Damien Plessis

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Damien Plessis

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Damien Jérôme Jean-Richard Plessis{{cite news |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Damien-PLESSIS-13432911/ |title=Damien Jérôme Jean-Richard Plessis |website=Verif.com |access-date=23 February 2025 |language=fr}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|3|5|df=y}}{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 |year=2009 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |isbn=978-1-84596-474-0 |page=335}}

| birth_place = Neuville-aux-Bois, France

| height = 1.92 m{{cite web|title=Demien Plessis: Overview |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/3411/Damien-Plessis/overview|publisher=Premier League|access-date=18 August 2022}}

| position = Defensive midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1994–2001

| youthclubs1 = Deportivo Espagnol Orléans

| youthyears2 = 2001–2002

| youthclubs2 = Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle

| youthyears3 = 2002–2004

| youthclubs3 = Orléans

| youthyears4 = 2004–2007

| youthclubs4 = Lyon

| years1 = 2007–2010

| clubs1 = Liverpool

| caps1 = 3

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2010–2012

| clubs2 = Panathinaikos

| caps2 = 9

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2012

| clubs3 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan)

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2012–2014

| clubs4 = Arles-Avignon

| caps4 = 40

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2014

| clubs5 = Lausanne-Sport

| caps5 = 13

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2014–2016

| clubs6 = Châteauroux

| caps6 = 32

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2016

| clubs7 = Marítimo

| caps7 = 9

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2017

| clubs8 = Örebro SK

| caps8 = 5

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2018

| clubs9 = AS Capricorne

| caps9 =

| goals9 =

| nationalyears1 = 2008

| nationalteam1 = France U21

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Damien Jérôme Jean-Richard Plessis (born 5 March 1988) is a French professional footballer who last played for Örebro SK in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He is also the younger brother of professional footballer Guillaume Plessis.

Club career

=Lyon=

Born in Neuville-aux-Bois{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur27711.html |title=Damien Plessis |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=23 February 2025 |language=fr}} of Réunionnais origin,{{cite web |url=http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/squad/damien-plessis-profile.html |title=Damien Plessis profile and statistics - LFC Player Stats - Anfield Online }} Plessis started his career at Olympique Lyonnais.{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/plessi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125235317/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/plessi/ |archive-date=25 November 2009 |title=Damien Plessis |access-date=5 April 2008 |date=5 April 2008 |publisher=Liverpool F.C.}} Plessis signed for Lyon at the age of 15, and was considered to be one of the team's most promising youngsters, following in the footsteps of Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/fr/news/163/ligue-des-champions/2009/10/20/1572276/ligue-des-champions-damien-plessis-linfiltr%C3%A9-lyonnais |title=Ligue des champions – Damien Plessis, l'infiltré lyonnais (Damien Plessis, the infiltrated Lyon player) |date=20 October 2009 |publisher=Goal.com |language=fr}}

=Liverpool=

Plessis signed a three-year contract for Liverpool on the last day of the transfer window in August 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/1196 |title=Damien Plessis profile |publisher=LFChistory.net |access-date=5 January 2012}} He initially played for the reserve team, with which he won the reserves league in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/past-players/damien-plessis |title=Damien Plessis |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |access-date=5 January 2012}} Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said of Plessis after having signed him, "He is a good player, big and strong, and we're sure he'll do well for us. He's only a young boy with plenty of time to work on his game but it depends on his progress how quickly he can force his way into the first team".

Plessis made his debut for Liverpool on 5 April 2008 in the 1–1 away draw against Arsenal.{{cite news |title=Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7320164.stm |publisher=BBC |location=London |date=5 April 2008 |access-date=5 April 2008 |first=Chris |last=Bevan}} Rafa Benítez described his performance by saying "Today was the debut for Damien Plessis. We knew when we signed him that he was a quality player. He's played really well for the reserves, and to play as well as he did today in this stadium, it shows we are going in the right direction and in time he will be fighting with the likes of Gerrard and Spearing for a first team place."{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/rafa-praises-debut-boy-damien |title=Rafa Praises Debut Boy Damien |access-date=5 April 2008 |date=5 April 2008 |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130025112/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/rafa-praises-debut-boy-damien |archive-date=30 January 2010 }}

For the start of the 2008–2009 season Plessis was given the number 28 shirt.{{cite web |title=Trio Handed First-Team Squad Numbers |publisher=Liverpool FC |date=6 August 2008 |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/trio-handed-first-team-squad-numbers |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130023418/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/trio-handed-first-team-squad-numbers |archive-date=30 January 2010 }} He made his debut in the UEFA Champions League during a game against Standard Liège.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/players/97728--damien-plessis/ |title=Damien Plessis profile |publisher=uefa.com |access-date=5 January 2012}} He also started the first match of the season against Sunderland but only played 45 minutes because of a knock, and fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso came on to replace him.{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/season/2008-2009/aug//673/finalwhistle.htm |title=Torres gives Reds dramatic opening day win |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |date=16 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912083124/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/match/season/2008-2009/aug//673/finalwhistle.htm |archive-date=12 September 2008 |url-status=unfit}}

On 23 September 2008, Plessis played in the League Cup game against Crewe Alexandra.{{cite web |url=http://www.teamtalk.com/news/1776/4186844 |title=Liverpool – Crewe Alexandra 2–1, match report |publisher=TeamTalk |date=23 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812173015/http://www.teamtalk.com/news/1776/4186844 |archive-date=12 August 2014 }} He scored his first senior goal for the club in a League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur on 12 November 2008 when he headed down a corner from Ryan Babel.{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3075153,00.html |title=Spurs sink sorry Reds |publisher=Sky Sports |date=12 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427093304/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0%2C19764%2C11065_3075153%2C00.html |archive-date=27 April 2009 }}

Plessis signed a two-and-a-half-year extension to his Liverpool contract, in October 2009, that would have kept him at Anfield until 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheminute.com/news/news.php?news=18565 |title=Liverpool youngster signs new deal |publisher=Ontheminute.com, 28 October 2009 |access-date=28 October 2009}}

On 12 August 2010, Plessis' shirt number, 28, was taken by new signing Christian Poulsen.{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/photo-special-our-new-no-28 |title=Photo special: Our new No.28 |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |date=12 August 2010 |author=Rice, Jimmy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815040708/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/photo-special-our-new-no-28 |archive-date=15 August 2010 }}

=Panathinaikos=

On 31 August 2010, Panathinaikos bought the player from Liverpool on an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |url=http://www.pao.gr/en/news/?itemid=26973510-0697-4ac2-a60b-aea678527cb6 |title=Plessis a player of Panathinaikos |publisher=pao.gr |date=31 August 2010 |language=el}} He signed with the club as a promising player, but his performances were below par and never satisfied his manager Jesualdo Ferreira.{{cite web |url=http://www.inewsgr.com/141/panathinaikos-angliko-endiaferon-gia-plesi.htm |title=English interest for Plessis |publisher=Inewsgr.com |date=27 July 2011 |language=el}} This way he did not manage to get much playing time, finishing the season with just 9 appearances for the club.{{cite news |url=http://www.tovima.gr/sports/article/?aid=414532 |title=The "wasted" millions of Panathinaikos |newspaper=To Vima |date=9 August 2011 |author=Panagiotas, Giotis |language=el}} At the end of the season he was expected to leave the club since he was not part of the manager's plans for the following season.{{cite web |url=http://www.inewsgr.com/167/epistrefei-o-plesi.htm |title=Plessis returns |publisher=Inewsgr.com |date=31 July 2011 |language=el}}

In July 2011, Plessis went on trial with Leicester City.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} However, Sven Goran Eriksson confirmed that the trial was not very successful and quite a short one. He was later rumoured to be in talks with 2. Bundesliga sides Ingolstadt 04 and 1860 Munich.{{cite web |url=http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=16492&subid=2&pubid=128747336 |title=1860 Munich for Plessis |website=SentraGoal |date=11 August 2011 |author=Theo, Kostas |language=el |access-date=5 January 2012 |archive-date=11 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911042842/http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=16492&subid=2&pubid=128747336 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1231123268 |title=Προς Γερμανία ο Πλεσί (Plessis to Germany) |date=8 August 2011 |publisher=In.gr |language=el}} Eventually he didn't reach an agreement with any team and stayed at Panathinaikos.

==Loan to Doncaster Rovers==

On 23 December 2011, Doncaster Rovers signed Plessis on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16319644.stm |title=El-Hadji Diouf extends Doncaster Rovers deal |publisher=BBC |date=23 December 2011}} He hoped to use the switch as a springboard to winning a move back to the Premier League.{{cite news |url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/plessis_link_to_rovers_1_4086415 |title=Plessis link to Rovers |newspaper=Doncaster Free Press |date=23 December 2011 |author=Payne, Les}} However, he never made a first team appearance for the club and was subsequently released in May 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11734/7765073/dozen-depart-from-rovers |title=Dozen depart from Rovers |first=Peter |last=O'Rourke |date=18 May 2012 |publisher=Sky Sports}} On 4 July 2012, Panathinaikos also terminated his contract after two years of sub-par performances for the club.{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmalive.com/sports/football/greece/504016 |title=Λύθηκε η συνεργασία με Πλεσί (Plessis released) |date=4 July 2012 |publisher=Sigma Live |language=el |access-date=5 July 2012}}

=Arles-Avignon=

In July 2012, Plessis joined French Ligue 2 side AC Arles-Avignon on a two-year contract. There he managed to resurrect his floundering career and he became a first team regular.

=Lausanne-Sport=

In January 2014, it was announced Plessis joined Swiss Super League side Lausanne-Sport on a six-month deal with an option for a further year.{{cite web |url=http://www.lausanne-sport.ch/detailnews.php?id=678 |title=Transfert au FC Lausanne-Sport |trans-title=Transfer to FC Lausanne-Sport |date=21 January 2014 |publisher=FC Lausanne-Sport |language=fr |access-date=27 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221116/http://www.lausanne-sport.ch/detailnews.php?id=678 |archive-date=1 February 2014 }}{{cite news |last1=Ruffieux |first1=François |title=Un milieu défensif pour le LS |trans-title=A defensive midfielder for LS |url=https://www.24heures.ch/un-milieu-defensif-pour-le-ls-863550344772 |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=24 heures |date=21 January 2014 |language=French}}

=Châteauroux=

In August 2014, Plessis agreed a three-year contract with LB Châteauroux in Ligue 2{{Cite web |url=http://www.berrichonne.net/joo/equipepro/transferts/15762-damien-plessis-s-engage.html |title=Damien PLESSIS s'engage |access-date=7 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810163358/http://www.berrichonne.net/joo/equipepro/transferts/15762-damien-plessis-s-engage.html |archive-date=10 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}

=Örebro SK=

In March 2017, Plessis agreed a two-year contract with Örebro SK in Allsvenskan{{Cite news |url=http://oskfotboll.se/osk/aktuellt/nyheter-2017/2017-03-03-meriterade-fransmannen-damien-plessis-klar-for-orebro-sk.html |title=Meriterade fransmannen Damien Plessis klar för Örebro SK |work=ÖSK Fotboll|access-date=14 May 2018 |language=sv}} He became a free agent in September 2017.{{cite web |url=http://fotbolltransfers.com/site/news/83667 |title=Officiellt: Örebro SK bryter med Damien Plessis |date=15 September 2017 |publisher=fotbolltransfers.com |language=sv |access-date=15 September 2017}}

=AS Capricorne=

Plessis joined AS Capricorne of the Réunion Premier League in February 2018.{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Anthony |title=[Sport] Plessis s'en va déjà |trans-title=Plessis is already leaving |url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Sport/Article/2018/08/10/Plessis-sen-va-deja_543950 |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=Clicanoo.re |date=10 August 2018 |language=French |archive-date=30 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530204907/https://www.clicanoo.re/Sport/Article/2018/08/10/Plessis-sen-va-deja_543950 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Payet |first1=Mickaël |title=[Sport] AS Capricorne : La (belle) surprise Plessis |trans-title=AS Capricorn: The (beautiful) Plessis surprise |url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Sport/Article/2018/02/06/Capricorne-La-belle-surprise-Plessis_513581 |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=Clicanoo.re |date=6 February 2018 |language=French}} He left the club in August.

International career

Plessis was a member of the French under-19 team which reached the semi-finals of the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Austria.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/teams/team=300043/index.html |title=France U21 squad |publisher=uefa.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703184206/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/teams/team%3D300043/index.html |archive-date=3 July 2007 |url-status=dead }} He is also a former France under-21 international.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/1196|title=Liverpool career stats for Damien Plessis - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!|website=www.lfchistory.net|access-date=31 January 2020}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|League cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{soccerbase\|48956\|name=Damien Plessis}}{{cite web \|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/damien-plessis/29707/ \|title=Damien Plessis profile \|publisher=Soccerway \|access-date=19 March 2012}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Liverpool \|2007–08 \|rowspan="3"\|Premier League \|2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
2008–09 \|1	0	0	0	2	1	2	0	5	1
2009–10 \|0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
colspan="2"\|Total !3\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|3\|\|1\|\|2\|\|0\|\|8\|\|1
rowspan="3"\|Panathinaikos \|2010–11 \|rowspan="2"\|Superleague Greece \|4	0	2	0	—	—	3	0	9	0
2011–12 \|0	0	0	0	—	—	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !4\|\|0\|\|2\|\|0\|\|—\|\|—\|\|3\|\|0\|\|9\|\|0
Doncaster Rovers \|2011–12 \|Championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
rowspan="3"\|Arles-Avignon \|2012–13 \|rowspan="2"\|Ligue 2 \|32	0	2	0	4	0	—	—	38	0
2013–14 \|8	0	1	0	2	0	—	—	11	0
colspan="2"\|Total !40\|\|0\|\|3\|\|0\|\|6\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|49\|\|0
Lausanne-Sport \|2013–14 \|Swiss Super League \|13	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	13	0
rowspan="3"\|Châteauroux \|2014–15 \|Ligue 2 \|30	1	4	1	1	0	—	—	35	2
2015–16 \|National \|2	0	1	0	0	0	—	—	3	0
colspan="2"\|Total !32\|\|1\|\|5\|\|1\|\|1\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|38\|\|2
Marítimo \|2015–16 \|Primeira Liga \|9	1	0	0	1	0	—	—	10	1
Örebro SK \|2017 \|Allsvenskan \|5	0	1	0	1	0	—	—	6	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !106\|\|2\|\|11\|\|1\|\|11\|\|1\|\|5\|\|0\|\|133\|\|4