Anthony Le Tallec

Football player infobox


playername = Anthony Le Tallec
fullname = Anthony Le Tallec
height = height|meters=1.84
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|10|3
cityofbirth = Hennebont
countryofbirth = France
currentclub = Le Mans
clubnumber = 10
position = Deep-lying forward
youthyears = ?–2001
youthclubs = Le Havre AC
years = 2001–2003
2003–2008
2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Le Havre AC (loan)
Liverpool
→Saint-Étienne (loan)
→Sunderland (loan) →FC Sochaux (loan)
→Le Mans (loan)
Le Mans
caps(goals) = 54 (7)
17 (0)
07 (1)
27 (3)
25 (4)
26 (5)
08 (1)
nationalyears = 2005–
nationalteam = France U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 (5)
pcupdate = 00:00, 20 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Anthony Le Tallec (born October 3 1984 in Hennebont, Brittany) is a French footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder, currently for Le Mans Union Club 72.

Football career

He was signed from Le Havre AC by Liverpool in 2001, along with his cousin Florent Sinama-Pongolle, by then manager Gérard Houllier. This was after impressive performances for the French national youth team in the European Under-16 and U-17 World Championships. At the latter tournament, he was awarded the 'Silver Ball' as the second best player (behind his cousin), and France emerged champions. Both players remained a further two years at Le Havre, loaned by the "Reds".

For the 2005–06 season, Le Tallec joined Sunderland A.F.C., on loan in a bid to gain some more first team football. He stated: "I am a competitor and I want to play all the time, but with Liverpool it was impossible. I chose to come to Sunderland because I need to play every week". In a disappointing season for the club, which ranked last, he was its top scorer with only five goals in all competitions. He scored a header against Fulham that helped Sunderland pick up their only home win all season.

In May 2006, Le Tallec completed his loan period and Sunderland announced they would not be looking to retain his services. He returned to Liverpool but was not given a squad number by then boss Rafael Benítez. At the end of the month he joined up with the France U21 for the European U-21 Championship, which took place May 23–June 4, 2006 in Portugal. Le Tallec only featured in France's final group match, after they had already secured qualification, and he was substituted after 61 minutes.

In August 2006, Le Tallec moved to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard on another loan deal. He won the 2007 2007 French Cup scoring a late equaliser in the final, which led to Sochaux winning the match on penalties against Olympique de Marseille. Incidentally, a fellow Liverpool player out on loan, Djibril Cissé, scored two goals in the match for the opposition. [cite news|url =http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2007/may/13/N155910070513-0815.htm| title =Cissé's bid for glory thwarted by fellow red|accessdate = 2007-05-13]

On 31 August 2007 it was reported that Scottish Premier League's Heart of Midlothian F.C. were close to signing Le Tallec. [cite news|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6972853.stm|title = Nade completes switch to Hearts|accessdate=2007-08-31] However, the player ended up moving to "Ligue 1" outfit Le Mans Union Club 72 on loan for the entire season, with a view to a permanent deal for approximately £1.1 million pounds. [cite news|url=http://www.muc72.fr/detail_actu2.php?a=1938|title= Anthony Le Tallec signs with LMUC 72|language=French|accessdate=2007-08-31] Following the season, Le Mans decided to make the loan permanent, signing Le Tallec to a four-year deal. [ [http://www.mercato365.com/depeches/filinfo_247506_2514_Le-Mans-A.Le-Tallec-signe-quatre-ans.shtml A.Le Tallec signs four years] fr icon]

Personal life

Le Tallec's younger brother Damien is a French youth international footballer, and plays as forward for Stade Rennais FC.

Honours

;France
*FIFA U-17 World Championship: 2001

;FC Sochaux
*French Cup: 2006-07

References

External links

* [http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur45000000000000000000019966.html "L'Équipe" stats] fr icon
* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/letallec/ Official Liverpool profile]
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/site/players/index.php?dumpPlayer=197 FootballDatabase provides Footballdatabase.com profile and stats]
* [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player?id=21949&cc=5739 ESPN Soccernet profile]