Stéphane Dalmat
Encyclopedia
Stéphane Dalmat is a French
footballer who plays as a midfielder
for French club Rennes. Dalmat is a very versatile player who can occupy a variety of positions on the midfield. His good ball control and dribbling ability has often seen managers use him wide on the left of midfield. Despite being left footed, he is comfortable with either foot.
, which was lost 2–1 on 30 August in 1997. He performed well with Châteauroux, and soon a big change was to happen.
He was snapped up by Lens
in 1998–99, playing as an attacking central midfielder and earned favourable comparisons to Zinedine Zidane
. He quickly moved on to Marseille
but, after a dodgy season for the team – where he was often used out of position at left back by a coach he did not get on with, he moved on to Paris Saint-Germain. There he formed a midfield alongside Ali Benarbia
and Laurent Robert
. After a new coach was installed Dalmat found himself being moved on to Internazionale.
Two-and-a-half seasons of frustration at Inter, during which time he never succeeded in securing an extended run in the team, were followed by a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur
for the rest of the 2003–04
season, for what looked like an ideal replacement for Christian Ziege
. The playmaker’s fortunes did not get much better at White Hart Lane where, despite winning over the Spurs fans with some dynamic performances, he did not win over the confidence of then Coach David Pleat
.
His debut for Spurs came on 13 September 2003 as a substitute in a 4–2 defeat at Chelsea
. However, he suffered with injuries for most of the season. The highlight of his spell at Spurs was scoring a brace in the 4–1 win over Birmingham in January 2004. He scored one other league goal for Spurs, in the 5–2 win over Wolves in December 2003.
Dalmat's performances in the first three months of the 2003–04 season impressed many but off the field his attitude convinced Tottenham not to make his move permanent.
On his arrival at Toulouse
in the summer of 2004, the midfielder declared his reasons behind the switch: “Playing for Toulouse will be a beautiful adventure from both a human and sporting point of view.” Dalmat was outstanding in the early weeks of his Toulouse spell, starting games on the left flank and striking up an understanding with his good friend from his days at Lens, French forward Daniel Moreira
.
Relief at rediscovering the sort of form that attracted Inter three years ago disappeared in October 2004, when he fractured a bone in his foot in a friendly match against Nantes
. Just days before the injury, Toulouse defender Lucien Aubey
had said prophetically: “Some of the players are exhausted because we’ve been playing a match every three days. A guy like Dalmat, who hasn’t played much in recent months, must find it especially hard.”
Dalmat returned to play in the last few months of the season, but Toulouse's bid to seal a European finish had floundered in the absence of Dalmat and Moreira, both of whom missed a large portion of the season through injury.
On 13 July 2005, Racing de Santander
announced the signing of Dalmat, on a free transfer signing a five-year deal. Santander followed up his capture with that of his brother Wilfried
, who followed Stéphane to El Sardinero
, penning a season-long deal.
However, the French midfielder did not have the expected impact at Racing many hoped. The brothers sustained criticism from president Manuel Huerta after returning from their Christmas holidays four days late. The attack on their attitudes appeared to have hastened their exit from the La Liga
outfit, but neither were sold by the club during the January 2006 transfer window.
On August 14, 2006 Stéphane Dalmat returned to France signing for Bordeaux
on a free transfer. Stéphane Dalmat has since moved again on another free transfer to Sochaux
.
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 plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for French club Rennes. Dalmat is a very versatile player who can occupy a variety of positions on the midfield. His good ball control and dribbling ability has often seen managers use him wide on the left of midfield. Despite being left footed, he is comfortable with either foot.
Club career
Dalmat's first professional match was for Châteauroux against CannesAS 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...
, which was lost 2–1 on 30 August in 1997. He performed well with Châteauroux, and soon a big change was to happen.
He was snapped up by 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...
in 1998–99, playing as an attacking central midfielder and earned favourable comparisons to Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
. He quickly moved on to Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
but, after a dodgy season for the team – where he was often used out of position at left back by a coach he did not get on with, he moved on to Paris Saint-Germain. There he formed a midfield alongside Ali Benarbia
Ali Benarbia
Ali Benarbia is a retired Algerian footballer.-Career:Benarbia moved to France at a young age and began his career at FC Martigues in 1985. He was part of the side that was promoted to Ligue 1 in 1993, operating as a midfielder....
and Laurent Robert
Laurent Robert
Laurent Robert is a former French footballer. He was a left winger, and has played for the French national football team....
. After a new coach was installed Dalmat found himself being moved on to Internazionale.
Two-and-a-half seasons of frustration at Inter, during which time he never succeeded in securing an extended run in the team, were followed by a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for the rest of the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season, for what looked like an ideal replacement for Christian Ziege
Christian Ziege
Christian Ziege is a former German football defender and midfielder. With the German national team, Ziege won Euro 96. An attacking left wingback, Ziege was considered a dead-ball specialist.-Club career:...
. The playmaker’s fortunes did not get much better at White Hart Lane where, despite winning over the Spurs fans with some dynamic performances, he did not win over the confidence of then Coach David Pleat
David Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
.
His debut for Spurs came on 13 September 2003 as a substitute in a 4–2 defeat at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. However, he suffered with injuries for most of the season. The highlight of his spell at Spurs was scoring a brace in the 4–1 win over Birmingham in January 2004. He scored one other league goal for Spurs, in the 5–2 win over Wolves in December 2003.
Dalmat's performances in the first three months of the 2003–04 season impressed many but off the field his attitude convinced Tottenham not to make his move permanent.
On his arrival at Toulouse
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
in the summer of 2004, the midfielder declared his reasons behind the switch: “Playing for Toulouse will be a beautiful adventure from both a human and sporting point of view.” Dalmat was outstanding in the early weeks of his Toulouse spell, starting games on the left flank and striking up an understanding with his good friend from his days at Lens, French forward Daniel Moreira
Daniel Moreira
Daniel Moreira is a former French footballer. He played as a striker.Moreira started his career with Valenciennes FC before moving to Guingamp. He finished as the runners-up of the 1997 Coupe de France playing for them....
.
Relief at rediscovering the sort of form that attracted Inter three years ago disappeared in October 2004, when he fractured a bone in his foot in a friendly match against Nantes
FC Nantes Atlantique
Football Club de Nantes is a French association football club based in Nantes, Pays de la Loire. The club was founded on 21 April 1943, during World War II, as a result of local clubs based in the city coming together to form one big club. From 1992–2007, the club was referred to as FC Nantes...
. Just days before the injury, Toulouse defender Lucien Aubey
Lucien Aubey
Lucien Yann Sherril Aubey is a Congolese football defender, who currently plays for Stade de Reims.-Career:...
had said prophetically: “Some of the players are exhausted because we’ve been playing a match every three days. A guy like Dalmat, who hasn’t played much in recent months, must find it especially hard.”
Dalmat returned to play in the last few months of the season, but Toulouse's bid to seal a European finish had floundered in the absence of Dalmat and Moreira, both of whom missed a large portion of the season through injury.
On 13 July 2005, Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
announced the signing of Dalmat, on a free transfer signing a five-year deal. Santander followed up his capture with that of his brother Wilfried
Wilfried Dalmat
Wilfried Dalmat is a French footballer. He currently plays in Turkey for Orduspor.-Career:Dalmat started his career in the youth team of U.S. Chambray-les-Tours. In 1996 he moved to FC Nantes, where he was hired in 2000 to the first team. In his first season was champion Nantes in France...
, who followed Stéphane to El Sardinero
El Sardinero
Sardinero may refer to:*Estadio El Sardinero, a sports stadium in Santander, Cantabria, Spain*Sardinero, a beach in Santander, Cantabria, Spain...
, penning a season-long deal.
However, the French midfielder did not have the expected impact at Racing many hoped. The brothers sustained criticism from president Manuel Huerta after returning from their Christmas holidays four days late. The attack on their attitudes appeared to have hastened their exit from the La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
outfit, but neither were sold by the club during the January 2006 transfer window.
On August 14, 2006 Stéphane Dalmat returned to France signing for Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
on a free transfer. Stéphane Dalmat has since moved again on another free transfer to Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
.