champions League, the Parisian club caused a major shock after knocking out 1994's finalists FC Barcelona in the quarter finals, with Ginola playing particularly well. The club was eliminated at the next hurdle by defending champions A.C. Milan.

In the summer of 1995, David Ginola decided to leave France. Known to be a Spanish football enthusiast, he was expected to be snapped up by Barcelona. Furthermore, between 1992 and 1995, his stellar displays in European competitions against the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona had attracted media attention in Spain, with local media dubbing him "El Magnifico". However, he ended up with English club Newcastle United F.C., then managed by Kevin Keegan.

Newcastle United

In 1995, Ginola joined Newcastle United for £2.5 million. He was signed at a time when manager Kevin Keegan was attempting to turn the club into one of the major forces in English football, and the board was prepared to offer strong financial backing to sign a number of European superstars. In the 1995–96, Newcastle finished second, four points behind Manchester United. This was their strongest league performance in decades with Ginola an integral part of the team. The team chemistry was perfect with Ginola fitting in nicely with his new teammates. However, it was a major disappointment that Newcastle had finished second in the Premier League as they had led by up to 10 points as late as January.

In 1996, Barcelona made a move for him, but Newcastle rejected their offer.^[3] Ginola later stated his regret that he had never played for one of the "big clubs"^{[citation needed]}. To add to their line-up, Newcastle paid £15m, breaking the transfer record, to sign Alan Shearer. Despite this, Newcastle finished second again, being narrowly overtaken by Manchester United. Halfway through the season, Kevin Keegan suddenly resigned as manager to be succeeded by Kenny Dalglish.

Keegan departed in January 1997 and Ginola did not get on with his replacement Kenny Dalglish, who never fancied the Frenchman.^[4] It soon became obvious he was heading for a move out of Tyneside, in spite of his popularity among Geordie supporters, some of whom had nicknamed him "David Copperfield" because of his ability to conjure up magic.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hostpur signed Ginola in July 1997 for £2.5m, where he was joined by Newcastle team-mate Les Ferdinand. In 1999, he was named PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year,^[5] while playing for Tottenham Hotspur. During the 1998/99 season, Ginola scored one of his most notable goals, when Spurs played Barnsley in the FA Cup 6th Round. Ginola weaved in and out of a number of Barnsley players and finished in the left side of the net, the only goal of the game. He was the first player in Premiership history to win the award while at a club who finished the season outside of the top 4. He also won his only English domestic trophy with Spurs, the 1999 League Cup with a 1–0 victory over Leicester City at Wembley Stadium. Ginola is fondly remembered by Spurs fans for his extravagant forward play and personality off the pitch. He played an integral role in their 1999 League Cup win and scoring a long range goal in a 3–1 win against Manchester United in a previous round. The respect and fondness Tottenham fans have for Ginola was shown when he was given one of the biggest cheers on their 125th anniversary when legends were paraded on the pitch. Ginola was inducted into the Tottenham Hostpur Hall of Fame on 11 December 2008.^[6][7]

Aston Villa

In July 2000 Ginola joined Aston Villa for a transfer fee of £3 million. He expressed his disappointment that Tottenham had sold him, saying the news that they had accepted the offer was a "bombshell".^[8] Villa manager John Gregory challenged Ginola to prove he could still perform in the Premiership, rather than move to a less demanding league abroad, as Ginola was now in his 33rd year and seemed unlikely to continue at professional level for much longer.^[9]

In January 2002 he was banned for two matches and fined £22,000 for stamping on an opponent and disputing his dismissal with the fourth official.^[10]

Everton

In 2002 Ginola signed for Everton^[11] playing five games for the club before retiring in May 2002, just after David Moyes took over as manager.^[12] He announced his intention to move into either acting^[13] or football coaching.

International career

Although Ginola was a very prominent French player, he did not see much action with the French national team, having been capped only 17 times in his career.^[1]

In qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, France needed only a draw at home to Bulgaria in their final game. With the match poised at 1–1, Ginola overhit a cross and sent the ball to the opposing team. This allowed the Bulgarians to break from defence and resulted in Emil Kostadinov scoring a surprise winner to knock France out. The French manager Gérard Houllier blamed the entire defeat on Ginola, and he was subsequently branded an assassin of French football. After being barracked by French fans, Ginola moved to England with Newcastle United.^[14]

Aimé Jacquet did not select Ginola for any major tournaments. Ginola played his last match for the national team in 1995.

Playing style

Ginola was renowned for his "magical" touch on the ball and his ability to get past players from any type of position and then manage to score a goal. His ability to do that was shown in games for Tottenham and Newcastle, with his most memorable goal in Newcastle's stunning 5–0 win over Premier League giants Manchester United on 20 October 1996, becoming a flamboyant part of the memorable "Entertainers" Newcastle side of his era, which also featured other highly acclaimed players including Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Faustino Asprilla, Rob Lee and Keith Gillespie.

In 1999 before the Euro 2000 tournament, Dutch legend Johan Cruijff remarked that it was his belief that Ginola was currently the best player in the world.

Acting

Ginola has acted in two films since his retirement from football. He played the title role in the short comedy Mr Firecul and Corporal Dieter Max in the 2005 war film The Last Drop.^[15]

Ginola's reputation was enhanced during his time in England when he starred in a commercial for L'Oréal hair products. In 1996, he featured in the ITV commercial for the Renault Laguna motor car.

Also, in 2000, Ginola made a cameo appearance in the first episode of the ITV drama series At Home with the Braithwaites. He played himself, announcing the results for the first ever Euro Lottery.

In 2006 Ginola appeared in the second series of Channel 4's Coach Trip during episode 22, in which he acted as a tour guide of Sainte-Maxime.

He also appeared on an episode of Chop Shop on Discovery Turbo where he had a one-off car designed for his son's birthday.

Cameo appearance as Daveed Ginjola in Beezly'n'Cool comic September 2009^[16]

Personal life

Ginola is married to fashion model Coraline. The couple have a son and a daughter, and live near St Tropez.^[17]

In 2008, Gionola was sued for child maintenance by Joelle Pinquier. She alleged that Ginola fathered her daughter Joy after a short affair. Although he refused to take a paternity test, Ginola agreed to pay £400/month child maintenance until Joy was 18. Ginola's lawyer successfully showed that not only had he kept up the payment, he was in actual fact six months in advance of the agreed schedule.^[18]

Wine making

In 2008 Ginola received a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge for a rosé wine produced at his vineyard in Provence.^[19]

Endorsements

Ginola has recently been a promoter of USB memory sticks from Kingston Digital Europe Ltd – an affiliate of Kingston Technologies and appeared at PC World in Gateshead on the 28th May 2010 and Tottenham Hale on the 29th May 2010.

Honours

Paris SG

• Championat de France: 1994
• Coupe de France: 1993, 1995
• Coupe de la Ligue: 1995

Tottenham Hotspur

• Football League Cup: 1999

Awards

Tottenham Hotspur

• English PFA Players' Player of the Year 1999.
• English Football Writers Player of the Year 1999.
• Club Player of Year 1998

Statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
France			League		Coupe de France		Coupe de la Ligue		Europe		Total
1985–86	Toulon	Division 1	14	0
1986–87			35	0
1987–88			33	4
1988–89	Racing Club Paris	Division 1	29	7
1989–90			32	1
1990–91	Brest	Division 1	33	6
1991–92		Division 2	17	8
	Paris Saint-Germain	Division 1	15	3
1992–93			34	6					9	2
1993–94			38	13					8	2
1994–95			28	11					10	1
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
1995–96	Newcastle United	Premier League	34	5	2	0	4	0	–		40	5
1996–97			24	1	2	0	2	0	7	1	35	2
1997–98	Tottenham Hotspur	Premier League	34	6	3	1	3	2	–		40	9
1998–99			30	3	6	3	5	1	–		41	7
1999–2000			36	4	2	1	2	1	3	0	43	6
2000–01	Aston Villa	Premier League	27	3	1	0	0	0	–		28	3
2001–02			5	0	0	0	2	0	6	2	13	2
	Everton	Premier League	5	0	2	0	0	0	–		7	0
Total	France		308	59
	England		195	22	18	5	18	4	16	3	247	34
Career total			532	81

References

1. ^ ^{a b} [1]^{[dead link]}
2. ^ http://www.le10sport.com/Football/Ginola-revait-de-lOM-plutot-que-du-PSG-030850183.html
3. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ [3]^{[dead link]}
5. ^ Brodkin, Jon (1999-05-07). "Ginola emulates Bergkamp with second player award | Football | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/1999/may/07/newsstory.sport3. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
6. ^ Lacey, David (1999-03-21). "Spurs owe glory to the late Dane | Football". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/1999/mar/21/match.leicestercity. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
7. ^ "Article: Football: Tottenham on top; Gallic wizard Ginola the inspiration behind Graham's hardened Wembley troops.(Sports) – The Racing Post (London, England) | HighBeam Research – FREE trial". Highbeam.com. 1999-03-20. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60186601.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
8. ^ Thomas, Russell (2000-07-31). "Ginola picks up Gregory gauntlet | Football". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2000/jul/31/newsstory.sport3. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
9. ^ CBC Sports (2000-08-01). "Aging Ginola joins Aston Villa". Cbc.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/08/01/ginola000801.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
10. ^ Published: 2:05PM GMT 24 Jan 2002 (2002-01-24). "Ginola gets two-match ban". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2429468/Ginola-gets-two-match-ban.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
11. ^ "Article: [1] FOOTBALL: ONE DOWN, JUAN TO GO; Ginola joins Everton and Taylor battles to keep Angel.(Sport) – The Mirror (London, England) | HighBeam Research – FREE trial". Highbeam.com. 2002-02-09. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82701253.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
12. ^ "BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Everton | Ginola leaves Goodison". BBC News. 2002-05-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/1989601.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
13. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97359087.html
14. ^ "BBC SPORT | TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | Uncertain welcome awaits Ginola". BBC News. 2000-07-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/841298.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
15. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1601112/
16. ^ [4]^{[dead link]}
17. ^ Peter Allen and Graham Tearse (3 September 2009). "David Ginola facing jail for 'abandoning' daughter he had with mistress". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1210765/David-Ginola-facing-jail-abandoning-daughter-mistress.html. Retrieved 13 February 2011. 
18. ^ "David Ginola pays out £30,000 over 'love child'". Telegraph. 3 September 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7712216/David-Ginola-pays-out-30000-over-love-child.html. Retrieved 13 February 2011. 
19. ^ "Chambers Reference Online". Chambersreference.com. 2008-05-26. http://www.chambersreference.com/dict/external/common/main/ww/wine.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 

External links

• Sunday Times article-8 November, 2009
• David Ginola, “Le Magnifique” – Spanish-

Persondata
Name	Ginola, David
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	1967-01-25
Place of birth	Gassin, France
Date of death
Place of death