Andre-Pierre Gignac

André-Pierre Gignac is a striker at Marseille. He was born on 5 December 1985 in Martigues.

André’s youth career began in 1990 when he joined Fos; he was playing for the youth team until 1995. In 1995 André-Pierre transferred to Martigues academy where he spent 7 years until 2002. In 2002 scouts came to the Martigues academy base to a tryout of young talents. André-Pierre was selected and offered to attend Lorient academy. Gignac was being trained at the club’s academy up to 2004 when he finished his youth career.

In 2004 André signed the first professional three-year contract in his life with Lorient where he had previously been trained. However, André stayed with the club for one season only. In 2005 Lorient’s management resolved to loan the player to Pau. In the 2005/06 season André appeared in 18 matches for the temporary club scoring 8 goals.

The coach started getting him involved in the first squad games after André’s return to Lorient. André played 51 match for the club and netted 11 goals altogether.

In 2007 André-Pierre was offered to transfer to Toulouse; later he signed a three-year contract with the club. The transfer fee made €4.5 million. The head coach let the French striker feature in almost every match during the three years that Gignac spent in the club. André took part in 98 matches scoring 34 goals over three seasons.

In 2010 André moved to Marseille. The transfer made €17 million. Gignac is currently playing for the club; he has already participated in 50 matches.

Since 2009 André has been invited to play for the French national team 16 times scoring 4 goals.