Jérémy Ménez
Jérémy Ménez | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 7, 1987 Longjumeau, Essonne, France |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (retired) |
| Years active | 2004–2020s |
| Known for | Forward, creative midfielder |
Jérémy Ménez (born 7 May 1987) is a retired French professional footballer who operated primarily as a forward. Renowned for his proficiency with both feet, technical finesse, and speed, Ménez was recognized as a flexible creative midfielder.
His football journey started in the Île-de-France area, featuring youth stints at Centre de Formation de Paris and CSF Brétigny before joining the FC Sochaux-Montbéliard academy in 2001. In March 2004, Ménez made history as the youngest player to sign a professional contract in Ligue 1, making his debut during the 2004–05 season. While at Sochaux, he gained continental experience by participating in the 2004–05 UEFA Cup. After two seasons, he moved to AS Monaco, where under Ricardo Gomes’ management he evolved into a midfield playmaker. Following productive years at Monaco, Ménez secured a four-year contract with Serie A side Roma, accumulating over 100 appearances, netting 12 goals, and making his Champions League debut.
In July 2011, Ménez returned to France by signing a three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Later, in June 2014, he transferred to AC Milan on a free transfer with a three-year deal.
On the international stage, Ménez represented France across all youth categories and was part of the under-17 squad that claimed the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He earned 24 caps for the senior national team from 2010 to 2013 and competed in UEFA Euro 2012.
Early career
Born in Longjumeau, Essonne, Ménez grew up in nearby Vitry-sur-Seine and supported local club Paris Saint-Germain. Encouraged by his father and brother, both football players themselves, he began playing at CA Vitry before joining the youth academy Centre de Formation de Paris (C.F.F.P), which focuses on developing under-19 players. There, he honed his skills as a creative midfielder but departed after five years due to disagreements with coaching staff. Subsequently, he spent one year at CSF Brétigny—a Parisian club known for producing French internationals like Patrice Evra and Jimmy Briand—before securing a move to professional outfit Sochaux.
Sochaux
At Sochaux’s youth academy, Ménez balanced his football development with studies at the elite sports high school Vignes de Seloncourt. On 24 March 2004, aged 16, he signed a three-year professional contract—setting a record as Ligue 1’s youngest professional player. Elevated to the first team and assigned squad number 26 by manager Guy Lacombe, Ménez attracted attention from English clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester United. Reports emerged alleging Sir Alex Ferguson attempted to lure him away; however, Manchester United denied these claims. Although Ménez toured Manchester’s facilities, he ultimately opted to remain in France.
His professional debut came on 7 August 2004 during Sochaux’s 1–0 victory over Ajaccio, quickly establishing himself as a regular squad member. On 20 November, he opened his scoring account against Monaco. In January 2005, he became the youngest player to record a hat-trick in Ligue 1 during a commanding 4–0 win against Bordeaux. Additionally, Ménez participated in six matches of Sochaux’s 2004–05 UEFA Cup campaign before their exit against Greek side Olympiakos. He received a nomination for the UNFP Young Player of the Year award but was ultimately bested by Jérémy Toulalan.
During the 2005–06 season, Ménez switched his jersey number to 11 and assumed greater responsibility under new head coach Dominique Bijotat. He featured in 31 league games and scored three goals—including important strikes versus Bordeaux, Nice, and Saint-Étienne. Despite his contributions, Sochaux finished disappointingly in 15th place. Frustrated by the team's performance, Ménez expressed intentions to depart. On 8 June 2006, club chairman Dassier confirmed openness to offers; reportedly Ligue 1 sides Paris Saint-Germain, Bordeaux, Monaco, and Arsenal showed interest.
Monaco
On 22 June 2006, Sochaux revealed they had reached an agreement with Ligue 1 side Monaco for the transfer of Ménez. He committed to a four-year deal for an undisclosed sum. Manager László Bölöni assigned him the number 10 jersey, deploying him primarily as a left winger. Ménez made his first appearance on 19 August, coming off the bench in a 1–1 draw against Rennes. He netted his inaugural goal for Monaco on 30 September during a 2–1 triumph over Le Mans. Following Bölöni's exit and the appointment of Ricardo Gomes as manager, Ménez found it difficult to secure regular minutes, attracting attention from clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool. On 11 November, he returned to the starting eleven and scored in a 2–2 draw with Lorient.
Ménez carried his good form into the new year but was sidelined in February due to a groin injury that required surgery, keeping him out for two months. Upon his April return, he scored in three straight matches versus Lille, Valenciennes, and Marseille. He wrapped up the 2006–07 campaign by scoring the decisive goal against reigning champions Lyon.
Although English Premier League clubs showed interest during the summer, Ménez remained at Monaco. In the 2007–08 season, he opened his account with a goal in a 3–0 win over his former team Sochaux and followed it up with another strike in a 3–1 victory against Le Mans. On 15 December, Ménez scored twice in a 3–1 victory over Lens, marking his first multi-goal performance since a hat-trick three years prior. The following month, he netted both goals in a 2–0 away win at Metz. However, on 23 February 2008, he suffered a severe injury during a match against Paris-Saint Germain that sidelined him for three months; he only returned as a substitute in the final two fixtures of the season.
Roma
Following Monaco’s opening three league games in 2008, Ménez secured a four-year contract with Italian club Roma on 27 August for €10.5 million plus €1.5 million in bonuses. He was signed to fill the void left by departing wingers Mancini and Ludovic Giuly and chose to wear number 24, previously donned by club icon Marco Delvecchio. Ménez made his Roma debut as a substitute against Napoli on 31 August and soon after appeared in his first UEFA Champions League match during a group stage victory over Bordeaux. His first goal for Roma came on 6 December, securing a 1–0 win over Chievo.
Despite these achievements, Ménez struggled to find consistent playing time under manager Luciano Spalletti, often featuring off the bench. Late in the season, he delivered key goals against AC Milan and Torino that helped Roma clinch important wins.
For the 2009–10 campaign, Ménez switched to jersey number 94 and scored against Milan in October. However, after receiving criticism from manager Claudio Ranieri and teammates following an uninspired substitute appearance in January 2010, he issued an apology and recommitted himself to the squad. Subsequently, Ménez regained momentum by assisting the match-winning goal in February’s fixture against Catania and started eight of the last ten league games as Roma finished second, earning qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
During the 2010–11 season, Ménez began as a starter but was frequently substituted by Ranieri. He opened his scoring account with a Champions League goal against Basel and provided assists during league victories. On 13 November, he completed his first full match of the season versus Juventus and later contributed both a goal and an assist in a win over Udinese. After Ranieri resigned in February 2011 and Vincenzo Montella assumed managerial duties, Ménez’s playing time diminished once again, prompting him to express frustration publicly in March.
Tensions escalated on 21 April when Ménez confronted Montella during training over perceived issues with his commitment. That same evening, following a Coppa Italia match against Inter Milan at Stadio Olimpico, Ménez’s car windshield was shattered by stone-throwers outside the stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain
On 25 July 2011, Paris Saint-Germain secured Ménez’s services by signing him to a three-year deal for a transfer fee of €8 million, with additional incentives potentially included. He was unveiled alongside fellow recruit Blaise Matuidi and was given the number 7 jersey. Ménez made his first appearance in a 1–0 loss to the New York Red Bulls during the Emirates Cup, followed by his official competitive debut on 6 August 2011 in a league defeat against Lorient. The subsequent week, he provided an assist to Kevin Gameiro in a 1–1 draw versus Rennes.
On 18 August 2011, Ménez both scored and assisted in a commanding 4–0 UEFA Europa League playoff triumph over Differdange. He also set up a goal in a 2–1 league win against Valenciennes and netted his inaugural league goal for PSG during a 3–1 victory at Toulouse.
Throughout the 2011–12 campaign, under the guidance of managers Antoine Kombouaré and later Carlo Ancelotti, Ménez achieved a personal best by tallying seven goals and providing twelve assists across 33 league outings. A highlight of this period was scoring PSG’s milestone 2,000th top-tier goal in a 3–2 win over Auxerre on 4 December 2011.
During the subsequent 2012–13 season, Ménez’s appearances in Ligue 1 diminished; however, he maintained an influential presence in European contests, contributing two goals and two assists across five Champions League fixtures. He forged an effective partnership with star forward Zlatan Ibrahimović, which bolstered PSG’s offensive tactics.
AC Milan
In June 2014, AC Milan acquired Ménez on a three-year contract. He marked his debut on 31 August by converting a penalty against Lazio. Soon after, he scored twice versus Parma, including a penalty and a backheel finish, securing victory for Milan. On 8 November, Ménez scored from the spot and assisted Stephan El Shaarawy in a 2–2 draw with Sampdoria.
Ménez found the net again on 23 November during the Derby della Madonnina against Inter. He followed this performance with two goals and earned man of the match honors in a game against Udinese. Continuing his scoring streak, he added another goal in a 2–0 triumph over Napoli. On 1 February, he contributed two goals and one assist in Milan’s 3–1 win over Parma. Later, on 7 March, he converted a penalty in a 2–2 draw with Hellas Verona, then scored twice on 21 March during a 3–1 victory against Cagliari, reaching his career-high of fifteen goals for one club. Notably, on 4 March, Ménez scored the decisive goal securing Milan's first away win of 2015 against Palermo.
Despite these successes, his season concluded negatively: on 29 April, Ménez was dismissed during a 3–1 defeat to Genoa and subsequently received a four-match suspension for an offensive gesture; he also missed the final fixture due to injury. He ended the season as Milan’s leading scorer with sixteen goals from thirty-four appearances.
The following summer saw Ménez undergo surgery in Monaco to address back issues. Post-operative complications delayed his comeback, causing him to miss the initial twenty-six matches of the 2015–16 season. He eventually returned to action on 14 February 2016 in a league victory over Genoa by a scoreline of 2–1. On 1 March, Ménez started for the first time since April of the previous year and scored twice in a commanding 5–0 Coppa Italia win against Alessandria, aiding Milan’s progression to their first Coppa Italia final since 2003.
Bordeaux
On 1 August 2016, Bordeaux and Milan reached an agreement for Ménez's transfer. Merely two days after finalizing the deal, during a pre-season fixture against Lorient, Ménez sustained a serious injury when midfielder Didier Ndong accidentally stepped on his head, resulting in the partial loss of Ménez's right ear. Having come on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, Ménez was forced to leave the pitch shortly thereafter. Ndong issued a public apology and expressed his support for Ménez’s recovery process.
Antalyaspor
Ménez signed with the Turkish club Antalyaspor on 9 June 2017.
América
On 5 January 2018, Ménez completed a move to Mexican club Club América. He made his Liga MX debut on 27 January, entering as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over Atlas. The following week, he netted his inaugural goal for América during a commanding 5–1 win against Lobos BUAP. On 10 February, he successfully converted a penalty to level the score in a 1–1 draw with Tigres UANL. Later, on 2 May, Ménez scored two penalties in the quarterfinal away match versus Pumas UNAM, helping secure América’s 4–1 triumph.
During a friendly match against Pachuca on 4 August, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for six to nine months, ruling him out of the 2019 Torneo Apertura.
On 29 August 2019, both Ménez and Club América agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Paris FC
Ménez joined French side Paris FC on a one-year contract on 27 September 2019. He departed from Paris FC following the conclusion of the season, becoming a free agent in June 2020.
Reggina
On 23 June 2020, Ménez signed a three-year deal with Reggina, a club newly promoted to Serie B.
Bari
On 19 July 2023, Ménez inked a one-year contract with an option for extension at Bari, another team competing in Serie B. Unfortunately, during his debut on 18 August, he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee that ended his season prematurely. In March 2024, both parties agreed to terminate his contract mutually.
End of career
Ménez announced his retirement from professional football on 28 September 2024.
Youth
Ménez represented every level of France's youth national teams and was part of the renowned Génération 1987, alongside notable internationals such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Benzema, and Samir Nasri. His debut for the under-16 squad came in December 2002 when he scored in a commanding 6–1 victory over Greece. At the 2003 Aegean Cup and Montaigu Tournament, he emerged as one of the top scorers, delivering multiple goals including decisive strikes against Gabon, Russia, and England. He concluded his under-16 tenure with an impressive tally of 14 appearances and 12 goals.
Progressing to the under-17 team, Ménez played a crucial role in France’s triumph at the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship hosted on home soil, scoring important goals against Turkey and Portugal. Across this level, he accumulated 17 caps and netted six goals. His time with the under-18 squad featured five goals across four matches during the victorious campaign at the 2005 Meridian Cup.
Alongside Ben Arfa, Nasri, and Benzema, Ménez competed for the under-19 side aiming for qualification to the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He scored twice during qualification rounds; however, despite remaining unbeaten in the final stage, France was eliminated.
Ménez made his under-21 debut in May 2008 and participated in the playoff against Germany for entry into the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. France was eliminated on aggregate scorelines, concluding Ménez’s involvement at this level.
Senior
On 5 August 2010, manager Laurent Blanc selected Ménez for the senior national squad to participate in a friendly match against Norway scheduled for 11 August 2010. He made his first appearance as a starter on the right flank in a game that ended in a 2–1 defeat. On 9 February 2011, Ménez provided an assist to Karim Benzema, contributing to a 1–0 victory over Brazil at the Stade de France. Following consistent involvement during the Euro 2012 qualification phase, he was included in the final squad announced on 29 May 2012. Ménez netted his inaugural international goal on 5 June in a preparatory friendly where France defeated Estonia 4–0. During Euro 2012, he made his debut in a major senior international tournament on 15 June versus Ukraine, scoring the opening goal in France’s 2–0 win.
Personal life
Ménez is a father to two children: a daughter named Maëlla, born in 2012, and a son named Menzo, born in 2014. Their mother, Émilie Nef Naf, gained recognition by winning the third season of the reality television program Secret Story.
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | European Competitions | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | Appearances | Goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sochaux | 2004–05 | Ligue 1 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 32 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 55 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 63 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monaco | 2006–07 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | Ligue 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 57 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 62 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roma | 2008–09 | Serie A | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–10 | Serie A | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 10 | 3 | — | 37 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–11 | Serie A | 32 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 84 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 112 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 33 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 42 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | colspan="2"|- | 42 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013-14 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | - | Total | 79 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 19 | - | AC Milan | 2014-15 | Serie A | 33 | 16 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 16 | - | 2015-16 | Serie A | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 12 | 4 | - | Total | 43 | 18 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 46 | 20 | - | Bordeaux | 2016-17 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 3 | - | Antalyaspor | 2017-18 | Süper Lig | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
International Career
| National team | Year | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2010 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| Overall | 24 | 2 | |
- The scoreline lists France's goals first; the score column reflects the state of the match immediately following each goal scored by Ménez.
| No. | Date | Location | Opponent | Score after goal | Final result | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 June 2012 | MMArena, Le Mans, France | Template:Fb | 4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly match |
| 2 | 15 June 2012 | Donbas Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
Achievements
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1 Champion: 2012–13, 2013–14
- Coupe de la Ligue Winner: 2013–14
América
- Liga MX Title: Apertura 2018
- Copa MX Winner: Clausura 2019
- Campeón de Campeones Champion: 2019
France U17
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1987 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Longjumeau
- French men's footballers
- France men's youth international footballers
- France men's under-21 international footballers
- France men's international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Men's association football wingers
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players
- AS Monaco FC players
- AS Roma players
- Paris Saint-Germain FC players
- AC Milan players
- FC Girondins de Bordeaux players
- Antalyaspor footballers
- Club América footballers
- Paris FC players
- AS Reggina 1914 players
- SSC Bari players
- Ligue 1 players
- Serie A players
- Serie B players
- Süper Lig players
- Liga MX players
- Ligue 2 players
- UEFA Euro 2012 players
- French expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
- Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico
- Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco
- Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
- French expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- French expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
- French expatriate sportspeople in Monaco
- French expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
- 21st-century French sportsmen