Breaking moulds & bursting nets: The story of Andre-Pierre Gignac

Former France international is currently starring for the Tigres in the Club World Cup in Qatar, where the Mexicans reached the final. But how did a Frenchman end up playing for a Liga MX team?

Andre-Pierre Gignac, a burly striker of 35 years, was once released by his club because he was too thin and weak. Oh, how things change in football. Having been shown the door by his hometown club FC Martigues as a youngster, he moved far away from home to FC Lorient where he became a pro in 2004. Strong showings with Lorient and Toulouse saw him move to arguably the biggest club in the country – Olympique de Marseille in 2010, having just represented his homeland at the 2010 World Cup.

Lewandowski's double against Al Ahly fires Bayern to World Cup final

It’s a pretty regular story up to this point, isn’t it? A player makes his way up from a small club to a bigger one, he gets called up to play for the national team and earns a transfer to an even bigger club where he becomes a full-fledged star. But what happens next? A new contract or a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs for a ridiculous fee? Usually. But Gignac is anything but.

After his Marseille contract expired, Andre-Pierre did the unthinkable. He signed for a club in Mexico. And he wasn’t a veteran when he did this either. At 29, he was in his prime, having just ended a season strongly in Ligue 1. He could pretty much choose any league or club to join next. And he picked Tigres UANL.

How does one become a club legend? By scoring goals? Winning trophies? Sure, it helps – but it’s not all that matters. To become a hero, you have to be accepted and loved by the supporters. And to say that the charismatic Frenchman is loved by Tigres fans would be an understatement. After spending five years in the city of Leon, he is no longer a Gringo (a stranger), but one of their own. Dependable, modest, hard-working, fearless and absolutely devastating in front of the goal. Scoring 147 goals in 246 games for the club on the way to four national titles and a number of cups, immersing himself in the Mexican culture and lifestyle and applying for Mexican citizenship for his children certainly made Gignac a legend for the Golden Blues of Leon.

“It gives me great pride to be like a new Mexican, because my son was born here in Monterrey and, hopefully, I will obtain Mexican nationality soon. It would make me so proud, because I feel at home here, I feel good and so does my family. Living and playing here has made my whole family so happy and contented. I hope I can stay in Monterrey and in Mexico for many more years to come.”

While a number of ex-top European football stars head to North America or Asia for the money and early retirement, the man who played for Les Bleus 36 times is not one of them. Nearly six years after leaving Marseille and Europe behind, he continues to thrive in Liga MX.

The French hitman scored three goals in the competition so far as Tigres overcame Korean club Ulsan Hyundai and Palmeiras to reach FIFA Club World Cup final against the tournament favourites FC Bayern. Whatever happens on Thursday, Andre-Pierre Gignac will still be universally adored in his adopted homeland.

FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020

PRE-ROUNDS

Tuesday, 4 February

Tigres UANL – Ulsan Hyundai 2-1 (2-1)

/Gignac 38, 45 pen – Ki-Hee 24/

Al Duhail – Al Ahly 0-1 (0-1)

/El Shahat 30/

SEMI-FINALS

Sunday, 7 February

Palmeiras – Tigres UANL 0-1 (0-0)

/Gignac 54 pen/

Monday, 8 February

Al Ahly – Bayern 0-2 (0-1)

/Lewandowski 17, 86/

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF

Thursday, 11 February

18.00: Palmeiras - Al Ahly

FINAL

Thursday, 11 February

21.00: Tigres UANL - Bayern