Mickael Landreau

At 44 years old, Mickael Landreau has this physical status:

Mickaël Vincent André-Marie Landreau (French pronunciation: ​[mikaɛl lɑ̃dʁo]; born 14 May 1979) is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a goalkeeper.

Landreau holds the record for Ligue 1 appearances, with 618 for Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille and Bastia between 1996 and 2014. He won a league title with Nantes in 2001 and Lille in 2011.

Landreau was a long-term France international but always as back-up. He was part of their squads that won the Confederations Cup in 2001 and 2003, and finished runners-up at the 2006 World Cup, along with other tournament call-ups.

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Club career

Landreau, born in Machecoul, graduated from the Nantes Atlantique "Centre of Excellence" in La Jonelière. Nantes's first professional match against Bastia was a 0–0 draw against Bastia on October 2, 1996, with a penalty saved from ubomr Moravk. Since 1996, he has been a mainstay in Nantes's starting lineup, and has continued to put on excellent results. Landreau, who was 19 years old at the time, became captain. He was selected to represent France's youth national team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

He barely skipped a mandatory meeting, which concluded in July 2005, he was a vital backer for his team during their millennium triumphs. Nantes were named 2001 Ligue 1 champions for the first time since 1995 after winning two consecutive Coupe de France trophies in 1999 and 2000 (captained in the 2000 final). Landreau also won the Ligue 1 when Nantes took over the city, but he did not keep him until 2006. Landreau's good results at Nantes drew a lot of attention from clubs like Barcelona, Monaco, Roma, Juventus, Marseille, Manchester United, and Celtic.

Landreau underwent an operation on his articular disk on October 11, 2003, which was a significant injury in his football career. Landreau's first match in his career) against Bastia on November 22, 2003, he won by 3–1. Landreau made several saves in the 2004 French Cup semi-finals but it was without success as the team didn't score and was barred from the tournament. The match was 1–1 in Coupe de la Ligue versus Sochaux-Montbéliard's final, and the penalty shootout was postponed. Landreau made the seventh attempt in a panenka style, but Teddy Richert saved it. Nantes was about to lose the game when Pascal Delhommeau failed, allowing Benoît Pedretti to score the winning penalty. Landreau expressed regret for missing the penalty in the manner he had "no regrets" after the match.

Landreau's deal with Nantes was set to come to an end in 2005-2006, but Nantes was expected to offer Landreau a new deal, alongside Mauro Cetto and Jérémy Toulalan. He spoke at a press conference and revealed that after thirteen years, he would leave FC Nantes to face new challenges in a more exciting team. He declared that he would leave his first team before the 2005–2006 season ended. Arsenal and A.C. Milan were among the interested parties in signing him as his deal came to an end. On his last game at Stade de la Beaujoire on May 6, 2006, he was lauded by the supporters who praised his service and support for the team for thirteen years. Nantes was promoted to Ligue 2 for the first time since 1963, following his deposition.

Landreau signed a four-year contract on May 15, 2006, after transferring to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. Landreau says moving to Paris would guarantee him a call up from France.

Landreau made a name for himself by defeating Jérôme Alonzo and youngster Nicolas Cousin He has also emerged as a fan favorite at Paris Saint-Germain. Landreau made his PSG debut against Lorient on August 5, 2006, defeating him 3–2. Landreau played all 38 times in his PSG career from 2005 to 2009. He thanked the fans for his time with PSG, culminating in a 0–0 draw and his last clean sheet, and the fans thanked him for his support during his time at the club, receiving a ovation. Landreau had been linked with a move away from the club after Grégory Coupet stayed keen to play abroad, and PSG might have to replace him as a first-choice goalkeeper after the 2007-08 season came to an end. Charles Villeneuve said he had not confirmed Landreau's place in the squad for next season and had speculated at a possible interest in Coupet, but Landreau's majority shareholder Colony Capital's chairman, Sebastien Bazin, denied that Landreau will not be leaving the club, but that he would not. Landreau is reported to be headed to Real Madrid in order to become Iker Casillas' understudy, according to reports. Landreau's future is uncertain when Coupet eventually relocates to Paris Saint-Germain, putting Landreau's future in jeopardy.

Lille OSC's first choice goalkeeper for Lille in the 2008–09 season made a €2 million (£1.7 million) bid for Landreau, who wanted him to replace veteran goalkeeper Grégory Malicki who left Lille to Dijon on a free transfer and was the first choice goalkeeper for Lille in the 2009-10 season. The transaction was agreed and was complete. During a preparation session that kept him out of action for about six weeks, five days after signing for Lille, he suffered a significant blow by destroying cruciate ligaments. Ludovic Butelle earned more playing time and played about ten games until Landreau's return, and he became the first choice-goalkeeper to ever since during his absence due to injury. Landau was back on the bench in Europa League on Sunday against Genoa (3–0) and made his league debut for Lille in a 2–0 victory over Grenoble on October 30, 2009.

Landreau was a member of the Lille squad that lifted the Ligue 1 for the third time in club history and the first time since 1954. He made history by becoming the first player to compete in the Trophée des Champions with three clubs.

During a Champions League match on Friday, he allowed six goals from Bayern Munich. Landreau, the Lille first choice goalkeeper, left Lille by mutual consent in December 2012 after a tense relationship with general manager Frederic Paquet. Landreau said in the press conference, "The most important thing is to blossom on the field." I couldn't wait any more. And a year and a half is a long way to go, especially if you have a rough day. Both physically and mentally, the team has suffered.

Landau signed a six-month deal with the Corsican club SC Bastia on December 23, 2012. On his way to Bastia, he confessed to having turned down a transfer to Inter Milan, Italy. Landreau began his game against AC Ajaccio on December 4th, breaking the record for the most appearances by any player in Ligue 1 or Division 1 - the top flight in French football. It was Landreau's 603rd Ligue 1 match. When he appeared in the SC Bastia-Evian TG match three days earlier, he tied for the first record of 602 Ligue 1 or Division 1 matches held by former AS Monaco goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori.

Landreau was appointed assistant manager to Réginald Ray at Championnat National club Paris FC in August 2016. He was recruited to Ligue 2 in May 2017 and was given a four-year deal at Lorient, who was recently promoted to Ligue 2. He resigned halfway through the deal in May 2019, finishing sixth and thus missing out on the goal of promotion.

International career

Landreau was a member of France's 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Korea and Japan. He made his debut in the tournament's first appearance, defeating Mexico 4–0 in the final group game on June 3rd. He did not play again until the 2003 season, when the team beat New Zealand on home soil for the 5–0 victory at the Stade de France.

Landreau wore France's number one jersey at both tournaments, despite being the third-choice goalkeeper behind Fabien Barthez and Grégory Coupet and unused in both tournaments as a result. He appeared in half of the 12 matches in UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, but he was ruled out of the final tournament in Austria and Switzerland, where Sébastien Frey and Steve Mandanda backed up Coupet.

Landreau was recalled to the French national team in September 2012 by newly appointed head Didier Deschamps for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Finland on September 8 and Belarus on September 11-9. It was his first national call-up since November 2007. He reached the finals in Brazil as the third choice behind Hugo Lloris and Stéphane Ruffier. At the time of 35, he resigned from club and international football to spend more time with his family.

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