André-Pierre Gignac

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gignac's move to Tigres UANL came after his contract with Marseille expired, where he had scored 77 goals in 186 matches across all competitions and won two consecutive Coupe de la Ligue titles and the 2011 Trophée des Champions. At Tigres, he reached a historic milestone by becoming the club's all-time top scorer in all competitions, a feat that cemented his legacy in Mexican football. His journey from southern France, where he began at local clubs Fos-sur-Mer and Martigues, through Lorient, a loan at Pau, and a controversial transfer to Toulouse, shaped a career defined by resilience. At Toulouse, he became the league's top scorer with 24 goals during the 2008–09 season after early struggles. Gignac is of partial Romani descent and is the cousin of former defender Jacques Abardonado and winger Yohan Mollo.

In Their Own Story

Gignac made his professional debut with Lorient on 13 August 2004, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute with the score tied 1–1 against Châteauroux. Within seconds, he scored the winning goal and later said he 'thought he was Ronaldo.' After a loan at Pau where he scored eight goals in 20 matches, he returned to Lorient for the 2006–07 season and repaid manager Christian Gourcuff by converting a hat-trick in 27 minutes in a 3–1 victory against Derby Breton rivals Nantes. At Toulouse, during the 2008–09 season, his coach Alain Casanova challenged him to score with his left foot. Gignac practiced all week, scored the only goal of the night against Nantes with his left foot, and the coach kissed his left foot in front of everyone. He finished that season as the league's top scorer with 24 goals.

Reader's Guide

Gignac's time at Tigres UANL represents the peak of his club career, where he became the club's all-time top scorer in all competitions. This achievement followed a successful stint at Marseille, where he scored 77 goals in 186 matches and won two Coupe de la Ligue titles and the 2011 Trophée des Champions. His international career with France spanned from 2009 to 2016, including appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016, where he played in the final. Gignac's path to prominence was not straightforward: after early struggles at Toulouse, he reached prominence during the 2008–09 season, becoming the league's top scorer with 24 goals. His move to Marseille in August 2010 on a five-year contract came after a sub-par 2009–10 season with Toulouse. At Tigres, his legacy as the club's all-time top scorer in all competitions is the defining achievement of his time there.

Did You Know?

• Gignac scored the winning goal within seconds of his professional debut for Lorient against Châteauroux and later said he 'thought he was Ronaldo.'
• At Toulouse, coach Alain Casanova promised to kiss Gignac's left foot if he scored with it; Gignac practiced all week and scored the only goal of the match with his left foot against Nantes.
• Gignac is of partial Romani descent and is the cousin of former defender Jacques Abardonado and winger Yohan Mollo.
• He scored a hat-trick in 27 minutes in a 3–1 victory against Derby Breton rivals Nantes during the 2006–07 season.
• Gignac made his first major international appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, featuring in all three matches France contested.