Giroud began his senior club career playing for hometown clubGrenoble, before he signed withTours in 2008, aged 21. He was namedLigue 2Player of the Year in 2010 after finishing as the league's top goalscorer. He was subsequently the subject of a then-club recordfootball transfer when he moved toMontpellier in a transfer worth €2 million, winning the club's firstLigue 1 title and finishing as league top goalscorer in2012. He then joinedArsenal, where he won threeFA Cups to help end Arsenal'snine-year trophy drought, and is the club'seighteenth-highest all-time goalscorer. Giroud signed for crosstownrivals Chelsea in 2018 in a transfer worth £18 million (€20.7 million), winning the FA Cup, theUEFA Champions League, and theUEFA Europa League, finishing as top goalscorer in the latter in2019. Giroud then signed forAC Milan in 2021, helping them win the2021–22 Serie A, which ended the club's 11-year league title drought. After a one-year stint in the United States, playing forMajor League Soccer side forLos Angeles FC, he made his return to France and Ligue 1, joining Lille.
Olivier Jonathan Giroud[2] was born on 30 September 1986[3] inChambéry in theRhône-Alpes region, and was raised in the nearby village ofFroges, close toGrenoble.[4] He is ofItalian descent through both of his grandmothers (Yvonne Avogadro and Antonia Gaiatto).[5][6][7]
Giroud began organised football playing for his hometown club, Olympique Club de Froges. He spent six years training at the club before joining professional clubGrenoble at the age of 13.[4]
Giroud spent five years developing in Grenoble's youth academy before signing his first professional contract at the age of 21. He later admitted that signing his first contract was an important part in his development as a player, stating "It took me signing my first professional contract to become aware of my abilities. If you [a club] trusted me, it was because I must have had some qualities."[10] Ahead of the2005–06 season, he was promoted to the club's reserve team, which was playing in theChampionnat de France Amateur 2, the fifth level ofFrench football. Giroud quickly became an important player in the team scoring 15 goals in 15 matches.[10] His performances over seven months with the reserve team resulted in the player being called up to the senior team in March 2006 by managerThierry Goudet. Giroud made his professional debut on 27 March appearing as a late-match substitute in a 1–1 draw withGueugnon inLigue 2.[11] He remained a part of the senior team for the rest of the campaign making five more substitute appearances.[citation needed]
Giroud was promoted to the senior team permanently for the2006–07 season by new manager Payton Pouliquen and Nicola Malgeri and was assigned the number 22 shirt. After appearing as a substitute in the team's first league match of the campaign, he made his first professional start in a 2–1 defeat away toNiort playing the entire match.[12] On 26 February 2007, Giroud scored his first professional goal netting theinjury time winner againstLe Havre.[13] He described the goal as "a fantastic memory. I could not dream better for a first pro goal". A month later, Giroud made his third start of the campaign against Gueugnon. In the match, which ended 0–0, Giroud incurred his first professionalred card.[14] He finished the campaign with 18 total appearances and two goals as Grenoble finished in fifth place.[citation needed]
In an attempt to earn some playing time, Giroud spent the2007–08 season on loan atIstres in theChampionnat National, the third level of football in France.[10] Under the tutelage of managerFrédéric Arpinon, he continued his development as a striker and, in his second match with the club, scored his first goal in a 2–1 win overLaval.[15] Two weeks later, Giroud scored goals in back-to-back matches againstVannes andCréteil.[16][17] He scored his first double of the season in a 2–0 win againstArles-Avignon.[18] A fortnight later, Giroud converted two goals again, this time in a 3–2 win overPau.[19] After going through the months of November and December without scoring a league goal, Giroud returned to form in January scoring goals in a 3–2 defeat to Vannes and a 2–0 win overBeauvais.[20][21] He finished the campaign by scoring goals in April league fixtures againstParis andMartigues, which brought his total goal tally with Istres to 14.[22][23] Of the 14 goals, Giroud only scored four at theStade Parsemain, Istres's home stadium.[24]
After a successful loan stint, Giroud returned to Grenoble with hopes of receiving some significant playing time as the club was now playing inLigue 1. However, club managerMehmed Baždarević, who was hired while Giroud was on his loan stint at Istres, deemed the player surplus to requirements and, subsequently, listed him for transfer. According to reports, Baždarević had declared that Giroud "did not have the level to play among the elite".[10] In 2011, Giroud reevaluated his departure from Grenoble stating "I am neither resentful nor vengeful. I am just disappointed with what happened to Grenoble when there was great potential".[10]
On 28 May 2008, it was reported that Giroud had agreed to a three-year deal with Ligue 2 clubTours. The striker was lured to the club by sporting director Max Marty who had previously served as the chief executive officer of Grenoble, Giroud's former club.[10] Giroud was also fond of Tours's managerDaniel Sanchez stating "It's always a plus to have a former striker as a coach. His advice to me really helped a lot. With him, I progressed in my positioning and also in front of goal".[10] Giroud was given the number 12 shirt and, due to injury, made his club debut on 3 September 2008 in a 2–1 defeat toBoulogne in theCoupe de la Ligue.[25] He made his league debut a week later playing the entire match in a 1–0 win overNîmes.[26] A month later, Giroud scored his first goal for the club converting the opener in a league match againstLens. In the second half, he scored another goal to cap a 3–1 win.[27] Two weeks later, Giroud scored his third goal for the club in a victory overAjaccio.[28]
In theCoupe de France, Giroud scored five goals in two matches. In the eighth round of the competition, he scored the team's only goal in a 1–0 win over semi-professional clubPacy Vallée-d'Eure.[29] In the ensuing round againstRéunionais clubJeanne d'Arc, Giroud scored four goals in a 7–1 win.[30][31] Tours would later be eliminated in the next round byLorient.[32] After his four-goal display against Jeanne d'Arc, Giroud followed up the performance by scoring goals in back-to-back league matches againstMontpellier andMetz.[33][34] After a double against Nîmes on 20 February 2009,[35] the striker suffered an injury, which forced him to miss three league matches. After making two substitute appearances on his return, in his first start since the injury on 3 April againstAngers, Giroud scored the team's opening goal in a 3–1 win.[36] Giroud later re-aggravated the previous injury in training, which led to him missing the entire month of April as Tours were contesting a promotion battle with several clubs. Despite losing Giroud, the club went unbeaten in the four league matches he missed. On his return against Boulogne on 8 May, Giroud scored his final goal of the season in a victory.[37] In Tours's final three league matches of the campaign, the club failed to achieve a win, which resulted in the club failing to earn promotion toLigue 1. Giroud finished the season with 27 total appearances and 14 goals.[38]
In the2009–10 season, Giroud was promoted to the lead striker role following the departure ofTenema N'Diaye toNantes. The promotion immediately paid off as Giroud scored two goals in the team's opening match of the season; a 2–1 win overLe Havre in theCoupe de la Ligue.[39] On 18 August 2009, he scored his first league goal against the same opposition in another win.[40] Following another league goal in a win overGuingamp,[41] on 18 September, Giroud scored all four of Tours's goals in a 4–2 win over Arles-Avignon.[42][43] It was his second career four-goal match at the professional level and his third overall having had one at amateur level while playing with the Grenoble reserve team.[44] In the team's next 15 matches in all competitions, Giroud remained on form scoring ten goals. During that span, the striker scored in consecutive matches on three occasions. Giroud finished the fall campaign with 16 goals, 13 of which came in league play.[44]
On 26 January 2010, it was reported that Ligue 1 clubMontpellier had signed Giroud from Tours on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[45] The transfer fee was priced at €2 million and it was also announced that Montpellier would loan Giroud back to Tours until the end of the 2009–10 season.[45][46] The striker admitted the move to Montpellier would benefit him the most stating "I feel that here (Montpellier), the coach and staff will be able to help me make real progress. The environment is ideal, the training center is good, the group is healthy, and there's a beautiful stadium with an audience that responds to this".[47] Following the transfer, Giroud went three weeks without scoring a goal before converting one on 19 February 2010 in a win over Arles-Avignon.[48] Two weeks later, he scored the team's only goal in a 2–1 defeat to Nantes.[49] On 19 March, Giroud scored two goals in a shutout win againstChâteauroux.[50] A week later, he scored in another shutout victory overStrasbourg.[51] After the goal against Strasbourg, Giroud went seven matches without scoring before netting on the final matchday of the season against Nîmes.[52] He finished the season with 42 appearances and 24 goals. Giroud scored 21 in the league and was named the league's top goalscorer. After the season, he was named theNational Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP)Ligue 2Player of the Year. Giroud was also named to the league'sTeam of the Year.[53]
Giroud officially joined Montpellier on 1 July 2010. He simultaneously made his club andEuropean debut on 29 July in the first leg of Montpellier'sUEFA Europa League third qualifying round withHungarian clubGyőri ETO. In the match, Giroud scored his first goal for the club in the first half.[54] Montpellier won the match courtesy of Giroud's goal, but were defeated on aggregate after losing on penalties in the second leg.[55] Giroud made his league debut in the team's first match of the campaign; a 1–0 win overBordeaux.[56] On 28 August, he scored his first league goal in a 1–0 away win againstValenciennes.[57] On 25 September, Giroud scored two goals in a home victory over Arles-Avignon.[58] The double brought his career goal tally to nine against theBouches-du-Rhône-based club. A week later, he scored Montpellier's lone goal in a 3–1 loss toLille.[59] In November 2010, Giroud scored game-winning goals in consecutive weeks againstToulouse andNice.[60][61]
In theCoupe de la Ligue, Montpellier surprisingly reachedthe final of the competition.[62][63] In the semi-finals againstParis Saint-Germain, Giroud played the entire match, which went intoextra time. In the 117th minute, he scored the match-winning goal to send Montpellier to its first major final since the 1993–94 season when the club reachedthe final of the Coupe de France.[64][65] In the 2011 Coupe de la Ligue Final, Montpellier faced Marseille and were defeated 1–0 courtesy of a goal byTaye Taiwo.[66][67] Giroud played the entire match.[68] Following his goal against Paris Saint-Germain, Giroud went scoreless for nearly two months before converting both club goals against the same opposition in a 2–2 draw at theParc des Princes.[69] Towards the end of the league season, Giroud scored goals against title contenders Marseille andLyon. However, Montpellier lost both matches.[70][71] After finishing the season as the club's top scorer, on 31 May 2011, Giroud signed a contract extension with Montpellier until 2014.[72]
Giroud began the2011–12 campaign on form scoring in the team's first two league matches of the season againstAuxerre and thedefending champions Lille.[73][74] Montpellier won both matches. After scoring a double in a 2–2 draw withBrest,[75] French newspaperLe Parisien affectionately dubbed himle buteur de charme (the charm striker).[76] The nickname paid tribute to his goalscoring ability, as well as personality and looks and was, subsequently, used by several other media outlets in France to describe the player.[31][77] In the team's next 18 matches in all competitions, Giroud lived up to the nickname by scoring 13 goals. The impressive output consisted ofhat-tricks againstDijon andSochaux,[78][79] match-winning goals againstNancy, Lyon, and Nice, and a goal each in theCoupe de la Ligue andCoupe de France.[80][81][82][83][84]
As a result of Giroud's performance and the team as a whole, Montpellier topped the league table in November 2011.[85] In January 2012, Giroud was linked with a transfer to several clubs. Montpellier's owner Louis Nicollin responded to the rumours on French radio stationRTL and surprised many by deeming one club "not big enough" for Giroud, while also declaring that the striker would cost "at least €50 or €60 million".[86] At the start of the second half of the campaign, Giroud scored in back-to-back league matches against Lyon andNice.[87][88] Two weeks later againstAjaccio, he assisted on Montpellier's second goal and scored the team's final goal in a 3–0 win.[89] On 24 March 2012, Giroud scored in the 1–0 win overSaint-Étienne.[90] The victory placed Montpellier at the top of the table and the club remained there for the rest of the campaign capturing its first league title in club history after beatingAuxerre 2–1 on the final day of the season.[91] Giroud finished the season with a league-leading 21 goals and 9 assists. Despite being tied on goals with Paris Saint-Germain attackerNenê, he was named the league's top scorer by the Ligue de Football Professionnel due to finishing with more goals in open play.[92]
On 26 June 2012, Arsenal won the race to sign Giroud on a long-term contract for a fee believed to be around £9.6 million (€12.4 million).[93] He was given the number 12 shirt.[94] He made his debut on 18 August as a substitute for fellow debutantLukas Podolski in a goalless home draw againstSunderland in thePremier League[95] and scored his first goal for Arsenal on 26 September, in a 6–1 win againstCoventry City in theLeague Cup.[96] His first Premier League goal came on 6 October, with the equaliser in a 3–1 win againstWest Ham United, in which he also assisted aTheo Walcott goal.[97] On 30 October, he helped Arsenal to a historic comeback in a League Cup tie againstReading, as Arsenal were 4–0 down before coming back to win the game7–5 after extra-time, with Giroud scoring Arsenal's second goal.[98] Giroud scored his firstUEFA Champions League goal for Arsenal in a 2–2 draw atSchalke 04 on 6 November[99] and four days later he scored twice in a 3–3 draw at home toFulham.[100] Giroud's form earned him a place in the Premier League team of the week.[101][102]
On 17 November, Giroud scored the third goal in Arsenal's 5–2derby win overTottenham.[103] Four days later, Giroud assisted bothJack Wilshere's andLukas Podolski's goals in Arsenal's 2–0 victory over former club Montpellier, which allowed Arsenal to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.[104]The Arsenal fans have warmed to Giroud as he has started to pick up form after a shaky start; a run of goals in consecutive games has led to a chant mimickingThe Beatles' "Hey Jude" of 'Na na na, Na na naaaa, Na na naaaa, Giroud' echoing around theEmirates Stadium.[105][106][107] On 29 December 2012, Giroud scored a brace and hit the crossbar after coming on as a substitute forAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 80th minute, as Arsenal beatNewcastle United 7–3 at the Emirates Stadium.[108]
On 23 January, Giroud scored a brace as Arsenal beat West Ham 5–1,[109] and did the same in a Man of the Match performance againstBrighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round of the FA Cup three days later.[110][111] On 30 January, Giroud scored as Arsenal fought back to earn a 2–2 draw, from 2–0 down at home toLiverpool. Giroud scored a header from a Wilshere free kick, and provided an assist for Theo Walcott.[112] For January, Giroud was awarded with the Arsenal Fan's Player of the Month Award.[113] On 13 April 2013, Giroud played a big part of Arsenal's 3–1 win againstNorwich City at home, winning a penalty that led to the equalizer in the 85th minute. He then sent Arsenal ahead himself two minutes later and set up for Lukas Podolski. This victory sent Arsenal to third in the table, climbing past London-rivalsChelsea and Tottenham.[114] He received his first red card for Arsenal against Fulham, which meant he would miss three of Arsenal's last four games of the season. His appeal was rejected bythe Football Association.[115] Giroud finished the season with 17 goals and 11 assists in 47 appearances.[citation needed]
Giroud scored in the opening game of the Premier League season againstAston Villa, a 3–1 loss for Arsenal.[116] His scored the only goal in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on 1 September.[117] On 26 October, Giroud scored the second goal in a 2–0 win at Crystal Palace, keeping Arsenal at the top of thePremier League, and almost a month later scored a double againstSouthampton, following a mistake from the Saints' goalkeeperArtur Boruc, and then he converted a penalty in a 2–0 win. Giroud's last goal of 2013, and Arsenal's last of the year, came againstNewcastle United. His flicked header fromTheo Walcott's free kick gave Arsenal a narrow 1–0 win and placed them at the top of the table going into 2014. He then scored on his return to the first team against Aston Villa after an ankle injury, a match that ended 2–1 in Arsenal's favour.[citation needed]
On 8 March 2014, Giroud scored twice againstEverton in the FA Cup quarter-final, helping Arsenal to a 4–1 win.[118] On 12 April, Giroud scored one of the penalties in the shootout againstWigan Athletic to send Arsenal to the final of theFA Cup atWembley Stadium.[119] On 17 May, Giroud started in the2014 FA Cup final as Arsenal beatHull City 3–2 at Wembley and assistedAaron Ramsey's cup-winning goal.[120]
Giroud started the season by scoring the third goal in Arsenal's 3–0 win againstManchester City in the2014 FA Community Shield, a 25-yard shot which dipped over goalkeeperWilly Caballero, thus winning Giroud's second title for Arsenal. Despite only coming on as a half-time substitute, he was namedman of the match.[121] Shortly after scoring the equaliser in a 2–2 draw againstEverton on 22 August, he broke his left tibia and was ruled out for four months.[122]
On 30 September 2014, his 28th birthday, Giroud signed a new contract at Arsenal, keeping him at the club until 2018 and increasing his weekly wage to £80,000.[123] Giroud returned to action quicker than expected, replacingAaron Ramsey for the last 13 minutes of a 1–2 home defeat againstManchester United on 22 November and scoring Arsenal's consolation goal in added time.[124] Later, he scored twice in a 4–1 home victory againstNewcastle United on 13 December.[125] Thirteen days later, he was sent off in Arsenal's 2–1 win overQueens Park Rangers for a headbutt onNedum Onuoha after being pushed by the QPR defender.[126] He later returned from his three-game suspension to feature in a 3–0 victory at home againstStoke City on 11 January.[127] On 18 January, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory againstManchester City, giving the gunners their first victory at theCity of Manchester Stadium since 2010.[128] Giroud carried on his Premier League form by opening the scoring and by setting upMesut Özil for the second goal of the match as Arsenal beatAston Villa 5–0.[129]
On 15 February, he netted two goals in the space of three minutes as Arsenal defeatedMiddlesbrough 2–0 to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.[130] His first goal concluded a move in which every Arsenal player touched the ball without Middlesbrough taking possession.[131]
On 25 February, Giroud was substituted 60 minutes into Arsenal's 3–1Champions League round of 16 loss toAS Monaco after missing several good chances for his club.[132] Four days later, on 1 March, he scored Arsenal's opening goal in a 2–0 Premier League defeat of Everton.[133] Giroud kept up his fine form by netting one goals each againstQueens Park Rangers,West Ham United and two againstNewcastle United in the Premier League[134] while also scoring againstMonaco in the Champions League.[135] Giroud was announced as thePremier League Player of the Month for March.[134][136] On 4 April, Giroud scored the fourth goal for his team in a 4–1 win over Liverpool.[137]
On 30 May, Giroud scored Arsenal's fourth goal after appearing as a substitute in the team's 4–02015 FA Cup final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.[138]
Giroud scored Arsenal's first goal of the season, asideways scissor kick from an Özil assist atCrystal Palace in a 2–1 loss.[139] On 20 October 2015, he came off the bench to score the first goal in a 2–0 win againstBayern Munich in the2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage.[140] On 9 December, he scored his first competitive Arsenalhat-trick in a 3–0 away victory atOlympiacos helping the Gunners, who needed a two-goal win, make the last-16 of the Champions League.[141] Giroud scored the first goal in a 2–0 victory overAston Villa four days later, becoming only the seventh Arsenal player to reach 50 Premier League goals for the club.[142] On 8 March, Giroud ended a 12-match scoreless run, with a brace in a 4–0 away victory overHull City in aFA Cup replay.[143][144]
On 8 May 2016, Giroud scored in a 2–2 against Manchester City at theCity of Manchester Stadium to end a run of 15 Premier League matches without a goal. He also assisted the team's second goal, scored byAlexis Sánchez.[145] A week later, in the team's final match of the season, Giroud scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa to end2015–16 with 16 goals in thePremier League[146] and 24 in all competitions.[147]
Giroud made only three appearances in Arsenal's first nine matches of the2016–17 Premier League, all of them coming on as a substitute. On 29 October 2016, after coming onto the pitch as a substitute in the 69th minute on matchday 10 of the Premier League, Giroud scored two goals with his first two touches in Arsenal's 4–1 away win againstSunderland.[148] On 19 November, Giroud scored an 89th-minute equalising goal after appearing as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Manchester United atOld Trafford.[149] On 26 December, he scored in a 1–0 home defeat ofWest Bromwich Albion on his first Premier League start of the season.[150] On 1 January 2017, Giroud scored with a backheeled "scorpion kick" volley in a 2–0 win againstCrystal Palace, a goal described byArsène Wenger as the greatest he had seen at theEmirates Stadium.[citation needed] The goal later earned him theFIFA Puskás Award for the goal of the year.[151]
On 12 January 2017, Giroud, alongside teammatesFrancis Coquelin andLaurent Koscielny signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.[152] During the2017 FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley, Giroud came on in the 78th minute with the score 1–1, and a minute later he delivered an assist forAaron Ramsey to score the winning goal which saw Arsenal lift the Cup for a record-breaking thirteenth time.[153] On 28 September 2017, during Arsenal'sEuropa League group game away toBATE Borisov, Giroud scored his 100th goal for the club in a 4–2 victory.[154]
He made his debut five days later in a Premier League away game atWatford, where he came on in the 64th minute replacingPedro. However, the result was a 4–1 loss.[156] On 12 February, Giroud started his first game for the club in which he provided an assist forEden Hazard in a 3–0 home win againstWest Bromwich Albion.[157] He scored his first goal in the FA Cup fifth round againstHull City in the 4–0 home win.[158] On 14 April, Giroud came off the bench to score twice as Chelsea recovered from a 2–0 deficit to beatSouthampton 3–2 atSt Mary's Stadium. It was his first time scoring in the Premier League with his new club.[159]
On 8 November, Giroud registered his first goal of the season away toBATE Borisov in matchday four of theEuropa League group stage. It was the only goal of the match, sending Chelsea through to the knockout stages of the tournament.[160] In his next outing, he scored his first Premier League goal of the season in a 3–1 away loss toTottenham Hotspur on 24 November.[161] Giroud then made it four goals in three games, bagging a brace at home toPAOK in matchday five of the Europa League. Chelsea won the match 4–0.[162] On his 500th career appearance, Giroud scored a free kick to equalise and preserve Chelsea's unbeaten Europa League group stage campaign. The match againstVidi atMOL Aréna Sóstó finished 2–2.[163] Giroud scored his first Chelsea hat trick on 14 March in a 5–0 (8–0 aggregate) win overDynamo Kyiv in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie atNSC Olimpiyskiy.[164] The following month, he became the first Chelsea player to score 10 goals in a single European campaign when he scored in a 4–3 semi-final second-leg win overSlavia Prague.[165] In May 2019, he signed a new contract with Chelsea through the 2019–20 season.[166] On 29 May, he scored in Chelsea's 4–1 win over his former club Arsenal in theEuropa Leaguefinal; during the match, he also set-up Hazard's second goal. With 11 goals in the competition, he set a new record for most goals by a French player in a single European season, breaking the previous record held jointly byNestor Combin (achieved during the1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup) andJust Fontaine (achieved during the1958–59 European Cup).[167]
On 14 August 2019, Giroud scored his first goal of the season against Liverpool in theUEFA Super Cup. Liverpool went on to win the match on penalties (5–4) after a 2–2 scoreline.[168] His firstPremier League goal came on 22 February 2020 against Tottenham in a 2–1 home win.[169] On 20 May 2020, Giroud signed a new one-year contract with Chelsea.[170] On 19 July 2020, he scored a goal and helped Chelsea to reach their 14thFA Cup final after beating Manchester United 3–1 in the semi-final.[171] Giroud finished the league season with a goal in Chelsea's 2–0 win overWolves on 26 July, a result which secured Chelsea a place in the2020–21 UEFA Champions League.[172] The goal was also his fifth goal in six matches and sixth overall since the restart of football following theCOVID-19 pandemic.[173][174]
2020–21: Final season and Champions League victory
At Chelsea, when you are not scoring enough goals they might pick up another striker to replace you. Maybe in a club like Chelsea you have less time to show your qualities than at Arsenal. That's the main difference and the last 10 years show that Chelsea have won more trophies. At Chelsea [...] you have to be good sooner.
On 23 September 2020, Giroud made his first appearance in2020–21 season from the bench and scored his first goal of the season againstBarnsley in the third round of theEFL Cup, which ended in a 6–0 win at home.[176] He scored the winning goal for Chelsea in stoppage time againstRennes in the Champions League on 24 November; the victory secured Chelsea's progression to theknockout phase of the competition.[177] On 2 December, Giroud became the oldest player in Champions League history to score ahat-trick when he scored all four goals in a 4–0 win atSevilla. He also became the oldest player to achieve the feat in the European Cup sinceReal Madrid'sFerenc Puskás in September 1965 (38 year and 173 days againstFeyenoord).[178] On 5 December, Giroud marked his first league start of the season with his fifth goal againstLeeds United and landed himself in the Premier League's record books after continuing his remarkable goalscoring form. He became the oldest player to ever score in six successive Premier League starts at the age of 34 years and 63 days. He also became the first Chelsea player to score in six consecutive Premier League starts for the club sinceJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in October 2001.[179][180] On 8 December, Giroud marked his 100th appearance for Chelsea in a 1–1 home draw againstKrasnodar in the Champions League finalgroup stage match.[181]
On 15 February 2021, Giroud became the 17th player in Premier League history to make 100 substitute appearances when he replaced an injuredTammy Abraham in the first half of Chelsea's match against Newcastle;[182] Giroud would go on to open the scoring in an eventual 2–0 win.[183] On 23 February, he executed abicycle kick that scored the only goal in a 1–0 win overAtlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16.[184] Giroud was an unused substitute as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1–0 in the2021 UEFA Champions League final on 29 May.[185] Although Giroud's contract was due to expire at the end of season, with him having numerous offers to join as afree agent, on 4 June 2021, however, Chelsea announced that a one-year contract extension clause was unilaterally triggered earlier in April, thus keeping the player at the club for the upcoming season.[186]
On 17 July 2021,AC Milan announced the transfer of Giroud from Chelsea permanently on a two-year contract.[187] He made his debut for the club on 23 August, in a narrow 1–0 win againstSampdoria, and scored his first goals, a brace, in a 4–1 win againstCagliari.[188] Afterwards, Giroud would struggle in his first months of the season, following the effects of COVID-19, which he had tested positive and various injuries, but proved to be decisive on the following months, when his side was trailing by 2–0, he scored the opener for Milan to help his team achieve a comeback 3–2 win againstHellas Verona on 16 October,[189] and he scored the only goal in Milan's 1–0 win againstTorino on 26 October.[190]
On 6 January 2022, he scored the opener againstRoma, and helped his teammateJunior Messias scoring the second after Giroud snatched the ball from Roma defense and hit the post, in an eventual 3–1 win.[191] On 5 February, Giroud scored a brace to help his team win 2–1 against crosstown rivalsInter inDerby della Madonnina, becoming the first French player ever to score a brace or more in Serie A against Inter.[192] Four days later, Giroud scored another brace againstLazio inCoppa Italia, as Milan thrashed the former 4–0, progressing to the semi-final of the competition.[193] On 6 March, inStadio Diego Maradona, although suffering from a deep cut in his left shin, Giroud scored the only goal in an away win againstNapoli, helping his team to climb to the top of Serie A table.[194][195] This was his 11th goal in the season in all competitions, equalling his total tally from the whole of last season for Chelsea.[196]
On 24 April, he scored the equalizer away againstLazio, helping his team to a 2–1 comeback win.[197] On 22 May, he scored a brace as Milan beatSassuolo 3–0 away from home to win their first Serie A title in eleven years.[198] He ended the Serie A season with 11 goals (14 in all competitions), as he became the oldest player to reach double figures for goals in his debut season in Serie A at 35 years and 234 days. Furthermore, he also became the third French player in AC Milan's history to have reached double figures in a single season afterJean-Pierre Papin andJérémy Ménez.[199]
He scored his first goal of the season againstBologna on 27 August, a volley in a 2–0 win; this was his 300th senior career goal for club and country.[200] On 3 September, Giroud repeated the feat of the previous season, as he scored and assisted a goal in a 3–2 win against Inter,[201] before scored the winner against Sampdoria in a 2–1 away win the following week.[202] On 14 September, he scored his first Champions League goal for theRossoneri, by converting a penalty 3–1 away win overDinamo Zagreb.[203] On 2 November, Giroud a scored a brace and provided two assists, in a 4–0 thrashing ofRed Bull Salzburg in their finalChampions League group fixture, the result qualified Milan to theround of sixteen.[204]
On 10 February, Giroud scored a near-post header in a narrow home 1–0 win over Torino, to put an end to Milan's seven match winless run in all competitions.[205] On 2 April, Milan defeated league leadersNapoli 4–0 away, the latter's biggest defeat since losing 5–1 toAtalanta in the 2007–08 season.[206][207] On 18 April, Giroud scored the goal in a 1–1 away draw against the same opponent in the2022–23 UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg, which secured his team's progress to the semi-final, by winning 2–1 on aggregate, for the first time since the 2006–07 season.[208][209] They were knocked out in the semi-finals against arch-rivals Inter, who booked a place in the Champions League final for the first time since 2010.[210] He scored his first Serie A hat-trick on 20 May, in a 5–1 home win against Sampdoria.[211] On 28 May, Giroud scored the winner againstrivalsJuventus, to grant Milan's qualification to Champions league for the next season, marking in the process his 12th league goal of the season.[212]
On 7 October, Giroud went on to play as a goalkeeper in the final minutes of a league match againstGenoa afterMike Maignan was sent off, making a critical save in stoppage time to secure Milan's win after a late goal fromChristian Pulisic.[213][214] He was widely praised for his performance and even named on theSerie A Team of the Week as a goalkeeper.[215] On 7 November, Giroud scored the winning goal in a 2–1 win overParis Saint-Germain on matchday four of the competition.[216] On 12 November, Giroud played his 100th competitive game for AC Milan, an away 2–2 league draw againstLecce, in which he opened the score with his 40th goal for the club, before beingsent off in stoppage time for an argument with the referee.[217] For the incident, he was given a two-game suspension by the league's disciplinary committee.[218]
On 7 March 2024, Giroud scored his first goal in the Europa League for the club, netting the opener in a 4–2 home win againstSlavia Prague in the first leg of theround of 16.[219] Two months later, on 13 May, Giroud announced that he would leave the club at the end of the season.[220][221]
On 25 May, Giroud scored in his last competitive match with AC Milan, in an eventual 3–3 draw againstSalernitana.[222] Giroud finished the Serie A season with 23 goal involvements (15 goals and eight assists).[223] Overall, during his 3 years stint with AC Milan, he scored a total of 49 goals.[224]
On 14 May 2024,Major League Soccer clubLos Angeles FC announced that Giroud would join the club in July, following his French teammateHugo Lloris.[225][226] He made his debut for the club on 13 August 2024, in a 4–1 win againstSan Jose Earthquakes in theLeagues Cup knockout round.[227] On 25 August, Giroud scored his first goal for the club in theLeagues Cup final againstColumbus Crew in the 3–1 loss.[228] On 25 September, Giroud made hisU.S. Open Cup debut in the2024 final, in which he scored the opening goal, his second for Los Angeles FC, in an eventual 3–1 win overSporting Kansas City.[229] On 19 April 2025, he scored his first league goal, his third for the club as it drew 3–3 withPortland Timbers, becoming at 38 years 6 months and 19 days the oldest everEuropean[a] to score in the league.[230] On 27 June, Los Angeles FC announced the mutual decision to terminate Giroud's contract.[231] He made his final appearance for the club two days later in a league 1–0 defeat toVancouver Whitecaps, ending his spell with a total of 38 appearances and five goals scored.[232]
"I think the French people are happy thatPaul Pogba and I are coming back in the French league. [...] This club ticked a lot of boxes for me and my family. I hope that I can be helpful for the team, being like a leader and a link player on and off the pitch [...] between the management, the staff and the young players. Lille is a big club in France, top five. [...] I'm here to give back to football what I learned."
– Giroud about his comeback to France and signing forLille[233]
On 1 July 2025, after leaving Los Angeles FC unattached, Giroud officially signed forLigue 1 clubLille on a one-year contract, returning to France and Ligue 1 following his one-year stint in the United States and the Major League Soccer.[234] According to various columnists and reporters, the details of the agreement include an annual salary around €1.5m gross and an additional year in option.[235][236] He was given the squad number 9 which was previously worn by club legendJonathan David.[234] Making his return to his homeland France, he stated : "I'm very happy and excited to be back in France, home. I've always considered Lille a top French club. I know a lot of former Lille players, likeEden,Yo Cabaye,Debuch',Rio,Ben' Pavard... They all have great memories of the club, with good values. The team had a great season last season and will be playing in theEuropa League. It's a young and talented squad, which needs experienced players like me. So I'll also be there in that role."[234]
Giroud debuted for Lille in a friendly match againstBorussia Dortmund on 2 August 2025.[237]
On 17 August 2025, in his first official game with Lille, he opened the scoring in aLigue 1 3-3 draw withBrest,[238] becoming at 38 years, 10 months and 18 days Lille's oldest goalscorer ever, beatingJosé Fonte's record.[239]
On 3 November 2011, in an effort to reward Giroud for his performances domestically with Montpellier, national team coachLaurent Blanc named the striker in the squad to play infriendly matches against theUnited States andBelgium on 11 and 15 November 2011, respectively.[241][242] Giroud described the call up as "a childhood dream come true", while also stating it is "immensely satisfying and a privilege" to represent the national team.[243] He made his international debut in the match against the United States appearing as a substitute. France won the match 1–0.[244] Against Belgium, Giroud earned another cap appearing as a substitute as the match ended 0–0.[245] On 29 February 2012, Giroud scored his first career international goal in a 2–1 friendly victory overGermany. Three months later, he was named to the squad to participate inUEFA Euro 2012.[246] Two days prior to the announcement of the final squad, Giroud assisted on two goals in France's 3–2 friendly comeback win overIceland.[247]
Giroud playing forFrance againstGeorgia in March 2013
On 16 October 2012, Giroud equalised for France in its 1–1 draw againstSpain in a2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute, he scored a headed goal from aFranck Ribéry cross in the fourth minute of injury time.[248] Due to his goal against Spain and good form withArsenal, Giroud, along with Arsenal teammateLaurent Koscielny, received a call for France's tie againstItaly on 14 November.[249] In the match, Giroud had a few chances, but then was substituted with five other players in the second half as France came back from behind to win the match 2–1.[250] Giroud scored twice and was named man of the match in a 6–0 win overAustralia on 11 October 2013 in an international friendly.[citation needed]
On 13 May 2014, Giroud was named inDidier Deschamps's squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[251] After appearing as a second-half substitute in France's opening match againstHonduras,[252] Giroud was named in the starting line-up for the team's second group fixture againstSwitzerland. He scored the opening goal of the match in the 17th minute to record his firstFIFA World Cup goal and the 100th at the tournament in the French national team's history, asLes Bleus ran out 5–2 winners to qualify for theknockout stage.[253]
2016–18: Euro 2016 runner-up and FIFA World Cup triumph
In theopening match of Euro 2016 on 10 June 2016,France defeatedRomania 2–1. Giroud earned his 50th France cap by being in the starting line-up of that match and played every minute of it; he scored the opening goal by headingDimitri Payet's cross into the goal in the 57th minute.[254][255] He scored a brace in a 5–2 win againstIceland in thequarter-finals.[256] Following France's defeat toPortugal in thefinal of the tournament, Giroud finished the competition as the joint second-highest scorer, with 3 goals and 2 assists, and was awarded theBronze Boot.[257]
In a2018 World Cup qualifier againstLuxembourg in March 2017, which France won 3–1, Giroud scored twice, taking his total to 23 and moving him into his country's top ten goalscorers of all time.[258]
On 2 June 2017, Giroud scored ahat-trick atRoazhon Park for France in a friendly against Paraguay which finished 5–0 to the hosts. In that game, he also become the first player to score a hat-trick for Les Bleus in 17 years.[259]
On 17 May 2018, he was called up to the 23-manFrench squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[260] On 28 May 2018, Giroud scored his 31st international goal for France during a home game againstIreland, equallingZinedine Zidane's record, and becoming the fourth highest goal scorer of all time for the country.[261] Giroud's inclusion in the team as a big man towering over opposing defenders was designed to create more space and freedom forAntoine Griezmann andKylian Mbappé to generate offensive chances; his role in the team was compared to that ofStéphane Guivarc'h in the1998 France World Cup-winning side.[262][263] Giroud played in all seven matches, and though he failed to register a shot on target from 13 shots, his physical presence and link-up play was credited with Griezmann and Mbappé each scoring four goals.[264] On 30 June 2018, Giroud set up Mbappé's second goal in a4–3 win overArgentina.[265] In thefinal of the tournament on 15 July, France defeatedCroatia 4–2 to win their second FIFA World Cup title.[266]
2019–21: Post-World Cup victory and Nations League title
In March 2019, Giroud scored goals in twoUEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers againstMoldova andIceland, taking his tally to 35 for France. In doing so, he surpassedDavid Trezeguet to become the nation's third-highest goalscorer of all time, behind onlyThierry Henry andMichel Platini.[267] On 8 September 2020, Giroud scored his 40th goal for France in a 4–2UEFA Nations League victory against Croatia.[268] On 7 October 2020, Giroud played his 100th match for France,[269] where he also scored twice in a 7–1 win againstUkraine, giving him 42 goals in his international career to surpass Platini's total and rank second for France.[270][271] On 8 June 2021, he scored twice in a warm-up friendly for theEuro 2020 againstBulgaria, reaching his tally up to 46 goals, thus being only 5 down to French national team top goalscorer Thierry Henry.[272] In October, Giroud was part of the French team that won the2020–21 UEFA Nations League, with France defeating Spain 2–1 in thefinal.[273]
2022–24: All-time France top scorer, second consecutive World Cup final, and international retirement
Giroud was called up to the French squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar; he started as the team's lone striker in their opening match against Australia on 22 November, scoring two goals and equalling Thierry Henry's 51-goal record for France.[274][275] He broke the record and became the national team's all-time top scorer after netting a goal againstPoland in the round of 16 on 4 December.[276] On 10 December, he scored the winning goal againstEngland, helping France reach the semi-finals.[277] France lost to Argentina in thefinal on penalties after a 3–3 draw, with Giroud being substituted near the end of the first half.[278] With four goals, he was awarded the tournament'sBronze Boot.[279]
On 23 May 2024, Giroud announced that he would retire from international football afterEuro 2024.[280] His final match was a substitute appearance in a 2–1 semi-final defeat against Spain.[281]
Giroud is capable of playing in several offensive positions, but usually plays as astriker or as acentre-forward; he has also occasionally been used as asecond striker, or even as afalse 9. A hard-working striker, he is known in particular for his reliable goal scoring rate, size, physical strength, heading accuracy, powerful shot, ability to hold up the ball with his back to goal, and link-up play, or create space for his teammates with his movement off the ball.[282][283][284][285][286][287] He is also associated with making runs to the front post that outwit defenders.[288] Due to his playing style and penchant for scoring goals after coming off the bench, he has been described as a "target man",[286] and as a "super sub" in the media.[289] He has also been described by pundits as one of the most underrated strikers in the world.[290][291][292].
A 2025 article and interviews stress that he views Mbappé potentially breaking his record as a source of pride rather than rivalry, framing his scoring record as something he is happy to see surpassed by the next generation.[293]
Giroud has an older brother, Romain, who was also a footballer, having played at theAuxerre academy and having represented France atunder-15 andunder-17 level, however he dropped a potential professional career to study and become a nutritionist.[294]
Giroud has been married to Jennifer since 2011 and have four children together.[295] Giroud is a devoutChristian[296] and has a tattoo on his right arm fromPsalm 23 in Latin: "Dominus regit me et nihil mihi deerit" ("The Lord is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing). He describes himself as a "very believing person [...] I don't cross myself before my games but I do a little prayer".[77][297] In February 2014, Giroud reportedly cheated on his wife with model Celia Kay.[298] After the incident, he issued an apology to his wife but later insisted that he had not committed adultery.[298] Arsène Wenger, Giroud's manager at Arsenal at the time, did not comment on the matter, saying he wanted to "respect his privacy".[298]
In June 2023, Giroud auctioned the jersey he wore during France's2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final victory to supportArmenian victims of theblockade of the Republic of Artsakh. The jersey sold for €35,000 at a fundraiser to help persecuted Christians around the world.[299]
In 2014, he became the face ofHugo Boss'sBoss Bottled men's fragrance.[300] In an interview withGQ, he citedDavid Beckham as an inspiration for the way he looks, saying that Beckham's "style is iconic".[301]
Giroud has been sponsored byPuma since 2009.[302] He starred, together with countrymanAntoine Griezmann, in an advert for the brand, which was released in August 2016.[303] Often using elaborate moves in hisgoal celebrations, Giroud's ‘Glamour slide’ goal celebration was included in EA Sports'FIFA 16.[304]
^ab"Olivier Giroud, buteur de charme" [Olivier Giroud, the charming goal scorer].So Foot (in French). 4 November 2011.Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved6 February 2012.
^"L'OM conserve son trophée!" [OM retains its trophy!] (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 23 April 2011. Archived fromthe original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved7 February 2012.
^"Giroud, le buteur de charme" [Giroud, the charming goal scorer].Le Parisien (in French, Javanese, and Malay). 17 September 2011.Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved6 February 2012.
^ab"France forward Antoine Griezmann wins Golden Boot". UEFA.com (Union of European Football Associations). 10 July 2016.Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved11 July 2016.France forward Antoine Griezmann claimed the UEFA EURO 2016 adidas Golden Boot with six goals, three ahead of Silver Boot laureate Cristiano Ronaldo and Bronze Boot winner Olivier Giroud.
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