Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is best remembered for his time at Juventus and Parma. He held the record of being the most-capped player in the history of the France national team with 142 appearances before it was broken by Hugo Lloris in 2022. He is a pivotal figure in French football history.

Early Life

Lilian Thuram was born on January 1, 1972, in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, a French territory in the Caribbean. Thuram's family moved to mainland France when he was a child, and he grew up in the city of Champigny-sur-Marne, a suburb of Paris. As a child, Thuram was a talented athlete and excelled at several sports, including football, athletics, and handball.

He quickly became a standout player in football and was scouted by several professional clubs in France. In 1991, at the age of 19, he signed his first professional contract with AS Monaco.

Club Career

Thuram began his club career with AS Monaco in 1991, where he played as a right-back. He quickly established himself as a key player for the team and helped Monaco win the Ligue 1 title in his first season. Over the next four years, Thuram continued to impress, earning a reputation as one of the best defenders in French football.

In 1996, Thuram was signed by Serie A side Parma, where he spent two seasons. He played an instrumental role in helping Parma win the UEFA Cup in 1999 and also helped the team finish as runners-up in the Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

In 2001, Thuram was signed by Italian giants Juventus, where he spent the next five seasons. During his time at Juventus, he played alongside several world-class players, including Alessandro Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane, and won two Serie A titles and a Supercoppa Italiana.

In 2006, Thuram joined La Liga side Barcelona, where he played for two seasons. He helped Barcelona win the La Liga title in his first season and was a part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 2009.

After leaving Barcelona, Thuram played one season for Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2008 at the age of 36. Over the course of his club career, Thuram played in over 500 matches and scored 15 goals.

International Career

Thuram made his debut for the French national team in August 1994 in a friendly match against the Czech Republic.

He quickly established himself as a regular in the team and played a crucial role in helping France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil. Thuram scored two goals in the semi-final against Croatia, including a memorable solo effort that is widely regarded as one of the greatest goals in World Cup history.

Thuram continued to be a key player for France over the next few years and played in the Euro 2000 tournament, which France won. He also played in the 2002 World Cup, where France were knocked out in the group stage, and the 2006 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in helping France reach the final.

He retired from international football in 2008, having made 142 appearances for France, which is the second-highest number of appearances by a French player.

Records

• Thuram was awarded the Legion of Honour, which is the highest honor in France, in recognition of his contributions to French football and his success with the national team.

• Thuram is the second most-capped outfield player in the history of the French national team, having made 142 appearances for Les Bleus.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Thuram is known for his social and political activism off the field. He has been a vocal advocate for anti-racism and social justice, and has been involved in several initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.

In 2010, Thuram founded the Lilian Thuram Foundation, which aims to promote education about racism and its consequences, and to encourage dialogue and understanding between different cultures and communities. The foundation has organized several educational programs, workshops, and conferences on topics such as racism, discrimination, and human rights.

He is also a published author, having written several books on topics such as race, identity, and social justice. His book "Mes étoiles noires" ("My Black Stars"), which was published in 2010, explores the lives and experiences of prominent black figures throughout history.

In addition to his activism, Thuram is also a lover of art and culture. He has been involved in several artistic projects, including a collaboration with French artist JR to create a mural in Paris highlighting the contributions of immigrants to French society.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $15 million.

Family

Thuram was born to parents who were educators. He was one of nine siblings and grew up in a family that valued education and intellectualism.

Thuram has also been open about his relationship with his father, who he has described as being emotionally distant and abusive during his childhood. In his book "Mes étoiles noires," Thuram writes about how his father's behavior affected his upbringing and his own relationships with his children.

Wife

Thuram has been married twice. He was first married to Sandra, with whom he has two children, a son named Marcus and a daughter named Khéphren. Marcus Thuram is also a professional footballer and currently plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Bundesliga. Khéphren Thuram is also a professional footballer and plays for Ligue 1 side Nice.

Thuram's second marriage was to Karine Le Marchand, a French television host. The couple later divorced.

In August 2022 he married journalist Kareen Guiock, whom he met in 2015.

Houses

During his time in Italy playing for Juventus, Thuram lived in a villa in the hills outside of Turin. The property was reportedly quite large and featured a swimming pool and outdoor tennis court.