French kickers have always been popular in the Bundesliga. From Gilbert Gress to Jonathan Schmid, some French have left their mark on the Bundesliga. Also at the southwest clubs:
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It all started with him: Gilbert Gress (right) was the first French player in the Bundesliga. From his home town of Strasbourg, it was not very far to Stuttgart either. Gress made 149 games in the Bundesliga. All for VfB. In the list of the record French, he is currently still in 8th place.
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IMAGO / WEREK
People in Kaiserslautern remember … let’s say he has mixed feelings: Youri Djorkaeff (left). The then newly crowned world champion came to the Palatinate for four million marks, but only made 55 Bundesliga games in three years. But no other Frenchman has more in Kaiserslautern. Record!
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IMAGO / Camera 4
The name of the top Frenchman in Karlsruhe could also come from Durlach. Marc Keller was born in Colmar, France. After all, Keller made 61 league games for KSC, then went to the second division for Karlsruhe and to England for Keller.
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IMAGO / Team 2
The Frenchman with the most appearances for Mainz 05 still wears red and white today: Moussa Niakhaté (right). Here at his favorite pastime: knocking down strikers. It remains to be seen whether it will be a longer relationship with the Bundesliga. In January, he was initially “banned from changing” from his coach Bo Svensson.
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IMAGO / press photo Baumann
Gladly seen at parties but reluctant to hear: Anthony Modeste. With 62 games for TSG Hoffenheim, he is the record holder among the French there. In total, he made 158 Bundesliga games. Without the trip to China, it might even have made it into the top five. But there was no way of approaching:
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IMAGO / Photo mode
Bixente Lizarazu, as one liked to see it in Munich: bowl in hand and board under the chest. Lizarazu not only ensured a few knots in the tongues of German football moderators, but was also the first of a whole series of Grands Seigneurs at the Munich championship With 183 Bundesliga games, he is fifth among his compatriots. Just made one more game …
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IMAGO / Lackovic
… the next Bavarian in the list: Willy Sagnol (front). Loved in Munich to this day at least as dearly as Luca Toni loves him here. After his active career, he was drawn into the coaching business, but he is still waiting for the big breakthrough. He is currently training the national team of Georgia.
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IMAGO / ActionPictures
Matthieu Delpierre is still equally loved at VfB Stuttgart today. During Delpierre’s time in Stuttgart there were some appearances on the European stage, a DFB Cup final and of course the 2007 championship. With his time in Hoffenheim, he made 185 games and thus third place, FAR behind …
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IMAGO / Sportfoto Rudel
… Franck Ribery (left in the picture). 273 Bundesliga games, all for FC Bayern Munich. A legend on the Isar. At peak times, like here in the picture, he could only be stopped by three opponents (if at all). In the list of the record French, it is still only enough for second place.
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IMAGO / Sportfoto Rudel
Because Jonathan Schmid from SC Freiburg has already drawn level and will pass. Schmid came to Freiburg when he was young and played his first Bundesliga games here. After trips to Hoffenheim and Augsburg, he came back in 2019 and will hopefully stay for a while. Schmid is only 30, so he has the best chance of setting a record for eternity.
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IMAGO / Eibner
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