Lionel Pérez

Lionel Pérez (born 24 April 1967 in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Gard) is a retired French professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper and more recently was a goalkeeping coach at Stevenage Borough, following his retirement from the game in 2004.

This article is about the French professional footballer. For the Canadian politician, see Lionel Perez (politician).

Lionel Pérez
Personal information
Full name Lionel Pérez
Date of birth (1967-04-24) 24 April 1967
Place of birth Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1993 Nîmes 111 (0)
1993–1996 Bordeaux 16 (0)
1995–1996 → Laval (loan) 42 (0)
1996–1998 Sunderland 75 (0)
1998–2000 Newcastle United 0 (0)
1999 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 13 (0)
2000 → Cambridge United (loan) 9 (0)
2000–2002 Cambridge United 78 (0)
2002–2003 Enfield 66 (0)
2003 Chelmsford City 0 (0)
2003–2004 Stevenage Borough 31 (0)
Total 375 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 June 2008

Club career

France

Pérez's 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.

References
  1. "Lionel Perez: From the Mediterranean to Stevenage Borough". Football Friends Online. Football Friends Online. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. Brenkley, Stephen (20 October 1996). "Dodd opens door". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  3. "Perez pay cut suits U's". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 31 July 2000. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  4. "Summer signings". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 12 August 2000. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  5. Ley, John (2 October 2002). "September transfers". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  6. "Perez moves to Stevenage". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 February 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  7. "Player search". English National Player Archive. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  8. "Perez out for the season". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 11 March 2004. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  9. "Lionel Perez: From the Mediterranean to Stevenage Borough". Football Friends Online. Football Friends Online. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
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