Olivier Giroud is a French football striker who plays for AC Milan and the France national team.
He is one of Europe’s most versatile and effective strikers, known for his aerial ability, physical strength, link-up play and finishing skills.
He has won several titles and awards, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 UEFA Europa League and the 2017 Puskás Award. He is also the second-highest goalscorer for France, behind only Thierry Henry.
File
- Full name: Olivier Jonathan Giroud
- Date of birth: September 30, 1986
- Age: 37 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Chambery, France
- Nationality: French
- Occupation: Soccer player
- Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
- Parents: Denis Giroud and Viviane Arnaud-Goddet
- Siblings: Romain Giroud
- Spouse: Jennifer Giroud
- Children: Jade, Evan, Aaron and Aria
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $35 million
Early life and education
Olivier Jonathan Giroud, 37 years old in 2023, was born on September 30, 1986 in Chambéry, a city in the Savoie region of France.
He is the eldest son of Denis Giroud and Viviane Arnaud–Goddet, a secretary. He has a younger brother, Romain, who also pursued a football career. Olivier also has Italian descent through his grandmothers, Yvonne Avogadro and Antonia Gaiatto.
Olivier grew up in the village of Froges, where he attended the local primary school. He started playing football at the age of six, joining his hometown club Olympique Club de Forges.
He then moved to Grenoble Foot 38, where he joined the youth academy.
Personal life
Olivier Giroud met his wife, Jennifer, an American-born housewife, in 2008 while playing for Tours FC.
They married in 2011 and have four children together: three daughters, Jade, Evan and Aria, and a son, Aaron. The family lives in Milan, Italy, where Olivier plays for AC Milan.
Jennifer supports Olivier’s professional football career and often accompanies him to public events.
She is also active on Twitter, with over 10,000 followers. Olivier is a devout Christian and has a tattoo of Psalm 23 on her right arm.
Career
Olivier Giroud began his professional career in 2005 when he signed his first contract with Grenoble. He made his debut in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football, in 2006.
He scored his first goal in 2007 against Le Havre. He spent three seasons with Grenoble, scoring 15 goals in 67 appearances.
In 2008, he joined Tours FC, where he had a breakthrough season, scoring 21 goals in 40 games and winning the Ligue 2 Player of the Year award. He also received his first call-up to the French national team in 2009.
In 2010, he moved to Montpellier HSC, a club in Ligue 1, the top flight of French football. He formed a fruitful partnership with Younès Belhanda and helped Montpellier win their first Ligue 1 title in 2012.
He was the tournament’s top scorer with 21 goals and was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He also played for France at UEFA Euro 2012, reaching the quarter-finals.
In 2012, he moved to Arsenal, a club in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. He made his debut in August 2012, in a match against Sunderland.
He scored his first goal in September 2012, against Coventry City. He became a key player for Arsenal, leading the attack and creating chances for his teammates.
He has won three FA Cups and three FA Community Shields with Arsenal, scoring in two finals. He also reached the 2019 UEFA Europa League final, where he scored against former club Chelsea. He has scored 105 goals in 253 games for Arsenal, making him the club’s 19th-highest goalscorer.
In 2018, he joined Chelsea, another Premier League club. He made his debut in February 2018, in a match against Watford.
He scored his first goal in March 2018, against Crystal Palace. He helped Chelsea win the FA Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Europa League in 2019, scoring the opening goal in the final against Arsenal.
He also won the 2021 UEFA Champions League, becoming the first player to win the title with both London clubs.
He scored 39 goals in 119 games for Chelsea, including a stunning bicycle kick against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.
In 2021, he signed for AC Milan, a club in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. He made his debut in August 2021, in a match against Sampdoria.
He scored his first goal in September 2021, against Lazio. He has scored four goals in seven games for AC Milan, helping them rise to the top of the table.
Olivier Giroud has also been a regular for the French national team since 2011. He has played in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022) and three UEFA European Championships (2012, 2016 and 2020). He was part of the 2018 World Cup-winning squad, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
He also reached the final of Euro 2016, where he scored three goals. He is France’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, with 46 goals in 113 appearances, behind only Thierry Henry.
He has also won several individual awards, such as the 2017 Puskás Award for goal of the year and the Bronze Boot at Euro 2016 for third-highest goalscorer.
Net worth
Olivier Giroud has an estimated net worth of $35 million.
He earns $7 million a year from AC Milan and has endorsement deals with brands like Puma, Hugo Boss and EA Sports.
Argumentative
Olivier Giroud has faced a number of controversies during his career, both on and off the pitch.
In 2014, he was accused of cheating on his wife with a model named Celia Kay, who claimed to have spent the night with him in a hotel. He later apologized to his wife and fans, saying he regretted his mistake.
In 2017, he was criticised by some Arsenal fans for celebrating a goal against Bournemouth with a scorpion kick, which was seen as disrespectful to his opponents. He defended his celebration, saying it was spontaneous and not meant to offend anyone.
In 2018, he was booed by some French fans in a friendly against Italy because of what he perceived as a lack of goals and impact. He responded by saying he was used to the criticism and always gave his all for the team.
Social media
- Instagram name: @oliviergiroud
- Twitter Username: @Olivier Giroud
