Alexandre Lacazette, the striker renowned for his exceptional knack for finding the back of the net, has a remarkable childhood story. This article delves into the journey of a young boy who once scored an incredible 122 goals in a single season while playing as a central midfielder. Our exploration of Alexandre Lacazette’s biography and childhood offers a comprehensive look at the significant events from his early years through to his rise to fame in Arsenal colours. We’ll cover his life before the spotlight, his family background, and many intriguing facts about him both on and off the pitch. So, let’s jump in and explore his story.
Inside Alexandre Lacazette’s Life: A Tale from His Sporty Childhood
Alexandre Lacazette Childhood and Family Origin:
For Biography starters, Alexandre Lacazette was born on the 28th day of May 1991, in Lyon, France, to his mother, mother Rose Lacazette and father, Alfred Lacazette, in Lyon, France.
It’s worth noting that Alexandre Lacazette’s family hails from Guadeloupe, an island also known for its connection to Thierry Henry, a football legend Lacazette admired greatly as a child. Additionally, players like Mathys Tel also share Guadeloupean roots.
Early Life in Football:
By 2017, Alexandre Lacazette’s family was living in a flat on the 13th floor of a high-rise on the outskirts of Lyon. It was here that Lacazette spent countless hours as a child, just across the road at the youth club L’Elan Sportif.
L’Elan Sportif, where Lacazette first played, was a modest setup, more akin to a worn-out working men’s club. But as a young player, he could often be found on the clay or astro-turf pitches outside.
Lacazette lived on the outskirts of Lyon with his parents until he was 23, and he still makes frequent visits to the city’s eighth arrondissement. There, his mother, Rose, continues to make her locally famous twist on the chicken Colombo dish just for him.
Lacazette (front center) shone as a standout player for his local football club, Elan Sportif, during his youth.
“His heart is here,” says Jean-Pierre Parsi, who coached Lacazette from ages six to eleven. “Every day after school, he would drop his bags and join his friends.”
In one remarkable season at Elan, Lacazette scored 122 goals, despite often playing in central midfield. His parents, Alfred and Rose, are from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, and Lacazette stays in close touch with his three older brothers.
“They are an incredibly close family,” Parsi adds. “His father was always involved with the club and frequently on the touchline. From the very beginning, it was clear that Alex had a special talent, combining power and finesse in a way that set him apart from his peers.”
Lyon Fans Felt Betrayed:
Yes, Lacazette may have provided many great moments for Lyon fans, but he later saw them as very unforgiving.
As soon as he remarked in February 2017 that a big move would interest him, they were on his back and started hating him.
First, he witnessed fewer times his name was being sung and booing him left him ‘psychologically destroyed’, according to Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas.
He never believed Lyon fans would take his words too seriously. He never meant any harm in his words.
All he said was… “one day if like his friend Sam (Umtiti) and Benzema could go play for Barcelona and Real Madrid, then he could as well also leave them for a bigger club”.
Although some of his faithful Lyon fans felt Alexandre hadn’t betrayed the club by his statement.
However, some in-between ones think the Lyon fans just loved him so much and didn’t just want to let him go.
These are very emotional fans who felt betrayed when the likes of Karim Benzema and Samuel Umtiti left them for Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. They still haven’t forgiven them.
Lacazette didn’t hold any grudges and made it clear how much he loved the club before the final game of the season.
“I need a switch to Arsenal; it is the club of my heart,” he said in a press conference. “The most important moments in my life have been here at Lyon.
Now I have to move on to chase my dreams elsewhere,” added the bold French forward in an emotional last word for the club before his journey to London to join Arsenal.
Alexandre Lacazette Family Life:
Lacazette isn’t the only one in his family with a football career. His sibling, Benoit, didn’t quite reach the same heights but did play in the Swiss fourth division. Two of Lacazette’s other brothers manage his financial affairs.
His cousin, Romuald Lacazette, was with Paris Saint-Germain but never made it to the first team. He later joined 1860 Munich, a German second-tier club, in 2015.
As the youngest of four boys, Lacazette grew up watching his brothers play football, which inspired him to follow their lead.
The Home Sick Weakness:
One of the biggest challenges Lacazette has faced is adjusting to life outside of Lyon. Moving to London after joining Arsenal was particularly tough for him.
Lyon is deeply rooted in his life—he was born there, started playing football with a junior club in the city, and was signed by Lyon at the age of 12.
Arsenal fans can only hope their Number 9 striker will find his footing and not feel too homesick in the future.
Clinical Finisher:
The top French marksman scored 28 Ligue 1 goals in 2016, the best total for a French forward in a single calendar year since Jean-Pierre Papin notched the same number in 1991.
Lacazette has once held the highest chance conversion rate in Europe’s top five leagues in the 2016/2017 season (38.9 per cent), beating RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner (34.4 per cent) and Monaco forward Radamel Falcao (33.9 per cent).
He is also a penalty box predator. Of his 28 Ligue 1 goals last season, just two came from outside the penalty area. He is considered Lyon’s fourth-highest scorer of all time.
Style of Play:
Before becoming a striker, Lacazette played as a winger for Lyon. Known for his pace and dribbling skills, he’s not just a goal scorer; he’s also effective at pressing opponents and winning the ball back with his tackling.
Overall, Lacazette’s playing style has been likened to that of former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, a comparison made by the French footballer Gérard Houllier.
Statistically, he was ranked on WhoScored as the 10th best player in Europe in the 2016/2017 season, and only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi scored more league goals than the Frenchman.
Moreover, Laca wears shirt number 10 for Lyon and is considered a striker. He can also function as a wide-forward, something which the Gunners will likely be in need of without Theo Walcott. Together with these starlets, Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki, Laca has long become a household name for Olympique Lyonnais.
Once a Replacement of Walcott:
If you ask Arsene Wenger, he’ll probably tell you that he’s known Lacazette since he was seven years old. However, as far as we know, Arsenal was first linked with the forward back in 2014.
At the time, Theo Walcott was sidelined for six months through injury, and Lacazette was seen as a worthy replacement. As of then, he was valued at a mere £7.5 million.
Why Arsenal Signed Finally Signed Him:
They wanted someone who would follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry. Several quick and promising young forwards in France have been likened to the French Legend, and Lacazette is no different.
Lyon’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, was the one who first made the comparison a couple of years ago, claiming, “He’s our version of a young Thierry Henry.”
Henry himself is a big fan of what he’s seen so far from Lacazette, which may be just about the biggest compliment Lacazette can get at this stage.
Today, he has decided to follow in the footsteps of the Arsenal Legends. The great man himself responded with admiration at the striker’s goal-scoring ability. “What he is doing is extraordinary,” the Arsenal legend stated.
Lacazette’s 28 league goals in the 2016/2017 season outstripped the combined total of Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, and Lucas Perez for that year. He’s clearly in impressive company, and here’s why:
Since the 2012/13 season, only nine forwards have scored more goals than Lacazette in Europe’s top five leagues. They were Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Sergio Aguero.
His Red Card Problems:
His Role Model:
Did You Know?
Lacazette made a decisive impact by scoring an 85th-minute winner against Spain in the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship final. France secured a 2-1 victory, earning their first U19 title since 2005. The squad also included notable players such as Gael Kakuta (Chelsea), Francis Coquelin, and Gilles Sunu (both Arsenal).
