Vikash Dhorasoo

Paris Saint-Germain

Dhorasoo moved back to France in 2005, signing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He was part of the PSG squad that won the 2006 Coupe de France, as he scored a 25-yard shot in the final and secured the victory against fierce rivals Marseille.

In September 2006, he criticised manager Guy Lacombe in an interview with L'Equipe, and a month later his contract with PSG was terminated, being the first player to be sacked from a French club since the Professional Footballers Charter was set up in 1973. The reasons listed for dismissal were "His refusal to play for the reserves, his lack of loyalty, also his insubordination, disobedience and his permanent air of provocation".

Livorno On 3 July 2007, Livorno announced to have signed Dhorasoo with a statement on their official website. However, Livorno rescinded his contract in October of the same year due to differences with the club, before having played. According to club president Aldo Spinelli, he refused to play a game for them.

International career

While at Lyon, Dhorasoo made his debut for the France national team in a goalless draw against Ukraine on 27 March 1999. He played another national team match in June 1999, before his national team career went into a five-year hiatus.

Dhorasoo was called up for the France national team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification in September 2004, and he represented the country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. After the World Cup, Dhorasoo publicly revealed the time spent in the French squad during the month-long tournament, through a documentary titled Substitute, much to the anger of France national team manager Raymond Domenech and the French Football Federation. Dhorasoo was warned against publishing the documentary. He retired from the France national team, saying "I am not interested in playing for Les Bleus any more. It's over."

Dhorasoo made 18 national team appearances between 1999 and 2006, scoring a single goal in a 4–0 home win over Cyprus on 12 October 2005, ensuring a place at the 2006 World Cup.

Post-football career As of 2023, Dhorasoo was a football consultant for the French sports channel L’Equipe. In 2008 he acted in the film La très très grande entreprise. He authored four books; Substitute, Comme Ses Pieds, L’Engagement – explique a ma fille et ses potes du quartier and the 2020 graphic novel J’perds pas la boule, illustrated by Emilie Gleason. He ran in the 2020 Paris municipal election.

Coaching career In July 2009, he became chairman of French football club L'Entente SSG.

Personal life Dhorasoo is an Indo-Frenchman of Indo-Mauritian origins. His ancestors were Telugu from Vizianagaram, India who migrated to Mauritius in the 19th century.

After his dismissal from PSG in 2006, Dhorasoo became a professional poker player for Winamax. He stopped playing professionally in September 2011 after a defeat at the Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes. He earned $527,453 in his poker career, and was ranked 142nd on France's all-time winners in November 2020.

Dhorasoo's favourite music group is Belle and Sebastian and his favourite author is Jonathan Coe.

Dhorasoo is married and father of two daughters, born in 2003 and 2005.

He has spoken against discrimination and in 2003 he started actively supporting Paris Foot Gay, a football club which combats homophobia and other discrimination in the sport.

Career statistics Score and result list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Dhorasoo goal.

+ International goal scored by Vikash DhorasooNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 12 October 2005 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France 3–04–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours Lyon Ligue 1: 2002–03, 2003–04 Coupe de la Ligue: 2000–01 Trophée des Champions: 2002, 2003

Bordeaux Coupe de la Ligue: 2001–02

AC Milan Supercoppa Italiana: 2004 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2004–05

Paris Saint-Germain Coupe de France: 2005–06

France FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2006 World Military Cup: 1995

Individual Toulon Tournament Best Player: 1995 Étoile d'Or: 1998, 2004 British Asian Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award: 2008 Paris Municipal Election Candidate: 2020