Lionel Carole

Lionel

Carole in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Lionel Jules Carole [1]
Date of birth	(1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 32) [2]
Place of birth	Montreuil, France
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	Kayserispor
Number	23
Youth career
1997–2000	SFC Neuilly sur Marne
2000–2005	Villemomble Sports
2005–2006	Lusitanos Saint-Maur
2006–2007	UJA Alfortville
2007–2010	Nantes
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2011	Nantes	14	(0)
2011–2013	Benfica	6	(0)
2011–2012	→ Sedan (loan)	14	(0)
2012–2013	Benfica B	39	(1)
2013–2015	Troyes	75	(0)
2015–2018	Galatasaray	44	(0)
2017–2018	→ Sevilla (loan)	6	(0)
2018–2021	Strasbourg	68	(0)
2021–	Kayserispor	76	(0)
International career
2008	France U17	1	(0)
2010–2012	France U20	8	(0)
2011	France U21	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 March 2024

Lionel Jules Carole (born 12 April 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a left back for Turkish club Kayserispor. He is a French youth international, having earned caps at under-17, under-20, and under-21 level.

Club career

Early career

Carole was born in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis to a French family of Martiniquais descent. ^[3] His career began with hometown club UJA Alfortville. In 2000, while playing in the club's youth academy, he suffered a debilitating injury to his right eye, after a ball struck him in the face. ^[4] The injury almost ended the player's career, however, his doctor gave him aerodynamic protective goggles to wear while playing, similar to former Dutch international Edgar Davids. ^[5]

Nantes

Carole joined Nantes in 2006 and was, surprisingly, promoted to the senior team by manager Baptiste Gentili for the 2010–11 season, despite not having a professional contract. ^[6] He made his professional debut on 17 August 2010, in a league match against Évian, appearing as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat. ^[7] In the team's following match against Laval, Carole started and played the entire match in a 0–0 draw. ^[8]

Benfica

On 14 January 2011, it was reported by the French and Portuguese media that Carole would be joining Portuguese club Benfica as a possible replacement for Fábio Coentrão, with the transfer set to occur in June 2011. ^{[9] [10]} The following day, Nantes chairman Waldemar Kita and manager Baptiste Gentili stated that they were informed by Carole that he would be signing a professional contract with the club. However, according to Gentili, the player informed him the next day that he would forgo signing a contract with Nantes and had already signed a pre-contract with Benfica. ^[11] On 25 January, Nantes confirmed that Carole had left the club to sign a five-and-a-half-year deal with Benfica. Nantes was compensated a "training fee" of €750,000 and will acquire 10% of any future fee Benfica receive for the player. ^[12]

Carole was assigned the number 24 shirt and made his club debut on 13 March 2011, in a league match against Portimonense. He started the match, but was substituted out after halftime in the match, which ended 1–1. ^[13] In the team's ensuing league match away to Paços de Ferreira, Carole started again and scored an own goal for the hosts. Benfica, however, won the match 5–1. ^[14] The defender featured in four more league matches in the season, all starts, as Benfica finished the campaign runner-up to champions Porto.

In the 2011–12 season, he was loaned to Sedan FC, acting mainly as a back-up. ^[15] In the 2012–2013 season, he played for the Benfica B team, being an undisputed starter and playing in 39 official games in the Segunda Liga, acting as centre-back on occasions. ^[16]

Troyes

On 9 July 2013, it was announced that Carole would be joining French club Troyes. ^[17]

Galatasaray

On 11 July 2015, Carole signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Galatasaray in a €1.5 million transfer fee. ^[18]

Sevilla (loan)

On 31 August 2017, Carole joined Spanish club Sevilla on a season-long loan deal with option to buy. ^[19]

Strasbourg

In August 2018, Carole returned to France, joining RC Strasbourg Alsace on a three-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Galatasaray was estimated at below €600,000. ^{[20] [21]}

International career

Carole has represented France internationally at under-17 and under-20 level. With the under-17 team, he made his youth international debut on 27 February 2008, in a friendly match against Belgium, appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw. ^[22] That was his only appearance with the team. Carole, subsequently, was not called up to play international football at under-18 or under-19 level. In 2010, after performing well domestically with Nantes, he was called up to represent the under-20 team in preparation for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Carole made his debut with the team on 16 November 2010, in a 1–0 victory over Montenegro. ^[23]

Despite still being eligible to represent France at under-20 level, on 3 February 2011, Carole was named to the under-21 team to play in a friendly match against Slovakia on 8 February. ^[24] He earned his first under-21 cap and start in the match against Slovakia, playing the entire match in a 3–1 win. ^[25] Carole returned to the under-20 team in May 2011, appearing in two friendly matches against the United States. In the following month, he appeared in two friendly matches with the under-21 team, before being summoned back to the under-20 team to participate in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his debut in the competition, appearing as a substitute in the team's 3–1 group stage win over South Korea. ^[26]

Career statistics

As of 1 July 2019 ^{[27] [28] [29]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup [lower-alpha 1]		Europe [lower-alpha 2]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nantes	2010–11	Ligue 2	14	0	2	0	0	0	16	0
Benfica	2010–11	Primeira Liga	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Benfica B	2012–13	Segunda Liga	39	1	0	0	0	0	39	1
Sedan (loan)	2011–12	Ligue 2	14	0	1	0	0	0	15	0
Troyes	2013–14	Ligue 2	38	0	7	0	0	0	45	0
	2014–15		37	0	3	0	0	0	40	0
	Total		75	0	10	0	0	0	85	0
Galatasaray	2015–16	Süper Lig	19	0	9	0	5	0	33	0
	2016–17		25	0	6	1	0	0	31	1
	Total		44	0	15	1	5	0	64	1
Sevilla (loan)	2017–18	La Liga	6	0	3	0	0	0	9	0
Strasbourg	2018–19	Ligue 1	23	0	4	0	1	0	28	0
Career total			221	1	35	1	8	0	264	2

Honours

Galatasaray

• Turkish Cup: 2015–16 ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Turkish Super Cup: 2015, 2016 ^{[ citation needed ]}

Notes

1. Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions, Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Turkish Cup, Turkish Super Cup
2. Includes UEFA Supercup

References

1. "Acta del Partido celebrado el 20 de diciembre de 2017, en San Sebastián-Donostia" [Minutes of the Match held on 20 December 2017, in San Sebastián-Donostia] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
2. "Lionel Carole". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
3. "Lionel Carole, ambitieux champion - Journal France-Antilles - Toute l'actualité de votre région en Martinique - FranceAntilles.fr". France-Antilles Martinique. 3 May 2015.
4. "Lionel Carole Player Profile" (in French). Tutti-Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
5. "Lionel Carole, une jeune pousse très en vue" (in French). 20 Minutes. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
6. "L. Carole: "Je pense d'abord a progresser"" (in French). FC Nantes. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
7. "Nantes v. Évian Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
8. "Laval v. Nantes Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
9. "Carole tem pré-acordo por 5 épocas" (in Portuguese). Record. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
10. "Carole à Benfica en juin" (in French). Sports.fr. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
11. "Carole à Benfica en juin, Gentili l'écarte" (in French). Ouest-France. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
12. "L.Carole au Benfica". L'Équipe (in French). 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
13. "Benfica 1–1 Portimonense" (in Portuguese). ZeroZeroFootball. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
14. "P. Ferreira 1–5 Benfica" (in Portuguese). ZeroZeroFootball. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
15. "Benfica Loaned Carole To Sedan!!". portufutebol.blogspot.pt. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013.
16. "Lionel Carole". football-lineups.com.
17. "Carole deixa o Benfica e assina pelo Troyes" (in Portuguese). MaisFutebol. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
18. "Lionel Carole Galatasaray'da" (in Turkish). Galatasaray. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
19. "Lionel Carole llega para reforzar el lateral izquierdo" [Lionel Carole arrives to reinforce the left back] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
20. "Carole arrive pour trois ans". L'Alsace (in French). 16 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
21. "Lionel Carole débarque à Strasbourg". L'Équipe (in French). 17 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
22. "Score de parité (0-0)" (in French). French Football Federation. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
23. "France v. Montenegro Match Report" (in French). French Football Federation. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
24. "Kakuta et Varane avec les Espoirs" (in French). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 3 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
25. "France 3–1 Slovaquie" (in French). French Football Federation. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
26. "France 3–1 South Korea". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
27. "Lionel Carole » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
28. "L. Carole". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
29. "Lionel CAROLE - Football : la fiche de Lionel CAROLE (Séville FC)". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2018.

External links

• Lionel Carole – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
• Lionel Carole at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Lionel Carole at Soccerway