Laurent Robert

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Laurent Robert
Personal information
Full name	Laurent Robert
Date of birth	May 21, 1975 (age 31)
Place of birth	Saint Benoît, Réunion
Height	176 cm
Playing position	Left Winger
Club information
Current club	Levante
Number	22
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1994–99 1999–2001 2001–05 2005 2006 2006–present	Montpellier Paris Saint-Germain Newcastle United Portsmouth Benfica Levante	124 (19) 061 (24) 129 (21) 017 (1) 013 (2) 000 (0)
National team2
1999–present	France	009 (1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:00, 29 August 2006. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 12:00, 29 August 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Laurent Robert (born May 21, 1975 in Saint Benoît, Réunion, French Overseas Departments) is a French left winger who currently plays for Levante UD of the Spanish La Liga.

Contents 1 Clubs 2 Newcastle United 2.1 Free Kick Expert 3 Portsmouth 4 SL Benfica 5 Levante 6 Miscellaneous 7 External links

[edit] Clubs

Robert started his career at Montpellier, before signing for Paris Saint-Germain in 1999. He made his debut for France shortly after. His first season with Paris Saint-Germain had a number of disciplinary problems, including three red cards. Concerns over his temperament deprived him of a place in the French squad for Euro 2000. The following season was met with greater success, including a Champions League match against Rosenborg, in which he set up six goals in a 7-2 win. Following a recall to the national team, Robert scored his first goal for France in a match against Turkey in November 2000.

[edit] Newcastle United

In 2001, he joined English club Newcastle United for a fee of £9.5 million following a dispute with PSG coach Luis Fernandez. A managerial dispute was also the cause of Robert's exit from Newcastle. After Bobby Robson left the manager's post at Newcastle, Robert had a very strained relationship with his successor, Graeme Souness. After the 2004-05 season, Robert vowed never to play for Newcastle again. Portsmouth were able to acquire him on loan, but the move quickly turned sour with Robert becoming increasingly unhappy with his role at the club. In January 2006 he returned to Newcastle, who allowed him to join Benfica on a free transfer.

[edit] Free Kick Expert

Robert is known for his pace and crossing ability, and is often called upon to take corners and from free kicks. He has a tendency to shoot from long ranges in both open play and free kicks (Robert scored four goals in the 2004-05 campaign, all from set pieces.) and has scored from almost 40 yards from goal - his powerful shot has been measured at around 75 mph. However, he is sometimes inconsistent, causing much frustration for fans and managers, and was often at odds with Newcastle United over alleged comments that he had made about staff and lack of appearances.

[edit] Portsmouth

His move to Portsmouth took a turn in which he claimed he had immediately settled at the club and felt that the manager and fellow players understood and respected him. However, it was not long before he returned to his old ways, when on 29 October 2005, just 10 games into the season, Robert stormed out of the stadium before the match began after being named on the substitutes' bench, leaving Portsmouth to start the game with only four substitutes.

[edit] SL Benfica

It was not long before he signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Ronald Koeman's Benfica side. Robert said: "This is a super club. To be able to play in the Champions League is fantastic and that's why I am here."

He added: "They showed a lot of interest in me. I am very happy to be here."

Laurent Robert's first goal in the Portuguese Superliga was for SL Benfica from a free-kick 40 meters away against arch-rivals FC Porto. The well placed kick was hit past experienced goalkeeper Vítor Baía.

[edit] Levante

Laurent Robert signed for Spanish La Liga side Levante UD on 11 July 2006 on a free transfer from Benfica. He is yet to make his debut for Levante under manager Juan Ramón Lopez Caro and it is thought that he may leave during the January transfer window.

[edit] Miscellaneous

A sports-obsessed child, Robert tried his hand at tennis, athletics, cycling, handball, table tennis and karate before turning his attentions to football. He also has a little brother, Bertrand Robert, who is a professional football player as well.

[edit] External links

• (French) Official site
• (French) Laurent Robert French league stats at lfp.fr

Levante UD - Current Squad
1 Cavallero | 2 Manolo | 3 Alexis | 4 Camacho | 5 Álvaro | 6 N'Diaye | 7 Ettien | 8 Kapo | 9 Nino | 10 Riga | 11 Zé María | 12 Berson | 13 Molina | 14 Harte | 15 Tommasi | 16 Salva Ballesta | 17 Rubiales | 18 José Serrano | 19 Reggi | 20 Déhu | 21 Courtois | 22 Robert | 23 Descarga | 24 Meyong | Manager: Abel Resino