Profile Football Stars | Olivier Giroud | After starring for Several clubs in the lower divisions, Giroud secured a move to his current club in August 2010. His performances over two seasons with the club culminated into a call-up to the senior national team. Giroud made his international debut on 11 November 2011 in a match against Belgium. Giroud began his football career playing for his hometown club Olympique Club de Froges. He spent five years training at the club before joining a professional club Grenoble at the age of 13.
Giroud spent six years developing in Grenoble's youth academy before signing his first professional contract at the age of 19. Giroud Quickly Became an Important player in the team scoring 15 goals in 15 matches. Giroud made his professional debut on 24 March Appearing as a late-match substitute in a 1-1 draw with Gueugnon in Ligue 2. The striker was lured to the club by sporting director Max Marty who had Previously served as the chief executive officer of Grenoble, Giroud's former club. A month later , Giroud scored his first goal for the club converting the opener in a league match against Lens. Two weeks later, Giroud scored his third goal for the club in a victory over Ajaccio.
Giroud Officially joined Montpellier on 1 July 2010. He simultaneously made his club and the European debut on 29 July in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Montpellier's third qualifying round with Hungarian club Győri ETO. In the match, Giroud scored his first goal for the club in the first half. Montpellier won the match courtesy of Giroud's goal, but were Defeated on aggregate after losing on Penalties in the second leg. Giroud made his league debut in the team's first match of the campaign; a 1-0 win over Bordeaux. On 25 September, Giroud scored two goals in a home victory over Arles-Avignon. In November 2010, Giroud scored the game-winning goals in consecutive weeks against Toulouse and Nice. As a result of Giroud's performance and the team as a whole, Montpellier topped the league table in November 2011. In January 2012, Giroud was linked with a transfer to Several clubs.
Prior to representing the national senior team, Giroud did not earn any caps with the national youth teams. On 3 November 2011, in a effort to reward Giroud for his performances domestically with Montpellier, national team coach Laurent Blanc named the striker to the squad to play in friendly matches against the United States and Belgium on 11 and 15 November 2011, respectively. France won the match 1-0. Against Belgium, Giroud earned another cap Appearing as a substitute as the match ended 0-0. Giroud scored his first career international goal in a 2-1 friendly victory over Germany on 29 February 2012.
Personal information
Full name Olivier Giroud
Date of birth 30 September 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth Chambery, France
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1/2 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Montpellier
Number 17
Youth career
1994-1999 Froges
Grenoble 1999-2005
Senior career
years Team
2005-2008 Grenoble 23 (2)
2007-2008 Istres (loan) 33 (14)
Tours 2008-2010 44 (24)
2010-Montpellier 66 (31)
2010 Tours (loan) 17 (6)
National team
2011-France 3 (1)
Honours
Individual
UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year (1): 2009-10
UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year (1): 2009-10
UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Month (2): September 2009, November 2009
