:Johan Cavalli

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Johan Cavalli

| image = Cavalli 7211.JPG

| caption = Cavalli in 2013

| full_name = Johan Étienne Anthony Cavalli{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Johan-CAVALLI-J31030643/ |title=Johan Etienne Anthony Cavalli |website=Verif.com |access-date=23 February 2025 |language=fr}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|9|12}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur7582.html |title=Johan Cavalli |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=4 February 2019 |language=fr}}

| birth_place = Ajaccio, Corsica, France

| height = 1.70 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1997–2001 | youthclubs1 = Nantes

| years1 = 2001–2003 | clubs1 = Lorient | caps1 = 22 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2003–2004 | clubs2 = Créteil | caps2 = 44 | goals2 = 11

| years3 = 2004–2005 | clubs3 = Real Mallorca B | caps3 = 15 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2005–2007 | clubs4 = Istres | caps4 = 51 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = Watford | caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2007–2008 | clubs6 = Mons | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2008–2010 | clubs7 = Nîmes Olympique | caps7 = 51 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2010–2020 | clubs8 = Ajaccio | caps8 = 271 | goals8 = 28

| totalcaps = 465

| totalgoals = 42

| nationalyears1 = 2009–2019 | nationalteam1 = Corsica | nationalcaps1 = 10 | nationalgoals1 = 1

}}

Johan Étienne Anthony Cavalli (born 12 September 1981) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

=Early career=

Whilst at Lorient Cavalli played as a substitute in the 2002 Coupe de France Final in which they beat SC Bastia.{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match/86381|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204145900/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match/86381|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2012|title=Bastia 0-1 Lorient|publisher=lequipe.fr |date=11 May 2002 |access-date=28 July 2016}}

=Watford=

Cavalli joined Watford on deadline day of the 2007 January transfer window, on a free transfer from French side Istres, signing an 18-month contract.{{cite news|title=Watford complete triple signing|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/6319083.stm|access-date=11 December 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2007}} He made his debut in the 1–0 win against West Ham United on 10 February 2007.{{cite news|last1=Holt|first1=Sarah|title=West Ham 0-1 Watford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/6327147.stm|access-date=18 August 2013|work=BBC Sport|date=10 February 2007}} He had his contract with "Hornets" cancelled by mutual consent on 20 August 2007.{{cite news|title=Midfielder Cavalli leaves Watford|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/6955673.stm|access-date=18 August 2013|work=BBC Sport|date=20 August 2007}}

=Mons=

On 18 October 2007, it was announced that Cavalli had signed a two-year contract with Belgian club Mons.{{cite news|title=Mons : Johan Cavalli signe pour 1 an aver option|trans-title=Mons: Johan Cavalli signs for one year with option|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/mons-johan-cavalli-signe-pour-1-an-avec-option-ailleurs_t-20071018-00DDQN.html|access-date=11 December 2015|work=Le Soir|date=18 October 2007|language=French}} In May 2008, he left the club my mutual consent.{{cite news|title=Cavalli libéré|trans-title=Cavalli released|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/-/Actualites/-/800000000000000000000000031695|access-date=11 December 2015|work=L'Equipe|date=28 May 2008|language=French}}

=Ajaccio=

Cavalli joined his hometown club AC Ajaccio in November 2010 on a contract running until 2013.{{cite news|title=Football - Dernière recrue de l'ACA : Johan Cavalli ne veut plus repartir|trans-title=Football - Newest ACA recruit: Johan Cavalli never wants to leave|url=http://www.corsematin.com/article/football/football-derniere-recrue-de-laca-johan-cavalli-ne-veut-plus-repartir.215555.html|access-date=11 December 2015|work=Corse-Matin|date=1 December 2010|language=French|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222094440/http://www.corsematin.com/article/football/football-derniere-recrue-de-laca-johan-cavalli-ne-veut-plus-repartir.215555.html|url-status=dead}}

He started on the opening day of the 2011–12 Ligue 1 season, playing 77 minutes in a 2–0 loss to Toulouse.{{cite web|title=Ajaccio-Toulouse Statistical Preview|url=http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/503195/Preview/France-Ligue-1-2011-2012-AC-Ajaccio-Toulouse|publisher=WhoScored|access-date=11 December 2015}} He was also in the starting eleven for Ajaccio's trip to the Stade Gerland the following weekend and played 78 minutes in a 1–1 draw with hosts Lyon.{{cite web|title=Lyon-Ajaccio Statistical Preview|url=http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/503209/Preview/France-Ligue-1-2011-2012-Lyon-Ajaccio|publisher=WhoScored|access-date=11 December 2015}} In Ajaccio 1–1 draw against fellow Ligue 1 newcomers Evian on 20 August 2011 he set up midfield partner Frédéric Sammaritano for the 7th-minute 1–0 lead following a "great combination" between him and Benjamin André.{{cite news|title=Ajaccio 1-1 Evian… Frustraron victoria a Memo Ochoa|url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/internacional/noticias/2011/08/20/ajaccio-1-1-evian-frustraron-victoria-a-memo-ochoa|access-date=11 December 2015|work=mediotiempo.com|date=20 August 2011|language=Spanish|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123241/http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/internacional/noticias/2011/08/20/ajaccio-1-1-evian-frustraron-victoria-a-memo-ochoa|archive-date=22 December 2015}}

Following a five-match suspension, Cavalli returned on 10 April 2015 to face Dijon. He scored via penalty as Ajaccio beat Dijon 1–0 at the Stade François Coty.{{cite web|title=Ligue1.com - French Football League - Ligue 2 - Season 2014/2015 - Week 31 - AC Ajaccio / Dijon FCO|url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue2/feuille_match/79460|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel|access-date=11 December 2015}}

At the end of the 2019–20 season, after ten years with Ajaccio, Cavalli retired from playing.{{cite web |last1=Philippe |first1=Paolo |title=Football : l'AC Ajaccio rend hommage à Johan Cavalli dans une longue vidéo |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/corse/corse-du-sud/ajaccio/football-ac-ajaccio-rend-hommage-johan-cavalli-longue-video-1844746.html |website=france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr |access-date=21 July 2020 |language=French |date=22 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Maillard |first1=Clément |title=Ligue 2 - Johan Cavalli, la retraite de l'homme d'Ajaccio |url=https://maligue2.fr/2020/07/04/ligue-2-johan-cavalli-la-retraite-de-lhomme-dajaccio/ |website=maligue2.fr |access-date=21 July 2020 |language=French |date=4 July 2020}}

International career

Cavalli was capped for the Corsica national football team, which is not a FIFA member, as it does not represent a fully sovereign nation. On 31 May 2011, he scored the only goal to help his team to a prestigious 1–0 win over Bulgaria in a friendly match.{{cite news|title=Corsica Puts Bulgaria to Shame 1:0|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/128815/Corsica+Puts+Bulgaria+to+Shame+1%3A0|access-date=11 December 2015|work=Novinite|date=1 June 2011}}

Personal life

Cavalli's father Jean-Michel is also a former footballer and coached him during his time at Créteil.{{cite news |last1=Taron |first1=Philippe |title=La famille enfin réunie |trans-title=The family reunited at last |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/val-de-marne-94/la-famille-enfin-reunie-31-10-2003-2004506193.php |access-date=17 July 2023 |work=Le Parisien |date=31 October 2003 |language=French}}