Name Florent Pongolle Career start 2001 1995–2001 Le Havre Weight 69 kg | Number 54 Height 1.76 m Playing position Role Footballer | |
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Full name Florent Stephane Sinama Pongolle Date of birth (1984-10-20) 20 October 1984 (age 31) Current team Dundee United F.C. (#99 / Forward) Similar People Anthony Le Tallec, Souleymane Coulibaly, Neil Mellor, Djimi Traore, Maniche | ||
Place of birth Saint-Pierre, Reunion | ||
Welcome to Thailand "Florent Sinama Pongolle"
Florent Stéphane Sinama Pongolle (born 20 October 1984) is a French professional footballer who plays for Thai club Chainat Hornbill F.C. as a forward.
Contents
- Welcome to Thailand Florent Sinama Pongolle
- Florent sinama pongolle
- Liverpool
- Spain
- Sporting Rostov
- Later years
- International career
- Club
- Country
- Individual
- References
He was signed at only 16 by Liverpool, but could never impose himself in the first team. He also spent several seasons in Spain, with Recreativo, Atlético Madrid and Zaragoza.
Florent sinama pongolle
Liverpool
Sinama Pongolle was born in Saint-Pierre, Réunion. In 2001 he, along with his cousin Anthony Le Tallec, was signed from Le Havre AC by Liverpool, after some impressive performances in both the UEFA European Under-16 Championship and the FIFA Under-17 World Championship. He was named player of the tournament as France won the latter competition, and would remain – as Le Tallec – two further years at Le Havre, loaned.
After his return, Sinama Pongolle appeared sporadically with the English, with some highlights however: in the club's victorious campaign in the UEFA Champions League, he came from the bench against Olympiacos F.C. and immediately netted Liverpool's equaliser to make it 1–1, in an eventual 3–1 win and qualification to the round-of-16; he was, however, left out of the squad for the final.
Sinama Pongolle also netted in the third round of the 2005–06 FA Cup against Luton Town, as he helped Liverpool come from 3–1 down to a final score of 5–3, with the Reds finally emerging victorious in the tournament, and scoring in the 2005–06 Champions League 2–1 success at Real Betis, with a memorable chip from 20 yards.
In late January 2006, Sinama Pongolle was loaned to fellow Premier League side Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season. He scored once for the club, a 2–3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spain
On 30 August 2006, Sinama Pongolle signed a one-year contract at Recreativo de Huelva, with an option to sign on for a further two years. On 4 May 2007 the Andalusians confirmed he had agreed to a deal until 2011, for a fee of €4 million. He was Recre's top goalscorer in his two La Liga seasons with the team, at 12 and 10 respectively.
Sinama Pongolle joined Atlético Madrid on 3 July 2008, for a fee believed to be in the region of £8 million. Initially thought of as a backup to Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero, he benefitted from an injury to the Uruguayan, scoring four goals in his first five league appearances for the Colchoneros, with braces against former club Recreativo and Getafe CF; later in his debut campaign, injury and match bans to Maxi Rodríguez saw him playing several games successfully at right winger, as the side once again finished fourth.
Sporting / Rostov
In the winter transfer market opening in 2010, Sinama Pongolle was transferred to Sporting Clube de Portugal for €6.5 million, with the fee possibly raising to €7.5. On 26 March 2010 he scored his first goal for the Lions, but also conceded an own goal in a 2–3 loss at C.S. Marítimo.
Sinama Pongolle spent the following two seasons on loan, with Real Zaragoza and AS Saint-Étienne, the latter in his homeland. On 30 August 2012 he terminated his contract with Sporting, going on to spend two years in the Russian Premier League with FC Rostov where he featured rarely.
Later years
On 9 September 2014, Sinama Pongolle signed with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire Soccer Club. In November of the following year, after a short spell in Switzerland with FC Lausanne-Sport, he joined Dundee United.
In July 2016, Sinama Pongolle joined Chainat Hornbill F.C. in the Thai League T1, scoring once in his debut but in a 2–7 away defeat against Chonburi FC. In early November, in spite of the team's relegation, the 32-year-old extended his contract until 2018.
International career
After his under-16 and under-17 exploits, Sinama Pongolle made his France under-21 debut on 21 August 2002. He was a part of the squad that participated in the 2006 UEFA European Championship which took place in Portugal and, at the end of his four-year tenure with this category, ranked first in caps (37) and goals (11).
Sinama Pongolle played his only game with the senior side on 14 October 2008, during a 3–1 friendly win with Tunisia.