 Debuchy after winning the2015 FA Cup Final withArsenal | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mathieu Debuchy[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-07-28)28 July 1985 (age 40)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Fretin, France | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Right-back[4] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Fretin | ||
| 1993–2003 | Lille | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2013 | Lille | 233 | (16) |
| 2013–2014 | Newcastle United | 43 | (1) |
| 2014–2018 | Arsenal | 13 | (1) |
| 2016 | →Bordeaux (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Saint-Étienne | 86 | (11) |
| 2021–2023 | Valenciennes | 53 | (1) |
| Total | 437 | (30) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | France U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2011–2015 | France | 27 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mathieu Debuchy (French pronunciation:[matjødəbyʃi]; born 28 July 1985) is a French former professionalfootballer who played as aright-back.
Debuchy started his senior career atLille, where he won aLigue 1 andCoupe de France double in the2010–11 season. He played in Ligue 1 for 10 seasons for Lille. He joinedNewcastle United in January 2013 and stayed there for 18 months. Debuchy played forArsenal from July 2014 to January 2018, including a loan spell toBordeaux in 2016. From January 2018 to August 2021, he played forSaint-Étienne.
Debuchy made his debut for theFrance national team in October 2011. He earned 27 caps, playing in the final tournaments ofUEFA Euro 2012 and the2014 FIFA World Cup.
Debuchy was born inFretin, Nord.[5] He began his career playing for his hometown club Union Sportive Fretin before joiningLille at the age of eight. After spending a decade in Lille'syouth system, he was promoted to the senior team following the winter break of the2003–04 season. Debuchy was given the number 33 shirt and simultaneously made his professional debut and first start on 31 January 2004 in a league match againstMetz.[6] He played the entire match as Lille recorded a 1–0 win. Debuchy made five more appearances that season, which included two starts and three substitute appearances.[citation needed]
Thefollowing season, Debuchy switched to the number 2 and his playing time increased significantly. He appeared in 19 matches and scored three goals. His first professional goal came againstBordeaux. Debuchy scored the goal in the first minute of the match. Lille's solid form that season resulted in the club finishing second in the league and, as a result, qualifying for theUEFA Champions League. Debuchy was also instrumental in Lille's run to the Round of 16 in2004–05 UEFA Cup where the club was eliminated by rival French clubAuxerre.[7]
Debuchy became a fixture in the starting eleven during the2005–06 season. On 26 March 2006, he damaged knee ligaments in a league match againstStrasbourg. The injury required surgery ruling him out for six months.[8] As a result of the injury, Debuchy missed the2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. A week after suffering the injury, on 4 April, Lille officials awarded Debuchy a contract extension until 2010.[9]
Debuchy signed a contract extension on 28 February 2011, tying him down to the club until 2015.[10] That season he was instrumental in the team's advancement to the final of theCoupe de France appearing in all five matches the team contested. In the final, Debuchy played the entire match as Lille defeatedParis Saint-Germain 1–0 at theStade de France. Lille were awarded a late penalty shortly after going 1-0 up; Debuchy took the penalty but it was saved byGrégory Coupet, however Lille still held on to win 1-0.[11][12][13] A week later, Lille clinched theLigue 1 championship by drawing 2–2 away to Paris Saint-Germain, Debuchy providing the cross from whichMoussa Sow netted Lille's second goal.[14] The result meant that the players had achieved the club's first league championship since the1953–54 season and the club's firstdouble since the1945–46 season.[15][16] The domestic cup and league title were the first two domestic honours of Debuchy's career.[citation needed]
The following season started off with a 1–1 draw againstNancy on 6 August 2011, with Debuchy opening the scoring in the 47th minute.[17] Debuchy was part of the Lille squad that dramatically fell 5–4 to Bordeaux on 12 February 2012, scoring Lille's third goal of the game as former teammate,Ludovic Obraniak netted the winner in the 90th minute.[18] The following weekend, Lille got back on track with a 1–0 defeat ofLorient, as Debuchy scored the only goal of the game.[19] Debuchy started and played the full 90 minutes in all six group games of theChampions League that season, as Lille finished bottom of their tight group and crashed out of Europe because of a 0–0 draw withTrabzonspor on the final matchday.[20][21] The campaign was hugely successful for Debuchy on a personal level as he made his breakthrough in theFrench squad as well as being named in theUNFP Team of the Year.[22] Following the season, Lille managerRudi Garcia described Debuchy as a defender who "plays high and attacks but defensively is also very rigorous and he exudes confidence."[23] Garcia also revealed that the club had rejected a £4 million bid fromNewcastle United.[23]
Seven months after their failed bid, English club Newcastle United signed Debuchy on a five-and-a-half-year contract on 4 January 2013, for an undisclosed fee reportedly in the region of £5.5 million.[24][25] He made his debut for Newcastle on 12 January 2013 againstNorwich City.[26][27]
He scored his first and only Newcastle United competitive goal of his career in the Premier LeagueTyne–Wear derby againstSunderland at theStadium of Light on 27 October 2013, levelling the score after half time before Newcastle ultimately lost the match 2–1.[28] On 1 January 2014, Debuchy was sent off for the first time in his Newcastle career after a rash challenge onClaudio Yacob in an eventual 1–0 defeat away toWest Bromwich Albion.[29]
Debuchy moved to fellow Premier League clubArsenal on 17 July 2014, signing a long-term deal for an undisclosed fee (believed to be around £12 million[30]) and was given the number 2 shirt from fellow FrenchmanAbou Diaby, who took the vacant number 24.[31] He said "Playing again in the Champions League is a big excitement for me and I will do my best to help Arsenal compete for trophies".[32]
He made his competitive debut for Arsenal in their 3–0 victory over defending league championsManchester City in the2014 FA Community Shield atWembley Stadium on 10 August 2014.[33] Six days later he featured in the Premier League for the first time as an Arsenal player, his injury-time shot was saved and then converted byAaron Ramsey for a 2–1 win at home againstCrystal Palace.[34] Debuchy was sent off for two bookings on 27 August in Arsenal's win overBeşiktaş in the Champions League play-offs.[35]
On 13 September 2014, Debuchy damaged his ankle ligaments near the end of a 2–2 draw against Manchester City. He was administered oxygen and taken off the pitch on a stretcher.[36] Following surgery on his ankle, he was ruled out for about three months.[37][38] He returned to the first team againstGalatasaray in a Champions League match on 9 December. Twelve days after that, he scored his first goal for the club, the first equaliser in a 2–2 draw againstLiverpool atAnfield.[39] Debuchy went off injured againstStoke City on 11 January 2015. He was then given an operation on his dislocated shoulder, and ruled out for a further three months.[40]
Debuchy made his return from injury on 18 April 2015, playing the full 120 minutes as Arsenal defeatedReading 2–1 in theFA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.[41] He made no further appearances that season, withHéctor Bellerín instead playing atright-back in Arsenal's 4–0 win overAston Villa in theCup Final; Debuchy did not make the substitutes bench for that match.[42]
Arsenalretained the Community Shield on 2 August, with Bellerín again starting ahead of Debuchy.[43] Debuchy played only two2015–16 Premier League matches, starting in Arsenal's first Premier League match of the 2015–16 season againstWest Ham United on 9 August and also starting in the Premier League match againstTottenham Hotspur on 8 November.[44]
On 22 July 2016, after finishing his half-season loan spell at Ligue 1 club Bordeaux, Debuchy returned to Arsenal during the pre-season, playing the first half of Arsenal's 1–1 friendly away draw against FrenchLigue 2 sideLens. On 27 November 2016, he made his first Premier League start againstAFC Bournemouth at theEmirates Stadium, but went off with a hamstring injury after just 16 minutes as the Gunners won 3–1, ruling him out until January 2017. He made no further appearances for the first team that season.[44]
On 19 October 2017, Debuchy made his first start for Arsenal for almost a year againstRed Star Belgrade in a 1–0 victory in theUEFA Europa League.[45] On 24 October 2017, he played his first League Cupgame of the season against Norwich City, which Arsenal won 2–1 after extra time.[46]
On 1 February 2016, Debuchy joined Ligue 1 club Bordeaux on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[47]
On 31 January 2018, six months before the expiry of his contract with Arsenal, Debuchy joined Ligue 1 clubSaint-Étienne on a free transfer; his contract with Saint-Étienne would run until the end of the 2017–18 season.[48][49][50]
On 2 February 2018, Debuchy started in his competitive debut for Saint-Étienne in the Ligue 1 2–0 away win overAmiens; he was at the heart of most of Saint-Étienne's dangerous attacks, scored a goal in the 62nd minute and was voted the Man of the Match.[51][52] On 25 February, Debuchy scored Saint-Étienne's equaliser in the 90th minute of theDerby du Rhône againstLyon, an away Ligue 1 match which ended in a 1–1 draw.[53] On 6 April, Debuchy provided a 17th-minuteassist (his cross enabledRémy Cabella to tap home from close range) and scored anown goal in the 92nd minute in the Ligue 1 1–1 home draw against Paris Saint-Germain.[54] On 14 April, Debuchy scored in the 82nd minute from Saint-Étienne's only shot on target of the match, a Ligue 1 1–0 away win over Strasbourg.[55]
On 25 June 2018, Debuchy signed a new three-year contract with Saint-Étienne.[56] On 14 April 2019, Debuchy scored the first brace of his career in Ligue 1, in the 3–0 home win overBordeaux.[57]
On 13 August 2021, Debuchy signed with Ligue 2 sideValenciennes.[58]
In May 2023, Debuchy announced that he would retire at the end of season and also explained that he registered to pass the first coaching diploma.[59] He ended his professional career at the end of the 2022–23 season.[60][61]
Debuchy has been capped with theunder-21 team. On 5 August 2010, Debuchy was called up to the senior team for the first time by new managerLaurent Blanc for the team'sfriendly againstNorway on 11 August 2010 but did not play that match. He finally earned his first cap on 7 October 2011, playing every minute of theEuro 2012 qualifying 3–0 home win over Albania.[62][63] Debuchy scored his first goal for France in a friendly againstIceland inValenciennes on 27 May 2012.[64]
Blanc selected Debuchy in his final 23-man squad for theEuropean Championships in Poland and Ukraine on 29 May 2012.[65] He started the match and played every minute as a right-back inLes Bleus' opening group match againstEngland, helping his side to a 1–1 draw, in which his performance was hailed as "terrific".[66] He played the full 90 minutes of France's second group match, a 2–0 win over co-hostsUkraine on 15 June.[67] Debuchy also played the full 90 minutes of France's last group match againstSweden, which France lost 2–0. He started in the quarterfinal match againstSpain (the French lost the match 2–0), but was replaced byJérémy Ménez in the 64th minute.[citation needed]
Debuchy was named inDidier Deschamps' French squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[68] Debuchy played every minute of four of France's five matches as they reached the quarterfinals. He did not play France's final group match againstEcuador, remaining on the substitutes' bench throughout the match, withBacary Sagna playing in his place.[69]
On 17 May 2018, he was named on the standby list for the 23-man French squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[70]
On 10 November 2018, Debuchy announced his retirement from international football.[71]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| Lille | 2003–04 | Ligue 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 2004–05 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[c] | 1 | — | 27 | 4 | ||||||
| 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[d] | 0 | — | 34 | 4 | ||||||
| 2006–07 | Ligue 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[e] | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | ||||||
| 2007–08 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||||||
| 2008–09 | Ligue 1 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 1 | |||||||
| 2009–10 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[f] | 0 | — | 38 | 1 | ||||||
| 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[f] | 0 | — | 49 | 2 | ||||||
| 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[e] | 0 | 1[g] | 0 | 43 | 5 | |||||
| 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 233 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 297 | 18 | ||||||
| Newcastle United | 2012–13 | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||||||
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | |||||||
| Total | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 46 | 1 | |||||||
| Arsenal | 2014–15 | Premier League | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 1[h] | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[f] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | ||||||
| Bordeaux (loan) | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| Saint-Étienne | 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 4 | ||||||
| 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 4 | |||||||
| 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[f] | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||||||
| 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 2 | ||||||||
| Total | 86 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 97 | 12 | |||||||
| Valenciennes | 2021–22 | Ligue 2 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||||||
| Career total | 412 | 29 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 51 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 507 | 33 | ||||||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 2 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 May 2012 | Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, France |  Iceland | 1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 October 2013 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France |  Australia | 5–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
Lille
Arsenal
Saint-Étienne
Individual
France squads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
