Julien Faubert

Julien Alex Thomas Faubert (born 1 August 1983) is a French former professional footballer who played as a right back. Born in France, he played in one match for the France national team, in which he scored, before switching allegiance to the Martinique national team in 2014.

Faubert started his footballing career in France with Cannes before moving to Bordeaux. In 2007, he moved to England to play for West Ham. In 2009, he spent a short period on loan with Real Madrid before returning to West Ham for the beginning of the 2009–10 season. He has also played football in Turkey (for Elazığspor), Scotland (for Kilmarnock F.C.), Finland (for FC Inter Turku) and Indonesia (for Borneo F.C.)

He is nicknamed "Le TGV" or "The Express Train" in France.

Club career Cannes and Bordeaux Born in Le Havre, Faubert enrolled in the Cannes academy in 1998 and began his career as a right back or left back, but with his crossing ability quickly became a right winger as well as playing in a midfield role. He made his Cannes first team debut in the 2002–03 season. He steadily earned notoriety as an important member of the squad and eventually caught the eye of several Ligue 1 sides. Bordeaux signed him in 2004, with whom he played in 96 league matches,

West Ham United

On 23 June 2007, it was reported in French sports newspaper L'Équipe that Faubert was on the verge of a €6.5 million (£4.3 million) transfer to Rangers. On 1 July, however, he was signed by West Ham United for £6.1 million on a five-year contract. He suffered a ruptured achilles tendon during a pre-season friendly on 17 July against Czech side Sigma Olomouc, which was expected to take six months to heal. As part of his comeback, Faubert turned out for the reserves against Aston Villa's reserve team in January 2008. He finally made his first team debut for the Hammers as a late substitute against Fulham at Boleyn Ground on 12 January 2008. with the move being completed on 31 January when he signed on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season for a reported fee of £1.5 million with an option for Real to purchase him on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Faubert made his Real Madrid debut on 7 February 2009 in a 1–0 win against Racing de Santander. His loan spell finished with only two appearances. The 2009–10 season saw a change in fortunes for the Frenchman. He turned in several impressive performances, particularly in the second half of the season. He set up Carlton Cole with a measured cross for the second goal in a 2–0 win against Birmingham City. Faubert scored his first goal for the club on his 50th league game for the claret and blue against Hull City on 20 February 2010. He also added an assist in that game, producing a through ball, which Carlton Cole latched on to and dispatched accordingly. His sublime cross set up Ilan for an equalising goal against Everton on 4 April 2010. The Hammers were experiencing a poor run of form at the time. He was also awarded the SBOBET Player of the Month for August.

The 2010–11 season proved less successful for Faubert. He started the season playing on the right wing, reverting to right-back. On the last day of the summer 2011 transfer window, the Hammers recruited Blackburn Rovers full-back Lars Jacobsen who was preferred throughout the majority of the season. After the turn of the year, Faubert was in and out of the side. He did not help his chances of being selected when he left the stadium after learning he was not in the squad to face Birmingham City.

At the start of the 2011–12 season, Faubert was expected to leave the club after their relegation to the Championship. During the rest of the season, he was West Ham's first choice right back and played a full part in West Ham's subsequent promotion. He played 121 games in all competitions for West Ham, scoring twice.

Elazığspor On 27 June 2012, Faubert was officially signed by Elazığspor of the Turkish Süper Lig on a three-year contract.

Return to Bordeaux After being released by Elazığspor, Faubert signed for his old club Bordeaux as a free agent on the transfer deadline day in January 2013, signing a contract that would keep him there until the end of the 2012–13 season. He was given squad number 22 due to his old number 18 was occupied by Jaroslav Plašil. Prior the move, Faubert asked his old club to train to maintain his fitness. Faubert made his first appearance at Bordeaux, coming on as a late substitute, as Bordeaux won 2–0 against Valenciennes. Faubert signed for Kilmarnock until the end of the 2015–16 season. On 23 May 2016, he was one of six players released at the end of their contract.

Inter Turku Faubert signed for Finnish Veikkausliiga side FC Inter Turku on a one-year contract on 17 January 2017.

Borneo In January 2018, Faubert signed for Indonesian club Borneo in time for the 2018 Liga 1 season. In July 2018, Faubert was released by Borneo.

Étoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël In June 2019, Faubert accepted the role of player-assistant manager of Championnat National 2 club Étoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël. He departed the role in January 2020. He wore the number 10 shirt, the first player to do so for France since the retirement of Zinedine Zidane. He marked his first match by scoring in the final minute of the game to ensure France won 2–1.

In an interview with L'Équipe published on 24 December 2009, Faubert said that he was approached by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) about representing the country due to his wife being Algerian. He said he would consider the option if he fails to get recalled by Les Bleus. Two days later, however, Algerian head coach Rabah Saadane denied that the FAF had made any contact with Faubert.

In October 2014, Faubert made his international debut for Martinique. netting two braces in the following matches against Guadeloupe and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals!!Apps!!Goals

2002–03

26 1 0 0

26 1 2003–04

2005–06 2

96!!10!!4!!0!!7!!0 8 2

115!!12

2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

2011–12 Championship

2

|Total 103!!2!!5!!0!!11!!0

2 0!!121!!2 Real Madrid (loan) 2008–09 La Liga

0 0

Elazığspor 2012–13 0

2013–14 Scottish Premiership

Inter Turku 2017 Coupe de France: 2012–13

West Ham United Football League Championship play-offs: 2012