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Raphaël Varane
Raphaël Varane
Personal information
Full name: Raphaël Xavier Varane
Date of birth: 25 April 1993 (1993-04-25) (age 31)
Place of birth:    Lille, Flag of France France
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position: Centre back
Youth clubs
2000–2002
2002–2010
Flag of France Hellemmes
Flag of France Lens
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)
2010–2011
2011–2021
2021–2024
2024
Total'
Flag of France Lens
Flag of Spain Real Madrid
Flag of England Manchester United
Flag of Italy Como
023 00(2)
236 00(8)
068 00(2)
0000(0)
336 0(12)   
National team
2010
2012
2011–2012
2013–2022
Flag of France France U18
Flag of France France U20
Flag of France France U21
Flag of France France
0000(1)
0000(0)
013 00(3)
093 00(5)

Raphaël Xavier Varane (born 25 April 1993) is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Varane started out with rugby, but later he switched to football. He signed for the local club AS Hellemmes, aged 7. Two years later, he joined professional club, RC Lens. Varane quickly ascended up the club's youth ranks, playing on the under-16 and under-19 teams, and winning the Championnat National des 16 ans with the former. He began his professional football career there, being promoted to the senior team in 2010. In the same year, he made his professional debut on 7 November in a Ligue 1 match against Montpellier. Although his team was relegated in that season, the 2010–11 season was a breakthrough campaign for him.

In the summer of 2011, Varane signed a six-year contract with Spanish giants, Real Madrid, for a transfer fee reported to be around €10 million. He made his full debut for the club in the pre-season tournament 2011 World Football Challenge match against American side LA Galaxy. His league debut with Real Madrid came on 21 September, in the match against Racing Santander. He has made over 300 appearances in all competitions for the club and won several major trophies, including two league titles and four Champions League titles. At only 24 years of age, the prodigy has cemented his place alongside Sergio Ramos at the heart of Real’s defense after producing outstanding defensive performances.

Varane was a France youth international, having earned caps at under-18, under-20 and under-21 level. He made his full international debut in March 2013 and represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. After an admirable performance during the tournament he was nominated for the Best Young Player award. He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in which he played every minute of every game.

Varane has been described by Lens youth coach Eric Assadourian as a "truly first class player" who is "comfortable on both the tactical and technical level". Many ex players and current football managers, such as Fernando Hierro and José Mourinho, consider Varane to be one of the best defenders in world football.

Honours[]

Real Madrid

Manchester United

France

Individual

  • FIFA FIFPro World11: 2018
  • FIFA FIFPro World11 3rd team: 2015, 201
  • FIFA FIFPro World11 4th team: 2016
  • FIFA FIFPro World11 5th team: 2014
  • FIFA FIFPro World11 nominee: 2019 (12th defender)
  • UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2017–18
  • FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018
  • FIFA World Cup Fantasy McDonald's Overall XI: 2018
  • UEFA Defender of the Season – Runner-up: 2018
  • UEFA Team of the Year: 2018
  • IFFHS Men's World Team: 2018

Orders

  • Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur: 2018

External links[]

France+Logo clipped rev 1
Flag of France France
France+Logo clipped rev 1
France – 2014 FIFA World Cup – Quarter-finals

1. Lloris (c) 2. Debuchy 3. Evra 4. Varane 5. Sakho 6. Cabaye 7. Cabella 8.  Valbuena 9. Giroud 10. Benzema 11. Griezmann 12. Mavuba 13. Mangala 14. Matuidi 15. Sagna 16. Ruffier 17. Digne 18. Sissoko 19. Pogba 20. Rémy 21. Koscielny 22. Schneiderlin 23. Landreau Manager:  Flag of France Didier Deschamps

France+Logo clipped rev 1
France – 2018 FIFA World Cup – Winners

1. Lloris (c) 2. Pavard 3. Kimpembe 4. Varane 5. Umtiti 6. Pogba 7. Griezmann 8. Lemar 9. Giroud 10. Mbappé 11. Dembélé 12. Tolisso 13. Kanté 14. Matuidi 15. Nzonzi 16. Mandanda 17. Rami 18. Fekir 19. Sidibé 20. Thauvin 21. Hernández 22. Mendy 23. Areola Manager:  Flag of France Didier Deschamps

France+Logo clipped rev 1
France – UEFA Euro 2020 – Round of 16

1. Lloris (c) 2. Pavard 3. Kimpembe 4. Varane 5. Lenglet 6. Pogba 7. Griezmann 8. Lemar 9. Giroud 10. Mbappé 11. Dembélé 12. Tolisso 13. Kanté 14. Rabiot 15. Zouma 16. Mandanda 17. Sissoko 18. Digne 19. Benzema 20. Coman 21. Hernández 22. Ben Yedder 23. Maignan 24. Dubois 25. Koundé 26. Thuram Manager:  Flag of France Didier Deschamps

France+Logo clipped rev 1
France – 2022 FIFA World Cup – Runners-up

1. Lloris (c) 2. Pavard 3. Disasi 4. Varane 5. Koundé 6. Guendouzi 7. Griezmann 8. Tchouaméni 9. Giroud 10. Mbappé 11. Dembélé 12. Kolo Muani 13. Fofana 14. Rabiot 15. Veretout 16. Mandanda 17. Saliba 18. Upamecano 20. Coman 21. L. Hernandez 22. T. Hernandez 23. Areola 24. Konaté 25. Camavinga 26. Thuram Manager:  Flag of France Didier Deschamps

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