Lionel Letizi

Lionel Letizi (born 28 May 1973) is a former French professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Lionel Letizi
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-05-28) 28 May 1973
Place of birth Nice, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1989–1992 Nice
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1996 Nice 107 (0)
1996–2000 Metz 131 (0)
2000–2006 Paris Saint-Germain 145 (0)
2006–2007 Rangers 7 (0)
2007–2011 Nice 30 (0)
Total 420 (0)
International career
1996 France Olympic 4 (0)
1997–2001 France 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

France

Born in Nice, Letizi took his first steps as a professional player with OGC Nice where his team won the French second division in 1994. Upon reaching the French first division he was observed by a number of football clubs before joining FC Metz in 1996. At this new club, he and his team became runner-ups in the French first division in 1998 and finalists of the French League Cup in 1999. The chance to take a step up arrived when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2000, which enabled him to play in the Champions’ League. He remained first choice at PSG for 6 years, but the signing of Mickael Landreau instigated his leave.

Move to Scotland

On 16 June 2006, he moved to Rangers FC on a free transfer.[1]

On 13 August 2006, his blunder led directly to a 1–1 draw with Dunfermline.[2] Letizi soon redeemed himself in the next game, which saw Rangers achieve a 2–0 win against the Hearts. Unfortunately for the team, this match resulted in an injury for Letizi. After two months on the sidelines, Letizi controversially made an automatic return to the side despite impressive performances from his replacement Allan McGregor.

Manager Paul Le Guen had made it clear at the start of the season that Letizi was going to be number one, which was not entirely unexpected. But the decision was soon put under dubious light when a fumble on the 14 October 2006 gave Inverness Caledonian Thistle an unforeseen 1–0 win at Ibrox Stadium, and left Rangers 10 points behind Celtic after just ten Scottish Premier League matches.[3]

After the departure of Le Guen, Letizi's future at Rangers was uncertain and he was released from the club on the 30 January 2007 having featured in just eight matches during his six-month stay.[4] He then played for OGC Nice until his retirement in 2011.[5]

International career

While capped four times for the French national team, he never managed to displace Fabien Barthez. He was in France's preliminary squad of 28 players for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in his native country. However, he was one of 6 players removed from the tournament by head coach Aime Jacquet just before the tournament began. France went on to be victorious in the tournament and become national heroes.[6]

Trivia

His father Alain Letizi was also a goalkeeper and played for AS Cannes.

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[7]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nice 1993–94 Division 2 360––360
1994–95 Division 1 37010–380
1995–96 34030–370
Total 107040001110
Metz 1996–97 Division 1 3203050400
1997–98 3405040430
1998–99 3408040460
1999–00 3103060400
Total 13101901901690
Paris Saint-Germain 2000–01 Division 1 25010120380
2001–02 28030120430
2002–03 Ligue 1 260–60320
2003–04 6060–120
2004–05 3301060400
2005–06 27040–310
Total 14501503601960
Rangers 2006–07 SPL 70–1080
Nice 2006–07 Ligue 1 10––10
2007–08 10040–140
2008–09 13040–170
2009–10 2010–30
2010–11 4050–90
Total 30014000440
Career total 42005205605280
  1. Includes Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.
  2. Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and UEFA Intertoto-Cup.


Honours

Club

Nice

Metz

Paris Saint-Germain

References
  1. "Letizi completes move to Rangers". BBC Sport website. 16 June 2006.
  2. "Dunfermline Ath 1-1 Rangers". BBC. 13 August 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  3. "Rangers 0–1 Inverness CT". BBC Sport website. 14 October 2006.
  4. "Keeper Letizi released by Rangers". BBC Sport website. 30 January 2007.
  5. "Lionel LETIZI". Ligue 1. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  6. "FRANCE AXE ANELKA; Gunners kid out of this world". thefreelibrary.com. 24 May 1998. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  7. Lionel Letizi at WorldFootball.net
  8. "Brescia, sogno finito il Psg va in Uefa". Repubblica.it. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  9. "Résultat et résumé Paris-SG - Châteauroux, Coupe de France, Finale, Samedi 29 Mai 2004". lequipe.fr. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  10. "Marseille 1-2 Paris SG". leballonrond.fr. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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