Benoît Pedretti
Encyclopedia
Benoît Pedretti is a French association football
midfielder
playing for Lille
. He is a deep lying playmaker well known for his wide range of passing.
He started his professional career at Sochaux
, and played there from 1999 to 2004. He then played for Marseille
for one season. Following his brief stint with Marseille
he joined Lyon
before moving once again to the club he now plays for, Auxerre
. He has gained 22 cap
s for France.
in 1999 at the clubs youth system. He became a regular first team player in the 2002-2003 season when he made 35 league appearances and scored 3 goals. The team also had a strong cup run that year, reaching the final of the Coupe de la Ligue
, but losing 4-1 to Monaco.He also made his debut for the French National Team that year, coming on as a late substitute. Pedretti also featured in the UEFA Cup
with Sochaux the following year as they defied all expectations to qualify for European football. However they struggled to make any significant impact on the competition.
Pedretti then moved to Olympique de Marseille
in 2004 but found it difficult to cement his place in the starting line-up. He made 31 appearances in all competitions before moving to Olympique Lyonnais
in 2005 for €7,000,000 after one season at the club. Pedretti was again used sparingly at the club which at the time had fierce competition for midfield places. Pedretti only amassed 21 appearances in all competitions and was often denied a place by the likes of Florent Malouda
and Juninho Pernambucano
.
Pedretti again moved, this time to AJ Auxerre
for an undisclosed fee in 2006. This move gave Pedretti the first team action he had desired with him being a mainstay in their midfield for several years. During his time at the club he featured in the UEFA Cup
and the Champions League
. Pedretti amassed 170 appearances during his five year stay. He was a highly influential member of the squad and featured for the national team, increasing his total to 22 caps.
After the end of the 2010-2011 season, Pedretti stated his desire to move with Lille OSC
being his preferred club after their recent league victory. Pedretti got his wish and signed for an undisclosed fee on the opening day of the summer 2011 transfer window as a replacement for the Newcastle United F.C.
bound Yohan Cabaye
. Pedretti said that “It [Lille] is a very good club with great, interesting challenges,". "My choice is to come to Lille."
Olympique Lyonnais
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
playing for Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
. He is a deep lying playmaker well known for his wide range of passing.
He started his professional career at Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
, and played there from 1999 to 2004. He then played for Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
for one season. Following his brief stint with Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
he joined Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
before moving once again to the club he now plays for, Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
. He has gained 22 cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for France.
Club career
Pedretti began his career at FC Sochaux-MontbéliardFC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
in 1999 at the clubs youth system. He became a regular first team player in the 2002-2003 season when he made 35 league appearances and scored 3 goals. The team also had a strong cup run that year, reaching the final of the Coupe de la Ligue
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
, but losing 4-1 to Monaco.He also made his debut for the French National Team that year, coming on as a late substitute. Pedretti also featured in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
with Sochaux the following year as they defied all expectations to qualify for European football. However they struggled to make any significant impact on the competition.
Pedretti then moved to Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in 2004 but found it difficult to cement his place in the starting line-up. He made 31 appearances in all competitions before moving to Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
in 2005 for €7,000,000 after one season at the club. Pedretti was again used sparingly at the club which at the time had fierce competition for midfield places. Pedretti only amassed 21 appearances in all competitions and was often denied a place by the likes of Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda
Florent Johan Malouda is a French footballer who plays as a left winger for Chelsea and the French national team.-Châteauroux:A street footballer in his teen years, Malouda gradually developed into an interesting, new football talent, able to penetrate defenses with his technical skills and...
and Juninho Pernambucano
Juninho Pernambucano
Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Jr. , commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano, is a Brazilian footballer and dead-ball specialist, currently playing as a midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A club CR Vasco da Gama. He is considered to be one of the greatest free kick takers of all time...
.
Pedretti again moved, this time to AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
for an undisclosed fee in 2006. This move gave Pedretti the first team action he had desired with him being a mainstay in their midfield for several years. During his time at the club he featured in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. Pedretti amassed 170 appearances during his five year stay. He was a highly influential member of the squad and featured for the national team, increasing his total to 22 caps.
After the end of the 2010-2011 season, Pedretti stated his desire to move with Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
being his preferred club after their recent league victory. Pedretti got his wish and signed for an undisclosed fee on the opening day of the summer 2011 transfer window as a replacement for the Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
bound Yohan Cabaye
Yohan Cabaye
Yohan Cabaye is a French international footballer player who plays for English club Newcastle United in the Premier League and the French national team. He plays as a box-to-box midfielder and is described as a player who possesses "excellent vision, great ball control", and "provides technical...
. Pedretti said that “It [Lille] is a very good club with great, interesting challenges,". "My choice is to come to Lille."
Club
FC Sochaux- Ligue 2Ligue 2Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
: 2001 - Coupe de la LigueCoupe de la LigueThe Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
: 2004
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
- Trophée des ChampionsTrophée des championsThe Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
: 2005 - Ligue 1Ligue 1Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
: 2005–06
International
FranceFrance national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
- Confederations CupFIFA Confederations CupThe FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
: 20032003 FIFA Confederations CupThe 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died of heart failure in his side's...