Lionel Pérez Explained

Lionel Pérez
Birth Date:1967 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
Height:1.83 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1989–1993
Clubs1:Nîmes
Caps1:111
Goals1:0
Years2:1993–1996
Clubs2:Bordeaux
Caps2:16
Goals2:0
Years3:1995–1996
Clubs3:Laval (loan)
Caps3:42
Goals3:0
Years4:1996–1998
Clubs4:Sunderland
Caps4:75
Goals4:0
Years5:1998–2000
Clubs5:Newcastle United
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:1999
Clubs6:Scunthorpe United (loan)
Caps6:13
Goals6:0
Years7:2000
Clubs7:Cambridge United (loan)
Caps7:9
Goals7:0
Years8:2000–2002
Clubs8:Cambridge United
Caps8:78
Goals8:0
Years9:2002–2003
Clubs9:Enfield
Caps9:66
Goals9:0
Years10:2003
Clubs10:Chelmsford City
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Years11:2003–2004
Clubs11:Stevenage Borough
Caps11:31
Goals11:0
Totalcaps:375
Totalgoals:0

Lionel Pérez (born 24 April 1967) is a French former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was a goalkeeping coach at Stevenage Borough following his retirement from the game in 2004.

Playing career

France

Pérez was born in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Gard. His football career started with French club, Bordeaux. However, much of this time was spent out on loan with Nîmes Olympique then Stade Lavallois.[1]

Sunderland

Pérez made his Sunderland debut, aged 29 on 19 October 1996, as a substitute for Tony Coton, in a 3–0 away defeat against Southampton.[2] He stayed with Sunderland for a further two years, before signing for rivals Newcastle United, in what was a surprise move at the time.

Newcastle United

At Newcastle United, Pérez was fourth-choice behind Steve Harper, Shay Given and John Karelse; he never made a competitive start for the Magpies and after being loaned to various clubs throughout his 21-month spell on Tyneside, he was granted a free transfer to Cambridge United in July 2000, reportedly taking a 95% pay cut to do so.[3] [4]

Later career

Pérez was released by Cambridge at the end of the 2002–03 season, before joining Enfield in October 2002,[5] and then Stevenage Borough in February 2003,[6] after a short stint at Chelmsford City.[7] He was a regular for Stevenage until in March 2004 (being voted Player of the Year), he broke his leg playing in a league match against Barnet.[8] Pérez was forced to retire at the end of the season, and he immediately took up a coaching role at the club. Pérez left his coaching role at the club in April 2006.

Coaching career

On leaving Stevenage, Perez and his family moved back to France where he had spells coaching at FC PHA Chusclan Laudun and SO Cassis Carnoux. He has been inactive in football since 2010.[9] He is currently looking to get back into football, having gained his UEFA B licence.

Honours

Cambridge United

Notes and References

  1. News: Lionel Perez: From the Mediterranean to Stevenage Borough . Football Friends Online . 14 January 2012 . 22 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130506091243/http://www.footballfriendsonline.com/blogs/2012/1/14/lionel-perez-from-the-mediterranean-to-stevenage-borough.html . 6 May 2013 .
  2. News: Dodd opens door . Stephen . Brenkley . The Independent . Independent Print Limited . 20 October 1996 . 15 April 2012 .
  3. News: Perez pay cut suits U's . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 31 July 2000 . 5 April 2012 .
  4. News: Summer signings . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 12 August 2000 . 15 April 2012 .
  5. News: September transfers . John . Ley . Telegraph.co.uk . 2 October 2002 . 15 April 2012 .
  6. News: Perez moves to Stevenage . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 7 February 2003 . 24 August 2011 .
  7. Web site: Player search . English National Player Archive . 29 March 2019.
  8. News: Perez out for the season . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 11 March 2004 . 15 April 2012 .
  9. News: Lionel Perez: From the Mediterranean to Stevenage Borough . Football Friends Online . 14 January 2012 . 22 September 2012 .
  10. News: Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy . Paul . Fletcher . BBC Sport . 24 March 2002 . 18 March 2024.