Bruno Cheyrou

Bruno Olivier Cheyrou (born 10 May 1978) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Bruno Cheyrou
Personal information
Full name Bruno Olivier Cheyrou[1]
Date of birth (1978-05-10) 10 May 1978[2]
Place of birth Suresnes, France
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Lille 111 (31)
2002–2006 Liverpool 31 (2)
2004–2005 → Marseille (loan) 23 (2)
2005–2006 → Bordeaux (loan) 28 (1)
2006–2009 Rennes 107 (14)
2010 Anorthosis 12 (2)
2010–2012 FC Nantes 41 (1)
Total 353 (53)
National team
2002–2004 France 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Cheyrou was born in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine.[2] After success with Lille OSC, where he scored against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, Cheyrou attracted interest from a number of clubs around Europe, most notably Liverpool. Gérard Houllier had the player scouted for several months by scout David Murray before deciding to sign him in the summer of 2002 for £4.5 million (€6.5m[3]).

On signing him, Houllier dubbed Cheyrou the "new Zidane".[4] Over time this tag proved to be a burden as he failed to live up to expectations. His first Liverpool goal came against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League,[5] however this would be his only goal of the 2002–03 season. Despite being left out of Liverpool's squad for the victorious 2003 Football League Cup Final[6] he contributed in the earlier rounds, and was on the pitch as Liverpool secured their place in the final by beating Sheffield United.[7]

A spell of four goals in five games over the Christmas period of the 2003–04 season at one time suggested his Liverpool career may make a turn for the better. Arguably, the highlight of Cheyrou's Liverpool career was the winning goal he scored in the 33rd minute at Chelsea during the 2003–04 season.[8] He only scored once more in the league for Liverpool, in the 1–1 draw at Wolves in January 2004.[9] Three days later Cheyrou had another memorable game for Liverpool in the FA Cup where he scored twice to help Liverpool beat Newcastle 2–1.[10]

At the beginning of the 2004–05 season, new manager Rafael Benítez deemed Cheyrou surplus to requirements and immediately loaned him to Marseille in a season-long deal. He played 20 times for the club, scoring one goal. In the 2005–06 season, he was once again sent on a season-long loan, this time to Bordeaux, with a view to a permanent move; however, this failed to materialise. Ahead of the following season, he made a permanent move to Rennes and played there for three and a half seasons, scoring some goals. In January 2010 Anorthosis Famagusta signed the midfielder from Stade Rennes. After six months with Anorthosis, the 32-year-old midfielder returned to France and signed a two-year contract for FC Nantes.[11]

International career

Cheyrou has been capped three times by the France national team between 2002 and 2004, making his senior international debut on 21 August 2002 in a 1–1 draw against Tunisia.

Personal life

Bruno has a younger brother, Benoît Cheyrou, who played for Toronto FC. Cheyrou and his wife Constance have a son born 2007 in France.

Career statistics
Club
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Others Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Bordeaux Loan 2005–06 26100300000291
Marseille Loan 2004–05 19110000000201
Liverpool 2003–04 12242003000194
2002–03 19020205110291
Lille 2001–02 27110000114003815
2000–01 286????????286
1999-00 215????????215
1998–99 206????????206
Total 164 32 7 2 5 0 19 5 1 0 196 39

Honours

Club

Lille

References
  1. "Entreprise CDLF Sport Et Communication à Paris (75013)" [Company CDLF Sport Et Communication in Paris (75013)]. Figaro Entreprises (in French). Société du Figaro. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
    "Bruno Cheyrou". BFM Business (in French). Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  2. "Bruno Cheyrou". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. "UEFA".
  4. "Houllier - Cheyrou can be our Zidane". Liverpool F.C. 8 October 2002. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. "Liverpool trounce Spartak". BBC. 2 October 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  6. "Liverpool lift Worthington Cup". BBC. 2 March 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  7. "Liverpool conquer brave Blades". BBC. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  8. "Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool". BBC. 7 January 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  9. "Wolves 1–1 Liverpool". BBC. 21 January 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  10. "Liverpool 2–1 Newcastle". BBC. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  11. Bruno Cheyrou: "Apporter mon experience"
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