Gignac’s slow but sure journey

James Eastham

• Last Updated: November 17. 2009 9:37PM UAE / November 17. 2009 5:37PM GMT

Andre-Pierre Gignac cut something of an unusual figure among France’s globally recognised attackers on Saturday night.

He does not play in the Champions League, has not been the subject of a multi-million pound transfer and – unlike Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry and Karim Benzema – has yet to make his name playing for one of the big clubs abroad.

The Toulouse striker’s gradual rather than meteoric rise to the top is underlined by the fact that just four seasons ago he was playing on loan in the French third division. Having failed to break into the first team at second division Lorient, Gignac packed his bags and journeyed from Brittany to try his luck 545km away in the south-west town of Pau.

“We were looking for a striker, and a friend of mine working at the Lorient youth academy told me about Andre-Pierre,” the Pau president Joel Lopez said.

“He was having a tough time at Lorient and wanted some first-team games. So it was a good move for both parties – and, ultimately, for Lorient as well, because they were delighted with the progress he’d made when they got him back.”

The move to Pau kick-started Gignac’s career. In front of crowds of 2,000, he scored eight goals in 18 games and hasn’t looked back.

“You could already see what a powerful right foot he had,” Lopez added. “He scored the same sort of goals for us that you see him score now. His technique was good and his attitude was excellent.

"Even at 20, he was already very mature. He settled in quickly and got along with everybody on and off the pitch. Despite his young age, he became one of the leaders of the side and was a key player for us. Everybody – the players, staff and coaches – has fond memories of him.”

Gignac, now 23, clearly has fond memories of them, too, as he has returned to salute his former teammates and colleagues on a number of occasions.

“He came to see us in a regional league game in Toulouse last season and has watched us play in Pau as well,” Lopez continued. “He’s a very decent, warm guy. He’s naturally drawn towards people. He hasn’t changed at all.”

By the time Gignac’s loan spell at Pau ended in 2006, Lorient had been promoted to Ligue 1. He adapted to the top flight immediately, scoring nine goals in 37 appearances. National team coach Raymond Domenech picked him out as a player to watch.

Gignac joined Toulouse in 2007, but struggled out of position on the right wing. But Johan Elmander’s £8million (Dh48.8m) move to Bolton in June 2008 presented a first-team opportunity in his preferred centre-forward position, and Gignac responded by scoring 24 goals in 38 games to finish as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season.

On his France debut against Lithuania on April 1, he set up Franck Ribery’s winning goal just six minutes after coming on as a substitute. He has now scored four times in nine France appearances and will expect to play some part in the return leg of their World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland at Stade de France after leading the line in typically committed fashion in the 1-0 win at Croke Park.

Gignac is not the only Pau connection in the France squad – Sevilla centre-half Julien Escude, a contender to replace the injured Eric Abidal tonight, came through the club’s youth ranks – but the burly striker is their most famous former son. Watching him four years ago, did president Lopez really believe the promising youngster would one day become an international striker?

“It’s hard to say, as there are so many things you need to make it to the top. But you could see he had everything to be a top-class player.”

The view from the Irish camp is positive. They know they have to score twice tonight to win in regulation time, but winger Damien Duff said: “We have taken an awful lot of positives out of Saturday. Other people may not have but we think we can go there and do it. We just have to go there and enjoy it. We still think we can do it, so bring it on.”



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