Bafétimbi Gomis

Infobox Football biography
playername = Bafétimbi Gomis


fullname = Bafétimbi Gomis
height = height|m=1.84
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|8|6
cityofbirth = La Seyne-sur-Mer
countryofbirth = France
currentclub = Saint-Étienne
clubnumber = 18
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs = AS Saint-Étienne
years = 2002–2004
2004–present
2005
clubs = Saint-Étienne B
Saint-Étienne
→ Troyes (loan)
caps(goals) = 030 (15)
131 (32)
013 0(6)
nationalyears = 2001–2008
2008–present
nationalteam = France U-17
France
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 0(0)
04 0(2)
pcupdate = 11:46, 10 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:00, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

Bafétimbi "Bafé" Gomis (born 6 August, 1985 in La Seyne-sur-Mer, France) is a French footballer who plays as a striker for St-Étienne.

Career

Club career

Saint-Étienne

Gomis is of Senegalese descent. He made eleven appearances for St-Étienne in his first season with the club, scoring two league goals. The next season he made six goaless appearances for the club before going on loan to Troyes AC in a successful six-month loan deal, where he scored six goals in 13 games. The 2005/2006 season was not as successful as the previous season—he made 24 league appearances for St-Étienne, scored only two league goals, and was sent off in a game.

The 2006/2007 season was when Gomis established himself with St-Étienne, scoring ten goals in 30 appearances.

Gomis continued this form into the 2007/2008 season where he scored an impressive 16 goals in 34 appearances.

On his future with St-Étienne, he said: "I am very happy to play for St Etienne, but I don't know if I will still be there next season. The coach did his best for me to stay last summer, and he has improved me a lot. I am very happy with him at the helm. His stay at the club will be an essential factor for my future." He has been watched by Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, and looks to be on his transfer list this summer. In an interview with "L'Équipe", Gomis stated he was attracted by a possible move to England, but revealed Serie A would be his preference.

International career

Although born in France, Gomis was eligible to play for both France and Senegal through his ancestry. On May 8 2008, he said regarding his international future "I don't have to choose between the French or Senegalese teams, as I have not been called yet. The French team? It would be pretentious to ask for it, but I am not adverse to the French team." [cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_3537575,00.html |title=Gomis looking at future |accessdate=2008-06-13 |last=Haond |first=Patrick |date=2008-05-08 |publisher=Sky Sports ]

International goals

Euro 2008

On May 18 2008, he was called up for the provisional French Euro 2008 squad, ahead of experienced striker David Trézéguet. This was due to his particularly good form towards the end of St Etienne's Ligue 1 campaign. Gomis scored two goals in 26 minutes, 60th minute and 86th minute on his debut for the French senior national team, in a Euro 2008 warm-up match against Ecuador on May 27 2008. He is the first to score twice in his debut for the national team since Zinedine Zidane. On May 28 2008, he was selected in the French Euro 2008 squad ahead of Marseille striker Djibril Cisse. On June 9 2008, Gomis won his third cap by coming on as a substitute for Nicolas Anelka in the scoreless draw with Romania.

Honours

;AS Saint-Étienne
*Ligue 2: 2003-04

;Personal
*UNFP Player of the Month: January 2007

References

External links

*
* [http://www.roulf.free.fr/index.php?page=http://www.roulf.free.fr/Selections/01-02_16ans_joueurs.htm France U-17 season 2001-02]
* [http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=614176/ Newcastle And Arsenal Lead Chase For Starlet Gomis]