Benjamin André
{{short description|French footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Benjamin André
| image = Benjamin andre asse losc 2425 (cropped).jpg
| caption = André with Lille in 2024
| full_name = Benjamin Michel Édouard André{{cite web |url=https://www.fcmetz.com/2023-2024/ligue-1/lille-vs-fc-metz |title=Lille 2–0 FC Metz |publisher=FC Metz |access-date=14 April 2024 |language=fr}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|8|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nice, France
| height = 1.80 m{{cite web |title=Benjamin André |url=https://www.losc.fr/joueurs/benjamin-andre |publisher=Lille OSC |access-date=11 October 2022 |language=fr}}
| position = Central midfielder, defensive midfielder
| currentclub = Lille
| clubnumber = 21
| youthyears1 = 1996–2006
| youthclubs1 = Stade Raphaëlois
| youthyears2 = 2006–2008
| youthclubs2 = Ajaccio
| years1 = 2008–2014 | clubs1 = Ajaccio | caps1 = 187 | goals1 = 12
| years2 = 2014–2019 | clubs2 = Rennes | caps2 = 154 | goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2019– | clubs3 = Lille | caps3 = 184 | goals3 = 9
| nationalyears1 = 2010–2011
| nationalteam1 = France U21
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 12 April 2025
}}
Benjamin Michel Édouard André (born 3 August 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a central and defensive midfielder for {{French football updater|Lille}} club Lille, for which he serves as the captain.
Club career
=Ajaccio=
André was with the Corsica-based club Ajaccio since he was 16 years old, joining the club as an academy player after arriving from his hometown of Nice in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. After gaining notice playing on the club's under-18 side, he was promoted to the senior squad for the 2008–09 season, despite being only 17 years old at the time of the promotion. André appeared sparingly early on in the season making his debut on 22 August 2008 against Sedan appearing as a substitute in a 1–1 draw.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2008/2009&code_evt=&code_jr_tr=J04&num_ordre=9|title=Sedan v. Ajaccio Match Report|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel}} He earned his first start in a Coupe de France match on 22 November 2008 against amateur side Bagnols Pont playing 120 minutes. The match went into a penalty shootout with the young André converting Ajaccio's final shootout goal ensuring the club's advancement to the next round.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfp.fr/coupeFrance/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2008/2009&code_evt=&code_jr_tr=T07&num_ordre=3|title=Bagnols v. Ajaccion Match Report|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel}}
Five days later, he made his first league start in a 2–0 defeat to Boulogne.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2008/2009&code_evt=&code_jr_tr=J16&num_ordre=1|title=Ajaccio v. Boulogne Match Report|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel}} Throughout the season, his starts increased and, despite Ajaccio's inconsistent play, became an instant revelation{{Cite web|url=http://www.espoirsdufootball.com/|title=EspoirsduFootball.com}} helping the club reach the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France. He scored his first career goal of the season on the final match day of the season against Châteauroux in a 2–1 loss.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2008/2009&code_evt=&code_jr_tr=J38&num_ordre=4|title=Châteauroux v. Ajaccio Match Report|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel}} His best season with Ajaccio was the 2013–14 Ligue 1 season. Although Ajaccio were relegated, he provided four goals and five assists across all competitions.{{cite news|url= http://www.lfp.fr/joueur/andre-benjamin#bloc_temps&sai=82&com=toutes&jou=6419|title= Player Profile: Benjamin André|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel|access-date= 11 September 2015}}
=Rennes=
In the summer transfer market of 2014, André signed with Rennes after six years at Ajaccio.{{cite news|url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/B-andre-rejoint-rennes/476822|title= B. André rejoint Rennes (in French)|website=L'Équipe|date= 24 June 2014|access-date= 11 September 2015}} On 25 January 2015, he scored his first goal for Stade Rennais in a 4–1 loss against Caen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/78998|title=Stade Rennais FC - SM Caen (1-4) - Saison 2014/2015 - Ligue 1 Conforama|publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel}}
On 27 April 2019, he won the 2018–19 Coupe de France as Rennes beat league champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final, playing the full 120 minutes and lifting the trophy as the team captain.{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/autresCompetitions/article/rennes-stun-psg-on-penalties-to-win-coupe.htm|title=Rennes stun PSG on penalties to win Coupe|publisher=Ligue 1|first=A.|last=Scott|date=27 April 2019|access-date=29 April 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428023307/https://www.ligue1.com/autresCompetitions/article/rennes-stun-psg-on-penalties-to-win-coupe.htm|archive-date=28 April 2019}}
=Lille=
File:FC Salzburg gegen OSC Lille (Cl-Gruppenphase 29. September 2021) 51.jpg in 2021]]
On 17 July 2019, André signed a four-year deal with Lille, for a reported €8 million transfer fee.{{cite news |date=July 17, 2019 |title=Benjamin André a signé |url=https://www.losc.fr/actualites-foot-lille/benjamin-andr%C3%A9-sign%C3%A9 |publisher=Lille OSC|access-date=July 17, 2019}}{{Cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-benjamin-andre-quitte-rennes-pour-lille/1041065 |title=Transferts : Benjamin André quitte Rennes pour Lille |date=17 July 2019 |website=L'Équipe |access-date=27 August 2022}} For his first season with Lille, he played his first UEFA Champions League games.
André quickly became an important player for Lille. He showed himself as a consistent performer and their midfield linchpin, as they won their fourth league title during the 2020–21 season, playing 35 league games and emerging as the team vice-captain.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/24/lille-ligue-1-title-decade-christophe-galtier|title=Lille hold their nerve to clinch their first Ligue 1 title for a decade|publisher=The Guardian|date=23 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}} Therefore, he was named in the UNFP Team of the Year.{{cite news |title=Trophées UNFP : cinq Parisiens, deux Lillois et deux Lyonnais dans l’équipe type |trans-title=Trophées UNFP : five Parisiens, two Lillois and two Lyonnais in the typical team |url=https://sport24.lefigaro.fr/football/ligue-1/fil-info/trophees-unfp-cinq-parisiens-deux-lillois-et-deux-lyonnais-dans-l-equipe-type-1045019 |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=Le Figaro |date=24 May 2021 |language=fr}}
During the 2021–22 Lille OSC season, he participated in the 1–0 win against PSG in the Trophée des Champions, with the club winning that trophy for the first time ever.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12370362/lille-1-0-paris-saint-germain-les-dogues-clinch-first-french-super-cup|title=Lille 1–0 Paris Saint-Germain: Les Dogues clinch first French Super Cup|website=Sky Sports|date=1 August 2021|access-date=1 August 2021}} Later, he helped the team to get out of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League group stage and played against Chelsea in round of 16.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/football/live/2022/03/16/lille-chelsea-en-direct-suivez-le-match-de-la-ligue-des-champions-entre-les-dogues-et-les-blues_6117806_1616938.html |title=A nouveau battu par Chelsea, Lille éliminé de la Ligue des champions en huitièmes de finale |date=16 March 2022 |website=Le Monde |access-date=27 August 2022}}
On 7 August 2022, André started off the new season under new head coach Paulo Fonseca by scoring Lille's first goal in a 4–1 victory over Auxerre on the league opening weekend, 36 seconds after kick-off.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Auxerre-refroidi-d-entree-a-lille-pour-son-retour-en-ligue-1/1347131 |title=Auxerre refroidi d'entrée à Lille pour son retour en Ligue 1 |last=Coldefy |first=Quentin |date=7 August 2022 |website=L'Équipe |access-date=27 August 2022}} On 12 January 2023, he extended his contract with Lille until 2026.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/actualites/2023-01-12/benjamin-andre-est-un-dogue-et-le-restera-jusquen-2026 |title=Benjamin André est un Dogue et le restera jusqu'en 2026 ! |date=12 January 2023 |website=LOSC.fr |access-date=17 January 2023}} At the end of the season, he became the team's captain after José Fonte's departure.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2023/11/08/benjamin-andre-et-les-28-capitaines-de-ligue-1-uber-eats |title=Benjamin André et les 28 capitaines de Ligue 1 Uber Eats |last=Lécrigny |first=Gabin |date=8 November 2023 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=6 March 2024}}
On 2 March 2024, he played his 400th Ligue 1 game in a 0–1 away win against Reims.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2024/03/03/400e-en-ligue-1-la-fin-nest-pas-tres-loin-craint-benjamin-andre-apres-stade-de-reims-losc |title=400e en Ligue 1, " mais encore beaucoup à jouer " espère Benjamin André après Stade de Reims – LOSC |last=Marcant |first=Raphaël |date=3 March 2024 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=6 March 2024}}
Personal life
André was born in France to a Senegalese mother and a French father.{{Cite web|url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/De-saint-raphael-a-rennes-itineraire-de-benjamin-andre-le-maitre-a-jouer-du-stade-rennais/982029|title=De Saint-Raphaël à Rennes : Itinéraire de Benjamin André, le maître à jouer du Stade Rennais|website=France Football}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 12 April 2025}}{{Soccerway|56963|access-date=18 April 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Coupe de France !colspan="2"|Coupe de la Ligue !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="7"|Ajaccio
|26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2009–10
|Ligue 2 |33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2010–11
|Ligue 2 |32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 1 | |||
| 2011–12
|33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2012–13
|Ligue 1 |27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14
|Ligue 1 |36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!187 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 206 | 12 | |||
| rowspan="6"|Rennes
|Ligue 1 |22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2015–16
|Ligue 1 |32 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|Ligue 1 |36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18
|Ligue 1 |34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 4 | |||
| 2018–19
|Ligue 1 |30 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 46 | 4 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!154 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 184 | 10 | ||
| rowspan="7"|Lille
|Ligue 1 |26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21
|Ligue 1 |35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 43 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|Ligue 1 |33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Trophée des Champions}} | 0 | 42 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23
|Ligue 1 |34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 1 | ||||
| 2023–24
|Ligue 1 |30 | 4 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 45 | 5 | |||
| 2024–25
|Ligue 1 |26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 41 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!184 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 244 | 10 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!525 | 28 | 37 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 634 | 32 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Rennes
Lille
Individual
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{FFF player}}
{{Lille OSC squad}}
{{2020–21 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Andre, Benjamin}}
Category:Footballers from Nice
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Stade Rennais FC players
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers