Laurent Merlin

Infobox Football biography
playername = Laurent Merlin


fullname = Laurent Merlin
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|10|17
cityofbirth = Marseille
countryofbirth = France
nickname =
height = height|m=1.78
position = Forward
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs = Flagicon|FRA Marseille
years = 2002-2004
2004-2006
2006
2007
clubs = Marseille
AC Ajaccio
→ LB Chateauroux (loan)
Chivas USA
caps(goals) = 2 (0)
13 (1)
3 (0)
20 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 23:28, 22 June 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Laurent Merlin (born September 17, 1984 in Marseille, France) is a French former youth international who has recently been waived by MLS team, Chivas USA. Merlin is a centre forward. Merlin started his career as a youngster with the Olympique de Marseille reserve team, where he quickly progressed into the senior squad and earned two caps over two seasons with the seniors. He was then snapped up by Corsica based French league team, AC Ajaccio. Laurent got his first senior goal with the club before being loaned to LB Chateauroux and on his return was sold to Chivas USA.

Laurent Merlin's Career

Olympique de Marseille

At the age of just ten, Laurent was training with the giants of French football Olympique de Marseille. From the youth team there he was able to make a name for himself, and soon found himself in Olympique de Marseille 2, the Marseille reserve team. Whilst at Marseille, Laurent only played in two matches and soon found himself surplus to requirements at l'Ohème.

Transfer to AC Ajaccio

It was in 2004 when Laurent Merlin signed for fellow French Ligue one side, Corsica-based, AC Ajaccio. At Ajaccio, Laurent played twelve games in his first two seasons, ten more than when at Olympique de Marseille, a club at which he'd been a part of the senior squad for two seasons. In these twelve games, he scored one goal.

In the following season, Merlin started just the one single game for Ajaccio, soon becoming another back-up player like he was at Olympique de Marseille. In the early months of 2006, Laurent Merlin was loaned by AC Ajaccio to lower league, French side, LB Chateauroux.

LB Chateauroux

Merlin started three games for Chateauroux, but soon returned to Ajaccio. He would then be able to move to Chivas USA, via other clubs on the way

Moving to America

Laurent Merlin took part in LA Galaxy's MLS first ever open tryout in February 2007. The tryout was highly publicized in anticipation of the signing of David Beckham by the Galaxy. Through two days of intense competition with over 800 players from all over the world, he was one of two to survive four rounds of cuts and earn a trial with the Galaxy. Rival LA squad, Chivas (MLS) was impressed enough with Merlin that they signed him. Merlin has started a handfull of games for the goats and has an assist and a goal thus far. He was waived at the end of 2007

International career

Merlin possesses an impressive career on the youth international scene, with caps from Under 17, Under 18 and Under 19 level. He has not yet represented the France senior national team.