Frédéric K. Nimani N'Galou (born 8 October 1988) is a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 footballer who plays for AS Monaco FC

AS Monaco FC

Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...

 as a striker.

Monaco

Born in Marseille

Marseille

Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...

, Nimani's spell at AS Monaco began well when he scored on his debut against 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...

 on 9 September 2006. Despite bursting onto the scene at the Stade Louis II in spectacular fashion, he was loaned to Lorient

FC Lorient

Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...

 in 2007. However, after a bust-up with Christian Gourcuff

Christian Gourcuff

Christian Gourcuff in Hanvec, Brittany is a French football manager and former player. He currently manages French Ligue 1 side Lorient....

 in January 2008, he was recalled and loaned to Ligue 2 outfit Sedan for the rest of the season.

On his return to Monaco, he scored the match winner on the first day of the 2008/2009 season against Paris Saint Germain. Nimani went on to register 7 goals in his first full season at Monaco, developing a good partnership with fellow striker Park Chu-Young

Park Chu-Young

Park Chu-Young is a South Korean footballer who plays for Arsenal in the Premier League and is the current captain for the South Korea national team.-Youth career:...

 and keeping the likes of Serge Gakpe

Serge Gakpé

Serge Gakpé is a French-born Togolese football midfielder who plays for French club FC Nantes.-Playing career:...

 and Juan Pablo Pino

Juan Pablo Pino

Juan Pablo Pino is a Colombian football player who currently plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr on loan from Galatasaray. He primarily plays as a winger capable of playing on either side, but can also be utilized as a striker...

 out of the first team.

Nimani's success attracted the attention of English Premier League and Spanish La Liga

La Liga

The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...

 teams, most notably Arsenal

Arsenal F.C.

Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...

 and Real Madrid

Real Madrid

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...

. On Sunday 28 June 2009, it was reported in the press that Alex McLeish

Alex McLeish

Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...

 and Tony Mowbray

Tony Mowbray

Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...

 were tracking the French U21

France national under-21 football team

The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...

 international.

Burnley

On 19 January 2010, it was reported that Nimani was set to move to Premier League Club Burnley

Burnley F.C.

Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...

 on loan deal with a further view to buy the player for €4 million. After training with the club he signed on a five month loan deal on 22 January 2010.

International career

Nimani made his French Under 21 debut against Slovakia, replacing Loic Remy

Loïc Rémy

Loïc Rémy is a French international footballer who plays for French club Marseille in Ligue 1. Rémy primarily plays in the lead striker role, but also operates on the wings and as a second striker...

 in the 46th minute. He made his first start and scored two goals against Malta Under 21s on September 5, 2008.

External links