Latest news with #Giroud
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
French striker Olivier Giroud parts ways with MLS club LAFC after disappointing year
Olivier Giroud is parting ways with Los Angeles FC after one disappointing year with the Major League Soccer (MLS) club. The 38-year-old Giroud and LAFC announced the decision on Friday on social media. He will play in his final match on Sunday night at home against Vancouver. After scoring only five goals in 37 matches for LAFC, Giroud will become a free agent after his departure. He is widely expected to join Lille, which finished fifth in the French league last season, on a free transfer. 'I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career,' Giroud said in a statement. 'I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in LA for me and my family.' Giroud joined LAFC in July 2024 as a designated player after a long European career highlighted by prolific tenures with Arsenal and Chelsea. The top goal-scorer in the history of France's national team was expected to provide dynamic offense alongside MLS stars and fellow Frenchmen Denis Bouanga and Hugo Lloris. Instead, Giroud clearly struggled to adapt to the MLS game and to LAFC's counter-attacking style under coach Steve Cherundolo. LAFC also failed to figure out ways to involve Giroud in the offense consistently, unable to provide service to one of the sport's most dangerous finishers earlier in his career. Giroud usually played as a substitute for LAFC, and he didn't score his first MLS goal until last April 19. He did find the net in big moments, scoring in the US Open Cup final last season and in the Leagues Cup final. 'Olivier has been an exemplary professional during his time at LAFC,' general manager John Thorrington said. 'He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped elevate everyone around him. Olivier has been a tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field. We are grateful for his contributions.' LAFC is suddenly a team in full transition after a winless three-game run at the Club World Cup earlier this month. Cherundolo already has announced he will leave the club to move back to Germany after the season, and LAFC could be down to Bouanga as its only designated player by next month. LAFC added Dutch winger Javairô Dilrosun on loan from Club América earlier this month, but the loan is only through July 24. Dilrosun replaced Cengiz Ünder, whose disappointing MLS tenure ended this month. LAFC's lengthy pursuit of Antoine Griezmann also came up fruitless earlier this month when the French star extended his contract with Atlético Madrid through 2027. LAFC (7-4-5) still sits sixth in the Western Conference standings with two or three games in hand on every club above it, and it has an infusion of cash from beating América in a play-in match to reach the Club World Cup.
Los Angeles Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Olivier Giroud parting ways with LAFC after disappointing stint with team
Olivier Giroud is parting ways with LAFC after one disappointing year with the club. The 38-year-old Giroud and LAFC announced the decision Friday on social media. He will play in his final match Sunday night at home against Vancouver. After scoring only five goals in 37 matches for LAFC, Giroud will become a free agent after his departure. He is widely expected to join Lille, which finished fifth in the French league last season, on a free transfer. 'I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career,' Giroud said in a statement. 'I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in LA for me and my family.' Giroud joined LAFC in July 2024 as a designated player after a long European career highlighted by prolific tenures with Arsenal and Chelsea. The top goal-scorer in the history of France's national team was expected to provide dynamic offense alongside MLS stars and fellow Frenchmen Denis Bouanga and Hugo Lloris. Instead, Giroud clearly struggled to adapt to the MLS game and to LAFC's counter-attacking style under coach Steve Cherundolo. LAFC also failed to figure out ways to involve Giroud in the offense consistently, unable to provide service to one of the sport's most dangerous finishers earlier in his career. Giroud usually played as a substitute for LAFC, and he didn't score his first MLS goal until last April 19. He did find the net in big moments, scoring in the U.S. Open Cup final last season and in the Leagues Cup final. 'Olivier has been an exemplary professional during his time at LAFC,' general manager John Thorrington said. 'He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped elevate everyone around him. Olivier has been a tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field. We are grateful for his contributions.' LAFC is suddenly a team in full transition after a winless three-game run at the Club World Cup earlier this month. Cherundolo already has announced he will leave the club to move back to Germany after the season, and LAFC could be down to Bouanga as its only designated player by next month. LAFC added Dutch winger Javairô Dilrosun on loan from Club América earlier this month, but the loan is only through July 24. Dilrosun replaced Cengiz Ünder, whose disappointing MLS tenure ended this month. LAFC's lengthy pursuit of Antoine Griezmann also came up fruitless earlier this month when the French star extended his contract with Atlético Madrid through 2027. LAFC (7-4-5) still sits sixth in the Western Conference standings with two or three games in hand on every club above it, and it has an infusion of cash from beating América in a play-in match to reach the Club World Cup. Beacham writes for the Associated Press.
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Report: Olivier Giroud terminating LAFC deal to join Lille
Los Angeles FC striker Olivier Giroud agreed to terminate his MLS contract and will return home to France to join Lille this summer, ESPN reported Friday. The 38-year-old former FIFA World Cup champion with France in 2018 is in his second season with LAFC and has six months remaining on his contract. Giroud's final match with LAFC will be on Sunday at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps and he will sign his deal with the Ligue 1 side next week, per the report. Giroud has recorded three goals and one assist in 10 MLS matches (five starts) this season. He tallied three assists in 10 matches (seven starts) after joining Los Angeles in 2024. In 37 appearances across all competitions with the club, he has five goals. Giroud has not played in Ligue 1 since 2012 with Montpellier. He followed that with stints in the Premier League at Arsenal (2012-18) and Chelsea (2018-21) and Italy's Serie A with AC Milan (2021-24). --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Boston Globe
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Olivier Giroud departing LAFC after less than a year in Major League Soccer, likely returning to France
'I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career,' Giroud said in a statement. 'I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in LA for me and my family.' Advertisement Giroud joined LAFC in July 2024 as a designated player after a long European career highlighted by prolific tenures with Arsenal and Chelsea. The top goal-scorer in the history of France's national team was expected to provide dynamic offense alongside MLS stars and fellow Frenchmen Denis Bouanga and Hugo Lloris. Instead, Giroud clearly struggled to adapt to the MLS game and to LAFC's counter-attacking style under coach Steve Cherundolo. LAFC also failed to figure out ways to involve Giroud in the offense consistently, unable to provide service to one of the sport's most dangerous finishers earlier in his career. Giroud usually played as a substitute for LAFC, and he didn't score his first MLS goal until last April 19. He did find the net in big moments, scoring in the US Open Cup final last season and in the Leagues Cup final. Advertisement 'Olivier has been an exemplary professional during his time at LAFC,' general manager John Thorrington said. 'He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped elevate everyone around him. Olivier has been a tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field. We are grateful for his contributions.' Related : LAFC, which makes a rare visit to Gillette Stadium to face the Revolution on Aug. 16, is suddenly a team in full transition after a winless three-game run at the Club World Cup earlier this month. Cherundolo already has announced he will leave the club to move back to Germany after the season, and LAFC could be down to Bouanga as its only designated player by next month. LAFC added Dutch winger Javairô Dilrosun on loan from Club América earlier this month, but the loan is only through July 24. Dilrosun replaced Cengiz Ünder, whose disappointing MLS tenure ended this month. A lengthy pursuit of Antoine Griezmann also came up fruitless earlier this month when the French star extended his contract with Atlético Madrid through 2027. LAFC (7-4-5) still sits sixth in the Western Conference standings with two or three games in hand on every club above it, and it has an infusion of cash from beating América in a play-in match to reach the Club World Cup.
UPI
8 hours ago
- Sport
- UPI
Soccer: LAFC, forward Olivier Giroud to part ways
LAFC signed forward Olivier Giroud (L) in 2024. Photo by Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE June 27 (UPI) -- LAFC and French forward Olivier Giroud agreed to part ways, they announced Friday. The MLS club signed Giroud in May 2024. He totaled five goals over 37 appearances. "Olivier has been an exemplary professional during his time at LAFC," LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. "He brought humility and a winning mentality that helped elevate everyone around him. Olivier has been a tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field. We are grateful for his contributions and wish him, his wife Jennifer, and his family all the very best in this next chapter." Giroud, 38, scored nearly 300 times over more than 700 appearances during his soccer tenure, which included stints with European clubs Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan. He also "I want to thank all of the fans, my teammates and the staff at LAFC for making this an enjoyable stop in my career," Giroud said. "I am happy to have played a part in the success of LAFC. From winning a trophy last season to participating in the Club World Cup, this has been a great experience in L.A. for me and my family." Giroud, who has been linked to a move to French Ligue 1 club Lille, will play his final match for LAFC against the Vancouver Whitecaps at 9:30 p.m. EDT Sunday in Los Angeles.
