Gilles Grimandi
Encyclopedia
Gilles Grimandi is a retired French
footballer, who currently is a scout
for Arsenal
.
in 1990 and made his first-team debut in 1991 against AS Nancy
in the French top division
. His career briefly interrupted by French military service, he went on to make 67 appearances and score 3 goals for the club, mostly as a centre back. He helped the club reach both a UEFA Champions League
and a UEFA Cup
semifinal and won the league title in 1996–97.
The following season, Grimandi left to join his former manager Arsène Wenger
at Arsenal
, making his debut in Elland Road against Leeds United, and helped achieve The Double in his first season. He made 113 league appearances as a midfielder, centre back, and right wingback, winning a second Double in his final season (2001–02) with the club. Was called the new Gus Caesar, the Arsenal defender immortalised in Fever Pitch as the worst defender in the club's history at the beginning of his career, but improved later on once he played as a midfielder.
Grimandi signed with the Colorado Rapids
of Major League Soccer
in 2002, but saw his contract terminated before the start of the season. He retired shortly after.
's testimonial game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium
in July 2006, making perhaps the greatest tackle of his career on Edgar Davids as the Dutchman looked to tap into an empty net to open the scoring for Ajax.
Grimandi was linked with a director of football
position at Arsenal in July 2007, in charge of acquiring new players. However, no appointment to the role was made. Grimandi is currently Arsenal's chief scout in France.
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 currently is a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for 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...
.
Club career
Grimandi began his professional career with AS MonacoAS 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...
in 1990 and made his first-team debut in 1991 against AS Nancy
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
in the French top division
Ligue 1
Ligue 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....
. His career briefly interrupted by French military service, he went on to make 67 appearances and score 3 goals for the club, mostly as a centre back. He helped the club reach both a UEFA 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...
and a 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...
semifinal and won the league title in 1996–97.
The following season, Grimandi left to join his former manager Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
at 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...
, making his debut in Elland Road against Leeds United, and helped achieve The Double in his first season. He made 113 league appearances as a midfielder, centre back, and right wingback, winning a second Double in his final season (2001–02) with the club. Was called the new Gus Caesar, the Arsenal defender immortalised in Fever Pitch as the worst defender in the club's history at the beginning of his career, but improved later on once he played as a midfielder.
Grimandi signed with the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 2002, but saw his contract terminated before the start of the season. He retired shortly after.
Later career
Grimandi has remained active in the sport, taking his first administrative position in 2004 as football director at ASOA Valence in the Championnats National (the French third division), and becoming a France-based scout for Arsenal after Valence filed for bankruptcy prior to the 2005–06 season. He also took part in Dennis BergkampDennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Bergkamp , is a former Dutch professional footballer who is currently the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. At club level he played for Ajax, Internazionale, and Arsenal, and also represented the Netherlands at international level...
's testimonial game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
in July 2006, making perhaps the greatest tackle of his career on Edgar Davids as the Dutchman looked to tap into an empty net to open the scoring for Ajax.
Grimandi was linked with a director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
position at Arsenal in July 2007, in charge of acquiring new players. However, no appointment to the role was made. Grimandi is currently Arsenal's chief scout in France.