Ophélie Meilleroux
Encyclopedia
Ophélie Anne-Laure Meilleroux (born 18 January 1984 in Montluçon
) is a French football player who currently plays for French club Montpellier
of the Division 1 Féminine. Meilleroux primarily plays as a central defender
, but can also play in the defensive midfielder role. 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.
in her hometown. She spent several years with the club's youth setup before being selected to attend CNFE Clairefontaine
, the women's section of the prestigious Clairefontaine academy. Meilleroux played one season with the academy scoring three goals, despite playing as a defender. After leaving the academy, she joined D1 Féminine club ASJ Soyaux
. At Soyaux, Meilleroux played on the team alongside future international teammate Corine Franco
and earned her first call up to the national team because of her consistent play with the club. She appearing in 20 or more matches in four straight seasons for Soyaux. Meilleroux also collected a career-high nine yellow cards in her first season with the club. In her final season (2007–08) with Soyaux, Meilleroux played in 19 matches and scored only one goal.
. Her debut season with the club was both positive and negative as Nord Allier finished in a respectable 5th place position, however Meilleroux appeared in only ten matches. She returned to form at the start of the 2009–10 season
appearing in the team's first seven matches of the season helping Yzeure reached as high as 4th position in the table. Meilleroux ultimately finished the campaign with the club appearing in 19 matches.
. She joined Montpellier as a replacement for the departed Sabrina Viguier who joined Lyon
. Meilleroux was penciled in as a starter by coach Sarah M'Barek and made her club debut in the team's second league match of the season; a 2–0 win over Rodez
. She consistently appeared with the team for most of the campaign before suffering an injury on 9 January 2011 in the team's 2–1 return leg victory over Rodez in the league. Meilleroux missed four matches and returned to the team on 12 February in its 5–0 win over Stade Briochin
.
, held in Sweden
. She was among the few underage players at the tournament for France. In the tournament, France finished as runner-ups to champions Germany
. The next season at the 2003 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
, held in Germany, Meilleroux was installed as captain of the team and helped the team do one better winning the entire tournament. On 14 March 2003, she earned her first cap with the women's national team
in a match against Denmark
.
Meilleroux was a regular participant in France's qualifying for UEFA Women's Euro 2009. With that in mind, coach Bruno Bini included her in the squad for the tournament, where France crashed out in the quarterfinals losing 4–5 on penalties to the Netherlands
. Meilleroux in all four matches her nation contested.
France
Montluçon
Montluçon is a commune in central France. It is the largest commune in the Allier department, although the department's préfecture is located in the smaller town of Moulins. Its inhabitants are known as Montluçonnais...
) is a French football player who currently plays for French club 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...
of the Division 1 Féminine. Meilleroux primarily plays as a central defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, but can also play in the defensive midfielder role. 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.
Early career
Meilleroux began her career playing for the women's section of amateur football club ÉDS MontluçonÉDS Montluçon
ÉDS Montluçon is a French football club based in Montluçon . It was founded in 1937. They play at the Stade Dunlop, which has a capacity of 9,000. The colours of the club are yellow and black....
in her hometown. She spent several years with the club's youth setup before being 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. Meilleroux played one season with the academy scoring three goals, despite playing as a defender. After leaving the academy, she joined D1 Féminine club ASJ Soyaux
ASJ Soyaux
ASJ Soyaux are a French football club founded in 1968 and are based in Soyaux. Until 2010 club has always been playing in the top division, when they got relegated to the D2 Féminine.-History:...
. At Soyaux, Meilleroux played on the team alongside future international teammate Corine Franco
Corine Franco
Corine Cécile Franco is a French football player who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais of the Division 1 Féminine. Franco serves as vice-captain of her club and plays as a physical, yet creative defensive midfielder, often acting as a deep-lying playmaker...
and earned her first call up to the national team because of her consistent play with the club. She appearing in 20 or more matches in four straight seasons for Soyaux. Meilleroux also collected a career-high nine yellow cards in her first season with the club. In her final season (2007–08) with Soyaux, Meilleroux played in 19 matches and scored only one goal.
Yzeure
For the 2008–09 season, Meilleroux moved to Nord Allier YzeureFCF Nord Allier Yzeure
FCF Nord Allier Yzeure is a French football club founded in 1999 and is based in Yzeure.The club was promoted to D1 Féminine for the first time in its history following the conclusion of the 2007-2008 season....
. Her debut season with the club was both positive and negative as Nord Allier finished in a respectable 5th place position, however Meilleroux appeared in only ten matches. She returned to form at the start of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 French women's football championship
The 2009–10 Division 1 Féminine was the 35th edition of the women's league since its re-establishment by the French Football Federation. The league began on 27 September 2009 and ended on 13 June 2010. Olympique Lyonnais were the defending champions....
appearing in the team's first seven matches of the season helping Yzeure reached as high as 4th position in the table. Meilleroux ultimately finished the campaign with the club appearing in 19 matches.
Montpellier
On 9 July 2010, Meilleroux announced that she would be departing Nord Allier Yzeure to join MontpellierMontpellier 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...
. She joined Montpellier as a replacement for the departed Sabrina Viguier who joined Lyon
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...
. Meilleroux was penciled in as a starter by coach Sarah M'Barek and made her club debut in the team's second league match of the season; a 2–0 win over Rodez
Rodez AF
Rodez Aveyron Football is a French association football club based in Rodez. The club was founded in 1929 and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur Group C, the fourth level of French football. From 1988–1993, Rodez played in Ligue 2. The club plays its home matches at the Stade Paul...
. She consistently appeared with the team for most of the campaign before suffering an injury on 9 January 2011 in the team's 2–1 return leg victory over Rodez in the league. Meilleroux missed four matches and returned to the team on 12 February in its 5–0 win over Stade Briochin
Stade Briochin (Ladies)
En Avant de Guingamp Féminines are a French football club based in Saint-Brieuc, a commune in the Brittany region. The club was previously the women's section of men's football club Stade Briochin and was founded in 1973 under the name Chaffoteaux Sports Saint-Brieuc. From 1999–2003, the club...
.
International career
Meilleroux had previously starred with the women's under-19 team on two occasions. Her first time, she represented her nation at the 2002 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 Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. She was among the few underage players at the tournament for France. In the tournament, France finished as runner-ups to champions Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
. The next season at the 2003 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
UEFA 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, Meilleroux was installed as captain of the team and helped the team do one better winning the entire tournament. On 14 March 2003, 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 Denmark
Denmark women's national football team
The Denmark women's national football team represents Denmark in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Danish Football Association .-World Cup:*1970 : Winner *1971 : Winner...
.
Meilleroux was a regular participant in France's qualifying for UEFA Women's Euro 2009. With that in mind, coach Bruno Bini included her in the squad for the tournament, where France crashed out in the quarterfinals losing 4–5 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:...
. Meilleroux in all four matches her nation contested.
Club
Statistics accurate as of 8 June 2011| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Soyaux ASJ Soyaux ASJ Soyaux are a French football club founded in 1968 and are based in Soyaux. Until 2010 club has always been playing in the top division, when they got relegated to the D2 Féminine.-History:... |
2003–04 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| 2004–05 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
| 2006–07 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| Total | 102 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 8 | |
| Yzeure FCF Nord Allier Yzeure FCF Nord Allier Yzeure is a French football club founded in 1999 and is based in Yzeure.The club was promoted to D1 Féminine for the first time in its history following the conclusion of the 2007-2008 season.... |
2008–09 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 2009–10 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| Total | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |
| 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... |
2010–11 2010–11 Division 1 Féminine The 2010–11 Division 1 Féminine season was the 36th since its establishment. Lyon were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced in August 2010 and the season began on 5 September 2010 and ended early on 31 May 2011 in order to increase the fitness of national team players ahead of the... |
15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Career total | 146 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 10 | |
International
- (Correct as of 20 November 2011)
National team Season Apps Goals France France women's national football teamThe 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...2002–03 3 0 2003–04 1 0 2004–05 0 0 2005–06 0 0 2006–07 7 0 2007–08 8 0 2008–09 2 0 2009–10 2009–10 in French footballThe 2009–10 season was the 77th season of competitive professional football in France.The season began on 7 August 2009 for the Championnat National and Ligue 2 and on 8 August for Ligue 1 and the Championnat de France amateur...15 0 2010–11 2010–11 in French footballThe 2010–11 season is the 78th season of competitive professional football in France. The league season began on 6 August 2010 for the Championnat National and Ligue 2 and on 7 August for Ligue 1 and the Championnat de France amateur. The season concluded on 26 May 2011 for Ligue 2, 27 May for the...10 0 2011–12 2011–12 in French footballThe 2011–12 season is the 118th overall season of football and the 79th season of competitive professional football in France.The men's French national team began play on 10 August 2011 contesting a friendly match against Chile. The team will continue its qualification matches for the upcoming UEFA...7 0 Total 53 0
International
France- UEFA Women's Under-19 ChampionshipUEFA Women's Under-19 ChampionshipThe 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...
: 20032003 UEFA Women's Under-19 ChampionshipThe UEFA Women's U-19 Championship 2003 Final Tournament was held in Germany between 25 July – 3 August 2003. Players born after 1 January 1984 were eligible to participate in this competition.-Group A:---------------------Group B:--------...