Stéphane Pierre Yves Guivarc'h (born 6 September 1970) is a French former professional footballer who played as striker. He featured in the France squad that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
His early career was spent in France with the Breton clubs Stade Brestois and En Avant Guingamp before moving to AJ Auxerre, where he won Division 1 in 1996. He returned to Brittany with Stade Rennais with whom he won Ligue 1's Golden Boot. At a second spell at Auxerre he retained the Golden Boot in Division 1 and also won the Golden Boot for the 1997âÂÂ98 UEFA Cup. That summer he started in the World Cup Final.
Guivarc'h left France for Newcastle United of the Premier League after the World Cup but left after three months having failed to make an impact at St James' Park. He finished the season at Rangers of the Scottish Premier League with medals in the league and Scottish League Cup, of which he scored in the final. He then returned to Auxerre before retiring after the 2001âÂÂ02 season with En Avant Guingamp.
Guivarc'h was born in Concarneau, Finistère.
Guivarc'h's career started at the Breton club Stade Brestois in 1989. In 1991, he moved to another club in the region, En Avant Guingamp, where his goalscoring rate was better than one every two games (68 in 110 league games), prompting a move to AJ Auxerre in 1995. He played for the club as they won a double of Ligue 1 and Coupe de France in 1995âÂÂ96, under manager Guy Roux, but only scored three goals in 23 league appearances. After a season at Auxerre, he returned to a third Breton club, Stade Rennais for a single season, where he won the Ligue 1 Golden Boot for 22 goals in 36 appearances.
Guivarc'h's Golden Boot-winning season prompted a return to Auxerre only one year after leaving them. He retained the Division 1 Golden Boot, rewarded for 21 goals in 32 league appearances.
Guivarc'h scored nine times as he helped Auxerre win the 1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup to earn a spot in the 1997âÂÂ98 UEFA Cup where he netted seven times to earn its Golden Boot. The first goal came in the First Round's First leg against Deportivo La Coruña of Spain in a 2âÂÂ1 win. The second leg was goalless. In the second round against OFI of Greece, he scored twice in the home leg in a 3âÂÂ1 victory (Antoine Sibierski got the other goal) and once in the second in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat (5âÂÂ4 on aggregate). In the third round's second leg against Twente Enschede of the Netherlands, he scored an 82nd-minute penalty in the 2âÂÂ0 victory at home to send Auxerre through 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
In the quarter-finals against Lazio of Italy, Auxerre lost the first leg 1âÂÂ0 away. In the second leg Guivarc'h struck twice in a 2âÂÂ2 draw which meant that Lazio advanced 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate.
Guivarc'h was signed for Newcastle United by their manager Kenny Dalglish in the 1998 close season. He played only four league games, despite scoring on his debut against Liverpool, and then was sold to Rangers for ã3.5m on 6 November 1998 by new manager Ruud Gullit.
At Rangers he won the treble under Dick Advocaat: the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. Two days after signing, he scored two goals away at St Johnstone after coming on as a substitute in a 7âÂÂ0 win. He also scored two away at Heart of Midlothian in a 3âÂÂ2 win. He scored Rangers' first in the League Cup final versus St Johnstone, which they won 2âÂÂ1.
After only one season at Rangers he joined Auxerre for a third spell, then for his final season as a professional returned to Guingamp once more. During his two spells at the Breton club he scored 69 goals, a club record.
Guivarc'h made 14 appearances for France between 1997 and 1999; his only international goal came on his debut, in a 2âÂÂ1 home victory in a friendly against South Africa on 11 October 1997. As a result of his domestic goalscoring record Guivarc'h was selected as the lone striker in the World Cup winning France team of 1998, with the tournament being held on home soil. Despite going scoreless throughout the competition, he played an important role in the team's victory by creating space with his movements and pressing defenders with his work-rate; his role in the team has been retroactively compared to Olivier Giroud's in France's 2018 FIFA World Cup victory. He was given the number 9 shirt by manager Aimé Jacquet and appeared in six of France's seven matches throughout the tournament. In the opening 3âÂÂ0 victory over South Africa Guivarc'h was substituted for Christophe Dugarry in the 29th minute. He did not play at all in the following 4âÂÂ0 victory over Saudi Arabia. He appeared as an 85th minute substitute for David Trezeguet in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Denmark in the final group stage match.
In the round of 16 against Paraguay he was substituted on in the 76th minute for his Auxerre teammate Bernard Diomède; France went on to win the match 1âÂÂ0 after extra-time with a Golden goal from Laurent Blanc. Guivarc'h was yellow carded in the quarter-final against Italy and substituted in the 65th minute along with Christian Karembeu for Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet; France would win the match on penalties following a 0âÂÂ0 draw after extra-time. In the semi-final versus Croatia Guivarc'h was again substituted for Trezeguet in the 68th minute as France won 2âÂÂ1.
Guivarc'h would start in the final against Brazil and was substituted off in the 66th minute for Christophe Dugarry as France won 3âÂÂ0.
On 13 November 1999 Guivarc'h played his final international match, playing the opening 45 minutes in a 3âÂÂ0 victory over Croatia in an international friendly.
Guivarc'h was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1998 after the World Cup victory.
Since retirement as a player, Guivarc'h has returned to his hometown of Concarneau and become a swimming pool salesman. He is married and has three children.
Despite the criticism, France's World Cup-winning manager Aimé Jacquet supported Guivarc'h's performances for his ability to contribute as a pivot despite not scoring in the tournament. He remains incredulous that the striker is perceived as a flop.
Auxerre
Rangers
France
Individual
Orders