Lionel Carole

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lionel Carole

| image = Lionel Carole - beIN-Sports-Reklam (2021) (cropped).png

| caption = Carole in 2021

| full_name = Lionel Jules Carole{{cite web |url=https://tff.org/Default.aspx?pageId=526&kisiId=1822069 |title=Lionel Jules Carole |publisher=Turkish Football Federation |access-date=21 April 2025}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|4|12|df=y}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur36622.html |title=Lionel Carole |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=21 April 2025 |language=fr}}

| birth_place = Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Left back

| currentclub = Kayserispor

| clubnumber = 23

| youthyears1 = 1997–2000

| youthclubs1 = SFC Neuilly sur Marne

| youthyears2 = 2000–2005

| youthclubs2 = Villemomble Sports

| youthyears3 = 2005–2006

| youthclubs3 = Lusitanos Saint-Maur

| youthyears4 = 2006–2007

| youthclubs4 = UJA Alfortville

| youthyears5 = 2007–2010

| youthclubs5 = Nantes

| years1 = 2010–2011

| clubs1 = Nantes

| caps1 = 14

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2011–2013

| clubs2 = Benfica

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2011–2012

| clubs3 = → Sedan (loan)

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2012–2013

| clubs4 = Benfica B

| caps4 = 39

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2013–2015

| clubs5 = Troyes

| caps5 = 75

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2015–2018

| clubs6 = Galatasaray

| caps6 = 44

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2017–2018

| clubs7 = → Sevilla (loan)

| caps7 = 6

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2018–2021

| clubs8 = Strasbourg

| caps8 = 68

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2021–

| clubs9 = Kayserispor

| caps9 = 87

| goals9 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2012

| nationalteam1 = France U20

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2011

| nationalteam2 = France U21

| nationalcaps2 = 3

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 24 September 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Lionel Jules Carole (born 12 April 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left back for Turkish club Kayserispor. He is a French youth international, having earned caps at under-17, under-20, and under-21 level.

Club career

= Early career =

Carole was born in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, to a French family of Martiniquais descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/regions/departement/lionel-carole-ambitieux-champion-304789.php|title=Lionel Carole, ambitieux champion - Journal France-Antilles - Toute l'actualité de votre région en Martinique - FranceAntilles.fr|website=France-Antilles Martinique|date=3 May 2015 }} His career began with hometown club UJA Alfortville. In 2000, while playing in the club's youth academy, he suffered a debilitating injury to his right eye, after a ball struck him in the face.{{cite web | url = http://www.tutti-foot.fr/fiche-joueur/lionel-carole/ | publisher = Tutti-Sport | title =Lionel Carole Player Profile |language = French |date = | accessdate = 28 September 2010}} The injury almost ended the player's career, however, his doctor gave him aerodynamic protective goggles to wear while playing, similar to former Dutch international Edgar Davids.{{cite web | url = http://www.20minutes.fr/article/293767/Sport-Lionel-Carole-une-jeune-pousse-tres-en-vue.php | publisher = 20 Minutes | title = Lionel Carole, une jeune pousse très en vue | language = French | date = 28 January 2009 | accessdate = 28 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120306030808/http://www.20minutes.fr/article/293767/Sport-Lionel-Carole-une-jeune-pousse-tres-en-vue.php | archive-date = 6 March 2012 | url-status = dead }}

= Nantes =

Carole joined Nantes in 2006 and was, surprisingly, promoted to the senior team by manager Baptiste Gentili for the 2010–11 season, despite not having a professional contract.{{cite web | url = http://www.fcnantes.com/articles/article2809.php?num=3802 | publisher = FC Nantes | title = L. Carole: "Je pense d'abord a progresser" |language = French |date = 28 September 2009 | accessdate = 28 September 2010}} He made his professional debut on 17 August 2010, in a league match against Évian, appearing as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat.{{cite web | url = http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2010/2011&code_evt=D2&code_jr_tr=J03&num_ordre=7 | publisher = Ligue de Football Professionnel | title = Nantes v. Évian Match Report | language = French | date = 17 August 2010 | accessdate = 28 September 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the team's following match against Laval, Carole started and played the entire match in a 0–0 draw.{{cite web | url = http://www.lfp.fr/ligue2/feuilleMatch.asp?saison=2010/2011&code_evt=D2&code_jr_tr=J04&num_ordre=4 | publisher = Ligue de Football Professionnel | title = Laval v. Nantes Match Report | language = French | date = 20 August 2010 | accessdate = 28 September 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

= Benfica =

On 14 January 2011, it was reported by the French and Portuguese media that Carole would be joining Portuguese club Benfica as a possible replacement for Fábio Coentrão, with the transfer set to occur in June 2011.{{cite web | url = http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=679352 | publisher = Record | title = Carole tem pré-acordo por 5 épocas |language = Portuguese |date = 14 January 2011 | accessdate = 26 January 2011}}{{cite web | url = http://www.sports.fr/cmc/scanner/football/201103/nantes-carole-a-benfica-en-juin_328497.html?popup | publisher = Sports.fr | title = Carole à Benfica en juin | language = French | date = 14 January 2011 | accessdate = 26 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110119044835/http://www.sports.fr/cmc/scanner/football/201103/nantes-carole-a-benfica-en-juin_328497.html?popup | archive-date = 19 January 2011 | url-status = dead }} The following day, Nantes chairman Waldemar Kita and manager Baptiste Gentili stated that they were informed by Carole that he would be signing a professional contract with the club. However, according to Gentili, the player informed him the next day that he would forgo signing a contract with Nantes and had already signed a pre-contract with Benfica.{{cite web | url = http://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/foot_fcnantes_detail_-Carole-a-Benfica-en-juin-Gentili-l-ecarte_43053-1658279_actu.Htm | publisher = Ouest-France | title = Carole à Benfica en juin, Gentili l'écarte |language = French |date = 17 January 2011 | accessdate = 26 January 2011}} On 25 January, Nantes confirmed that Carole had left the club to sign a five-and-a-half-year deal with Benfica. Nantes was compensated a "training fee" of €750,000 and will acquire 10% of any future fee Benfica receive for the player.{{cite web | url = https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110126_111246_l-carole-au-benfica.html | work = L'Équipe | title = L.Carole au Benfica | language = French | date = 26 January 2011 | accessdate = 26 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110129155924/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2011/20110126_111246_l-carole-au-benfica.html | archive-date = 29 January 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}

Carole was assigned the number 24 shirt and made his club debut on 13 March 2011, in a league match against Portimonense. He started the match, but was substituted out after halftime in the match, which ended 1–1.{{cite web | url = https://www.thefinalball.com/jogo.php?id=1270655 | publisher = ZeroZeroFootball | title = Benfica 1–1 Portimonense |language = Portuguese |date = 13 March 2011 | accessdate = 2 August 2011}} In the team's ensuing league match away to Paços de Ferreira, Carole started again and scored an own goal for the hosts. Benfica, however, won the match 5–1.{{cite web | url = https://www.thefinalball.com/jogo.php?id=1270664 | publisher = ZeroZeroFootball | title = P. Ferreira 1–5 Benfica |language = Portuguese |date = 21 March 2011 | accessdate = 2 August 2011}} The defender featured in four more league matches in the season, all starts, as Benfica finished the campaign runner-up to champions Porto.

In the 2011–12 season, he was loaned to Sedan FC, acting mainly as a back-up.{{cite web|title=Benfica Loaned Carole To Sedan!!|url=http://portufutebol.blogspot.pt/2011/08/carole-loaned-to-sedan.html|work=portufutebol.blogspot.pt|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130710203404/http://portufutebol.blogspot.pt/2011/08/carole-loaned-to-sedan.html|archivedate=10 July 2013}} In the 2012–2013 season, he played for the Benfica B team, being an undisputed starter and playing in 39 official games in the Segunda Liga, acting as centre-back on occasions.{{cite web|title=Lionel Carole|url=http://www.football-lineups.com/footballer/50931/|work=football-lineups.com}}

= Troyes =

On 9 July 2013, it was announced that Carole would be joining French club Troyes.{{cite web | url = http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/benfica/carole-deixa-benfica-troyes-mercado-benfica-b/1468459-1456.html | publisher = MaisFutebol | title = Carole deixa o Benfica e assina pelo Troyes | language = Portuguese | date = 9 July 2013 | accessdate = 9 July 2013 | archive-date = 2 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170902053019/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/benfica/carole-deixa-benfica-troyes-mercado-benfica-b/1468459-1456.html | url-status = dead }}

= Galatasaray =

On 11 July 2015, Carole signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Galatasaray in a €1.5 million transfer fee.{{cite web |url=http://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/lionel-carole-galatasarayda/27361 |title=Lionel Carole Galatasaray'da |language=Turkish |trans-title= |date=11 July 2015 |publisher=Galatasaray |access-date=11 July 2015}}

= Sevilla (loan) =

On 31 August 2017, Carole joined Spanish club Sevilla on a season-long loan deal with option to buy.{{cite web |url=http://www.sevillafc.es/actualidad/noticias/lionel-carole-llega-para-reforzar-el-lateral-izquierdo |title=Lionel Carole llega para reforzar el lateral izquierdo |language=Spanish |trans-title=Lionel Carole arrives to reinforce the left back |date=31 August 2017 |publisher=Sevilla FC |access-date=31 August 2017}}

= Strasbourg =

In August 2018, Carole returned to France, joining RC Strasbourg Alsace on a three-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Galatasaray was estimated at below €600,000.{{cite news |title=Carole arrive pour trois ans |url=https://www.lalsace.fr/sport/2018/08/16/carole-arrive-pour-trois-ans |accessdate=18 August 2018 |work=L'Alsace |date=16 August 2018 |language=French}}{{cite news |title=Lionel Carole débarque à Strasbourg |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Lionel-carole-debarque-a-strasbourg/931349 |accessdate=18 August 2018 |work=L'Équipe |date=17 August 2018 |language=French}}

International career

Carole has represented France internationally at under-17 and under-20 level. With the under-17 team, he made his youth international debut on 27 February 2008, in a friendly match against Belgium, appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw.{{cite web | url = http://www.fff.fr/selections/m17ans/actualite/426632.shtml | publisher = French Football Federation | title = Score de parité (0-0) |language = French |date = 27 February 2008 | accessdate = 26 January 2011}} That was his only appearance with the team. Carole, subsequently, was not called up to play international football at under-18 or under-19 level. In 2010, after performing well domestically with Nantes, he was called up to represent the under-20 team in preparation for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Carole made his debut with the team on 16 November 2010, in a 1–0 victory over Montenegro.{{cite web | url = http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=1340 | publisher = French Football Federation | title = France v. Montenegro Match Report |language = French |date = 16 November 2010 | accessdate = 26 January 2011}}

Despite still being eligible to represent France at under-20 level, on 3 February 2011, Carole was named to the under-21 team to play in a friendly match against Slovakia on 8 February.{{cite web | url = http://fr.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1376567.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110210131738/http://fr.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1376567.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 10 February 2011 | publisher = Fédération Internationale de Football Association | title = Kakuta et Varane avec les Espoirs |language = French |date = 3 February 2011 | accessdate = 18 May 2011}} He earned his first under-21 cap and start in the match against Slovakia, playing the entire match in a 3–1 win.{{cite web | url = http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=1357 | publisher = French Football Federation | title = France 3–1 Slovaquie|language = French |date = 8 February 2011 | accessdate = 18 May 2011}} Carole returned to the under-20 team in May 2011, appearing in two friendly matches against the United States. In the following month, he appeared in two friendly matches with the under-21 team, before being summoned back to the under-20 team to participate in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his debut in the competition, appearing as a substitute in the team's 3–1 group stage win over South Korea.{{cite web | url = https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145855/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122062406/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145855/index.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 22 November 2011 | publisher = Fédération Internationale de Football Association | title = France 3–1 South Korea |date = 2 August 2011 | accessdate = 2 August 2011}}

Career statistics

{{updated|1 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=Lionel Carole » Club matches |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/lionel-carole/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |accessdate=3 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=L. Carole |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/lionel-carole/138779/ |website=Soccerway |accessdate=3 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=Lionel CAROLE - Football : la fiche de Lionel CAROLE (Séville FC) |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur36622.html |website=L'Équipe |accessdate=3 July 2018 |language=French}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup{{efn\|Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Turkish Cup, Turkish Super Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental{{efn\|Includes UEFA Supercup}} !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nantes \|2010–11 \|Ligue 2 \|14	0	2	0	0	0	16	0
Benfica \|2010–11 \|Primeira Liga \|6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Benfica B \|2012–13 \|Segunda Liga \|39	1	0	0	0	0	39	1
Sedan (loan) \|2011–12 \|Ligue 2 \|14	0	1	0	0	0	15	0
rowspan="3"\|Troyes \|2013–14 \|rowspan="2"\|Ligue 2 \|38	0	7	0	0	0	45	0
2014–15 \|37	0	3	0	0	0	40	0
colspan="2"\|Total !75	0	10	0	0	0	85	0
rowspan="3"\|Galatasaray \|2015–16 \|rowspan="2"\|Süper Lig \|19	0	9	0	5	0	33	0
2016–17 \|25	0	6	1	0	0	31	1
colspan="2"\|Total !44	0	15	1	5	0	64	1
Sevilla (loan) \|2017–18 \|La Liga \|6	0	3	0	0	0	9	0
Strasbourg \|2018–19 \|Ligue 1 \|23	0	4	0	1	0	28	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !221	1	35	1	8	0	264	2