Mickaël Debève
Encyclopedia
Mickaël Debève is a former French
footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder
.
; after a slow start - only four first-team appearances in three seasons, he became an important main squad member. His first match in the top level
came on June 5, 1987, in a 1–0 home win against RC Lens
.
However, the most important part of Debève's career was spent at precisely Lens, which he helped win the national league
in 1998, adding the league cup
the following year. In 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, he scored the game's only at Wembley, against Arsenal FC
, making Lens the first club from France to win at that ground.
After having totalled already more than 400 official matches in his country, Debève moved to England
with Middlesbrough FC
in February 2002, arriving for free and rejoining former Lens mate Franck Queudrue
. He left in the summer, and closed out his career in France's second level
, with SC Amiens.
Immediately after retiring, Debève became a manager, starting with hometown side SC Abbevillois Football, in the capacity of player-coach
.
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. He currently 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...
.
Football career
Debève began his career at Toulouse FCToulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
; after a slow start - only four first-team appearances in three seasons, he became an important main squad member. His first match in the top level
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....
came on June 5, 1987, in a 1–0 home win against RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
.
However, the most important part of Debève's career was spent at precisely Lens, which he helped win the national league
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....
in 1998, adding the league cup
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...
the following year. In 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, he scored the game's only at Wembley, against Arsenal FC
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 Lens the first club from France to win at that ground.
After having totalled already more than 400 official matches in his country, Debève moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Middlesbrough FC
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in February 2002, arriving for free and rejoining former Lens mate Franck Queudrue
Franck Queudrue
Franck Queudrue is a French footballer who plays as a left back for Lens. He began his career with Lens, for whom he played in Ligue 1, and went on to play in the Premier League for Middlesbrough, Fulham and Birmingham City, and in the Football League for Colchester United.-Lens:Queudrue began his...
. He left in the summer, and closed out his career in France's second level
Ligue 2
Ligue 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...
, with SC Amiens.
Immediately after retiring, Debève became a manager, starting with hometown side SC Abbevillois Football, in the capacity of player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
.