French footballer who played as a left back or a central defender. In his career he played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona, winning 21 major titles the two teams combined, including two Champions League trophies with the latter. His later career was marked by liver disease, resulting in a transplant. A French international across nine years, Abidal represented the nation in two World Cups – finishing second in 2006 – and Euro 2008. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less
Born: September 11, 1979, Lyon, France
Éric Abidal is a French former professional footballer who played primarily as a left-back. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, known for his strength, pace, and tactical awareness.
Abidal began his professional career with Monaco in 2000, making over 70 appearances and winning the Coupe de la Ligue in 2003. He then moved to Lille before joining Lyon in 2004, where he won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles.
In 2007, Abidal signed for Barcelona. During his six-year spell with the Catalan club, he won numerous titles including four La Liga titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues, and two FIFA Club World Cups. His time at Barcelona was marked by both triumphs and challenges, notably his battle with liver cancer, which he overcame to return to the pitch and lift the Champions League trophy in 2011.
After leaving Barcelona, Abidal had a short stint at Monaco and then played for Olympiacos before retiring in 2014. Following his playing career, he took on various roles including sporting director at Barcelona from 2018 to 2020.
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