Laurent Robert

1.1. Birth and Family

Pierre Laurent Robert was born on 21 May 1975 in Saint-Benoît, Réunion. Football was a significant part of his family life; his father was a local footballer on the island, also known for his exceptional free-kick goals, a trait that clearly influenced and was inherited by Laurent. His younger brother, Bertrand, also became a professional footballer, beginning his career at Montpellier HSC before spending the majority of his playing days in Greece. Following in their footsteps, Laurent's son, Thomas, signed for Airdrieonians in Scottish League One in 2020, continuing the family's footballing legacy. It is important to clarify that Fabien Robert, another French footballer, is not related to Laurent Robert.

1.2. Youth Career and Early Development

Robert began his football journey on his home island, playing with the Réunion team that achieved notable success in French youth football. At the age of 13, his team won the French youth cup, followed by a league championship victory a year later. Recognizing his potential, Robert moved to mainland France at 16 to join Brest. However, his time there was short-lived as the Breton club faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy within six months of his arrival.

This unexpected turn led to his transfer to Auxerre in December 1991. Robert found it difficult to adapt to the colder climate, and after just one week, he sought another move. He joined Montpellier HSC, primarily to be closer to fellow Réunionnais goalkeeper Claude Barrabé. This transfer was facilitated by former Montpellier player Fleury Di Nallo, reportedly taking place while Auxerre manager Guy Roux was absent, highlighting the unique circumstances of his early career transitions.

2.1. Montpellier

Robert's senior professional career commenced with Montpellier HSC. On 20 January 1996, he scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 home victory against Martigues. Notably, he had to request manager Michel Mézy to be brought on as a substitute specifically to take a free kick, which he then converted, showcasing his early confidence in his set-piece ability. A pivotal moment occurred on 11 February 1996, when he came off the bench for the final 15 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain with his team trailing 2-0. Robert assisted the first goal and then scored the winning goal in a dramatic 3-2 victory. This win for Montpellier unexpectedly cost his future club, Paris Saint-Germain, the league title that season.

2.2. Paris Saint-Germain

After a successful season with Montpellier in 1998-99, where he netted 11 goals in 32 games, Robert was on the verge of a transfer to Marseille. However, he decided against the move when manager Rolland Courbis articulated a strategy of rotating all players, including French internationals Robert Pires and Christophe Dugarry, a policy Robert seemingly disagreed with. He instead signed for Paris Saint-Germain, who had finished ninth in the previous season.

At PSG, Robert maintained his strong reputation for scoring from free kicks, often sharing the responsibility with teammate Éric Rabésandratana. On 4 May 2000, he scored a remarkable goal from 98 ft ^{(30 m)} out in a 3-0 home win over his former club, Montpellier. In the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League, Robert had a standout performance, scoring once and assisting twice in a dominant 7-2 victory over Rosenborg, a match he later described as his "perfect match." He also scored a crucial free kick against Italian giants A.C. Milan in the second group stage, contributing to a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes.

Midway through the 2000-01 season, when Robert was the league's top scorer with 12 goals, manager Philippe Bergeroo was replaced by Luis Fernandez. Robert's relationship with Fernandez was strained, and in 2018, Robert publicly attributed PSG's failure in the title challenge that season to Fernandez's arrival, highlighting his willingness to openly critique managerial decisions. In July 2001, Robert was instrumental in PSG's UEFA Intertoto Cup victory, scoring four goals over two legs in the second round against FC Jazz of Finland. During this period, he was deployed as a forward due to injuries to key players like Nicolas Anelka and Laurent Leroy.

2.3. Newcastle United

On 1 August 2001, Laurent Robert signed a five-year contract with English Premier League club Newcastle United for a fee of 10.00 M GBP. He was ineligible for their Intertoto Cup campaign due to being cup-tied from his time at PSG.

2.4. Portsmouth

Following his eventful period at Newcastle United, Laurent Robert moved to fellow Premier League team Portsmouth in June 2005. The initial agreement was a year-long loan, with an option for two additional years. While Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie initially described it as a permanent deal with a relegation release clause, club chairman Milan Mandarić later clarified that it was indeed a loan arrangement.

Robert made his debut for Portsmouth on 13 August 2005 in a 2-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the season. A week later, he scored his only goal in 17 appearances for Portsmouth, though it came in a 2-1 away loss to West Bromwich Albion. On 29 October, Robert controversially refused to sit on the substitutes' bench for a 4-1 win at Sunderland. It was revealed that he had been called up as a late replacement for the injured Salif Diao but failed to communicate his own injury until just before the game. While he was fined, manager Alain Perrin acknowledged it was a misunderstanding rather than outright defiance. Robert was also sent off on 26 December in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Fratton Park, after having set up the goal for Gary O'Neil. In his final game on 2 January 2006, a 2-1 loss at Blackburn Rovers, Robert's late free kick, which could have been passed for an equalizer, missed the target and visibly enraged manager Harry Redknapp, effectively sealing his departure.

2.5. Benfica

On 4 January 2006, Laurent Robert signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Benfica in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. He joined the club on a free transfer after being removed from Harry Redknapp's plans at Portsmouth. Media reports at the time suggested that Robert was brought in as a potential replacement for Benfica captain Simão Sabrosa, who played in the same position and was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

In his first start for Benfica on 11 January 2006, Robert scored in a 2-0 victory in the Taça de Portugal fifth round away to Tourizense. His most significant contribution in the league was the only goal in a 1-0 home victory against fierce rivals Porto in O Clássico on 26 February, a trademark free kick that sailed past goalkeeper Vítor Baía. Six days later, he scored again, equalizing in a 2-1 win against nearby Estrela da Amadora. In March, Robert started both legs of Benfica's UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, where they remarkably defeated the defending champions, Liverpool, to advance to the quarter-finals. Despite these key contributions, Robert's time at Benfica was brief, lasting only six months.

2.6. Levante

On 11 July 2006, Robert made another move, this time to Spanish La Liga club Levante, signing a two-year deal after choosing them over an offer from Turkey's Beşiktaş. At his introductory press conference, Robert made a bold statement, declaring, "Everyone knows my game. I've been a professional for ten years and this year they will need two players to mark me," showcasing his characteristic self-assurance. He was one of four French players to join the Valencia-based club that summer, alongside Laurent Courtois, Frédéric Déhu, and Olivier Kapo.

Robert's debut for Levante was challenging, as he was substituted at half-time in a 4-0 loss away to Sevilla. He returned to action 14 weeks later as a substitute against Celta Vigo, where he assisted Álvaro's headed equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Three days later, on 20 December, he was sent off in a 2-1 loss against Osasuna. His limited playing time and the disciplinary issues continued to plague his career. On 30 November 2007, having made only 13 appearances for the club, Robert mutually terminated his contract with Levante, bringing an end to another short stint.

2.7. Final Playing Years

Laurent Robert's professional playing career concluded with brief spells at three different clubs across different leagues.

In January 2008, Robert returned to the Premier League, signing for Derby County for the remainder of the season. He reportedly impressed manager Paul Jewell during his trial period, joining a club that was struggling with only 7 points from 21 games and sitting ten points deep inside the relegation zone. He made his debut on 12 January in a 1-0 home loss to Wigan Athletic, playing for 59 minutes before being replaced. He would only make four appearances for Derby County, and the club finished the season with an all-time low of 11 points from 38 games.

On 2 April 2008, Robert's contract with Derby was mutually cancelled, and he moved to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). This move reunited him with head coach John Carver, who he had previously worked with at Newcastle. Robert played 17 league games for Toronto, starting all but one. He scored his only goal for the club on 19 April, netting a free kick against Real Salt Lake in what was the only goal of Toronto's first home game of the season. However, his time in Toronto was also short-lived; the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) described his performances as "a series of uneven and uninspired," and he was waived on 19 August 2008.

Robert's final professional club was Larissa in the Super League Greece, where he signed a two-year deal on 27 August 2008. At Larissa, he was reunited with former Newcastle teammates Nikos Dabizas and Nolberto Solano. Despite this reunion, Robert terminated his contract a year early, citing that Greece was "a bit special." He subsequently returned to Paris for family reasons and trained with PSG's reserves in the summer of 2009, signaling the end of his active playing career.

3.1. National Team Appearances

Robert made nine appearances for the France national football team. His debut came on 18 August 1999, when he was introduced as a 55th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first person from Réunion to play for the French national team. His only goal for his country was scored on 15 November 2000, in a 4-0 victory over Turkey, again coming off the bench in an away friendly match.

3.2. FIFA Confederations Cup 2001

Laurent Robert was selected as part of the France squad that participated in and ultimately won the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup hosted in South Korea and Japan. This marked France's first victory in the competition. During the tournament, Robert started in the second group game, a 1-0 loss to Australia, a match for which manager Roger Lemerre chose a completely new squad compared to the previous game, demonstrating the depth and rotational nature of the French team during their successful campaign.

4.1. Coaching Role

Following his retirement from professional football, Laurent Robert returned to his former club, Montpellier HSC, where his senior career began. He took on a coaching position within the club's academy, specifically focusing on forward players, and also worked with the women's section. Robert held this coaching role until July 2020, when he departed the club.

5.1. Playing Style and Impact

Robert was renowned for his unique and formidable playing style, which centered around his incredibly powerful left foot and exceptional free-kick abilities. He was capable of scoring spectacular goals from long distances and set pieces, making him a constant threat to opposing defenses. This skill led to him being affectionately nicknamed the "left foot magician" (左足の魔術師_{Hidariashi no Majutsushi}^Japanese), particularly among Japanese fans and media, highlighting the awe and admiration for his precision and power. His ability to deliver precise crosses and create scoring opportunities from the left flank, often in partnership with an overlapping full-back, was a key aspect of his game. His directness and shot power made him a fan favorite and a valuable asset to his teams, capable of changing the course of a match with a single strike.

5.2. Cultural References

Laurent Robert's memorable goals and distinctive playing style have earned him a place in popular culture, notably being featured in the "Goal!" film series. In the first film, Goal!, Robert's actual goal against Liverpool from the 2004-05 season at St James' Park is famously used as the winning goal. The scene depicts the fictional character Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker) striking the ball, and it then seamlessly transitions to footage of Robert's free kick finding the top corner of the net. In the sequel, Goal! 2: Living the Dream..., Robert's spectacular overhead kick goal against Fulham is featured as one of Muñez's goals at the beginning of the movie, further cementing his iconic moments in cinematic football history.

7.1. Club Statistics

7.2. International Statistics