Dimitri Payet

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Dimitri Payet

Payet playing for West Ham United in 2016

Personal information

Full name Dimitri Payet[1]

Date of birth 29 March 1987 (age 30)

Place of birth Saint-Pierre, Runion

Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Playing position Attacking midfielder / Winger

Club information
Current team Marseille

Number 10

Youth career

19951998 Saint-Philippe

19981999 Saint-Pierroise

19992003 Le Havre

20032004 AS Excelsior

Senior career*

Years Team Apps (Gls)

20042005 AS Excelsior 36 (12)

20052007 Nantes 33 (5)

20072011 Saint-tienne 129 (19)

20112013 Lille 71 (18)

20132015 Marseille 72 (15)

20152017 West Ham United 48 (11)

2017 Marseille 20 (4)

National team

20072008 France U21 11 (4)

2010 France 36 (8)

Honours[show]
 * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league
only and correct as of 1 October 2017.
National team caps and goals correct as of 7 October 2017

Dimitri Payet (French pronunciation: [dimiti pajt];[2] born 29 March 1987) is a French
professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille and the France national
team. A set-piece specialist, known for his accurate, bending free kicks,[3] he primarily plays as
an attacking midfielder, and is described as a player who is "blessed with terrific technique
and dribbling skills".[4]
Payet was born on the French island of Runion in the Indian Ocean, where he began his career
playing for local clubs Saint-Philippe and Saint-Pierroise. In 1999, he moved to metropolitan France,
joining Le Havre. Payet spent four years at the club before returning home to spend two years
playing for AS Excelsior in the Runion Premier League. In 2005, he joined FC Nantes and, after a
successful 200607 season, joined AS Saint-tienne on a four-year contract. With Saint-tienne,
Payet played in Europeancompetition for the first time after featuring in the 200809 edition of
the UEFA Europa League. In the 201011 season, he won the UNFP Player of the Month award for
September after scoring three goals and helping Saint-tienne reach first place in the league table.
Following the season, in June 2011, Payet joined the defending champions Lille signing a four-year
contract. He had two years there and a further two at Olympique de Marseille before moving abroad
for the first time to join West Ham.
Payet is a French international. From 2007 to 2008, he represented his country at under-21 level,
making eleven appearances and scoring four goals. In 2010, he was called up to the senior team by
manager Laurent Blanc for the first time. Payet made his international debut on 9 October 2010 in
a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Romania, appearing as a substitute. He was a member
of the French squad that reached the final of UEFA Euro 2016.

Contents
[hide]

1Club career
o 1.1Early career
o 1.2Nantes
o 1.3Saint-tienne
o 1.4Lille
o 1.5Olympique de Marseille
o 1.6West Ham United
o 1.7Return to Marseille
2International career
o 2.1Youth
o 2.2Senior
3Career statistics
o 3.1Club
o 3.2International
3.2.1International goals
4Honours
o 4.1Club
o 4.2Individual
5Notes
6References
 7External links

Club career
Early career
Payet was born in Saint-Pierre on the island of Runion in the Indian Ocean and began his career at
local club AS Saint-Philippe.[5]While at the club as a youth, he was described by coaches as "a kid
who stood out from his comrades" and, after three years of development training, moved to one of
the best clubs on the island, JS Saint-Pierroise.[6] After only a year at Saint-Pierroise, Payet was
signed by professional club Le Havre in metropolitan France, with whom his club shared a mutual
partnership. Le Havre also recruited former Saint-Pierroise players Florent Sinama
Pongolle and Guillaume Hoarau during this period.[5]
While at Le Havre, Payet endured a tumultuous four years. While training at the club, he was
accused of having a difficult character and displaying a lack of motivation.[7] The accusations
ultimately led to his departure in 2003 as Payet returned to Runion to sign with AS Excelsior. He
spent only a year and a half at Excelsior playing in the Runion Premier League before being signed
in January 2005 by Nantes who sought to give the player another opportunity to prove himself on the
mainland. Payet signed a two-year amateur deal with the club; however, Nantes were given the
option of terminating the contract after six months.[7]
Nantes
Upon his arrival to Nantes, Payet was inserted onto the club's reserve team in the Championnat de
France amateur, the fourth level of football in France. In the 200506 season, Payet quickly
established himself as one of the best players on the reserve team. He impressed with the team in
22 matches scoring six goals and was described by the club's reserve team coach Stphane Moreau
as a "talented player despite his natural indifference".[8][9] His influential play with the team resulted in
the player being called up to the senior team in December 2005 by manager Serge Le Dizet. Payet
made his professional debut on 19 December in a league match against Bordeaux appearing as a
substitute in a 00 draw.[10] After the winter break, Payet remained with the senior team and scored
his first professional goal in a 41 win over Metz. The midfielder appeared as a substitute in the
match and had been on the field for no more than two minutes before netting the goal.[11] After
appearing in a league match against Toulouse on 4 February, Payet was relegated back to the
reserve team for the rest of the season.[12]
Ahead of the 200607 season, Payet signed a three-year professional contract with Nantes. He was
officially promoted to the senior team and assigned the number 31 shirt by Le Dizet. After appearing
as a substitute in the first two matches of the season, Payet made his first professional start on 9
September 2006 in a league match against Lille. In the match, he scored the equalizing goal in a 1
1 draw.[13] Two weeks later, Payet started again and scored the opening goal in a 21 win
against Marseille.[14] Payet, subsequently, appeared as a starter for the rest of the campaign. He
scored his only other goal during the season in a 11 draw with Sedan.[15] One dark spot during the
campaign was a straight red card in an embarrassing 52 loss to Valenciennes.[16] Despite the
successful individual season by Payet, Nantes ultimately finished the season in 19th place and were
relegated, which meant the club would play in Ligue 2 for the first time since 1963.
Saint-tienne
Following Nantes' relegation, Payet's desire to remain in the first division led the player to issuing a
transfer request. The player was, subsequently, linked with Sochaux and Saint-tienne. Payet
ultimately decided to sign with Les Verts, stating the move to the club was a "straightforward logical
answer" and that Saint-tienne "can offer me the opportunity to play, which is a priority."[17] Payet
ultimately succeeded in getting the move after agreeing to a four-year contract with the club ahead
of the 200708 season. Nantes was compensated 4 million for the player.[9]
In his first season at Saint-tienne, Payet struggled to assert himself into the team. He made his
club debut on 4 August 2007 in a 11 draw with Monaco. Despite being a starter for the majority of
the campaign, Payet scored no goals and also failed to provide any assists. In a reversal of fortune,
despite Payet's sub-par season, Saint-tienne finished in fifth place, which meant qualification to
the UEFA Cup. In the 200809 season, Payet return to the form that resulted in Saint-tienne
signing the player. Prior to the start of the season, he was given the honour of captaining Saint-
tienne in a friendly match against the Runion national team in the player's return to the
island.[18] Payet appeared in 30 league matches scoring four goals and supplying six assists in the
season. He scored his first league goal for the club on 29 September 2008 in a 11 draw with
Bordeaux, netting the opener.[19] In December 2008, he scored the game-winning goal against his
former club Le Havre.[20]
Payet featured in European competition for the first time after playing in the 200809 edition of the
UEFA Cup. He made his debut in the competition on 18 September in the first leg of the team's first
round tie against Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv. On his debut, he scored the opening goal in a 21
win.[21] In the group stage, Payet scored a goal in a 31 win over Danish club Copenhagen.[22] In the
knockout rounds, Payet was instrumental to the team's 52 aggregate victory
over Greek club Olympiacos. In the first leg, he assisted on a goal in a 31 win, while in the second
leg, he netted the opener in 21 positive result.[23][24] Saint-tienne were eliminated from the
competition in the next round by German club Werder Bremen, losing 32 on aggregate. Payet
appeared as a substitute in both legs. Due to focusing its efforts on performing well in four
competitions, Saint-tienne finished one spot short of relegation in the league. On 22 July 2009,
Payet signed a two-year contract extension with the club until 2013.[25]
In the 200910 season, Payet remained consistent appearing in 35 league matches scoring two
goals and providing six assists. He also performed well in the cup competitions, particularly in
the Coupe de France. On 24 January 2010, he scored a double in 41 victory over Lorient.[26] Two
weeks later, he scored the winner against Vannes.[27] Saint-tienne ultimately reached the quarter-
finals losing to Lens. On 18 May 2010, Payet was involved in a physical altercation with teammate
and captain Blaise Matuidi during the team's 10 defeat to Toulouse.[28] Midway through the first half,
Payet received criticism from teammate Yohan Benalouane for displaying a lack of aggression. He
was then confronted by Matuidi, who echoed Benalouane's sentiments. Payet and Matuidi suddenly
went face-to-face with the former player delivering a blow to Matuidi's head before the two were
separated by referee Bruno Coue and teammates.[29] As a result of the incident, Payet was
substituted out after 31 minutes and sanctioned by club president Roland Romeyer.[30]Payet
apologized for the incident shortly after. On 6 October 2010, following both Payet and Matuidi's call
up to the national team, Payet described the incident as "an argument that had no place" and that
"the incident was explained and the two were on new ground." Matuidi described the altercation as a
"lack of maturity" on both players part.[31]
After the summer, Payet put the past behind him and opened the 201011 season by scoring seven
goals in the first two months of domestic play. On 7 August 2010, he scored in the team's opening
31 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.[32] On 29 August 2010, Payet scored his first professional hat-
trick in a 31 victory over Lens.[33] After the international break, he scored a double
against Montpellier.[34] On 25 September, Payet delivered a perfect free-kick goal in the team's Derby
du Rhne match against Lyon. The free-kick, described by local media as "superb and untouchable,"
was the only goal in the team's upset victory.[35][36] The win placed Saint-tienne in first place for the
week. For his performances, Payet was awarded the UNFP Player of the Month award for
September. Due to his performances domestically and international, Payet drew interest from
several clubs, notably English clubs Chelsea and Liverpool.[37][38] In January 2011, he was linked with
a move to Paris Saint-Germain as the Parisian club looked to immediately replace the
departed Stphane Sessgnon. Payet sought for the move, but Saint-tienne refused. Ahead of the
closure of the transfer window, a frustrated Payet failed to show up to training in an effort to force the
transfer.[39] After returning to the team days later, Payet was demoted to the club's reserve team
ahead of the team's league match against Montpellier on 5 February 2011.[40]
Payet returned to Saint-tienne's line-up for the following match against Lyon on 12 February. In his
last 14 matches of 201011, Payet scored five goals and also registered a further three assists.[41] He
ended the season with 13 goals, making him Les Verts' top scorer.[42]
Lille

Payet playing for Lille in August 2012

On 28 June 2011, Saint-tienne manager Christophe Galtier confirmed that Payet was on the verge
of signing with the defending league champions Lille after the player himself informed him the
previous day.[43] Hours later, the move was confirmed by both Saint-tienne and Lille.[44][45] Payet
agreed to a four-year contract, while the transfer fee was priced at 9 million with future incentives to
be included later.[46]
Payet debuted for Lille in a 54 Trophe des Champions loss to Marseille at the Grand Stade de
Tanger in Morocco on 27 July 2011. His Ligue 1 debut for the club came in the 201112
season opener against Nancy on 6 August. On 15 October, Payet scored his first goal for the club in
a 31 win at Auxerre.[47] Three days later, Payet made his UEFA Champions League debut as a
62nd-minute substitute for Benot Pedretti in Lille's 10 home loss to Italian club Internazionale.[48]
Payet ended his first season at Lille with six goals and six assists, starting in 23 of the team's 38
league matches.[41]
In his second season at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, after the sale of Eden Hazard to Chelsea, Payet
established himself as a regular in Lille's attack, starting all but one of the team's Ligue
1 matches.[41] At the season's winter break, Payet was recognised by the Ligue de Football
Professionnel as the league's highest assist-maker, with 7 in the team's 19 matches.[49] He had also
reached six goals at the halfway stage, having scored in each of Lille's three matches prior to the
winter break.[41]
On 18 May 2013, Payet was named in the UNFP's Ligue 1 team of the season.[50] He ended the
season as the league's joint-top assist-maker, alongside Mathieu Valbuena, with 12 goals
created.[51] He also scored 12 league goals to register the second-highest scoring season of his
career.[41]
Olympique de Marseille
Payet playing for Marseille, 2013

On 27 June 2013, Marseille signed Payet for a fee in the region of 11 million. On his debut, he
scored a brace within the first 15 minutes of the game, helping his side to a 31 victory
over newcomers Guingamp at the Stade du Roudourou on 11 August.[52]
In his second and final season with Marseille, Payet made more successful through-balls than any
other player, with the exception of Lionel Messi, in European football's top five leagues. He made
almost twice as many key passes as any other player, and made 17 assists in 36 league
appearances, topping the Ligue 1 assist charts. Payet credited his excellent 20142015 Marseille
season which transformed his career to Marcelo Bielsa, who was appointed the head coach of
Marseille on a two-year contract in May 2014. I clicked with him, he later told L'quipe. "He made
me more mature and consistent. He put order into my game. I still have his advice in my
head."[53][54] The key, according to Jan Van Winckel (who was Bielsas assistant during the 2014
2015 season), was giving him the pivotal No. 10 role and making him the focal point of attacks.[54