Thuram

21 Thuram

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Lilian Thuram
Position: defender
Place of birth: Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadalupe)
Date: 01-01-1972
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 70 kg

Lilian Thuram

Born on the 1st January 1972 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadalupe, Lilian Thuram started his professional career at AC Monaco. He made his debut in the season of 1990-91 which saw his team win the French cup the very same year.

Thuram played with Monaco until 1996, in his last season Thuram scored 5 goals. During his time at Monaco, Thuram faced Barça twice, losing on both occasions in the quarter final of the Champions league in the season of 1993-94.

In 1996, Parma coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to put in a bid for Thuram. Thuram signed on and became a player for Parma until 2001. With Thuram, Buffon, Cannavaro and Hernan Crespo, 1996 turned out to be the best ever year in the history of the club.

The season of 1998-99 couldn't have been better for Thuram. He had just won the world cup with France and was about to see a memorable year for Parma. With Alberto Malesani as coach, they won the Italian cup and Thuram tasted European success for the first time; Parma defeating Olympique Marseille 3-0 in the UEFA Cup.

The presence of Thuram for France in the European cup of 2000 proved to be vital in France achieving victory. This brought about interest from the major European clubs. Finally, Thuram chose to offer his services to Juventus in 2001, where he would play for the next 5 years. He would play under the watchful eyes of great coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti, Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello. 'Tutu', as he was known by his fellow players, went on to win the Scudetto 4 times, although due to scandal and corruption, he would be stripped of the last 2. The team from Turin also won the Italian supercup.

At the last world cup in Germany, Thuram achieved a new record as most capped international for France with 121 games.

As well as sport, Thuram has dedicated himself to various humanitarian projects in Africa, in particular, help in understanding the genetic susceptibility to 'sickle cell disease'.

Thuram arrived at Barça in the season of 2006-07 together with his team mate Gianluca Zambrotta with whom he had spent 5 seasons with at Juventus.

CHARACTERISTICS

Lilian Thuram is an excellent defensive player who combines great physical strength with high class technical ability. He possesses a whole wealth of experience at the highest level and therefore is at home in any top team in the world.

Thuram can play at centre back but also full back; where he has played the majority of his international football. Thuram is a player who is not only recognised for his on field activities, but also his off field attitude. Both of which has made Thuram one of the leaders of his generation of Footballers.

HONOURS

FC Barcelona
2006-07 - Spanish Supercup

Juventus FC.
2002-03 Italian Cup
2002-03 League
2002-03 Italian Supercup
2001-02 League

Parma
1998-99 UEFA Cup
1998-99 Italy Cup

French National Team
2006 World Cup runner-up
2003 Confederations Cup
2000 European Championship
1998 World Cup