Grégory Wimbée
Encyclopedia
Grégory Wimbée is a retired French
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
's youth system and serving a loan to Ligue 2
side OFC Charleville
, Wimbée became an undisputed starter for the former, helping it achieve promotion to the top level
. On 28 November 1996, in his first top flight season, he scored a last-minute goal
with his right foot, from a corner
, in a 1–1 home draw against RC Lens
, becoming the first (and only) goalkeeper to have scored in the competition's history.
After an unassuming year with AS Cannes
, Wimbée moved to Lille OSC
, helping it to another promotion and into the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, the first-ever participation in the competition
for the Nord-Pas de Calais
outfit. During six seasons, he was an automatic first-choice.
After two seasons and a further 67 first division matches with FC Metz
, Wimbée joined Grenoble Foot 38
in 2006, playing 36 games in 2007–08, a season which again ended in promotion, as Grenoble returned to the first division after a 45-year absence.
On 24 August 2009, Wimbée, aged 38, signed a one-year contract with fellow league side Valenciennes FC
. During the season
, as the club finished exactly in 10th position, he played only once, in a 1–3 home loss against FC Toulouse, on 16 January 2010, renewing his link in July for one more season.
After no additional league appearances, Wimbée retired from professional football in June 2011, two months shy of his 40th birthday.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Football career
After graduating from AS Nancy-LorraineAS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
's youth system and serving a loan to Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
side OFC Charleville
OFC Charleville
Olympique Football Club de Charleville-Mézières is a French football team from the city of Charleville-Mézières, Ardennes, currently playing in Division d'honneur .-History:...
, Wimbée became an undisputed starter for the former, helping it achieve promotion to the top level
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. On 28 November 1996, in his first top flight season, he scored a last-minute goal
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
with his right foot, from a corner
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
, in a 1–1 home draw against RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, becoming the first (and only) goalkeeper to have scored in the competition's history.
After an unassuming year with AS Cannes
AS Cannes
Association Sportive de Cannes Football is a French association football club based in Cannes. The club was formed 1902 as a sports club and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. Cannes plays its home matches at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin...
, Wimbée moved to Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
, helping it to another promotion and into the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, the first-ever participation in the competition
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
for the Nord-Pas de Calais
Nord-Pas de Calais
Nord-Pas de Calais , Nord for short, is one of the 27 regions of France. It consists of the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, in the north and has a border with Belgium. Most of the region was once part of the Southern Netherlands, within the Low Countries, and gradually became part of France...
outfit. During six seasons, he was an automatic first-choice.
After two seasons and a further 67 first division matches with FC Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
, Wimbée joined Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger...
in 2006, playing 36 games in 2007–08, a season which again ended in promotion, as Grenoble returned to the first division after a 45-year absence.
On 24 August 2009, Wimbée, aged 38, signed a one-year contract with fellow league side Valenciennes FC
Valenciennes FC
Valenciennes Football Club is a French association football club based in Valenciennes. The club was founded in 1913 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Valenciennes plays its home matches at the recently-built Stade du Hainaut located within the city...
. During the season
2009–10 Ligue 1
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated...
, as the club finished exactly in 10th position, he played only once, in a 1–3 home loss against FC Toulouse, on 16 January 2010, renewing his link in July for one more season.
After no additional league appearances, Wimbée retired from professional football in June 2011, two months shy of his 40th birthday.