Tony Vairelles (born 10 April 1973) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Tony Vairelles
Vairelles with Gueugnon in 2009
Personal information
Full name Tony-Mickaël Patrice Yves Vairelles
Date of birth (1973-04-10) 10 April 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth Nancy, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Nancy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1995 Nancy 127 (39)
1995–1999 Lens 123 (31)
1999–2003 Lyon 63 (11)
2001Bordeaux (loan) 11 (2)
2001–2002Bastia (loan) 30 (14)
2003Lens (loan) 12 (2)
2003–2004 Rennes 21 (1)
2004–2005 SC Bastia 27 (4)
2005–2006 Lierse 15 (0)
2006–2007 Tours 24 (5)
2007–2008 CA Bastia 13 (2)
2008–2009 Dudelange 30 (20)
2009–2011 Gueugnon 61 (17)
Total 557 (148)
International career
1998–2000 France 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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A much-travelled centre-forward, the talented Vairelles started his professional career with hometown club AS Nancy before moving to RC Lens in summer 1995. After four seasons with considerable success (one league and one cup title) he joined Olympique Lyonnais who sent him out on loan three times and finally sold him to Stade Rennais. From then he changed clubs every season. Before the 2008 Major League Soccer season he had a trial with Toronto FC but did not fit into their plans and was not signed. In 2009, he joined FC Gueugnon after a stint at F91 Dudelange. He also became the club's main investor.[1]

International career

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Vairelles represented France at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[2]

He made his senior debut for France in an August 1998 friendly match against Austria and went on to earn eight caps, scoring one goal. He played his final international game in April 2000 against Slovenia.

Personal life

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Vairelles is the first player from the Romani community (through his maternal biological grandfather) to play for the France national team.[3]

He has one sister, Marilyn, and five brothers, Giovan, Diego, Jimmy, Gino, and Fabrice.[4] His cousin David Vairelles and his younger brothers Giovan and Diego are all professional footballers.[5]

Tony Vairelles and his brothers Giovan, Jimmy, and Fabrice were held in pre-trial detention in Nancy from 25 October 2011 after a shooting in a discothèque in Essey-lès-Nancy.[6] He was freed on 27 March 2012 and put on probation.[7][8] In June 2015, the trial was still ongoing with Tony Vairelles and his brothers being charged with attempted murder.[9]

On 16 May 2022, Vairelles was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in the attack.[10]

Career statistics

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Score and result list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Vairelles goal.
International goal scored by Tony Vairelles
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 13 November 1999 Stade de France, Saint Denis, France   Croatia 3–0 3–0 Friendly

Honours

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Lens

Lyon

Dudelange

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References

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  1. ^ "FFF : Football, résultats, classements, calendrier, nationaux, National". Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  2. ^ Men's Olympic Football Tournament - FIFA
  3. ^ "tony goal elvis du ballon rond". www.estrepublicain.fr. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Tony Vairelles en prison : Le dramatique quotidien des parents de l'ex-joueur". purepeople.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  5. ^ [1][permanent dead link] - Tagesblatt
  6. ^ Report: Former France striker Tony Vairelles arrested for attempted murder
  7. ^ "L'ancien footballeur Tony Vairelles est libre". france tv info. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Tony Vairelles aus U-Haft entlassen". Tageblatt (in German). 28 March 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Toujours poursuivi pour tentative d'assassinat, Tony Vairelles attend la fin de cette affaire". L'Est Républicain (in French). 12 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Procès de Tony Vairelles : l'ancien footballeur condamné à trois ans de prison ferme pour violences avec arme". Le Parisien (in French). 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Finale Coupe de la Ligue 1998/99 RC Lens - FC Metz". sitercl.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  12. ^ a b "T. Vairelles". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 June 2017.