Hugo Lloris

He is the new star in the French football galaxy. Hugo Lloris, goalkeeper with Olympique Lyon, has not only ensured France’s participation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa with his saves against Ireland. By an unbelievable reflex, which reminded of Oliver Kahn at his best, he also ascertained Lyon’s participation in the Champions League semi-finals three minutes from time against Girondins Bordeaux. After winning the first quarter-final leg 3-1 at home, Lyon would have been eliminated if they had lost 2-0 in Bordeaux.

Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Hugo LlorisAs conspicuous as the 23-year-old, who had earned nine caps by the beginning of May 2010, is on the pitch, he is shy in public. Prior to the first Champions League semi-final leg at Bayern Munich, he had to appear at the obligatory press conference on the day prior to the match. Level-headed, with well-considered but monotonous, smooth and controlled utterances, he said nothing with just a few words. After the 1-0 defeat at Munich’s Allianz Arena – where he also prevented a second Robben goal for Bayern – he argued with the referees, probably about the sending-off of Toulalan. Lloris speaks Italian. But he skilfully dribbled around the journalists waiting in the mixed zone.

Lloris is not a particularly strong football player, but his goalkeeping coach, former international Joel Bats, is working on that. In return Lloris skilfully avoids any questions about his future. His contract is running until 2012, and currently he does not deem it necessary to enter negotiations for a possible extension. It is known that Tottenham Hotspurs want him. It is also known that the club of his dreams is AC Milan.
Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Hugo LlorisHe could have landed there in 2008 if his predecessor in Lyon, then national goalkeeper Grégory Coupet, had not kept on at him. Consequently he moved to the Rhône when “OL” transferred 8.5 million Euros to his first professional club, OGC Nice. Should Lloris move on one day, 15 percent of the transfer sum above 8.5 million must still be paid to the Côte d’Azur. Lloris is the most expensive French goalkeeper of all times. Even Fabien Barthez, the famous “pate”, who was still in the French goal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, was not as expensive.