Ranking the 6 Ligue 1 Players Who Were at the Same Club 10 Years Ago
Ten years is a long time in football. It has become a rare occurrence to see a player spend a decade at the same club, but even more unlikely for players coming through the ranks in Ligue 1.
Loyalty has become a forgotten word in modern-day football. In recent times Ligue 1 has become a breeding ground for Europe’s elite clubs. All too often, talented youngsters are allowed no more than three or four years in the first team before being sold to the highest bidder.
Some of them, like Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema, have become superstars. Others have often returned to the league years later after failing to make the grade.
There are players like Alexandre Lacazette, Clement Chantome and Jordan Veretout that have been part of their current club setup for over 10 years, but that includes their time in the youth system.
Then you have the careers of Steed Malbranque and Sylvain Marchal. Both were at their current clubs 10 years ago, but have moved around before returning.
Going into the current Ligue 1 season, only six players have played first-team football for 10 years at the same club.
Here is more about Ligue 1’s greatest current servants, ranked in order of their importance to their club throughout the years.
6. Nicolas Seube: SM Caen
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After failing to break through at Toulouse, the then-22-year-old Nicolas Seube moved to Caen in 2001 and the central midfielder is still there to this day.
Last season’s promotion push saw him play his 400th game for SM Caen and it’s great to see the 35-year-old still finding a way into the Normand club’s lineup.
Seube has been involved in four promotions to Ligue 1 and three relegations back down to Ligue 2, and he will be hoping he can do whatever it takes, whenever Patrice Garande calls upon him, to keep them in the top flight.
5. Laurent Pionnier: Montpellier HSC
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Going into this season, Laurent Pionnier had spent the last 17 seasons as part of Montpellier’s setup, joining the first team in 2002 after five years in the youth side.
In 2008 he joined FC Libourne Saint Seurin on a six-month loan deal, but apart from that he is Montpellier through and through.
Pionnier’s standout moment came in 2011. Montpellier would go on to be crowned champions of France, with first-choice ‘keeper Geoffrey Jourdren receiving praise for his role.
However, the first four games of that season saw Pionnier start between the sticks. He conceded three goals as Montpellier collected nine points and it was a surprise when Jourdren took over.
4. Pantxi Sirieix: Toulouse FC
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It was 10 years ago exactly that Pantxi Sirieix made the move from AJ Auxerre to Toulouse FC, and even now he always plays a part in the first-team squad.
The 34-year-old has started three times this season, making seven appearances overall and will likely once again play his role as Le Tefece’s utility man this campaign.
In 10 years, there have only been four seasons in which the midfielder hasn’t made 20 appearances for the club. He doesn’t have to start every week, he won’t even play that often, but he is always there when Alain Casanova needs him.
3. Fabien Audard: FC Lorient
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Fabien Audard had spent two seasons at SC Bastia without playing a single game before he first joined FC Lorient on loan in 2002.
He played 30 times for the Breton side before joining on a permanent deal at the start of the 2003/04 season.
Bizarrely, after just one more season at Lorient, he joined Monaco on loan for a year, but only played four times before moving back to Les Merlus.
Once back at the Stade du Moustoir, Audard made a name for himself being a keeper with fantastic shot-stopping reflexes and spent nine seasons as their No. 1 goalkeeper.
It was only at the start of this campaign that the 36-year-old lost his place to Benjamin Lecomte.
2. Marc Planus: Girondins de Bordeaux
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Bordeaux defender Marc Planus made his debut 12 years ago. He came on for the last 15 minutes as Les Girondins beat Rennes 2-0 at the Stade Chaban Delmas.
Planus has gone on to become a club legend at the Garonne side. His start against Marseille in week 14 was his 295th game for the club.
Over the past 12 years, Planus has lifted the league title once, two Coupe de la Ligue triumphs and the 2013 Coupe de France. He has done it all and will hopefully be rewarded with his 300th appearance this season.
At just 32 years old, Planus could go on to play a few more seasons, and will hopefully be part of the team that moves to the new state-of-the-art stadium at the end of the season.
1. Loic Perrin: Saint-Etienne
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Out of all the players on this list, Loic Perrin is by far, not only the best servant to their clubs, but he is also the most talented.
After making his debut 11 years ago as a young inexperienced 18-year-old defender, Perrin has gone on to become Saint-Etienne’s leader, captain and inspiration.
Didier Deschamps rewarded the centre-back in the summer by naming him as part of his 30-man World Cup prelim squad. He may have deserved it over his excellent performances in the league, but he didn’t make the plane to Brazil.
Perrin didn’t let it faze him. The 29-year-old has been superb again this season and would have been delighted to help his club end the 19-year losing streak at home to rivals Lyon this season.
In 2015, Perrin will be hoping that he can be the captain that inspires his side into the Champions League places. It will be extremely tough, but if anyone can do it, it's Saint-Etienne’s remarkable captain.
