Matthieu Delpierre
{{short description|French footballer (born 1981)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matthieu Delpierre
| fullname = Matthieu Delpierre
| image = Matthieu Delpierre Meisterfeier.jpg
| caption = Delpierre celebrating the league title in 2007.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|4|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nancy, France
| position = Centre back
| youthyears1 = 1992–1993
| youthclubs1 = AC St-Brévin
| youthyears2 = 1993–1994
| youthclubs2 = Saint-Nazaire PFC
| youthyears3 = 1994–1996
| youthclubs3 = Nantes
| youthyears4 = 1996–1999
| youthclubs4 = Lille
| years1 = 1999–2004
| clubs1 = Lille
| caps1 = 83
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2004–2007
| clubs2 = VfB Stuttgart II
| caps2 = 6
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2004–2012
| clubs3 = VfB Stuttgart
| caps3 = 162
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2012–2014
| clubs4 = TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
| caps4 = 23
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2014
| clubs5 = FC Utrecht
| caps5 = 14
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2014–2016
| clubs6 = Melbourne Victory
| caps6 = 41
| goals6 = 1
| totalcaps = 329
| totalgoals = 8
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 = France U18
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 =
| nationalteam2 = France U20
| nationalcaps2 = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2002–2003
| nationalteam3 = France U21
| nationalcaps3 = 15
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2008
| nationalteam4 = France B
| nationalcaps4 = 1
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| pcupdate = 27 March 2016
| ntupdate = 18 May 2015
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{medal|Country|{{fb|FRA}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Under-21 Championship|}}
{{Medal|Runner-up|2002 Switzerland|}}
}}
Matthieu Delpierre (born 26 April 1981) is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Delpierre's professional career started with Lille OSC, before a move to VfB Stuttgart in Germany where he eventually became the club captain. Delpierre spent eight years at Stuttgart before moving on to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, then FC Utrecht and ended his career in Australia with Melbourne Victory FC
He represented France at U18, U20 and under-21 level, making appearances during the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
Club career
=Lille=
In his first season with Lille, Delpierre made few appearances but helped in the club's promotion to Ligue 1. Delpierre played more regularly in his second season, helping Lille finish third and thereby qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Delpierre continued to perform well for Lille though the club finished at a lower position in the league every season.
=VfB Stuttgart=
Delpierre was signed by VfB Stuttgart on a free transfer after Lille refused to grant him a contract extension. Stuttgart struggled during the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, but Delpierre began to improve under the tutelage of coach Armin Veh.
The following season, during which he missed only one game through illness, the French defender formed an almost impenetrable barrier alongside Fernando Meira at the heart of the Stuttgart defence. Matthieu has also been a vital cog in Stuttgart's success in the 2006–07 DFB-Pokal, in which the team conceded only three goals before losing the final to Nürnberg. On 19 May 2007, Delpierre won the German Bundesliga with Stuttgart, playing a significant part in their success.
File:Delpierre Victory Training May 2015.jpg
His defensive performances attracted the attention of Arsenal and Bayern Munich{{Cite web |date=10 May 2007 |title=Bundesliga – Arsenal, Bayern eye Delpierre |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10052007/58/bundesliga-arsenal-bayern-eye-delpierre.html |access-date=7 December 2007 |publisher=Yahoo! Sport}} and also French clubs Marseille and Saint-Étienne. However, he remained at Stuttgart, extending his contract until the summer of 2012.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2007 |title=Four more years |url=http://www.vfb.de/archiv/en/aktuell/news/2006/09162.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318203348/http://www.vfb.de/archiv/en/aktuell/news/2006/09162.php |archive-date=18 March 2012 |access-date=7 December 2007 |publisher=VfB Stuttgart}}
On 1 December 2009, Delpierre was appointed the new captain of VfB Stuttgart by Markus Babbel.{{Cite web |date=1 December 2009 |title=Matthieu Delpierre is new VfB captain |url=http://vfb.de/archiv/en/aktuell/news/2009/34349.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721122650/http://vfb.de/archiv/en/aktuell/news/2009/34349.php |archive-date=21 July 2012 |access-date=1 December 2009 |publisher=VfB Stuttgart}} On 12 January 2012 he asked Bruno Labbadia to appoint another player.{{Cite web |date=12 January 2012 |title=Serdar Tasci is the new captain |url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2011/tasci-neuer-kapitaen/page/1234-0-1-1326432433.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807231258/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2011/tasci-neuer-kapitaen/page/1234-0-1-1326432433.html |archive-date=7 August 2014 |access-date=12 January 2012 |publisher=VfB Stuttgart}}
=TSG Hoffenheim and FC Utrecht=
In April 2012, it was announced that Delpierre would join Hoffenheim on a free transfer at the end of the season, on a two-year contract.{{Cite web |date=18 April 2012 |title=Babbel holt Delpierre nach Hoffenheim |url=https://www.kicker.de/babbel-holt-delpierre-nach-hoffenheim-567664/artikel |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=kicker |language=de}} He was demoted to the under-23 squad during the 2013–14 season.{{Cite web |date=20 September 2013 |title=Das Ende der Trainingsgruppe zwei |url=https://www.kicker.de/das-ende-der-trainingsgruppe-zwei-592432/artikel |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=Kicker |language=de}}
Delpierre signed for FC Utrecht in January 2014.{{Cite web |date=31 January 2014 |title=FC Utrecht in zee met Hoffenheim-banneling Delpierre |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/fc-utrecht-in-zee-met-hoffenheimbanneling-delpierre |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=Voetbal International |language=nl}}
=Move to Australia=
On 7 July 2014, A-League club Melbourne Victory announced the signing of Delpierre on a one-year deal.{{Cite web |date=7 July 2014 |title=Victory sign French defender |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/victory-sign-french-defender/cvtyf981560w1w48w74ilo2gp |access-date=29 July 2014 |publisher=FFA}}
On 10 October 2014, Delpierre scored the first goal of the 2014–15 A-League season in the Victory's first round match against the Western Sydney Wanderers, scoring from a Guilherme Finkler free kick in just the 8th minute of the match. The Victory eventually won the match 4–1.
On 1 May 2015, Delpierre extended his contract with Melbourne Victory for one more year.{{Cite web |date=1 May 2015 |title=DelpierreSnared: MVFC re-signs French defender |url=http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/delpierresnared-mvfc-re-signs-french-defender/1thdwog3dmqb61uumh0tt2drok |access-date=1 May 2015 |publisher=FFA}}
Delpierre made 53 appearances in all competitions for the Victory during his two seasons in the A-League, scoring once.{{Cite web |title=Matthieu Delpierre announces retirement |url=http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/matthieu-delpierre-announces-retirement/1bgqw4a3efdmh17nhteoi7zzu2 |access-date=26 April 2016 |website=Melbourne Victory Football Club}}
On 26 April 2016, Delpierre announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35, having completed 17 seasons since his debut with Lille in 1999.
International career
Delpierre was called up to the senior France team in March 2008{{Cite news |date=20 March 2008 |title=France call up 4 new caps |publisher=news24.com |url=http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/Soccer/France-call-up-4-new-caps-20080320 |access-date=31 August 2015}} but was ultimately never capped at that level.
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{Cite web |date=7 July 2014 |title=Matthieu Delpierre » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/matthieu-delpierre/2/ |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=worldfootball.net}} | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{Efn|Includes Coupe de France, DFB-Pokal, FFA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{Efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue, DFL-Ligapokal}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Lille
|2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01
|8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02
|Division 1 |25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7{{Efn|3 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 4 appearances in UEFA Cup}} | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2002–03
|31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup}} | 0 | 40 | 3 | |
| 2003–04
|Ligue 1 |17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!83 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 105 | 3 | |
| rowspan="9"|VfB Stuttgart
|10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{Efn|name=UC|Appearances in UEFA Cup}} | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2005–06
|Bundesliga |29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8{{Efn|name=UC}} | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2006–07
|Bundesliga |33 | 0 | 6 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 1 | |||
| 2007–08
|Bundesliga |22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{Efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2008–09
|Bundesliga |22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7{{Efn|2 appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup, 5 appearances in UEFA Cup}} | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10
|Bundesliga |27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9{{Efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11
|Bundesliga |18 | 1 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{Efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 23 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12
|Bundesliga |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!162 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 214 | 5 | |
| rowspan="4"|VfB Stuttgart II
|3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2007–08
|Regionalliga Süd |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2011–12
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
|Bundesliga |23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 1 | |||
| FC Utrecht
|14 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Melbourne Victory
|15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 1 | |||
| 2015–16
|A-League |26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League}} | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!329 | 8 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 413 | 10 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
;Lille
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318203503/http://www.vfb.de/en/teams/vfb/saison-2010-2011/page/256-0-1-1299760096.html?3189 Matthieu Delpierre] at Stuttgart's official website
- [http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/fo/profiles/9730.html Matthieu Delpierre] at Eurosport
- {{Fussballdaten|delpierremathieu|Matthieu Delpierre}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140527235141/http://www.vi.nl/spelers/carriere/matthieu-delpierre.htm Voetbal International profile] {{in lang|nl}}
{{2006–07 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2014–15 A-League PFA Team of the Season}}
{{2015–16 A-League PFA Team of the Season}}
{{Melbourne Victory FC player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delpierre, Matthieu}}
Category:French men's footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:VfB Stuttgart II players
Category:VfB Stuttgart players
Category:TSG 1899 Hoffenheim players
Category:Melbourne Victory FC players
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands