 Knockaert playing forBrighton & Hove Albion in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Patrick Knockaert[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1991-11-20)20 November 1991 (age 34)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Roubaix,[3] Nord, France | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Wasquehal | ||
| 1999–2001 | Leers | ||
| 2001–2004 | Lens | ||
| 2004–2007 | Mouscron | ||
| 2007–2009 | Lesquin | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Guingamp | 59 | (13) |
| 2012–2015 | Leicester City | 93 | (13) |
| 2015–2016 | Standard Liège | 20 | (5) |
| 2016–2020 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 127 | (25) |
| 2019–2020 | →Fulham (loan) | 38 | (3) |
| 2020–2023 | Fulham | 8 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | →Nottingham Forest (loan) | 34 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | →Volos (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2023 | →Huddersfield Town (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Valenciennes | 21 | (1) |
| Total | 414 | (63) | |
| International career | |||
| 2011–2012 | France U20 | 10 | (4) |
| 2012 | France U21 | 3 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Anthony Patrick Knockaert (born 20 November 1991) is a French former professionalfootballer who played as awinger.
Knockaert began his professional career withGuingamp, having previously spent his youth career atWasquehal, Leers,Lens,Mouscron andLesquin.[4] While progressing in the youth at Lesquin, he almost joinedLeeds United in September 2008, but both parties could not agree terms afterLens intervened in the transfer and demanded a compensatory fee.[5] At some point on progressing his youth career, Knockaert thought about considering quitting football after being told by the Lens' management that he was released because he was small at the time.[6]
It was not until the summer of 2009 when he moved to Guingamp, where he signed his first professional contract.[7] It was not until on 30 July 2010 when he made his Guingamp debut in the first round of the Coupe de la Ligue, scoring in a 2–1 win overGrenoble.[8] After playing 120 minutes, in a 3–2 win overEvian in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue,[9] he scored his second goal in the Coupe de la Ligue, in a 3–2 win over on 22 September 2010.[10] Seven days later, on 29 September 2010, he made his league debut, making his first start and played 69 minutes before being substituted, in a 5–0 win overGap.[11] Soon after, he signed a three-year contract with the club on 6 October 2010[12] Knockaert then scored his first league goals, in a 6–0 win overMaccabi Paris Métropole on 22 April 2011.[13] After helping the club's promotion to Ligue 2, he made 27 appearances scoring 4 times in all competitions.
In the 2011–12 season, Knockaert started the season well when he scored twice in a 2–0 win overVannes in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue on 9 August 2011.[14] Weeks later, on 9 September 2011, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss againstReims.[15] It was not until on 17 October 2011 when he scored again, in a 4–1 win overAS Monaco.[16] In the ten matches between 19 December 2011 and 16 March 2012, he scored six times againstSedan,[17]Istres,[18]Boulogne,[19]Le Havre,[20]Troyes[21] and Lens.[22] Knockaert then scored three more goals later in the season, scoring twice againstMetz[23] and once againstClermont.[24] He finished the 2011–12 season making 38 appearances and scoring thirteen times in all competitions.
At the end of the season, Knockaert's performance at Guingamp attracted interests from clubs around Europe, such as English sideNewcastle United,[25] and Portuguese sideBenfica,[26] as well as being linked with his native country sideMontpellier.[27]
On 1 August 2012, Knockaert moved toLeicester City on a three-year contract.[28] The transfer fee was initially undisclosed, but was later revealed as £2.5 million.[29]
Knockaert made his Leicester City debut on 18 August 2012, where he came on as a substitute forLloyd Dyer in the second half, in a 2–0 win overPeterborough United.[30] he then scored his first goal for Leicester with a free-kick againstBurton Albion in the League Cup on 28 August 2012.[31] His first league goals came in a 2–0 win atHuddersfield Town on 2 October 2012. The first was a 35-yard shot into the top corner, while the second saw him flick the ball in from behind with his left heel, after a cross from left-backPaul Konchesky.[32] By the end 2012, he scored two more goals againstIpswich Town[33] andBarnsley.[34] On 1 January 2013, he scored another two league goals for the club in the reverse fixture against Huddersfield Town with Leicester City winning 6–1[35] and then scored another by the end of January, with a 2–1 win overWolverhampton Wanderers.[36] On 4 May 2013, he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory overNottingham Forest at theCity Ground that got Leicester City into a playoff place.[37][38] Following his performance against Forest, which also contained an assist forAndy King's 50th Leicester goal, Knockaert was named in the Championship Team of the Week, alongside King.[39] However, in the2013 Playoff semi-final second leg, with the aggregate scores level hedived to win a penalty for Leicester City deep into stoppage time.[40] He opted to take the penalty himself but it was saved byWatford goalkeeperManuel Almunia who also saved the follow-up, leading to the famous goal byTroy Deeney that sent Watford to Wembley.[41] Despite this, he went on to win both Young Player of the Year and Goal of the Season against Huddersfield Town[42] and finished his first season making 47 appearances and scoring nine times in all competitions.
In the 2013–14 season, Knockaert scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season in the 5–2League Cup victory away toCarlisle United[43] and scored again in the second round of the League Cup with a 30-yard free kick at home toDerby County and then assistedDanny Drinkwater's winning goal in a 2nd half come back in the 3rd round victory.[44] Despite his good performances, he did not score his first league goal until Leicester's 3–0 away win againstWatford.[45] After scoring three more goals from December to early-January against Sheffield Wednesday,[46]Bolton Wanderers[47] andMillwall,[48] He was a regular member of a settled side that went unbeaten from early December until 5 April, when promotion was assured after losses by third placedQPR and fourth placed Derby County. Knockaert had scored the winning goal from a free-kick in a Friday night fixture the day before, at home toSheffield Wednesday.[49] He went on to finish the 2014–15 season making 50 appearances and scoring 7 times in all competitions.
In the 2014–15 season, Knockaert made his first Premier League appearance in the opening game of the season, where he played 64 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–2 draw againstEverton.[50] However, he struggled to regain his first team place, owing to the performances ofNick Powell,Marc Albrighton andDanny Simpson.[51] In effort to fight for the first team place, he was sent to play for the club's reserves, which he did for most of the season.[52] Despite being rumoured to be loaned out to clubs in the Championship throughout the season, manager Pearson blocked his loan move from happening unless the squad was strengthened.[53] Nevertheless, Knockaert made 11 appearances in the 2014–15 season in all competitions.
At the end of the 2014–15 season, Knockaert's contract was set to expire and he began talks with the club over a new contract,[54] with manager Pearson revealing that he was given a "fair contract offer".[55] However, he rejected a contract, revealing he had been offered a four-year contract.[56] Despite this, Knockaert made a farewell message to Leicester City supporters upon leaving the club, stating that he would not forget the club.[57]
On 4 June 2015, it was announced that Knockaert had joinedStandard Liège on a free transfer.[58] It came after the club had begun to open talks with Knockaert the month before.[59]
Knockaert started well on his Standard Liège debut when he scored his first goal for the club despite losing 2–1 toKortrijk in the opening game of the season.[60] Five days later, he scored again, but this time in an UEFA Europa League match againstŽeljezničar Sarajevo, as well as setting up a goal in a 2–1 win.[61] Following this, he scored again in the league on 15 August 2015, in a 1–1 draw againstMouscron[62] and scoring two weeks later, in a UEFA Europa League againstMolde in the return leg, in a 3–1 win, but was eliminated following an away goal from Molde.[63] Despite this, he scored three more goals by the end of 2015 againstGent,[64]Genk[65] andMechelen.[66] However, in a match againstOud-Heverlee Leuven on 26 September 2015, Knockaert reacted furiously via Twitter when he substituted during the second half, in a 2–2 draw.[67] Following, he soon apologised the way he behaved and vowed to be calmer next time.[68]
Between July 2015 and January 2016, Knockaert made 20 appearances and scored 5 goals in2015–16 for the club despite missing out a game, due to suspension after picking a yellow card for the fifth time this season against Anderlecht on 8 November 2015.[69][70] On 6 January 2016, Standard confirmed they had accepted an offer from Championship sideBrighton & Hove Albion with the player set to travel to England to agree personal terms.[71]
On 7 January 2016,Brighton & Hove Albion confirmed the signing of Knockaert for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.[72] Upon joining the club, he said the move interested him, citing the club's ambition as the reason he returned to England.[73]
Knockaert made his Brighton debut five days after signing with the club on 12 January 2016, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat againstRotherham United.[74] He soon began to have an impact at Brighton, setting up two assists for his team in a 2–1 win overHuddersfield Town on 23 January 2016.[75] He scored his first goal for Brighton in a 3–0 win overBrentford on 5 February 2016.[76]
Knockaert was a key performer for Brighton in April 2016, scoring againstBurnley,[77]Fulham[78] and twice againstQueens Park Rangers, as the club pushed for automatic promotion.[79] His performances in April earned him the Player of the Month award.[80] Despite Brighton's unsuccessful attempt to reach promotion to the Premier League after losing in the play-offs to Sheffield Wednesday, Knockaert impressed for the club, making 16 appearances and scoring 5 times.
In the 2016–17 season, Knockaert was linked with a move to recently relegated side Newcastle United, but Brighton rejected their bid.[81] He began the season well, scoring three goals for Brighton in their first five matches against Nottingham Forest,[82] Rotherham United[83] andReading.[84] He also began playing in advanced role behindTomer Hemed up front.[85] He scored again for Brighton on 13 September 2016, in a 1–0 win over Huddersfield Town.[86] In October 2016, Knockaert scored againstSheffield Wednesday,[87] and also contributed to Brighton's 5–0 drubbing ofNorwich City.[88]
On 3 March 2017, Knockaert signed a new four-year contract extension with the club, expiring in June 2021.[89] On 9 April 2017, he was named EFL's Championship Player of the Year having scored 13 goals in 40 games at that stage of the season.[90]He finished the season with 15 goals in 45 appearances in the league and overall where Brighton were promoted to the Premier League.[91]
Brighton's first match in the top flight for 34 years was at home to eventual championsManchester City. Knockaert was brought on to replaceSolly March in the 75th minute with Brighton trailing 2–0, the scoreline that the game finished.[92] Knockaert scored his first Premier League goal on 15 October 2017, in a 1–1 home draw againstEverton.[93] He scored his second Premier League goal for Brighton on 1 January 2018, the opening goal in a 2–2 draw againstAFC Bournemouth.[94] On 10 March, Knockaert was sent off for the first time in the Premier League away against Everton as a result of an in air two footed challenge. (Brighton were already 2–0 down in the 2–0 defeat).[95] Knockaert played in the 1–0 home victory overManchester Utd on 4 May 2018 which secured Albion's Premier League status. BBC Sport's Emlyn Begley described Knockaert and fellow wingerJose Izquierdo as "fantastic" in this game.[96]
On 5 January 2019 Knockaert scored his first everFA Cup goal in a 3–1 away win against south coast rivals Bournemouth in the third round.[97] On 9 March Knockaert scored a screamer which turned out to be the winner against bitter rivalsCrystal Palace where it finished 2–1 atSelhurst Park.[98] This win meant Brighton won the double over Palace. Knockaert's goal also won the Premier League Goal of the Month for March.[99] On 13 April Knockaert was sent off for the second time in his Premier League career. Albion were 2–0 down against Bournemouth at the time of the red card and went on to be beaten 5–0 at home.[100]
On 21 July 2019, Knockaert joinedFulham on a season-long loan fromBrighton & Hove Albion with an option to make the move permanent.[101] On 3 August, Knockaert made his debut, coming on as a sub in a 1–0 away loss toBarnsley.[102] Knockaert scored his first goal for Fulham in a 4–0 home victory againstMillwall on 21 August.[103]
On 8 July 2020, Fulham completed the permanent transfer of Knockaert in a deal worth up to £15 million with add-ons.[citation needed] With the deal, Knockaert signed a three-year contract.[104] Knockaert played in all three of Fulham'splay-off matches, coming on in the 81st minute as a substitute inthe final where Fulham beat rivalsBrentford after extra time to earn an immediate return to the Premier League.[105] The promotion meant that Knockaert had been promoted to the top flight with all three English clubs for whom he had played with at the time.
On 16 October 2020, Knockaert joinedChampionship sideNottingham Forest on a loan until 7 January 2021 in where he was to play under former Brighton managerChris Hughton.[106] He made his debut for theTricky Trees coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 home draw againstDerby County on 23 October.[107] Knockaert scored his first goal forForest in a 2–1 away loss atNorwich on 9 December.[108] Three days later he set up a 90+2-minute header withJoe Worrall scoring the consolation, before being sent off for a second yellow for diving in 90+5-minute a 3–1 home defeat againstBrentford.[109] On 12 January 2021, it was announced that Knockaert's loan withNottingham Forest had been extended until the end of the 2020–21 season.[110] 11 days later he scored his secondForest goal in a 5–1FA Cup fourth round defeat atSwansea City on 23 January.[111] He scored his third goal forForest in a 3–0 away win overWycombe Wanderers on 6 February, in a match where former Brighton teammateGlenn Murray scored his first two goals for the club and other former Brighton teammateGaëtan Bong picked up an assist in the victory.[112]
On 10 September 2022, Knockaert joinedSuper League Greece clubVolos on a season-long loan.[113]
On 11 January 2023, Knockaert joinedEFL Championship sideHuddersfield Town on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[114]
Knockaert joined FrenchLigue 2 clubValenciennes in September 2023 after Fulham confirmed that his contract was cancelled by mutual agreement.[115][116]
On 11 July 2024, Knockaert announced his retirement from professional football, at age 32, through a post on his Instagram account, leaving a "special thanks" to his former club Brighton for the support he received from club and team-mates following the loss of his father.[117][non-primary source needed]
After representingFrance under-20, Knockaert was called up byFrance under-21 for the first time[118][119] and made his France under-21 debut, scoring in a 2–1 win overChile under-20 on 10 September 2012.[120] He went on to make two more France under-21 appearances againstNorway under-21 on 12 October 2012[121] and 16 October 2012.[122]
He holds dual French-Belgian citizenship.[123] In 2015, Knockaert was given a personal leave from Leicester City after his father, Patrick, became ill.[124] The following year, when his father died on 3 November 2016, he sat out of the match againstBristol City.[125] It was not the first time he suffered a tragedy: he lost his elder brother, Steve, in 2011 and after scoring in a 3–0 win against Nottingham Forest, Knockaert dedicated his goal to his late brother. Knockaert has 2 children, a boy Ilyan (aged 10) and a daughter Arla, (aged 5).[126]
In September 2018 he revealed his struggles with mental health issues.[127]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Guingamp | 2010–11[128] | Championnat National | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | 27 | 5 | |
| 2011–12[128] | Ligue 2 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 40 | 13 | ||
| Total | 59 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | — | 67 | 18 | |||
| Leicester City | 2012–13[129] | Championship | 42 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 47 | 9 |
| 2013–14[130] | Championship | 42 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 48 | 7 | ||
| 2014–15[131] | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total | 93 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 16 | ||
| Standard Liège | 2015–16[132] | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 2 | 27 | 7 | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2015–16[133] | Championship | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 21 | 5 |
| 2016–17[134] | Championship | 45 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 45 | 15 | ||
| 2017–18[135] | Premier League | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19[136] | Premier League | 30 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 4 | ||
| Total | 127 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 139 | 27 | ||
| Fulham (loan) | 2019–20[137] | Championship | 38 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 4 | |
| Fulham | 2019–20[137] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020–21[138] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[139] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Nottingham Forest (loan) | 2020–21[138] | Championship | 33 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 3 | |
| Career total | 378 | 61 | 20 | 4 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 428 | 75 | ||
Guingamp
Leicester City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham
Individual
