Laure Lepailleur
Encyclopedia
Laure Maud Yvette Lepailleur (born 7 March 1985 in Bernay
) is a French football player who currently plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain of the Division 1 Féminine. Lepailleur primarily plays as a midfielder
, but can also play in the defending
position. She is a member of the France women's national football team
making her first major tournament appearance with her nation at UEFA Women's Euro 2009.
). She was later selected to attend CNFE Clairefontaine
, the women's section of the prestigious Clairefontaine academy. She played one season (2003–04) with the academy making eight appearances scoring no goals. After leaving the academy, she joined D1 Féminine mainstay Montpellier
. In her two seasons at the club, Lepailleur was a regular in the starting eleven. She helped the club win the 2004–05 D1 Féminine title and the 2005–06 Challenge de France
. Following the Challenge de France success, Lepailleur moved to up-and-coming club Olympique Lyonnais
and, despite not receiving consistent playing time, helped the club win back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. Her decreasing playing time, including a short stint playing for the Lyon reserve team in the third division, saw the international moved to impending rivals Paris Saint-Germain. In her first season with the Parisians, she only appeared in 11 matches scoring one goal. For the 2008–09 season, Lepailleur was joined by fellow internationals Camille Abily
, Sonia Bompastor
, and Élise Bussaglia
. The additions helped Paris Saint-Germain reach as high as 1st position with Lepailleur appearing in six of the first seven league matches the team contested.
, held in Germany. On 13 March 2005, she earned her first cap with the women's national team
in a match against Finland
. On 10 August 2009, she was named to the squad to participate in UEFA Women's Euro 2009, due to an injury to national team regular Sandrine Dusang
. Lepailleur had not appeared in any matches during the qualification process and only made one substitute appearance in the tournament as France crashed out in the quarterfinals losing 5–4 on penalties to the Netherlands
.
Bernay
- Communes :*Bernay, Eure, in the Eure département*Bernay-en-Champagne, in the Sarthe département*Bernay-en-Ponthieu, in the Somme département*Bernay-Saint-Martin, in the Charente-Maritime département...
) is a French football player who currently plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain of the Division 1 Féminine. Lepailleur primarily plays as a 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...
, but can also play in the defending
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
position. She is a member of the France women's national football team
France women's national football team
The French women's national football team represents France in international women's football. The team is directed by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer...
making her first major tournament appearance with her nation at UEFA Women's Euro 2009.
Career
Lepailleur began her career playing for her hometown club Sporting Club de Bernay. After a stint in the youth system, she joined the women's section of Évreux AC (now Évreux FCÉvreux FC
Évreux Football Club 27 is a French association football club founded in 2009. They are based in Évreux, Haute-Normandie and are currently playing in the Championnat de France Amateurs 2 Group A, the fifth tier of the French football league system. They play at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris...
). She was later selected to attend CNFE Clairefontaine
Clairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre , commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine , INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players...
, the women's section of the prestigious Clairefontaine academy. She played one season (2003–04) with the academy making eight appearances scoring no goals. After leaving the academy, she joined D1 Féminine mainstay Montpellier
Montpellier HSC (Ladies)
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Féminines is a French women's football club based in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, a commune in the arrondissement of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1990. Montpellier currently play in the Division 1 Féminine having finished in 4th place in the 2009–10 season...
. In her two seasons at the club, Lepailleur was a regular in the starting eleven. She helped the club win the 2004–05 D1 Féminine title and the 2005–06 Challenge de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
. Following the Challenge de France success, Lepailleur moved to up-and-coming club Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais (ladies)
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. Lyon currently play in the Division 1 Féminine and are the defending champions having won the league for five straight seasons.The club was formed as...
and, despite not receiving consistent playing time, helped the club win back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. Her decreasing playing time, including a short stint playing for the Lyon reserve team in the third division, saw the international moved to impending rivals Paris Saint-Germain. In her first season with the Parisians, she only appeared in 11 matches scoring one goal. For the 2008–09 season, Lepailleur was joined by fellow internationals Camille Abily
Camille Abily
Camille Anne Françoise Abily is a French football player who currently plays for French club Lyon of the Division 1 Féminine. She plays primarily as an attacking midfielder...
, Sonia Bompastor
Sonia Bompastor
Sonia Bompastor is a French football player who currently plays for French club Lyon of the Division 1 Féminine. She primarily plays in the midfield position, preferably on the left side. Bompastor can also play in the left back position...
, and Élise Bussaglia
Élise Bussaglia
Élise Bussaglia is a French football player who currently plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain of the Division 1 Féminine. She plays as a midfielder and is a member of the France women's national football team...
. The additions helped Paris Saint-Germain reach as high as 1st position with Lepailleur appearing in six of the first seven league matches the team contested.
International career
Lepailleur had previously starred with the women's under-19 team helping France win the 2003 UEFA Women's Under-19 ChampionshipUEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
The UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship is a competition in women's football for European national teams of players under 19 years of age. It is also a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifying competition...
, held in Germany. On 13 March 2005, she earned her first cap with the women's national team
France women's national football team
The French women's national football team represents France in international women's football. The team is directed by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer...
in a match against Finland
Finland women's national football team
The Finland women's national football team represents Finland in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Finland , reached the semi-finals of the 2005 European Championship, surprising the female football world having drawn with Sweden and beaten Denmark...
. On 10 August 2009, she was named to the squad to participate in UEFA Women's Euro 2009, due to an injury to national team regular Sandrine Dusang
Sandrine Dusang
Sandrine Dusang is a French football player currently playing for Olympique Lyonnais of the Division 1 Féminine. Dusang plays as a defender and is a member of the France women's national football team making her debut in 2003....
. Lepailleur had not appeared in any matches during the qualification process and only made one substitute appearance in the tournament as France crashed out in the quarterfinals losing 5–4 on penalties to the Netherlands
Netherlands women's national football team
The Netherlands women's national football team represents the Netherlands in international women's football. The team played the first women's international recognized by FIFA, on 17 April 1971 against France.-World Cup record:-Current squad:...
.