Johan Etienne Anthony Cavalli (born 12 September 1981) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Johan Cavalli
Cavalli in 2013
Personal information
Full name Johan Etienne Anthony Cavalli[1]
Date of birth (1981-09-12) 12 September 1981 (age 43)[2]
Place of birth Ajaccio, Corsica, France[2]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1997–2001 Nantes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 Lorient 22 (0)
2003–2004 Créteil 44 (11)
2004–2005 Real Mallorca B 15 (0)
2005–2007 Istres 51 (2)
2007 Watford 3 (0)
2007–2008 Mons 8 (0)
2008–2010 Nîmes Olympique 51 (1)
2010–2020 Ajaccio 271 (28)
Total 465 (42)
International career
2009–2019 Corsica 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Early career

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Whilst at Lorient Cavalli played as a substitute in the 2002 Coupe de France Final in which they beat SC Bastia.[3]

Watford

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Cavalli joined Watford on deadline day of the 2007 January transfer window, on a free transfer from French side Istres, signing an 18-month contract.[4] He made his debut in the 1–0 win against West Ham United on 10 February 2007.[5] He had his contract with "Hornets" cancelled by mutual consent on 20 August 2007.[6]

Mons

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On 18 October 2007, it was announced that Cavalli had signed a two-year contract with Belgian club Mons.[7] In May 2008, he left the club my mutual consent.[8]

Ajaccio

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Cavalli joined his hometown club AC Ajaccio in November 2010 on a contract running until 2013.[9]

He started on the opening day of the 2011–12 Ligue 1 season, playing 77 minutes in a 2–0 loss to Toulouse.[10] He was also in the starting eleven for Ajaccio's trip to the Stade Gerland the following weekend and played 78 minutes in a 1–1 draw with hosts Lyon.[11] In Ajaccio 1–1 draw against fellow Ligue 1 newcomers Evian on 20 August 2011 he set up midfield partner Frédéric Sammaritano for the 7th-minute 1–0 lead following a "great combination" between him and Benjamin André.[12]

Following a five-match suspension, Cavalli returned on 10 April 2015 to face Dijon. He scored via penalty as Ajaccio beat Dijon 1–0 at the Stade François Coty.[13]

At the end of the 2019–20 season, after ten years with Ajaccio, Cavalli retired from playing.[14][15]

International career

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Cavalli was capped for the Corsica national football team, which is not a FIFA member, as it does not represent a fully sovereign nation. On 31 May 2011, he scored the only goal to help his team to a prestigious 1–0 win over Bulgaria in a friendly match.[16]

Personal life

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Cavalli's father Jean-Michel is also a former footballer and coached him during his time at Créteil.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Entreprise Brasserie L'albert 1Er à Ajaccio (20000)" [Company Brasserie L'albert 1Er in Ajaccio (20000)]. Figaro Entreprises (in French). Société du Figaro. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
    "Johan Cavalli". BFM Business (in French). Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Johan Cavalli". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Bastia 0-1 Lorient". lequipe.fr. 11 May 2002. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Watford complete triple signing". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  5. ^ Holt, Sarah (10 February 2007). "West Ham 0-1 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Midfielder Cavalli leaves Watford". BBC Sport. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Mons : Johan Cavalli signe pour 1 an aver option" [Mons: Johan Cavalli signs for one year with option]. Le Soir (in French). 18 October 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Cavalli libéré" [Cavalli released]. L'Equipe (in French). 28 May 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Football - Dernière recrue de l'ACA : Johan Cavalli ne veut plus repartir" [Football - Newest ACA recruit: Johan Cavalli never wants to leave]. Corse-Matin (in French). 1 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Ajaccio-Toulouse Statistical Preview". WhoScored. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Lyon-Ajaccio Statistical Preview". WhoScored. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Ajaccio 1-1 Evian… Frustraron victoria a Memo Ochoa". mediotiempo.com (in Spanish). 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Ligue1.com - French Football League - Ligue 2 - Season 2014/2015 - Week 31 - AC Ajaccio / Dijon FCO". Ligue de Football Professionnel. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  14. ^ Philippe, Paolo (22 June 2020). "Football : l'AC Ajaccio rend hommage à Johan Cavalli dans une longue vidéo". france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr (in French). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  15. ^ Maillard, Clément (4 July 2020). "Ligue 2 - Johan Cavalli, la retraite de l'homme d'Ajaccio". maligue2.fr (in French). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Corsica Puts Bulgaria to Shame 1:0". Novinite. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  17. ^ Taron, Philippe (31 October 2003). "La famille enfin réunie" [The family reunited at last]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
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