Mathieu Debuchy

Mathieu Debuchy (; born July 28, 1985 in Fretin) is a French football midfielder who currently plays for Ligue 1 side Lille OSC. He is often deployed as a midfielder usually acting as a deep-lying playmaker. He can also play as a right back.

Football career

Mathieu has been with the Nord-Pas de Calais-based side since childhood arriving at the club in 1993. After spending nearly a decade in Lille's youth system, he was promoted to the senior squad after the winter break of the 2003–04 season. He was given the number 33 shirt and made his debut and first career start on January 31, 2004 in a Ligue 1 match against FC Metz. Lille won the match 1–0 with Debuchy playing the entire 90 minutes before being subbed out in injury time. He would make five more appearances that season, two starts and 3 substitute appearances, before being rested.

The following season, he changed his shirt to the current number 2 and his playing time would increase significantly appearing in 19 matches and scoring 3 goals, which included his first career goal against Bordeaux. He scored the goal inside the first minute of the match. Lille's solid form helped them finish 2nd in the league and thus qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Mathieu was also instrumental in Lille's run to the Round of 16 in that year's UEFA Cup where they were eliminated by fellow Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre.

Mathieu continued his solid play until damaging knee ligaments against RC Strasbourg on March...
Read More