:Julien Escudé

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Julien Escudé

| image = Julien Escudé.jpg

| caption = Escudé training with Beşiktaş in 2013

| full_name = Julien Régis Paul Escudé{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/en/leaders/Julien-ESCUDE-1902071/ |title=Julien Régis Paul Escude |website=Verif |publisher=Altares-D&B |access-date=18 April 2025}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|8|17|df=y}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur3504.html |title=Julien Escudé |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=18 April 2025 |language=fr}}

| birth_place = Chartres, Eure-et-Loir, France

| height = 1.84 m

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1994–1998 | youthclubs1 = Cannes

| years1 = 1998–1999 | clubs1 = Cannes | caps1 = 21 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1999–2003 | clubs2 = Rennes | caps2 = 111 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2003–2006 | clubs3 = Ajax | caps3 = 61 | goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2006–2012 | clubs4 = Sevilla | caps4 = 164 | goals4 = 5

| years5 = 2012–2014 | clubs5 = Beşiktaş | caps5 = 25 | goals5 = 2

| totalcaps = 382 | totalgoals = 14

| nationalyears1 = 1999–2002 | nationalteam1 = France U21 | nationalcaps1 = 21 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 2006–2010 | nationalteam2 = France | nationalcaps2 = 13 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}

{{medal|Country|{{fb|FRA}}}}

}}

Julien Régis Paul Escudé (born 17 August 1979) is a French former professional footballer who played mainly as a centre-back but also as a full-back.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=30665/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619064939/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=30665/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 June 2013|title=Julien Escudé|publisher=UEFA|access-date=13 June 2013}}

After making a name for himself with Rennes, he went on to play abroad with Ajax, Sevilla and Beşiktaş. He was an important part of the Spanish club as it won six major titles, including two UEFA Cups; he appeared in 237 official games for the team.

Escudé earned 13 caps for France, but never went to a major tournament.

Club career

=France / Ajax=

Escudé was born in Chartres, Eure-et-Loir. He began his professional career at AS Cannes, playing one season in the second division. On 26 July 1999, after some solid performances, the 20-year-old joined Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais FC, managed by young Paul Le Guen, where he gradually developed into a top flight player, amassing nearly 150 official appearances.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In the summer of 2003, Escudé signed with AFC Ajax,[http://www.ajaxusa.com/news/2003-2004/julien-escude-signs-four-year-ajax-contract.html Clubs reach agreement, Julien Escude signs four year Ajax contract]; Ajax USA, 17 July 2003 scoring six goals in his first two seasons combined at the Amsterdam Arena and winning the Eredivisie title in his first year. In August 2005, after a defeat against Feyenoord, he fell out of favour with manager Danny Blind, and never played a match for the Dutch side afterwards.[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11913_2362340,00.html Ajax looking to future]; at Sky Sports

=Sevilla=

In January 2006, Escudé signed for Sevilla FC in Spain for €1.5 million, signing for the rest of the season plus three more.{{cite news |title=Escudé ya es del Sevilla|trans-title=Escudé is now Sevilla's|url=https://es.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01b1-0ea839c66a21-9e04e2e4f004-1000--escude-ya-es-del-sevilla/ |access-date=3 February 2022 |date=19 January 2006 |language=Spanish}} His La Liga debut came on 11 February as he featured nine minutes in a 4–0 win at Andalusia neighbours Cádiz CF;{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2006/02/12/mas_futbol/1139729229_850215.html|title=El Sevilla se disfrazó de verdugo en el Carnaval|trans-title=Sevilla disguised as henchman for Carnival|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=12 February 2006|access-date=17 August 2016}} in the following round, he played the entire 1–0 home success against Celta de Vigo.[https://archive.today/20120713210934/http://msnsport.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11834_2368023,00.html Escude pleased at Sevilla start]; at Sky Sports

Escudé became an essential defensive unit in the following years for the Spaniards, helping them conquer a total of five titles (he played in the 2005–06 final of the UEFA Cup, a 4–0 win against England's Middlesbrough{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0252-0cd9b1313b03-1633022547b9-1000--sevilla-run-away-with-the-trophy/|title=Sevilla run away with the trophy|publisher=UEFA|date=11 May 2006|access-date=17 August 2016}}). His first goal for the team was on 18 November that year, opening a 3–0 home win over Valencia CF.{{cite news |last1=Gutiérrez |first1=Antonio |title=El Sevilla golea al Valencia y se muestra intratable|trans-title=Sevilla rout Valencia and show that they are unrivalled|url=https://www.elcomercio.es/prensa/20061119/deportes/sevilla-golea-valencia-muestra_20061119.html |access-date=3 February 2022 |work=El Comercio |date=19 November 2006 |language=Spanish}} His importance grew after the long injury layoff which bothered the captain of the team Javi Navarro, but he would also be sidelined for a long part of the 2007–08 season with a groin problem[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_2834078,00.html Escude to miss Steaua return]; Sky Sports, 29 October 2007– they finished fifth, missing on qualification to the UEFA Champions League.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In June 2007, Escudé extended his contract for four more years, alongside Renato.{{cite news |title=El Sevilla renueva a Renato y Escudé|trans-title=Sevilla renew Renato and Escudé|url=https://www.elperiodicoextremadura.com/deportes/2007/06/27/sevilla-renueva-renato-escude-45361402.html |access-date=3 February 2022 |work=El Periódico Extremadura |date=27 June 2007 |language=Spanish}} When there was one year remaining on his deal, he signed again to keep himself at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium until 2013.{{cite news |last1=Lagos |first1=D. |title=Escudé renueva dos temporadas|trans-title=Escudé renews for two years|url=https://www.diariodesevilla.es/deportes/Escude-renueva-temporadas_0_398060800.html |access-date=3 February 2022 |work=Diario de Sevilla |date=20 August 2010 |language=Spanish}}

=Beşiktaş=

On 26 July 2012, Escudé signed for Beşiktaş J.K. of the Turkish Süper Lig after freeing himself from his Sevilla contract.{{cite news |last1=Mira |first1=Luis |title=Official: Besiktas sign Julien Escude from Sevilla |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2012/07/26/3265888/official-besiktas-sign-julien-escude-from-sevilla |access-date=3 February 2022 |publisher=Goal |date=26 July 2012}} After two years in Istanbul, and despite interest to bring him back to Rennes, he retired at the age of 35.{{cite news |title=Escudé : " Le footbal m'a permis de voyager " |trans-title=Escudé: "Football allowed me to travel"|url=https://www.sofoot.com/escude-le-football-m-a-permis-de-voyager-188680.html |access-date=3 February 2022 |publisher=So Foot |date=5 September 2014 |language=French}}

International career

In March 2005, Escudé was called to the France national team for two qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Switzerland and Israel, but eventually did not make his debut.{{cite news |title=Football : Escudé sélectionné en Equipe de France|trans-title=Football: Escudé selected in France national team |url=https://www.la-croix.com/Semaine-en-images/Football-Escude-selectionne-en-Equipe-de-France-_NG_-2006-09-28-516756 |access-date=3 February 2022 |work=La Croix |date=28 September 2006 |language=French}} His first game was on 11 October 2006, playing as left-back against Faroe Islands for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign{{cite news|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/sport/la-france-corrige-les-iles-feroe_460627.html|title=La France corrige les Iles Féroé|trans-title=France punish Faroe Islands|newspaper=L'Express|language=fr|date=12 October 2006|access-date=17 August 2016}}– he was not picked for the final stage after a season of injuries.{{cite news |title=Euro-2008: Cissé et Landreau parmi les exclus de l'équipe de France, Gomis sélectionné|trans-title=Euro 2008: Cissé and Landreau among those not in the France squad, Gomis chosen |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2008/05/28/456547-euro-2008-cisse-landreau-parmi-exclus-equipe-france-gomis-selectionne.html |access-date=3 February 2022 |work=La Dépêche du Midi |date=28 May 2008 |language=French}}

On 18 November 2009, in the tenth minute of the second leg of the 2010 World Cup qualification playoffs against the Republic of Ireland, Escudé broke his nose and had to be stretchered off.[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5705349,00.html Escude out for two weeks]; Sky Sports, 19 November 2009 He was also not selected for the squad of 23 which appeared in South Africa.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Personal life

Escudé's older brother, Nicolas, played tennis professionally, reaching the top 20 in 2000. His father Paul, who died in 1998, was also a footballer, representing mainly Pau FC as a player and manager.{{cite news |title=Les frères Escudé à Pau pour inaugurer un terrain au nom de leur père|trans-title=Escudé brothers in Pau to inaugurate a pitch named after their father|url=https://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/sport/football/julien-escude/les-freres-escude-a-pau-pour-inaugurer-un-terrain-au-nom-de-leur-pere-5345436.php |access-date=3 February 2022 |work=La République des Pyrénées |date=11 December 2010 |language=French}}

During his spell with Sevilla, Escudé played several matches with "SQD" on the back of his shirt, it being the phonetic spelling of his surname.{{cite web|url=http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2010/09/kitman-sevillas-julien-escude-goes-phonetic-with-his-sqd-shirt/|title=Kitman: Sevilla's Julien Escude goes phonetic with his SQD shirt|publisher=Off The Post|date=13 September 2010|access-date=18 September 2015}}