Cédric Roussel

Cédric Roussel (6 January 1978 – 24 June 2023) was a Belgian professional footballer who played as a forward.[1]

For the French politician, see Cédric Roussel (politician).

Cédric Roussel
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-01-06)6 January 1978
Place of birth Mons, Belgium
Date of death 24 June 2023(2023-06-24) (aged 45)
Place of death Mons, Belgium
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1998 La Louvière 107 (49)
1998–2000 Gent 32 (8)
1999–2000 → Coventry City (loan) 10 (2)
2000–2001 Coventry City 28 (6)
2001–2003 Wolverhampton Wanderers 25 (2)
2002–2003 → Mons (loan) 33 (22)
2003–2004 Genk 31 (14)
2004 Rubin Kazan 6 (1)
2004–2006 Standard Liège 15 (6)
2006 Zulte Waregem 14 (4)
2007 Brescia 3 (0)
2007–2010 Mons 43 (12)
2010 AEK Larnaca 0 (0)
2010 La Louvière 0 (0)
2010–2011 HSV Hoek 0 (0)
2011 RUS Beloeil
2012–2013 CS Entité Manageoise
2013 R.R.C Waterloo
International career
1993–1994 Belgium U16 4 (3)
1995–1996 Belgium U18 7 (5)
1995 Belgium U19 5 (0)
1997–1999 Belgium U21 12 (10)
2003 Belgium 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roussel started his professional football career in 1997 with Gent and later joined Premier League club Coventry City in 1999. Despite initial success, he struggled with injuries and was eventually sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played for various clubs, including Mons, Genk, Rubin Kazan, Standard Liège, Zulte Waregem, Brescia, and HSV Hoek, before retiring in 2015. Roussel made his first appearance for the Belgium national team in 2003. After retiring, he started a career in real estate.

Career

Early career

In 1997, Roussel took part in the FIFA World Youth Championship. In the season that followed the tournament, he was promoted to the Gent senior team.

Coventry City

Roussel signed a season-long loan deal for Premier League club Coventry City on 12 October 1999.[2] He made his debut on 16 October, during the 4–1 win over Newcastle United, coming on as a late substitute for Gary McAllister.[3] On 22 November 1999 he scored his first goal for the club, a header against Aston Villa at Highfield Road.[4] Having impressed during his initial loan spell, Coventry signed Roussel in January 2000 for a fee of £1.2 million,[5] despite "substantial" bids from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.[6] He finished his first season in the Premier League with six goals, including two goals in the 3–2 defeat to Manchester United in February 2000.[7] Roussel also formed a successful strike partnership with young Irishman Robbie Keane.[8] However, the following season he began to struggle on the goalscoring front, owing partly to injury setbacks.[9]

Midway through January 2001, with Coventry struggling in the league, a number of bids were made for Roussel's services, including one from Wimbledon.[10] After refusing to sign for Wimbledon,[11] he criticized the Coventry board for trying to use him as a makeweight in a deal to bring John Hartson to the club.[12] He was particularly critical of the club's chairman Bryan Richardson for forcing through the Wimbledon transfer, accusing him of not repaying the loyalty Roussel himself had shown in signing permanently for the club, despite interest from "several classier clubs."[13] Roussel would however later describe his time at Coventry as "the best part of my career."[14]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Roussel was eventually sold a few weeks later to the First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers, for a fee of "about £2m".[15] Generally disappointing at Molineux, he left after 18 months, having scored two goals in twenty five appearances. He was loaned out for the 2002–03 season to his hometown club Mons, who had recently been promoted to the Belgian Pro League. He finished the season as the division's joint top scorer with Wesley Sonck; both players scored 22 goals.

Genk and Rubin Kazan

His goalscoring form attracted interest from bigger clubs in the league and Roussel signed for Genk in 2003. His reputation in Belgian football increased and he made his first appearance for the Belgium national team in 2003. After just one season at Genk, in which he scored on thirteen occasions, he moved on again, this time signing for Rubin Kazan in Russia.

Standard Liège, Zulte Waregem and Brescia

Roussel never felt at home in Russia and returned to Belgium to play for Standard Liège. At Standard he struggled to break into the first team and after two unsuccessful years at the club he signed for Zulte Waregem. His time there was again short-lived and a year later he signed for Italian Serie B club Brescia. Roussel soon found himself frozen out at Brescia,[16] and the club became open to offers for him.

In August 2007, he spent a week on trial with Scottish Premier League club Dundee United but returned home without signing the agreed loan deal.[17]

Return to Mons

Roussel instead chose to return to his former club Mons, where he signed a three-year contract.[18]

In the lower leagues

On 25 November 2010, Roussel agreed with Dutch side HSV Hoek to play in the Topklasse. In August 2011 he moved to RUS Beloeil in Belgium.[19]

On 13 February 2015, Roussel announced his retirement from football at the age of 37.[20]

Outside football

Roussel had a son (born 2001) with former girlfriend Kirsty Wood.[21][22]

Following his retirement from football, Roussel began a career in real estate.[23]

Roussel died from a cardiac arrest on 24 June 2023, at the age of 45.[24] It was reported that Roussel had collapsed on a terrace in Mons, and paramedics were unable to revive him.[25][26]

References
  1. "Ex-Coventry and Wolves striker Roussel dies at 45". BBC Sport. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  2. "Cedric Roussel". 11v11. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. "Coventry City v Newcastle United, 16 October 1999". 11v11. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. "Keane extends Villa misery". BBC News. 22 November 1999. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. "Gordon Strachan's Transfer Record". cwn. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. "ROUSSEL ROULETTE; City hope to tie up deal but Leeds and Spurs hovering". Coventry Newspapers. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  7. "Manchester United v Coventry City, 05 February 2000". 11v11. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  8. "Roussel touched on emotional return to Sky Blues". Coventry Observer. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  9. "Roussel injury blow for Coventry". BBC Sport. 23 December 2000. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  10. Webster, Rupert. "WOULD COVENTRY RUE SALE OF CEDRIC?". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  11. "Wolves eye Roussel". BBC Sport. 30 January 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  12. "Roussel Rages At Sky Blues Board". cwn. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  13. "Roussel lifts lid on Coventry cash problems". The Guardian. 21 January 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  14. "PRESS WATCH: "It was a wonderful time and the best part of my career." – Former Coventry City star Cedric Roussel". Coventry City F.C. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  15. Smith, Peter (24 June 2023). "Former Coventry City striker Cedric Roussel dies at 45". CoventryLive. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  16. "Roussel set to reject Terrors". Eurosport. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  17. "Dundee Utd poised to sign striker". BBC Sport. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  18. "Roussel signs at Mons". La Dernière Heure. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  19. "Cédric Roussel signe dans une P1" (in French). RTBF.be. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  20. "Fin de carrière pour Cédric Roussel". Walfoot. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  21. "Lovely Kirsty got my life back on track; Striker Cedric's Tribute to Girlfriend". Sunday Mercury. 13 January 2002. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  22. "Cedric eyes City showdown". Coventry Telegraph. 16 August 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  23. "Cédric Roussel : toujours droit au but !". l'avenir. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  24. "Ex-Coventry and Wolves striker Roussel dies at 45". BBC Sport.
  25. "Voormalige goalgetter en Rode Duivel Cédric Roussel is op 45-jarige leeftijd overleden". sporza.be. 24 June 2023.
  26. "Ex-Premier League striker Cedric Roussel dies of a heart attack at just 45 years old". 24 June 2023.
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