Gaëtan Antony Varenne (born 24 June 1990) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.[1] He holds both French and Israeli citizenship.
 Varenne in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gaëtan Antony Varenne | ||
| Date of birth | 24 June 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Le Puy-en-Velay, France | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2004 | Puy-en-Velay | ||
| 2000–2001 | → Toulon (loan) | ||
| 2004–2008 | Montferrand | ||
| 2008–2009 | Clermont | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Cournon | 23 | (28) |
| 2012–2013 | Bastia | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Ashdod | 8 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | Maccabi Yavne | 22 | (4) |
| 2015–2017 | Hapoel Jerusalem | 69 | (22) |
| 2017–2020 | Beitar Jerusalem | 74 | (19) |
| 2020–2021 | Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 36 | (7) |
| 2021–2022 | Bnei Sakhnin | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 234 | (81) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early years
editVarenne was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, and played for local club Le Puy en Velay from 1998 to 2004,[2] punctuated by a brief stint at Toulon during the 2000–01 season.[2] He joined the training club Montferrand where he remained for four seasons between 2004 and 2008,[2] before being spotted by Clermont Foot with whom he played in U19 national the following season.[2] Following this, Varenne was released by Clermont Foot Cournon in Auvergne.[2]
Club career
editIn the course of three seasons with CFA2 side Cournon-d'Auvergne, he gradually made a starting spot and became the top scorer of all Amateur Championships in France with no less than 28 goals.[2] Varenne scored 11 goals in 2011–12 season, coming in second in the group.[3] With this accomplishment, Clermont, Nantes, Bastia, Ajaccio and Dijon all showed interest.[4] Varenne, overtaken by a trial in Dijon;[4] on 27 June 2012 signed a two-year contract with the Corsican club Bastia.[2] In November 2013, his contract with Bastia was terminated by mutual agreement.
In December 2013, Varenne signed with Israeli Premier League club F.C. Ashdod until the end of the year. After one goal and some exhibitions, he was injured and finished the season without a club. In summer 2014, after several unsuccessful trials in France, Varenne signed a two-year contract with Liga Leumit side Maccabi Yavne. Following this, he signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem. After a very hopeful second season with Hapoel, Varenne signed a two-year contract with fellow Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem. He scored three goals during 2019–20 Toto Cup Al, and was the top scorer among Beitar players, leading To Beitar Jerusalem to win the cup.
In 2018, he was voted talent of the Year of the Israeli Premier League.[5]
In summer 2023, at the age of 33, Varenne announced his retirement due to injury.[6]
Sexual assault
editIn March 2018, a video was released which showed Varenne and other, unnamed footballers sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The Israel Football Association chose to not summon Varenne for a disciplinary hearing which received criticism from Michal Rozin of the Meretz party who also called for the player to be fired and his behaviour to be condemned. Varenne's club Beitar Jerusalem did not take any action either.[7]
Honours
editBeitar Jerusalem
References
edit- ^ Gaëtan Varenne at IFA website
- ^ a b c d e f g "Deux ans de contrat pour Varenne" (in French). SC Bastia. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Classements des meilleurs joueurs de CFA 2 - D Groupe Archived 3 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Les Etoiles Du Foot, Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Dijon teste un nouveau Giroud" (in French). France Football. 30 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ "וארן נבחר לתגלית העונה, שטקוס שוער העונה". 16 May 2018.
- ^ Goldstein, Igal (26 June 2023). ""עברתי שיקום וניתוח, כלום לא עזר": אנטוני וארן פורש מכדורגל" ["I underwent rehabilitation and surgery, nothing helped": Anthony Varane retires from football] (in Hebrew). The Sport Channel. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Sugarman, Daniel (16 March 2018). "Video released of Israeli footballer Antony Varenne sexually assaulting unconscious woman". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Beitar Jerusalem Wins Toto Cup! Defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0!". Sports Rabbi. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
External links
edit- Gaëtan Varenne – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- Gaëtan Varenne at Soccerway
- Gaëtan Varenne FC Cournon Profile