Nicolas Benezet
Nicolas Benezet (born 24 February 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. He plays as an attacking midfielder and is known for his positional versatility and small frame.[1]
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicolas Benezet | ||
| Date of birth | 24 February 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Montpellier, France | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Colorado Rapids | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2004 | Montpellier | ||
| 2004–2010 | Nîmes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Nîmes | 90 | (18) |
| 2013–2015 | Évian | 40 | (3) |
| 2015 | → Caen (loan) | 12 | (4) |
| 2015–2020 | Guingamp | 78 | (11) |
| 2019 | → Toronto FC (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 2020– | Colorado Rapids | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011 | France U20 | 3 | (2) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 October 2019 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 August 2014 | |||
Club career
France
Born in Montpellier, Benezet played in the youth academy of Montpellier before signing with Nîmes in 2004.[1] He made his professional debut in the 2010–11 season on 15 October 2010 in a league match against Istres appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw.[2] On 8 December 2010, he signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal with Nîmes.[3] Two days later, he rewarded Nîmes by scoring his first professional goal in a 3–2 victory over Istres in the Coupe de France.[2] On 21 December, he scored his first professional league goal in a 2–0 win against Metz.[4]
At the end of the 2012–13 season, top-flight clubs Sochaux-Montbéliard and Evian Thonon Gaillard showed interest in signing him[5] and in July 2013, Benezet joined Evian.[6]
On 3 July 2015, Benezet signed for En Avant de Guingamp.
Major League Soccer
In July 2019, following Guingamp's relegation from Ligue 1, Benezet joined Major League Soccer club Toronto FC on loan for the remainder of their season, with the club holding an option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the loan, which would be triggered automatically if he started six regular season matches (he ultimately started five).[7][8] Toronto chose not to acquire him permanently after the loan due to a lack of salary cap space after the re-signing of Michael Bradley.[9]
In January, he returned to MLS, signing with Colorado Rapids, who paid a $500,000 transfer fee to Guingamp for him, after acquiring his MLS rights from Toronto in a trade.[10][11]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National[nb 1] | Other[nb 2] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nîmes | 2010–11 | Ligue 2 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| 2011–12 | Championnat National | 34 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 | |
| 2012–13 | Ligue 2 | 33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 9 | |
| Total | 90 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 19 | ||
| Évian | 2013–14 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
| 2014–15 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 7 | ||
| Total | 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
| Caen (loan) | 2014–15 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| Total | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | ||
| Guingamp | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 |
| 2016–17 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| Total | 78 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 13 | ||
| Toronto FC (loan) | 2019 | MLS | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 3 |
| Total | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 140 | 25 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 161 | 28 | ||
Notes
- Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions, Canadian Championship
- Includes MLS Cup Playoffs
References
- "Nicolas Benezet vrai feu follet". Midi Libre. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Istres v. Nîmes Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 15 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Nicolas Benezet passe pro" (in French). Foot-National. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Nîmes v. Istres CDF Match Report" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Le Nîmois Nicolas Benezet affirme avoir signé à Evian/Thonon". Fabrice Dubault (in French). France 3. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- "Officiel : Nicolas Benezet s'engage pour 4 ans !". Official site (in French). Evian Thonon Gaillard FC. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- "Toronto FC Acquire Nicolas Benezet on Loan". torontofc.ca. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- John Jacques (28 December 2019). "Benezet Left Feeling Betrayed By Toronto FC". northerntribune.ca.
- "Toronto FC narrowing search for next Designated Player, unlikely to bring Benezet back". mlssoccer.com. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- "Sources: Colorado Rapids sign ex-Toronto FC winger Nicolas Benezet". mlssoccer.com. 12 January 2020.
- "Colorado Rapids acquire French winger Nicolas Benezet". coloradorapids.com. 14 January 2020.
- "Nicolas BENEZET - Football : la fiche de Nicolas BENEZET (Guingamp)". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- "N. Benezet". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
External links
- Nicolas Benezet – French league stats at LFP (also available in French)
- Nicolas Benezet at L'Équipe Football (in French)