Valère Germain
{{short description|French footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Valère Germain
| image = Valere Germain 2021.jpg
| caption = Germain in 2021
| full_name = Valère Bruno René Germain
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|4|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Marseille, France
| height = 1.81 m{{cite web |url=https://www.mhscfoot.com/joueur/valere-germain |title=Valére Germain |publisher=Montpellier HSC |access-date=17 September 2022}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Sanfrecce Hiroshima
| clubnumber = 98
| youthyears1 = 1996–2002
| youthclubs1 = ASPTT Orléans
| youthyears2 = 2002–2004
| youthclubs2 = Orléans
| youthyears3 = 2004–2005
| youthclubs3 = Châteauroux
| youthyears4 = 2005–2010
| youthclubs4 = Monaco
| years1 = 2010–2012
| clubs1 = Monaco II
| caps1 = 31
| goals1 = 14
| years2 = 2010–2017
| clubs2 = Monaco
| caps2 = 159
| goals2 = 41
| years3 = 2015–2016
| clubs3 = → Nice (loan)
| caps3 = 38
| goals3 = 14
| years4 = 2017–2021
| clubs4 = Marseille
| caps4 = 120
| goals4 = 22
| years5 = 2021–2023
| clubs5 = Montpellier
| caps5 = 65
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2023–2025
| clubs6 = Macarthur FC
| caps6 = 45
| goals6 = 19
| years7 = 2025–
| clubs7 = Sanfrecce Hiroshima
| caps7 = 5
| goals7 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2012
| nationalteam1 = France U20
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2011
| nationalteam2 = France U21
| nationalcaps2 = 4
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 18 May 2025
}}
Valère Bruno René Germain (born 17 April 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Early life
Valère Bruno René Germain{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Valere-GERMAIN-9801267/ |title=Valère Bruno René Germain |website=Verif.com |access-date=2 March 2025 |language=fr}} was born on 17 April 1990 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône.{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20221.html |title=Valère Germain |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=26 June 2022 |language=fr}} Germain is the son of former footballer Bruno Germain.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
Club career
=Monaco=
In the 2009 off-season, Germain signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal. He had previously played in the Monaco Championnat de France Amateur (CFA) team that won the reserve team title in the 2008–09 season.{{cite news|title=CHAMPIONS DE FRANCE !|url=http://www.asm-fc.com/actualites/equipe/champions-de-france-2|work=AS Monaco website|language=fr|date=30 May 2008|access-date=13 May 2012}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Despite signing professional terms, the striker spent the next two seasons playing in the club's reserve team. Germain made his professional debut on 1 May 2011 in a league match against Saint-Étienne appearing as a substitute.{{cite web | url = http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53978 | publisher = Ligue de Football Professionnel | title = Saint-Étienne v. Monaco Match Report | language = fr | date = 1 May 2011 | access-date = 27 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110504131517/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/53978 | archive-date = 4 May 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} He played in the team's final league match of the season against Lyon appearing as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat.{{cite web | url = http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/54005 | publisher = Ligue de Football Professionnel | title = Monaco v. Lyon Match Report | language = fr | date = 29 May 2011 | access-date = 27 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110831110617/http://new.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/54005 | archive-date = 31 August 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} The defeat confirmed Monaco's relegation to Ligue 2.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
In the second division, Germain was permanently promoted to the senior team and, on 15 August 2011, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss against Reims.{{cite web |url= http://www.asm-fc.com/equipe-pro/calendrier-et-resultats/2011-2012/ligue-2/3eme-journee |publisher= AS Monaco website |title= Monaco v. Stade de Reims Match Report |language= fr |date= 15 August 2011 |access-date= 20 January 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the following month, he scored his second career goal in a 2–2 draw against Sedan.{{cite web |url= http://www.asm-fc.com/equipe-pro/calendrier-et-resultats/2011-2012/ligue-2/10eme-journee |publisher= AS Monaco website |title= Monaco v. Sedan match report |language= fr |date= 30 September 2011 |access-date= 20 January 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the 2012–13 campaign, Germain scored 14 goals in 35 matches for AS Monaco as they got promoted to Ligue 1. On 23 July 2013, Germain signed a contract extension with Monaco, keeping him at the club until 2017.{{cite web|title=Germain prolonge son contrat|trans-title=Germain extends his contract|url=http://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/monaco-germain-prolonge-son-contrat-402470.html|website=RMC Sport|access-date=15 April 2016|date=23 July 2013}} Germain was part of the AS Monaco side that won the 2016–2017 Ligue 1 title, contributing with 10 goals.{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/player?id=valere-germain|title=Valère Germain |publisher=Ligue de Football Professionnel|access-date=4 April 2020}}
In July 2015, Germain joined Nice on loan from Monaco. Nice had an option to buy him after the end of the loan spell.{{cite news|url= http://m.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Valere-germain-presque-a-nice/572392?xtref=https://www.google.com/&|title= Valère Germain (presque) à Nice (in French)|work=m.lequipe.fr|date= July 6, 2015|access-date= September 11, 2015}}
=Marseille=
On 25 June 2017, Monaco announced that Germain had joined Marseille. He scored his first goal on 28 July in the Europa League third qualifying round against Oostende in his debut match for Marseille (4–2).{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2021918--marseille-vs-oostende/|title=Marseille-Oostende 2018 History – UEFA Europa League |publisher=UEFA|date=28 July 2017|access-date=4 April 2020}}
On 3 May 2018, he played in the Europa League semi-finals away to Red Bull Salzburg – Salzburg won the game 2–1 but Marseille progressed to the final with a 3–2 aggregate victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43998194|title=FC Red Bull Salzburg 2–1 Marseille|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2018|access-date=3 May 2018}} Germain missed a big chance early in the final as Atletico Madrid won 3–0 at the Groupama Stadium, in Lyon.
=Montpellier=
Following his departure from Marseille in the summer of 2021, Germain remained on the south coast of France, signing for fellow Ligue 1 side Montpellier.
=Macarthur FC=
After his 2 year contract with Montpellier expired, Germain moved to Australia to sign for Sydney based A-League club Macarthur FC, signing a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/a-league-bulls-sign-former-ligue-1-star-valere-germain|title=BULLS SIGN FORMER LIGUE 1 STAR GERMAIN|website=Macarthur FC|date=14 July 2023|access-date=4 February 2024|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20230714033008/https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/a-league-bulls-sign-former-ligue-1-star-valere-germain|archive-date=14 July 2023|url-status=live}}
He made his debut for the club, starting in a forward position, against Shan United in the AFC Cup and scored his first goal, as well as setting up the third goal of the game, in a 3–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-begin-afc-cup-in-style|title=BULLS BEGIN AFC CUP IN STYLE|website=Macarthur FC|date=22 September 2023|access-date=4 February 2024|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20231028225904/https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-begin-afc-cup-in-style|archive-date=28 October 2023|url-status=live}} Two weeks later on 5 October 2023, he scored a brace in another AFC Cup match against Cebu, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 8–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-keep-perfect-start-in-asia|title=BULLS KEEP PERFECT START IN ASIA|website=Macarthur FC|date=5 October 2023|access-date=4 February 2024|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20231028225946/https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-keep-perfect-start-in-asia|archive-date=28 October 2023|url-status=live}} Germain captained his first match as a Macarthur FC player against Central Coast Mariners on 29 October 2023, with captain Ulises Dávila placed on the bench and scored the opener, in a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/unlikely-hero-seals-win-on-the-road|title=UNLIKELY HERO SEALS WIN ON THE ROAD|website=Macarthur FC|date=29 October 2023|access-date=4 February 2024|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20231108032249/https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/unlikely-hero-seals-win-on-the-road|archive-date=8 November 2023|url-status=live}} After the match, manager Mile Sterjovski praised his performance and hope that he continued to score more goals.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-boss-praises-germain|title='LEADS BY EXAMPLE': BULLS BOSS PRAISES GERMAIN|website=Macarthur FC|date=3 November 2023|access-date=4 February 2024|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20231108032242/https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-boss-praises-germain|archive-date=8 November 2023|url-status=live}} His impact at Macarthur FC was noticed by the Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news|title=A-League Men mid-season report card: Grades, key players and predictions|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/sport/aleague-men-midseason-report-card-every-club-graded-key-players-and-finals-predictions/news-story/e3285ea2e8a076707a53b671389bd39d|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 February 2024|access-date=4 February 2024}} Germain spoke out about settling in Australia with his wife and son.{{cite news|title=Interview Parti jouer au foot à l'autre bout du monde, Valère Germain vit sa meilleure vie|url=https://actu.fr/centre-val-de-loire/orleans_45234/parti-jouer-au-foot-a-l-autre-bout-du-monde-valere-germain-vit-sa-meilleure-vie_60253222.html|website=Actu Orleans|language=fr|date=26 October 2023|access-date=26 December 2021}} He then scored his first hat-trick in Australia, in a 4–3 win against Western Sydney Wanderers on 4 February 2024.{{cite news|title=7 goals, a red card & a 93rd-minute winner! Macarthur win A-Leagues classic v Wanderers|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-macarthur-western-sydney-wanderers-goals-highlights-scores-germain-thomas/|website=A-League Men|date=4 February 2024|access-date=4 February 2024}}
On 6 April 2024, Germain scored the first ever A-League Men goal at the Wyndham Regional Football Facility, scoring a 17th minute penalty in an eventual 4–2 loss to Western United FC.
On 11 February 2025, Germain was issued a 'Disciplinary Notice' after being cited by Football Australia's Match Review Panel for an incident of referee abuse.{{cite news|title=Macarthur captain issued with Disciplinary Notice after being cited by MRP|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-match-review-panel-valere-germain-macarthur-sanction-angus-thurgate-western-united-details/|website=aleagues.com.au|date=11 February 2025}} The following day, it was announced that Germain had received a two match suspension for his actions.{{cite news|title=Macarthur captain set for multi-week ban after MRP's review of Disciplinary Notice|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/valere-germain-macarthur-bulls-suspension-match-review-panel-ban-length-a-league-news/|website=aleagues.com.au|date=12 February 2025}} Having initially declared his intention to appeal the suspension, Germain instead decided to request a release from his contract with Macarthur, citing "refereeing standards" in Australia as his reason for wanting to leave and take up a contract offer with a club in Japan.{{cite news|title=Bulls Farewell Captain Valère Germain|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-farewell-captain-valere-germain/|publisher=Macarthur FC|date=17 February 2025}}{{cite news|title=Ref standards prompt Macarthur captain Germain to quit|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/soccer/ref-standards-prompt-macarthur-captain-germain-to-quit-c-17750652|publisher=Perth Now|date=17 February 2025}}
=Sanfrecce Hiroshima=
On 27 February 2025, Germain signed a contract with Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima.{{cite web|title=ヴァレール・ジェルマン選手 加入のお知らせ|url=https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/team/10743|website=Sanfrecce Hiroshima|language=ja|access-date=27 February 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227072313/https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/team/10743|archive-date=27 February 2025|url-status=live}}
He scored on his club debut in the first leg of the AFC Champions League's quarter-finals, in a 6-1 win against Lion City Sailors.{{cite web|url=https://www.soccer-king.jp/news/japan/acl/20250305/1994599.html|title=広島が圧巻のゴールラッシュ！ 大量6得点奪いACL2ベスト4へ前進…今季公式戦無敗を継続|website=Soccer King|language=ja|date=5 March 2025|access-date=7 June 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305142927/https://www.soccer-king.jp/news/japan/acl/20250305/1994599.html|archive-date=5 March 2025|url-status=live}} However, it was emerged that Germain played the match while serving a suspension in the tournament and this led Sanfrecce Hiroshima's win being forfeited and awarded 3–0 to Lion City Sailors by the AFC Disciplinary Committee on 8 March 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/team/10793|title=AFCチャンピオンズリーグ2 2024/25 ノックアウトステージ 準々決勝第1戦 選手の出場に関する懲罰処分について|website=Sanfrecce Hiroshima|language=ja|date=8 March 2025|access-date=7 June 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308145716/https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/team/10793|archive-date=8 March 2025|url-status=live}} In the return leg, the club was eliminated from the tournament following a 1-1 draw.{{cite web|url=https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/matches/20250312/report|title=ゲームレポート|website=Sanfrecce Hiroshima|language=ja|date=12 March 2025|access-date=7 June 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417142804/https://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/matches/20250312/report|archive-date=17 April 2025|url-status=live}}
International career
Germain was a France youth international having earned caps at under-21 level. He made his under-21 debut on 2 June 2011 appearing as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Serbia.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 February 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/valere-germain/159224/|title=V. Germain|website=Soccerway|access-date=31 July 2017}}
| 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|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, Australia Cup, Emperor's Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de la Ligue}} !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | |||||||||||
| Division | Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=7|Monaco
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12
|34 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 38 | 10 | ||
| 2012–13
|Ligue 2 |35 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 39 | 16 | ||
| 2013–14
|Ligue 1 |23 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 26 | 5 | ||
| 2014–15
|Ligue 1 |29 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 37 | 5 | |
| 2016–17
|Ligue 1 |36 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16{{efn|name=UCL}} | 4 | colspan=2|— | 60 | 17 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!159 | 41 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 19 | 4 | colspan=2|— | 202 | 53 | |
| Nice (loan)
|Ligue 1 |38 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 41 | 14 | ||
| rowspan=5|Marseille
|Ligue 1 |35 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 7 | colspan=2|— | 55 | 18 | |
| 2018–19
|Ligue 1 |36 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 42 | 8 | |
| 2019–20
|Ligue 1 |25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21
|Ligue 1 |24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Trophée des Champions}} | 0 | 32 | 3 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!120||22||11||1||3||1||26||7||1||0||158||31 | |||||||||||
| rowspan=3|Montpellier
|Ligue 1 |34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 36 | 4 | |||
| 2022–23
|Ligue 1 |31 | 2 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 32 | 3 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!65 | 6 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 68 | 7 | |||
| rowspan=3|Macarthur FC
|28 | 12 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 7{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League Two}} | 4 | colspan=2|— | 36 | 16 | ||
| 2024–25
|A-League Men |17 | 7 | 4 | 4 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 21 | 11 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!45 | 19 | 5 | 4 | colspan=2|– | 7 | 4 | colspan=2|– | 57 | 27 | ||
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima
|2025 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!427 | 102 | 31 | 14 | 16 | 1 | 50 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 525 | 132 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Monaco
- Ligue 1: 2016–17{{cite web|url=http://en.as.com/en/2017/05/17/football/1495054892_245924.html|title=Monaco end PSG dominance to win Ligue 1 title|website=AS|date=17 May 2017|access-date=22 December 2019}}
- Ligue 2: 2012–13{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
Marseille
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2017–18{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/44052050|website=BBC|title=Atletico Madrid win Europa League with 3–0 victory over Marseille|date=16 May 2018|access-date=22 December 2019}}
Macarthur FC
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{FFF player}}
{{Sanfrecce Hiroshima squad}}
{{2012–13 Ligue 2 UNFP Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Germain, Valere}}
Category:Footballers from Marseille
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Olympique de Marseille players
Category:Montpellier HSC players
Category:Sanfrecce Hiroshima players
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco