Kenny Lala

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Kenny Lala
Lala with Lens in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-10-03) 3 October 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Villepinte, France
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Brest
Number 27
Youth career
2004–2008 ES Parisienne
2008–2010 Paris FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Paris FC 33 (0)
2011–2015 Valenciennes B 29 (0)
2011–2015 Valenciennes 61 (1)
2015–2017 Lens 71 (2)
2017–2021 Strasbourg 111 (13)
2021–2022 Olympiacos 31 (0)
2023– Brest 50 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:08, 20 May 2024 (UTC)

Kenny Lala (born 3 October 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Ligue 1 club Brest.

Club career[edit]

Lala began his career with local amateur club ES Parisienne before signing with semi-professional club Paris at the age of 17. Prior to signing with the club, Lala had trials with professional clubs Lille, Caen, and Valenciennes.[1] After two seasons playing on Paris' reserve team, he was promoted to the club's senior team for the 2010–11 season.[1] A successful campaign, in which Lala made 33 league appearances, resulted in the player being linked to several Ligue 1 clubs, most notably Valenciennes who offered Paris €100,000 for his services.[1]

Despite declining the initial offer, on 15 June 2011, Paris reached an agreement with Valenciennes on a transfer for Lala. He signed a four-year contract with the Northern outfit.[2] Lala was assigned the number 18 shirt by manager Daniel Sanchez and was placed onto the club's first team, though he has played on the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur. Lala made his professional debut on 6 November 2011 in a 1–1 draw with Rennes appearing as a substitute.[3]

On 30 June 2015, he signed a three-year contract with Lens.[4] In June 2017, Lala joined Strasbourg on a two-year contract.[5] In his time at the club, he was a regular starter.[6]

On 1 February 2021, the last day of the 2020–21 winter transfer window, Lala moved to Super League Greece club Olympiacos.[6] In October 2022, he terminated his contract with the club after being unable to make a single appearance in the 2022–23 season.[7]

In January 2023, he joined French side Brest on a free transfer, and in July that year, he extended his contract with the club until 2025.[8] On 13 August 2023, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win over his former club Lens on the opening matchday of the 2023–24 season.[9] On 19 May 2024, he scored the last goal in a 3–0 away win over Toulouse on the final matchday of the season, helping his club to secure a third-place finish in the league and first ever qualification to the UEFA Champions League.[10]

International career[edit]

Born in France, Lala is of Martiniquais and Malagasy descent.[11] In early March 2024, Lala was called up by the Madagascar national team.[12]

Personal life[edit]

Lala was born in Villepinte and grew up in the 18th arrondissement of Paris near the Porte de Clignancourt.[1] He has two sisters. Lala's mother previously worked as a saleswoman for Zara and was also his sports agent having handled the player's four-year fédérale contract he signed with Paris FC.[1] She now works for the public management and construction company l'Opac de Paris.[1]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played on 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Paris FC 2010–11 Championnat National 33 0 2 0 — — — 35 0
Valenciennes 2011–12 Ligue 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 — — 2 0
2012–13 7 1 0 0 0 0 — — 7 1
2013–14 17 0 1 0 0 0 — — 18 0
2014–15 Ligue 2 35 0 2 0 0 0 — — 37 0
Total 61 1 3 0 0 0 — — 64 0
Lens 2015–16 Ligue 2 33 1 0 0 1 0 — — 34 1
2016–17 37 1 2 0 1 0 — — 40 1
Total 70 2 2 0 2 0 — — 74 2
Strasbourg 2017–18 Ligue 1 31 3 4 0 2 0 — — 37 3
2018–19 34 5 1 0 5 0 — — 40 5
2019–20 25 2 2 0 2 0 4[a] 0 — 33 2
2020–21 21 3 0 0 — — — 21 3
Total 111 13 7 0 9 0 4 0 — 131 13
Olympiacos 2020–21 Superleague Greece 5 0 2 0 — 4[a] 0 — 11 0
2021–22 26 0 2 0 — 12[b] 0 — 40 0
Total 31 0 4 0 — 16 0 — 51 0
Brest 2022–23 Ligue 1 17 0 2 0 — — — 19 0
2023–24 33 2 3 1 — — — 36 3
Total 50 2 5 1 — 16 0 — 55 3
Career total 356 18 23 1 11 0 20 0 0 0 410 19
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, nine appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours[edit]

Strasbourg

Olympiacos

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "La révélation Kenny Lala". Le Parisien (in French). 4 September 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Kenny Lala officiellement au VAFC". Valenciennes FC (in French). 15 June 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Dijon v. Valenciennes Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 6 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Kenny Lala, 3 ans à Lens" (in French). L'Équipe. 30 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Kenny Lala rejoint le Racing Club de Strasbourg". L'Équipe (in French). 12 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Kenny Lala quitte Strasbourg pour l'Olympiakos". Foot Mercato (in French). 31 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Kenny Lala a résilié son contrat avec l'Olympiacos" (in French). L'Équipe. 30 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Kenny Lala prolonge à Brest jusqu'en 2025" (in French). L'Équipe. 12 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Brest 3–2 Lens". ESPN. 13 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Brest secures final automatic Champions League spot in French league, PSG wins without Mbappé". The Washington Post. 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Non, Kenny Lala ne devrait pas partir en sélection avec Madagascar - Foot Amateur Bretagne". footamateur.letelegramme.fr. 5 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Kenny Lala appelé pour la première fois avec Madagascar". Boursorama. 3 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Mbappé Wins Awards Double". www.ligue1.com. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.

External links[edit]

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