David Ginola

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David Ginola
Personal information
Full name	David Ginola
Date of birth	January 25, 1967 (age 40)
Place of birth	Gassin, France
Nickname	Davie G
Playing position	Winger
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1985-1988 1988-1990 1990-1992 1992-1995 1995-1997 1997-2000 2001-2002 2002	Toulon Racing Club Paris Brest Paris Saint-Germain Newcastle United Tottenham Hotspur Aston Villa Everton Total	81 (4) 61 (8) 50 (10) 112 (33) 71 (7) 127 (22) 18 (5) 4 (0) 524 (89)
National team2
1990-1995	France	17 (3)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of summer of 2005. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of summer of 2005. * Appearances (Goals)

David Ginola (born January 25, 1967) is a former French international football player and also a model.

[edit] Career

Born in Gassin (south-eastern France), Ginola played at club level for Toulon (1985-88), Racing Club Paris (1988-90), Brest (1990-92), Paris Saint-Germain (1992-95), Newcastle United (1995-97), Tottenham Hotspur (1997-2000), Aston Villa (2001-02) and Everton (2002). In 1999, he was named PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year, while playing for Tottenham Hotspur. He also won his one English domestic trophy with Spurs, the 1999 League Cup.

David Ginola is considered by many in the English Football world as one of the best wingers of all time due to his "magical" touch on the ball and his ability to get past players from any type of position and then manage to score a goal. His ability to do that was shown in games for Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, with his most memorable goal in Newcastle's stunning 5-0 win over Premier League giants Manchester United in 1996.

Ginola's reputation as a handsome Gallic maverick was enhanced during his time in England when he starred in a commercial for L'Oreal hair products, and many still remember the company's slogan "Because I'm worth it" being uttered in Ginola's distinctive French accent.

[edit] International

Although Ginola was a very creative attacking player, he did not see much time with the French national team, having been capped only 17 times in his career. Ginola was made a scapegoat for France's failure to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals, when he gifted the ball to Bulgaria's Emil Kostadinov, who scored the goal that put France out. The succeeding coach, Aimé Jacquet, did not select Ginola for any of the subsequent major tournaments.

[edit] Trivia

• Ginola regularly appeared in the French education program, Vingt Minutes.

• He appeared in Channel 4's reality show, Coach Trip where he showed the contestants around his home town of Sainte-Maxime and played football with them on the beach.

• Ginola is on the cover art of the game FIFA '97.

Preceded by Dennis Bergkamp	FWA Footballer of the Year 1999	Succeeded by Roy Keane
Preceded by Dennis Bergkamp	PFA Players' Player of the Year 1999	Succeeded by Roy Keane