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"Karembeu" redirects here. For this person's wife, see Adriana Karembeu.

Christian Karembeu (born 3 December 1970 in Lifou, New Caledonia) is a former French international football player and current scout for Arsenal F.C. He is currently a non-executive director of Grandtop International Holdings Limited, which recently took over Birmingham City FC^[1]. He is also part of a Paris based consortium to expand the A-League with a Pacific Island team ^[2].

Career

During his career Karembeu played for Nantes (1990-95), Sampdoria (1995-97), Real Madrid (1997-2000), Middlesbrough (2000-01), Olympiakos (2001-04), Servette Genève (2004-05), Bastia (2005). With Real Madrid, he won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000, starting in the former but remaining on the bench for the latter. He last played midfield for Bastia in the French Ligue 1. He announced his retirement on 13 October 2006, although he added that he would "be having a kickabout from time to time". The France legend also took part in a friendly competition for Kettering Town FC with Gianfranco Zola, Les Ferdinand and Gus Poyet.

Coaching Career

In May 2006 Karembeu became a scout for English Premiership side Portsmouth Football Club. However, in August 2009, Christian decided to join Arsenal's ever expanding scouting network. On 9 December 2005, Karembeu represented the OFC at the draw for the 2006 World Cup which took place in Leipzig, Germany.

International

Born in the French territory of New Caledonia, he was a vital player in the French team that won the 1998 World Cup. In Euro 2000, he was on the squad as well but played only one game. He compiled 53 caps in his career, earning his first one on 14 November 1992 against Finland in a 2-1 victory.

Trivia

Karembeu gained notoriety for not singing the French national anthem La Marseillaise on the field. This stance earned him some criticism and a fair amount of respect.

Personal

Karembeu is married to Slovak model Adriana Sklenaříková, whom he met on an airplane^[3].

Honours

• Real Madrid
  • 2 UEFA Champions League titles: 1997–98, 1999–00
  • 1 Intercontinental Cup titles: 1998,

• Olympiacos
  • Greek Championship: 2002-2003
  • Greek Championship: 2001-2002

• France
  • FIFA World Cup: 1998
  • UEFA European Championship: 2000

Titles

Following the 1998 World Cup, he was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 1998^[4][5]

References

France squad – UEFA Euro 1996 semi-finalists 1 Lama • 2 Angloma • 3 Di Meco • 4 Leboeuf • 5 Blanc • 6 Guérin • 7 Deschamps • 8 Desailly • 9 Djorkaeff • 10 Zidane • 11 Loko • 12 Lizarazu • 13 Dugarry • 14 Lamouchi • 15 Thuram • 16 Barthez • 17 Madar • 18 Pedros • 19 Karembeu • 20 Roche • 21 Martins • 22 Martini • Coach: Jacquet

France squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Lama • 2 Candela • 3 Lizarazu • 4 Vieira • 5 Blanc • 6 Djorkaeff • 7 Deschamps • 8 Desailly • 9 Guivarc'h • 10 Zidane • 11 Pirès • 12 Henry • 13 Diomède • 14 Boghossian • 15 Thuram • 16 Barthez • 17 Petit • 18 Leboeuf • 19 Karembeu • 20 Trezeguet • 21 Dugarry • 22 Charbonnier • Coach: Jacquet

France squad – UEFA Euro 2000 Winners (2nd title) 1 Lama • 2 Candela • 3 Lizarazu • 4 Vieira • 5 Blanc • 6 Djorkaeff • 7 Deschamps • 8 Desailly • 9 Anelka • 10 Zidane • 11 Pirès • 12 Henry • 13 Wiltord • 14 Micoud • 15 Thuram • 16 Barthez • 17 Petit • 18 Leboeuf • 19 Karembeu • 20 Trezeguet • 21 Dugarry • 22 Ramé • Coach: Lemerre

France squad – 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Ramé • 2 Sagnol • 3 Lizarazu • 4 Vieira • 5 Gillet • 6 Djorkaeff • 7 Pirès • 8 Desailly • 9 Anelka • 10 Carrière • 11 Wiltord • 12 Coupet • 13 Silvestre • 14 Née • 15 Bréchet • 16 Dacourt • 17 Marlet • 18 Leboeuf • 19 Karembeu • 20 Camara • 21 Dugarry • 22 Robert • 23 Landreau • Coach: Lemerre