Youri Djorkaeff
Djorkaeff in 2011.
Personal information
Full name Youri Raffi Djorkaeff[1]
Date of birth (1968-03-09) 9 March 1968[2]
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1989 Grenoble 82 (23)
1989–1990 Strasbourg 35 (25)
1990–1995 Monaco 155 (59)
1995–1996 Paris Saint-Germain 35 (13)
1996–1999 Inter Milan 87 (30)
1999–2002 Kaiserslautern 55 (14)
2002–2004 Bolton Wanderers 75 (20)
2004 Blackburn Rovers[4] 3 (0)
2005–2006 New York Red Bulls[5] 45 (12)
Total 584 (196)
International career
1993 France B 2 (3)
1993–2002 France 82 (28)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  France
FIFA World Cup
Winner1998 France
UEFA European Championship
Winner2000 Belgium & Netherlands
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner2001 South Korea & Japan
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Youri Raffi Djorkaeff (born 9 March 1968) is a French former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward. Throughout his club career, he played for teams in France, Italy, Germany, England, and the United States.

At international level, Djorkaeff scored 28 goals in 82 appearances with the France national team between 1993 and 2002. He won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000, and the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, also taking part at Euro 1996 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He is the son of former player Jean Djorkaeff. On hanging up his boots in 2006 and after having played in France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and the US, Youri devoted himself to social projects, which eventually led him to establish the Youri Djorkaeff Foundation in 2014. He currently holds the position of CEO of the FIFA Foundation, following his appointment in September 2019.

Early life

Djorkaeff was born in Lyon,[6] to a French father of Polish and Kalmyk origin, Jean Djorkaeff, and an Armenian mother, Mary Ohanian,[7] in Lyon.[8]

Club career

Djorkaeff started his career in 1984 with French club Grenoble, before moving to RC Strasbourg in 1989, AS Monaco in 1990, and then Paris Saint-Germain in 1995. In 1994, Djorkaeff led Division 1 in goals with 20. He won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with PSG in 1996.

In 1996, he signed with Italian club Inter Milan. In his first season, he scored 17 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, scoring 14 goals in 33 Serie A appearances; with his excellent performances,[9][10] he helped the club to a third–place finish in Serie A, and also reached the UEFA Cup Final, in which Inter were defeated by Schalke on penalties following a 1–1 draw on aggregate, although Djorkaeff was able to net his spot kick.[11][12] During the course of the season, he also scored a memorable goal from a bicycle kick in a 3–1 home win against Roma in the league, on 5 January 1997, which is considered to be one of the greatest goals scored in the club's history.[13][14] His following season was less successful individually, as he struggled to play well alongside the club's new signing Ronaldo,[15][16][17] although collectively Inter finished the season in second place in Serie A and won the UEFA Cup, defeating Lazio 3–0 in the final at the Parc des Princes.[18] In his third and final season with the team, following the signing of Roberto Baggio, he also struggled to find space in the team, and suffered a further loss of form; moreover, the club eventually finished the season in eighth place, outside of all possible European qualifying spots.[19][20][21]

In 1999, he transferred to Germany and Kaiserslautern, helping them to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2001.

Djorkaeff turned many heads when signing with English club Bolton Wanderers in 2002, but added a lot of class to the team during his three seasons there, resulting in the creation of an international "dream-team" alongside the tricky Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha, and former Real Madrid midfielder Iván Campo. He was a member of the squad that reached the final of the 2003–04 League Cup.[22] He then transferred to Blackburn Rovers but left the club after playing in only three games.

Djorkaeff then signed with the MetroStars of Major League Soccer in February 2005, turning down higher paid offers from other countries. He became the first French player to play in MLS and ended the season as the team's MVP with ten goals and seven assists in league play.

Djorkaeff playing for New York Red Bulls in 2006

Djorkaeff announced from the beginning that he would hang-up his boots at the end of 2006 season, and played for the re-branded New York Red Bulls.[23] On 1 July 2006, he was spotted in the crowd with French fans at the FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between France and Brazil after telling Red Bulls officials he left the club to attend to "an unexpected, serious family matter in France." Upon his return, he revealed that the purpose of his departure was to be with his sick mother and downplayed watching the World Cup match.[24]

He retired from professional football on 29 October 2006.

International career

Djorkaeff accumulated 82 caps and scored 28 goals for France at senior level between 1993 and 2002. Other than the two major tournaments he won with the national side – the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 – Djorkaeff also played for his country in UEFA Euro 1996 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final in Paris, he set-up Zinedine Zidane's second goal from a corner in an eventual 3–0 victory over defending champions Brazil.[25]

Style of play

Nicknamed The Snake, due to his ability to get past defenders and bend the ball,[26][27][28] Djorkaeff was a talented playmaker, who usually played as an attacking midfielder, although he was also capable of playing in deeper positions in midfield on occasion – namely as a central midfielder –, or in more attacking roles, as a creative second striker, or even as an outright striker, while he often featured in a wide role on the left flank at international level.[9][15][20][26][28][29][30][31][32][33] An elegant and technically gifted player, he was mainly known for his flair, dribbling skills, and excellent touch on the ball; he was also known for his vision, passing, composure, and class, and possessed a good shot, which enabled him both to score and create goals.[26][34][35][36][37][38] He was known for his positional sense and intelligent movement off the ball, as well as his ability to lose his markers with his attacking runs and create space for himself, or provide depth to the team;[28][39] he was also highly regarded for his accuracy from free kicks and penalties with his right foot.[28][34][40][41] A hard-working player, who was known for his defensive contribution off the ball,[9][34] he had the ability to link the defence with the attack or drift out wide in a free role in midfield;[26][28][42] as such, his playing style and role has been described as that of a "nine and a half," half-way between that of a midfielder and that of a forward,[35] which from a tactical standpoint, however, occasionally made it difficult for managers to find the right position for him on the pitch that best suited his capabilities.[9][15][19] Moreover, despite his talent and success, he was also accused of being inconsistent at times in the media.[43]

Personal life

Djorkaeff has a wife, Sophie, and three children: Sacha, Oan and Angelica. Djorkaeff released a singing single called "Vivre dans Ta Lumière", translated to "Living in Your Light" from French.[44] His father, Jean, and younger brother, Micha Djorkaeff, were also professional football players.[26]

On 15 November 2012 Djorkaeff hosted Phone-a-thon for Armenian charity held in Europe. The Phoneathon benefits the construction of community centres in villages throughout Nagorno Karabakh and comprehensive agricultural development in Armenia's Tavush Region. In addition, a part of the proceeds will be dedicated to providing urgent aid to the Syrian-Armenian community.[45]

During his time in England, Djorkaeff opened a football school in Armenia.[27] After retiring, he became the president of his childhood club in Lyon, Union Generale Armenienne de Decines, in April 2007.[46] Djorkaeff currently also runs the Youri Djorkaeff Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing football programs in New York City.[47]

Ecuador forward Djorkaeff Reasco was named after Djorkaeff.[48]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[49][50][51]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grenoble 1984–85 Division 2 3000––30
1985–86 6000––60
1986–87 26400––264
1987–88 19810––208
1988–89 251131––2812
1989–90 3000––30
Total 82234100008624
Strasbourg 1989–90 Division 2 282120––3021
1990–91 7400––74
Total 35252000003725
Monaco 1990–91 Division 1 20561––266
1991–92 35950–714710
1992–93 321122–413814
1993–94 352020–1134823
1994–95 33141030–3714
Total 155591633022519667
Paris Saint-Germain 1995–96 Division 1 35132210844619
Inter Milan 1996–97 Serie A 331461–1024917
1997–98 29840–90428
1998–99 25864–523614
Total 87301650024412739
Kaiserslautern 1999–2000 Bundesliga 25111000523113
2000–01 263200072355
2001–02 4000––40
Total 551430001247018
Bolton Wanderers 2001–02 Premier League 124201000154
2002–03 367101000387
2003–04 2792051003410
Total 75205071--8721
Blackburn Rovers 2004–05 Premier League 3000000030[52]
MetroStars /
New York Red Bulls		 2005 Major League
Soccer		 241021––2611
2006 21210––222
Total 45123100004813
Career total 5721964712916617694226

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
France[53] 199310
199453
199575
1996125
199763
1998183
199993
2000114
200172
200260
Total8228
Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Djorkaeff goal.
List of international goals scored by Youri Djorkaeff
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
116 February 1994San Paolo Stadium, Naples, Italy Italy1–01–0Exhibition game
222 March 1994Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France Chile2–13–1Friendly
329 May 1994National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan Japan1–04–1Kirin Cup
416 August 1995Parc des Princes, Paris, France Poland1–11–1UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
56 September 1995Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, Auxerre, France Azerbaijan2–010–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
69–0
711 October 1995Stadionul Steaua (1974), Bucharest, Romania Romania2–03–1UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
815 November 1995Stade Michel d'Ornano, Caen, France Israel2–02–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
924 January 1996Parc des Princes, Paris, France Portugal1–13–2Friendly
102–2
1115 June 1996Elland Road, Leeds, England Spain1–01–1UEFA Euro 1996
1231 August 1996Parc des Princes, Paris, France Mexico2–02–0Friendly
139 October 1996Parc des Princes, Paris, France Turkey3–04–0Friendly
142 April 1997Parc des Princes, Paris, France Sweden1–01–0Friendly
1511 June 1997Parc des Princes, Paris, France Italy2–12–21997 Tournoi de France
1612 November 1997Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, France Scotland2–12–1Friendly
1729 May 1998Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco Morocco2–22–21998 King Hassan II International Cup Tournament
1824 June 1998Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France Denmark1–02–11998 FIFA World Cup
1914 November 1998Stade de France, Paris, France Andorra2–02–0UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
2020 January 1999Stade Velodrome, Marseille, France Morocco1–01–0Friendly
218 September 1999Hrazdan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia Armenia1–13–2UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
229 October 1999Stade de France, Paris, France Iceland2–13–2UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
234 June 2000Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco Japan2–22–22000 King Hassan II International Cup Tournament
246 June 2000 Morocco2–05–12000 King Hassan II International Cup Tournament
2516 June 2000Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium Czech Republic2–12–1UEFA Euro 2000
2625 June 2000Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium Spain2–12–1UEFA Euro 2000
2725 April 2001Stade de France, Paris, France Portugal4–04–0Friendly
2830 May 2001Daegu World Cup Stadium, Daegu, South Korea South Korea4–05–02001 FIFA Confederations Cup

Honours

Monaco[54]

Paris Saint-Germain[54]

Inter Milan[54]

Bolton Wanderers

France[54]

Individual

Orders

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Entreprise SCI Skyfall à Cap-d'Ail (06320)" [Company SCI Skyfall in Cap-d'Ail (06320)]. Figaro Entreprises (in French). 4 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
    "Youri Djorkaeff". BFM Business (in French). NextInteractive. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  5. ↑ The club was known as the MetroStars prior to 2006.
  6. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Famous Armenian Sportspeople". 30 September 2016.
  8. ↑ ФРАНЦИЯ – АРМЕНИЯ (in Russian). Спорт Экспресс. 31 March 1999.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Nicola Cecere; Franco Arturi (16 April 1997). "Pagliuca, i sogni dietro la porta" [Pagliuca, the dreams behind the door/goal]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian).
  10. ↑ Piva, Gianni (14 January 1997). "MONSIEUR DJ, IL NUOVO RE" [Mr DJ, the new king]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  11. ↑ "Football: Ince and Hodgson suffer as Schalke lift UEFA Cup". The Independent. 22 May 1997. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  12. ↑ Mura, Gianni (22 May 1997). "L' INTER FINISCE IN PEZZI GETTATA LA COPPA UEFA" [Inter ends up in pieces The UEFA Cup is thrown away]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  13. ↑ "DJORKAEFF: "LA ROVESCIATA ALLA ROMA, UN MOMENTO INTERISTA"" [Djorkaeff: "The bicycle kick against Roma, an Interista moment"] (in Italian). Inter. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Vent'anni fa il gol di Djorkaeff" [Twenty years ago Djorkaeff's goal] (in Italian). Sport Mediaset. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 Piva, Gianni (3 March 1998). "Ronaldo e Djorkaeff mai la stessa coppia" [Ronaldo and Djorkaeff never the same pair]. la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 50.
  16. ↑ Badolato, Franco (3 March 1998). "Simoni alla ricerca del Djorkaeff perduto" [Simone looking for the lost Djorkaeff]. La Stampa (in Italian). p. 29.
  17. ↑ Sormani, Nino (5 April 1998). "Djorkaeff sotto esame" [Djorkaeff under examination]. La Stampa (in Italian). p. 31. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  18. ↑ MURA, GIANNI (7 May 1998). "L' Inter trionfa a Parigi Un bel successo nato in panchina" [Inter triumphs in Paris A lovely success born from the bench]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  19. 1 2 Gianni Mura (7 January 1999). "L'Inter affonda a Parma tradita anche da Baggio" [Inter sinks at Parma betrayed also by Baggio]. la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 42.
  20. 1 2 PIVA, GIANNI (8 January 1999). "Baggio chiede più coraggio Ora io e Ronaldo insieme" [Baggio asks for more courage Now Ronaldo and me together]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  21. ↑ ADAMOLI, GESSI (27 August 1998). "Djorkaeff, il piacere del gol" [Djorkaeff, the pleasure of a goal]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  22. 1 2 "Boro lift Carling Cup". BBC Sport. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  23. ↑ "uefa.com – Football Europe – News & Features – News Specific". Archived from the original on 19 May 2006.
  24. ↑ "Djorkaeff returns to Bulls after a month away". bigapplesoccer.com. 7 August 2006. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  25. ↑ Crosetti, Maurizio (7 June 2014). "Infallibile Zidane quando con la testa fece meraviglie". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jean Djorkaeff: Youri had to impose himself". FIFA.com. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016.
  27. 1 2 Wallace, Sam (22 February 2003). "Djorkaeff happy with his taste of life in the shadows". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 Gabrielli, Fabrizio (18 May 2015). "Youri Djorkaeff: uomo e calciatore". www.ultimouomo.com/. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  29. ↑ "Djorkaeff's Dream Comes True". The New York Times. 22 February 2005. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  30. ↑ Johnson, Jonathan (18 June 2014). "Ranking France's 5 Greatest Wingers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  31. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  32. ↑ "Djorkaeff trots into Zidane's shoes". The Guardian. 30 May 2002. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  33. ↑ "l' Inter fa l' esame al gioiellino Owen" [Inter tests the little jewel Owen]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 4 August 1998. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  34. 1 2 3 Enrico Currò (22 August 1996). ""Cerco la perfezione". L'idea fissa di Djorkaeff". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 41.
  35. 1 2 Mura, Gianni (14 October 1996). "Dribbling e tiro. È la musica di Djorkaeff" [Dribbling and shooting. This is the music of Djorkaeff]. la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 36.
  36. ↑ Davis, Noah (27 February 2012). "What Ever Happened To ... Youri Djorkaeff". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  37. ↑ "Fulham's EPL future secure". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  38. ↑ Thorpe, Lee (14 June 2011). "English Premier League: Ranking 60 of the Best Overseas Players in EPL History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  39. ↑ Corrado Sannucci (21 February 1999). "Rispetto Baggio ma la nostra difesa è molto più forte". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 47.
  40. ↑ Alessandro Baretti (23 March 2014). "Pagliuca spiega i segreti di Pirlo". Tutto Sport (in Italian).
  41. ↑ Atturo, Emanuele (5 May 2019). "A chi affidereste il rigore da cui dipende la vostra vita?". www.ultimouomo.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  42. ↑ "No fear for Milan man". The Irish Times. 8 July 1998. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  43. ↑ Granello, Licia (22 May 1997). "PAGLIUCA IL MIGLIORE DJORKAEFF NON BASTA" [Pagliuca the best Djorkaeff isn't enough]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  44. ↑ Dart, James (22 August 2007). "Does Shay Given really carry holy water with him at every match?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  45. ↑ "Phone-a-thon for Armenian charity held in Europe ahead of 24-hour Thanksgiving Day Telethon". Armenia Now. Armenia. 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  46. ↑ "Ten years on". FIFA.com. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  47. ↑ "Our MISSION". www.youridjorkaeff.org. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  48. ↑ Dunleavy, Brian (8 August 2018). "The Curious Case Of An Ecuadorian Phenom Who's The Namesake Of A French World Cup Hero". the18.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  49. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  50. ↑ "Youri DJORKAEFF". level-k.com. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  51. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff". world-soccer.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  52. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff". www.statbunker.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  53. ↑ "Youri Djorkaeff – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  54. 1 2 3 4 "Youri Djorkaeff" (in French). www.lequipe.fr. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  55. ↑ "France - Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  56. ↑ "UEFA Euro 2008 Information" (PDF). UEFA. p. 88. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  57. ↑ "All-Star Macca". Sunday Mirror. The Free Library. 30 June 1996. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  58. ↑ Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it (17 November 2006). "F.C. Internazionale Milano". Inter Milan. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  59. ↑ FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info
  60. ↑ "Décret du 24 juillet 1998 portant nomination à titre exceptionnel" [Decree of 24 July 1998 appointing on an exceptional basis]. Official Journal of the French Republic (in French). 1998 (170). 25 July 1998. PREX9801916D. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

Bibliography

  • Youri Djorkaeff, Snake, Paris, Grasset and Fasquelle, 2006, ISBN 22-46695-71-6. (in French)[1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Youri Djorkaeff.
  1. ↑ Djorkaeff, Youri (25 April 2006). Snake (French Edition) (French): Paperback – by Youri Djorkaeff. ISBN 2246695716.
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