General |
Raphaël Varane | ||
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Personal information | ||
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Full name: | Raphaël Xavier Varane | |
Date of birth: | 25 April 1993 | |
Place of birth: | Lille, ![]() | |
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |
Playing position: | Centre back | |
Youth clubs | ||
2000–2002 2002–2010 |
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Senior clubs | ||
Years | Club | App (Gls) |
2010–2011 2011–2021 2021–2024 2024 Total' |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
236 (8) 68 (2) 0 (0) 336 (12) | 23 (2)
National team | ||
2010 2012 2011–2012 2013–2022 |
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1 (0) 13 (3) 93 (5) | 2 (1)
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
- La Liga: 2011–12, 2016–17
- Copa del Rey: 2013–14
- Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017, 2019–20
- UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
Manchester United
France
- FIFA World Cup: 2018; runner-up: 2022
- UEFA Nations League: 2020–21
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[]
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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: |
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: |
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: |
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: |