Wikipedia

Florent Sinama Pongolle

Florent Stéphane Sinama Pongolle (born 20 October 1984) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Florent Sinama Pongolle
Sinama Pongolle playing for Rostov in 2012
Personal information
Full name Florent Stéphane Sinama Pongolle[1]
Date of birth (1984-10-20) 20 October 1984 (age 40)[2]
Place of birth Saint-Pierre, Réunion
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Saint-Pierroise
1995–2001 Le Havre
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2006 Liverpool 38 (4)
2001–2003 → Le Havre (loan) 42 (7)
2006 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 10 (1)
2006–2008 Recreativo 68 (22)
2008–2010 Atlético Madrid 40 (5)
2010–2012 Sporting CP 5 (1)
2010–2011 → Zaragoza (loan) 24 (4)
2011–2012 → Saint-Étienne (loan) 23 (4)
2012–2014 Rostov 18 (2)
2014 Chicago Fire 7 (1)
2015 Lausanne-Sport 0 (0)
2015–2016 Dundee United 4 (0)
2016–2018 Chainat Hornbill 62 (33)
2019 Saint-Pierroise 10 (1)
Total 351 (85)
International career
2001 France U17 6 (9)
2002–2006 France U21 37 (11)
2008 France 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing  France
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Winner 2001 Trinidad & Tobago
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was signed at only 16 by Liverpool, but could never impose himself in the first team. He also spent several seasons in Spain, with Recreativo, Atlético Madrid and Zaragoza.

Pongolle is now a pundit with Canal + in France.[4]

Early life

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Sinama Pongolle was born in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.[2]

Club career

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Liverpool

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Sinama Pongolle began his career at hometown club Saint-Pierroise before moving to Le Havre in Metropolitan France at the age of 11.[5] In 2001 he, along with his cousin Anthony Le Tallec,[6] was signed by Liverpool, after some impressive performances in both the UEFA European Under-16 Championship and the FIFA Under-17 World Championship. He was named player of the tournament as France won the latter competition,[7] and remained at Le Havre – as Le Tallec – for a further two years on loan.[6]

After his return, Sinama Pongolle appeared sporadically for the Reds. He made his debut in a UEFA Cup tie against NK Olimpija Ljubljana[8] and shortly afterwards scored his first goal in a league game against Leeds United.[9] In Liverpool's victorious campaign in the UEFA Champions League, he came from the bench against Olympiacos and immediately scored Liverpool's equaliser to make it 1–1, in an eventual 3–1 win and qualification to the round of 16.[10] However in a League Cup tie against Watford in January 2005 he picked up a knee injury, meaning he missed the rest of the season including Liverpool's victory in the Champions League final.[11]

Sinama Pongolle also netted in the third round of the 2005–06 FA Cup against Luton Town, as he helped Liverpool come from 3–1 down to a final score of 5–3,[12] with the side finally emerging victorious in the tournament, and scoring in the 2005–06 Champions League 2–1 away defeat of Real Betis, with a chip from 20 yards.[13]

In late January 2006, Sinama Pongolle was loaned to fellow Premier League side Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.[14] He scored once for them, a 2–3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.[15]

Spain

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On 30 August 2006, Sinama Pongolle signed a one-year contract at Recreativo de Huelva,[16] with an option to sign on for a further two years. On 4 May 2007, the Andalusians confirmed he had agreed to a deal until 2011, for a fee of €4 million.[17] He was Recre's top goalscorer in his two La Liga seasons with the team, at 12 and ten respectively.[18]

Sinama Pongolle joined Atlético Madrid on 3 July 2008, for a fee believed to be in the region of £8 million.[19] Initially thought of as a backup to Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero, he benefitted from an injury to the Uruguayan, scoring four goals in his first five league appearances for the Colchoneros, with braces against former club Recreativo[20] and Getafe;[21] later in his debut campaign, injury and match bans to Maxi Rodríguez saw him playing several games as right winger,[22] as the team once again finished fourth.[citation needed]

Sporting CP and Rostov

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Sinama Pongolle with Saint-Étienne in 2011

In the winter transfer market opening in 2010, Sinama Pongolle was transferred to Sporting CP for €6.5 million, with the fee possibly raising to €7.5.[23] On 26 March 2010, he scored his first goal for the Lions, but also conceded an own goal in a 3–2 loss at C.S. Marítimo.[24]

Sinama Pongolle spent the following two seasons on loan, with Zaragoza and Saint-Étienne, the latter in his homeland.[25] On 30 August 2012 he terminated his contract with Sporting, going on to spend two years in the Russian Premier League with FC Rostov where he featured rarely.[26]

Later years

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On 9 September 2014, Sinama Pongolle signed with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire.[27] In November of the following year, after a short spell in Switzerland with Lausanne-Sport, he joined Dundee United.[28]

In July 2016, Sinama Pongolle joined Chainat Hornbill of the Thai League 1, scoring once in his debut but in a 2–7 away defeat against Chonburi FC. In early November, in spite of the team's relegation, the 32-year-old extended his contract until 2018.[29][30]

Sinama Pongolle returned to the island of his birth in January 2019, rejoining Saint-Pierroise with Uruguayan strike partner Diego Silva also making the same move from Thailand.[5] Though he retired partway through the campaign, he contributed to them becoming the first Outre-Mer club since 1989 to reach the last 32 of the Coupe de France, scoring a hat-trick in the fourth round 9–1 win over ES Étang-Salé.[31]

International career

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After his under-16 and under-17 exploits, Sinama Pongolle made his France under-21 debut on 21 August 2002. He was a part of the squad that participated in the 2006 UEFA European Championship which took place in Portugal[32] and, at the end of his four-year tenure with this category, ranked first in caps (37) and goals (11).[citation needed]

Sinama Pongolle played his only game with the senior side on 14 October 2008, during a 3–1 friendly win against Tunisia.[33]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total Ref.
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Le Havre (loan) 2001–02 Division 2 11 2 1 0 1 1 – – 13 3 [citation needed]
2002–03 Ligue 1 31 5 2 1 0 0 – – 33 6 [citation needed]
Total 42 7 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 46 9 –
Liverpool 2003–04 Premier League 15 2 3 0 2 0 3 0 – 23 2 [34]
2004–05 Premier League 16 2 1 0 5 1 4 1 – 26 4 [35]
2005–06 Premier League 7 0 1 2 1 0 3 1 3 0 15 3 [36]
2006–07 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 [37]
Total 38 4 5 2 8 1 10 2 4 0 65 9 –
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2005–06 Premier League 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 10 1 [36]
Recreativo 2006–07 La Liga 34 12 1 0 – – – 35 12 [38][39]
2007–08 La Liga 34 10 3 0 – – – 37 10 [38][39]
Total 68 22 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72 22 –
Atlético Madrid 2008–09 La Liga 30 5 4 1 – 9 0 – 43 6 [38][39]
2009–10 La Liga 10 0 2 1 – 3 0 – 15 1 [38][39]
Total 40 5 6 2 0 0 12 0 0 0 58 7 –
Sporting CP 2009–10 Primeira Liga 5 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 – 7 1 [38]
Zaragoza (loan) 2010–11[39] La Liga 24 4 0 0 – – – 24 4 [38][39]
Saint-Étienne (loan) 2011–12 Ligue 1 23 4 1 0 1 0 – – 25 4 [38]
Rostov 2012–13 Russian Premier League 10 1 1 0 – – – 11 1 [38]
2013–14 Russian Premier League 8 1 3 0 – – – 11 1 [38]
Total 18 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 2 –
Chicago Fire 2014 Major League Soccer 7 1 0 0 0 0 – – 7 1 [38]
Dundee United 2015–16 Scottish Premier League 4 0 0 0 0 0 – – 4 0 [40]
Chainat Hornbill 2016 Thai League 1 10 13 0 0 0 0 – – 10 13 [38]
2017 Thai League 2 26 14 0 0 0 0 – – 26 14 [38]
2018 Thai League 1 26 6 0 0 0 0 – – 26 6 [38]
Total 62 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 33 –
Career total 341 84 23 5 11 2 23 2 4 0 402 93 –

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[41]
National team Year Apps Goals
France 2008 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

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Liverpool

Rostov

Chainat Hornbill

Saint-Pierroise

France U17

Individual

  • FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Ball: 2001[42]
  • FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Shoe: 2001[42]

References

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  1. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 11 de mayo de 2011, en San Sebastián" [Minutes of the match held on 11 May 2011, in San Sebastián] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Florent Sinama-Pongolle". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ "FIFA Club World Championship Japan 2005 – Official Rosters". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 December 2005. Archived from the original on 19 December 2005.
  4. ^ "Florent Sinama Pongolle: Where are they now". 1 August 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b Robinson, Anthony (31 January 2019). "Sinama-Pongolle à la JSSP: c'est fait" [Sinama-Pongolle to JSSP: done deal] (in French). Clicanoo. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b Yau Tan, Choon (24 April 2009). "Bright future ahead for rising French cousins". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  7. ^ Florent Sinama Pongolle – FIFA competition record (archived)
  8. ^ "Liverpool overwhelm Olimpija". BBC Sport. 15 October 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2004.
  9. ^ "Liverpool see off Leeds". BBC Sport. 25 October 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2004.
  10. ^ "Liverpool through after thriller". UEFA. 8 December 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  11. ^ "Sinama-Pongolle injury adds to Liverpool's woes". Guardian. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2004.
  12. ^ McCarra, Kevin (9 January 2006). "Echoes of another epic as Liverpool forced to treat Luton like Milan". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Liverpool savour flying start". UEFA. 13 September 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  14. ^ "Sinama seals Rovers loan move". UEFA. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Tottenham 3–2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 5 March 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  16. ^ "Spain calls for Sinama Pongolle". UEFA. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Sinama Pongolle signs for Recreativo". UEFA. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  18. ^ Carrasco, Antonio (23 December 2008). "Tras los pasos de la historia" [Chasing history] (in Spanish). Huelva Información. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Sinama Pongolle alights at Atlético". UEFA. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  20. ^ "Atlético Madrid 4–0 Recreativo Huelva". ESPN Soccernet. 20 September 2008. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  21. ^ "Getafe 1–2 Atlético Madrid". ESPN Soccernet. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  22. ^ "Maniche: "No estilo do Caicedo mas muito melhor"" [Maniche: "Like Caicedo but much better"]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 December 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 28 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  24. ^ "Penálti foi brinde para Pongolle" [Penalty was a gift to Pongolle]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 28 March 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Pongolle emprestado ao Saint-Étienne" [Pongolle loaned to Saint-Étienne] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  26. ^ "Sinama-Pongolle heads to Russia". FIFA. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  27. ^ "NEWS: Chicago Fire announce the signing of French forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle". Chicago Fire FC. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  28. ^ "Florent Sinama Pongolle signs for Dundee United after trial". BBC Sport. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  29. ^ "กระแสดี! PLTเผยรายได้ไทยลีก บุรีรัมย์ทะลุ64ล้าน,กิเลนตามมาอันดับ2" [Florent Sinama Pongolle ready to stay even though team was relegated to division1.]. Goal.com (in Thai). 7 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  30. ^ "Former Liverpool striker Sinama Pongolle extends contract with Chainat". Football Channel Asia. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Florent Sinama-Pongolle sur la JS Saint-Pierroise: "Une super bande de potes"" [Florent Sinama-Pongolle on JS Saint-Pierroise: «A super bunch of mates»] (in French). France Football. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  32. ^ Demetriou, Greg; Harrold, Michael (22 May 2006). "Goals the goal for Sinama-Pongolle". UEFA. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  33. ^ Canot, Aurélien (14 October 2008). "Des Bleus à réaction" [Blues react] (in French). Foot 365. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  34. ^ "Games played by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Games played by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  37. ^ "Games played by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "F. Sinama-Pongolle". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  39. ^ a b c d e f Florent Sinama Pongolle at BDFutbol  
  40. ^ "Games played by Florent Sinama Pongolle in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  41. ^ "Florent Sinama Pongolle". European Football. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  42. ^ a b c d Pearce, James (4 May 2020). "Florent Sinama-Pongolle: I cried like crazy. I should have been on that bus". The Athletic.
  43. ^ "Final: Liverpool 3–1 CSKA Moskva: Line-ups". UEFA. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020.
  44. ^ "Sao Paulo 1–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 18 December 2005. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  45. ^ "Chelsea 1–2 Liverpool: Match report". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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