Full Name: Eric Abidal
Birthplace: Lyon
Date of Birth: 07 November 1979
Nationality: France
Position: Defender
Club: Lyon
Abidal was trained at Lyon-Duchère, a team playing in the suburbs of Lyon. He started his professional career with Monaco on 16 September 2000, where he made 25 first-team appearances. He moved to Lille where he was reunited with his former manager Claude Puel and earned 62 first-team appearances. At the end of 2004, he returned to his native region by joining Lyon, which had just won its second successive Ligue 1 championship.
During his time in France he was considered "one of the best fullbacks in the Ligue 1", self confidence of this title was shown when Lyon played Manchester United: "As a defender, my aim is to infuriate the opponent," Abidal explained. "I want him to be so sick of the sight of me that he has to move somewhere else on the pitch to get away." In the Lyon defence, he played alongside other French internationals (Grégory Coupet, François Clerc, and Anthony Réveillère) and two Brazilian internationals (Cris and Caçapa).
On 17 January 2007, Abidal scored the first goal of his career in a 1–0 Lyon victory over Le Mans on a 2006–07 Coupe de la Ligue semi–final match. Later the same year on 30 June, Abidal moved to FC Barcelona for €9 million, after repeatedly stating that he would not return to training if he did not get the move, signing a four-year contract and taking the number 22 jersey, as the number 20 he wore at Lyon was already taken by Deco. Barça president Joan Laporta also mentioned that Abidal's contract would contain a €90 million release clause, and that Lyon would receive an extra €500,000 if Barcelona win the Champions League in any of the next four seasons.
Abidal missed the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, played against Manchester United, due to picking up a red card in the semi-final against Chelsea. The referee deemed Abidal to have fouled fellow French International Nicolas Anelka, and denying a goal scoring opportunity, although video evidence suggests that any contact was minimal. Abidal was again questionably sent off in the next match he played, a league tie with Villareal. The ensuing suspension meant that he missed the Copa del Rey final; Barcelona won with a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
He continued to be first choice left back during Pep Guardiola's second season in charge, despite the arrival of Maxwell, until February 2010 when he suffered a muscle injury that kept him out for around two months.
On 5 January 2011, Abidal scored his first goal with Barcelona at the San Mamés Stadium in a Copa del Rey match vs Athletic Bilbao. His goal meant that Barcelona could advance to the quarter-final due to the away goal rule.On 28 May, Abidal was passed the captain's armband after the final whistle of the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final 3–1 victory against Manchester United. He was thus the player nominated to receive the trophy in the silverware presentation from the UEFA delegation.
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