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Nicolas Benezet

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Nicolas Benezet
Benezet being interviewed in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-24) 24 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Montpellier, France
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1997–2004 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)
2020–2021 Colorado Rapids 22 (0)
2021 Seattle Sounders FC 13 (3)
2022–2023 Nîmes 21 (2)
2023 Le Grau-du-Roi
2023 Karmiotissa 4 (0)
2023–2024 Le Grau-du-Roi
2024– Olympique Alès 0 (0)
International career‡
2011 France U20 3 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:36, 14 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 August 2014 (UTC)

Nicolas Benezet (born 24 February 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Olympique Alès.

Club career

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France

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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 and Évian showed interest in signing him[5] and in July 2013, Benezet joined Evian.[6]

On 3 July 2015, Benezet signed for Guingamp.

Major League Soccer

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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, Benezet 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] He made his Rapids debut on 12 July against Real Salt Lake at the MLS is Back Tournament. he earned his first assist in Burgundy on Kellyn Acosta's opening goal against Sporting Kansas City on 17 July. Benezet finished the season with three assists among 13 appearances, including Colorado's first-round playoff loss at Minnesota United FC.[12]

On 5 August 2021, Benezet was traded to Seattle Sounders FC for $50,000 in general allocation money. He was signed through the end of the 2021 season, with an option for the 2022 season, primarily to provide depth for the team.[13][14] Benezet made his Sounders debut on 15 August in a 6–2 victory against the Portland Timbers, entering the match as a substitute and scoring in stoppage time.[15] Following the 2021 season, Seattle declined their contract option on Benezet.[16]

Return to France and spell in Cyprus

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In June 2022, Benezet returned to Nîmes and signed a one-year contract with the option to extend for three more seasons.[17]

In August 2023, Benezet signed for Régional 1 club Le Grau-du-Roi in order to train with the team while waiting for an offer from a professional club.[18] In late September, he signed a contract with Cypriot club Karmiotissa until the end of the season.[19] However, he terminated his contract with the club in early November, returning to Le Grau-du-Roi until the end of the season.[20]

On 30 August 2024, Benezet joined Championnat National 3 side Olympique Alès.[21]

Personal life

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Benezet is a noted fan of anime and manga, particularly Dragon Ball Z and One Piece.[14]

Benezet became a father in late 2023.[20] At that time, his wife's family resided in Le Grau-du-Roi.[18]

Career statistics

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As of 5 August 2021[22][23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nîmes 2010–11 Ligue 2 23 2 3 1 — 26 3
2011–12 Championnat National 34 7 0 0 — 34 7
2012–13 Ligue 2 33 9 3 0 — 36 9
Total 90 18 6 1 — 96 19
Évian 2013–14 Ligue 1 29 3 1 0 — 30 3
2014–15 11 0 1 0 — 12 7
Total 40 3 2 0 — 42 3
Caen (loan) 2014–15 Ligue 1 12 4 0 0 — 12 4
Guingamp 2015–16 Ligue 1 19 4 2 0 — 21 4
2016–17 5 1 2 1 — 7 2
2017–18 29 3 1 0 — 30 3
2018–19 25 3 3 0 — 28 3
Total 78 11 8 1 — 86 13
Toronto FC (loan) 2019 Major League Soccer 8 2 1 0 4 1 13 3
Colorado Rapids 2020 Major League Soccer 12 0 — 1 0 13 0
2021 11 0 — — 11 0
Total 23 0 0 0 1 0 24 0
Career total 163 25 17 2 5 1 185 28
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophée des Champions, Canadian Championship
  2. ^ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs

Honours

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Guingamp

References

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  1. ^ "Nicolas Benezet vrai feu follet" [Nicolas Benezet, real wisp] (in French). Midi Libre. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "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.
  3. ^ "Nicolas Benezet passe pro" [Nicolas Benezet goes pro] (in French). Foot-National. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Le Nîmois Nicolas Benezet affirme avoir signé à Evian/Thonon" [Nîmes Nicolas Benezet claims to have signed in Evian / Thonon]. Fabrice Dubault (in French). France 3. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Officiel : Nicolas Benezet s'engage pour 4 ans !" [Official=Nicolas Benezet is Committed for 4 Years!]. Official site (in French). Evian Thonon Gaillard FC. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Toronto FC Acquire Nicolas Benezet on Loan". torontofc.ca. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  8. ^ John Jacques (28 December 2019). "Benezet Left Feeling Betrayed By Toronto FC". northerntribune.ca.
  9. ^ "Toronto FC narrowing search for next Designated Player, unlikely to bring Benezet back". mlssoccer.com. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Sources: Colorado Rapids sign ex-Toronto FC winger Nicolas Benezet". mlssoccer.com. 12 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Colorado Rapids acquire French winger Nicolas Benezet". coloradorapids.com. 14 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Nicolas Benezet".
  13. ^ "Sounders FC adds Brazilian attacker Léo Chú and French winger Nicolas Benezet on transfer deadline day". Seattle Sounders FC. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (14 August 2021). "Newest Sounder Nicolas Benezet could make his debut in derby match vs. Timbers". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  15. ^ Hunte, Sydney (15 August 2021). "Recap: Portland Timbers 2, Seattle Sounders 6". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  16. ^ FC, Seattle Sounders. "Sounders FC announces roster decisions to conclude 2021 season | Seattle Sounders". Seattle Sounders FC.
  17. ^ "NICOLAS BENEZET DE RETOUR AU NÎMES OLYMPIQUE" (in French). Nîmes. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  18. ^ a b Gaye, Geoffrey. "Foot : Nicolas Benezet retrouve la forme au Grau-du-Roi". Le réveil de midi (in French). Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  19. ^ DELPRAT, Colin (22 September 2023). "Football. Mercato : Benezet pour un an à Chypre". La Gazette (in French). Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b "L'INTERVIEW Nicolas Benezet : "Ne pas voir mon fils était inenvisageable"". Objectif Gard (in French). Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  21. ^ Morin, Jerôme (30 August 2024). "Nicolas Benezet signe à Alès : l'ancien footballeur pro de Nîmes Olympique s'est engagé avec l'OAC" [Nicolas Benezet signs for Alès: former Nîmes Olympique professional footballer signs for OAC]. Midi Libre (in French). Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Nicolas Benezet". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  23. ^ "N. Benezet". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. ^ Kezzouf, Youmni (31 March 2019). "Strasbourg remporte la Coupe de la Ligue aux tirs au but". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 5 November 2023.
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