Eric Abidal French footballer Date of Birth: 11.09.1979 Country: France

1. Biography of Eric Abidal
2. Early Career
3. Success in Lyon
4. Challenges and Achievements at Barcelona
5. Health Challenges

Biography of Eric Abidal

Eric Abidal is a French footballer who played as a left-back and center-back for the French national team and FC Barcelona.

Early Career

Abidal began his football career playing for Lyon-Duchère, a team based in the suburbs of Lyon. He turned professional on September 16, 2000, when he joined Monaco. After two years at Monaco, Abidal moved to Lille OSC in 2002, where he reunited with his former manager Claude Puel. In late 2004, he returned to his hometown by joining Olympique Lyonnais.

Success in Lyon

During his time at Lyon, Abidal was considered one of the best defenders in the league. He played alongside notable players such as Grégory Coupet, François Clerc, Anthony Réveillère, Cristiano Marques Gomes, and Cláudio Caçapa. Abidal scored his first goal on January 17, 2007, against Le Mans. In the same year, he transferred to FC Barcelona for a fee of 9 million euros. Lyon was also entitled to an additional 500,000 euros if Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League within the next four years. Abidal signed a four-year contract with Barcelona.

Challenges and Achievements at Barcelona

Abidal missed the UEFA Champions League final in 2009 against Manchester United due to a red card received in the semifinal match against Chelsea. He was also sent off in the subsequent game against Villarreal CF, resulting in his exclusion from the Spanish Cup final. On January 5, 2011, Abidal scored his first goal for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup, helping the team advance to the quarterfinals. He made 61 appearances for the French national team, playing as a left-back. Despite injuries and conflicts with FIFA, Abidal represented France in the 2006, 2008, and 2010 FIFA World Cups.

Health Challenges

On March 15, 2011, it was revealed that Abidal had a tumor in his liver. He underwent surgery on March 17, receiving support and well-wishes from fans worldwide. Remarkably, he returned to the field on May 28, 2011, for the Champions League final against Manchester United. However, Abidal's health deteriorated, and on April 10, 2012, he underwent a liver transplant. On the same day, Barcelona dedicated their 4-0 victory against Getafe to Abidal. Despite his health struggles, Abidal's determination and resilience made him an inspiration to many in the football world.