Maxime Gonalons (born 10 March 1989) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Maxime Gonalons
Gonalons with Lyon in 2015
Personal information
Full name Maxime Gonalons[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-10) 10 March 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Vénissieux, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1997–2000 Villefranche
2000–2009 Lyon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2017 Lyon 242 (7)
2017–2020 Roma 16 (0)
2018–2019Sevilla (loan) 10 (0)
2019–2020Granada (loan) 19 (0)
2020–2022 Granada 50 (0)
2022–2024 Clermont 46 (2)
Total 383 (9)
International career
2009–2010 France U21 6 (0)
2011–2015 France 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Youth career

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Gonalons had been with Lyon since the age of 10 climbing through the club's youth sections after joining the club from local outfit Villefranche. For the 2007–08 season, at the age of 18, he was promoted to the club's Championnat de France Amateur team appearing in 26 matches scoring two goals. Lyon finished in a respectable 7th in their group, but weren't allowed progression to the playoffs. The next season, he again spent with the CFA squad, however, during the summer leading up to the season, Gonalons picked up a staph infection on his ankle, which was, at one point, deemed career threatening with reportedly future diagnosis of sepsis and amputation.[3] However, over the course of the season, Gonalons gradually got back into playing shape and eventually returned to the team. He made 24 appearances scoring 3 goals, one each against local rivals Lyon Duchère and Saint-Étienne, and one against Marignane. Lyon finished first among professional clubs in the group and qualified for the playoffs. Gonalons started both the 4–3 semi-final win on penalties and the 3–0 victory over Sochaux in the final picking up a yellow card.[4]

Lyon

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Following the season, on 6 July 2009, Gonalons signed his first professional contract agreeing to a one-year deal with the club. The club does have the option to keep him for the next two seasons over after the one-year deal expires.[5] Gonalons was assigned the number 41 shirt and trained with the senior team during pre-season. He made his professional debut on 25 August 2009 in the second leg of the club's UEFA Champions League play-off round match against Anderlecht appearing as a substitute in the 73rd minute for Jérémy Toulalan.[6]

On 20 October, after coming on as a 42nd-minute substitute for the injured Cris, Gonalons scored his first professional goal against Liverpool at Anfield, in the 72nd minute, in the UEFA Champions League. The equalizing goal drew the match level at 1–1 and Lyon went on to win the match 2–1 with a goal from César Delgado in injury time. On 16 January 2010, Gonalons scored his first career league goal against Nancy. Ten days later, Gonalons and Lyon agreed to contract extension, which will keep the midfielder at the club until 2014.[7]

Gonalons played a total of 330 games for Lyon and is eighth on the all time appearance list for the club.[8]

Roma

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On 3 July 2017, Gonalons signed a four-year contract with Roma.[9][10]

Sevilla (loan)

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On 20 August 2018, Sevilla announced the signing of Gonalons on a season-long loan.[11]

Granada

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On 2 September 2019, Gonalons joined Granada in the Spanish top tier, on a one-year loan deal.[12] He signed permanently with the club for €4 million.[13]

Clermont and retirement

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On 1 July 2022, Gonalons returned to France and signed with Clermont for two years with an option to extend.[14] On 29 May 2024, it was confirmed that he would leave at the end of his contract.[15]

On 16 October 2024, free agent Gonalons announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.[16]

International career

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On 11 November 2011, Gonalons received his first cap for the French senior team in a friendly match against the United States.[17]

Personal life

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Gonalons was born in Vénissieux, Metropolis of Lyon.[2] He is the cousin of the footballer Lucas Camelo.[18]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[19]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lyon 2009–10 Ligue 1 15 1 1 0 2 0 9[c] 1 27 2
2010–11 Ligue 1 23 0 0 0 1 0 4[c] 0 28 0
2011–12 Ligue 1 35 1 5 0 4 0 8[c] 1 52 3
2012–13 Ligue 1 35 3 1 0 0 0 6[d] 1 1[e] 0 43 4
2013–14 Ligue 1 36 0 2 0 4 0 12[f] 1 54 1
2014–15 Ligue 1 35 1 2 0 1 0 4[d] 1 42 2
2015–16 Ligue 1 33 0 3 0 1 0 5[c] 0 1[e] 0 43 0
2016–17 Ligue 1 30 1 2 0 0 0 12[g] 0 1[e] 0 45 1
Total 242 7 16 0 13 0 60 5 3 0 334 13
Roma 2017–18 Serie A 16 0 1 0 6[c] 0 23 0
Sevilla (loan) 2018–19 La Liga 10 0 0 0 3[d] 1 13 1
Granada (loan) 2019–20 La Liga 19 0 6 1 25 1
Granada 2020–21 La Liga 25 0 0 0 15[d] 0 40 0
2021–22 La Liga 25 0 0 0 25 0
Total 50 0 0 0 15 0 65 0
Clermont 2022–23 Ligue 1 25 1 0 0 25 1
2023–24 Ligue 1 21 1 2 0 23 1
Total 46 2 2 0 48 2
Career total 383 9 25 1 13 0 84 6 3 0 508 16
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue
  3. ^ a b c d e Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ a b c Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  6. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[20]
National team Year Apps Goals
France 2011 2 0
2012 4 0
2014 1 0
2015 1 0
Total 8 0

Honours

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Lyon

References

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  1. ^ "Acta del Partido celebrado el 03 de mayo de 2019, en Sevilla" [Minutes of the Match held on 3 May 2019, in Seville] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Maxime Gonalons". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Erreur 404".
  4. ^ "FC Sochaux-Montbéliard | Site officiel". --. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009.
  5. ^ "Univers OL". www.OL.fr. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Anderlecht 1–3 Lyon". UEFA. 25 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Univers OL". www.OL.fr.
  8. ^ "Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables – ESPN". ESPN.com.
  9. ^ "Roma sign Maxime Gonalons from Lyon on four-year contract". ESPN FC. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Gonalons completes Roma move". AS Roma. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Gonalons: Experience to bolster the midfield". Sevilla FC. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Maxime Gonalons, nuevo jugador del Granada CF" [Maxime Gonalons, new player of Granada CF] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Gonalons loan at Granada made permanent as the Spanish side avoids relegation". onefootball.com. 2 July 2020.
  14. ^ "MAXIME GONALONS EST CLERMONTOIS !" (in French). Clermont Foot. 1 July 2002. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Official | Maxime Gonalons to leave Clermont Foot". Get French Football News. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Official | Former Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons announces retirement". Get French Football News. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Ligue1.com - Cup winners at a glance". www.ligue1.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Chambly recrute Lucas Camelo – Foot – Transferts". L'Équipe.
  19. ^ Maxime Gonalons at Soccerway
  20. ^ Maxime Gonalons at National-Football-Teams.com  
  21. ^ "Lyon Defeats Montpellier in Penalties To Take 2012 Trophee Des Champions At Red Bull Arena". newyorkredbulls.com. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
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