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Christian Karembeu
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Christian Lali Karembeu |
| Date of birth |
3 December 1970 (1970-12-03) (age 39) |
| Place of birth |
Lifou, New Caledonia |
| Height |
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Playing position |
Defensive midfielder |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps†|
(Gls)†|
| 1990–1995 |
Nantes |
130 |
(5) |
| 1995–1997 |
Sampdoria |
62 |
(6) |
| 1997–2000 |
Real Madrid |
51 |
(1) |
| 2000–2001 |
Middlesbrough |
33 |
(4) |
| 2001–2004 |
Olympiacos |
88 |
(5) |
| 2004–2005 |
Servette |
23 |
(2) |
| 2005–2006 |
Bastia |
18 |
(1) |
| National team |
| 1992–2002 |
France |
53 |
(1) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
†Appearances (Goals).
|
Christian Karembeu (born 3 December 1970 in Lifou) is a retired French footballer and current scout for Arsenal. He is currently a non-executive director of Grandtop International Holdings Limited, which recently took over Birmingham City.1 He is also part of a Paris based consortium to expand the A-League with a Pacific Island team.2
Club career
During his career Karembeu played for Nantes (1990-95), Sampdoria (1995-97), Real Madrid (1997-2000), Middlesbrough (2000-01), Olympiakos (2001-04), Servette Genève (2004-05), Bastia (2005). With Real Madrid, he won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000, starting in the former but remaining on the bench for the latter. He last played midfield for Bastia in the French Ligue 1. He announced his retirement on 13 October 2006, although he added that he would "be having a kickabout from time to time". The France legend also took part in a friendly competition for Kettering Town FC with Gianfranco Zola, Les Ferdinand and Gus Poyet.
International career
Born in the French territory of New Caledonia, he was a vital player in the French team that won the 1998 World Cup. In Euro 2000, he was on the squad as well but played only one game. He compiled 53 caps in his career, earning his first one on 14 November 1992 against Finland in a 2-1 victory.
Managing career
In May 2006 Karembeu became a scout for English Premiership side Portsmouth Football Club. However, in August 2009, Christian decided to join Arsenal's ever expanding scouting network. On 9 December 2005, Karembeu represented the OFC at the draw for the 2006 World Cup which took place in Leipzig, Germany.
Personal life
Karembeu is married to Slovak model Adriana SklenaÅ™Ãková, whom he met on an airplane.3
Statistics
4
| France national team |
| Year |
Apps |
Goals |
| 1992 |
1 |
0 |
| 1993 |
0 |
0 |
| 1994 |
6 |
0 |
| 1995 |
4 |
1 |
| 1996 |
13 |
0 |
| 1997 |
4 |
0 |
| 1998 |
10 |
0 |
| 1999 |
4 |
0 |
| 2000 |
4 |
0 |
| 2001 |
6 |
0 |
| 2002 |
1 |
0 |
| Total |
53 |
1 |
Honours
Titles
Following the 1998 World Cup, he was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 199856
References
