Editing Mathieu Flamini (section)

==Club career==
===Marseille===
Born in [[Marseille]], Flamini was a youth team player for his local professional club [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]. He made his debut for the senior team on 20 December 2003 in the 1–0 victory over [[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]]. He impressed the team as a hardworking midfield player and played 14 times for the club. However, it was his performances in Marseille’s [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] campaign that brought him to the attention of the football world, including the [[2003–04 UEFA Cup|2–0 semi-final victory]] over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]. He then started in the [[2004 UEFA Cup Final|Final]] in [[Gothenburg]], a match Spanish club [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] won 2–0. Due to his age, however, Marseille was later unable to offer him a long-term professional [[Association football contracts|contract]].

===Arsenal===
On 23 July 2004, Flamini signed a professional contract for English club [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], rejecting Marseille's long-term senior contract offer to which he had already verbally agreed. Soon after the incident, then-Marseille manager [[José Anigo]] stated, "This is a beautiful treason. He used me."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurosport.fr/football/transferts1/2004/flamini-file-a-l-anglaise_sto616272/story.shtml | publisher = Eurosport | title = Flamini file à l'anglaise |language = fr |date = 22 July 2004 | access-date = 21 June 2012 }}</ref> Arsenal were eventually ordered by The Dispute Resolution Chamber of FIFA to pay Marseille a compensation fee of €480 000 for Flamini.<ref>{{cite news|last=Baron|first=Thomas (15 October 2010)|url=http://www.eurosport.fr/football/transferts/2014-2015/transferts-arsenal-flaire-le-bon-coup-stephane-sparagna-olympique-de-marseille_sto4438970/story.shtml|title=Transferts – Arsenal flaire le bon coup Stéphane Sparagna (Olympique de Marseille)|language=fr|website=Euro Sport |access-date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

Flamini made his Arsenal debut in the 1–4 win at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on 15 August 2004. In his first season, he was typically used as a utility player, starting only nine games but used as a [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] in 12. The following season saw him filling in for a number of injured players, but again unable to command a first team place in his favoured position. He scored his first Arsenal goal on 11 May 2005 in a 7–0 home win against Everton, scoring the seventh goal, the team's last-ever goal scored in their traditional red and white kit at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]].

In the [[2006–07 Arsenal F.C. season|2006–07 season]], Flamini scored the winning goal against [[NK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]] in the qualifying stages of the [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]. He also scored important goals against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the Premier League. Despite these important goals, however, he remained unsatisfied with his "utility player" role at the club and in April 2007, he admitted that he would most likely be leaving Arsenal in the summer. Flamini, however, turned down a proposed [[pound sterling|£]]3m move to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and remained with the team.

Flamini started in central midfield for Arsenal's first match of the [[2007–08 Premier League]] season due to the absence of [[Gilberto Silva]] and [[Abou Diaby]]. During Arsenal's [[2007–08 Arsenal F.C. season|2007–08 campaign]], he struck up a strong partnership with [[Cesc Fàbregas]], keeping Gilberto out of the starting XI with displays widely regarded by Arsenal fans as a vast improvement on those during his previous years at the club. Flamini enjoyed a generally good rapport with Arsenal's fans, who provided him with his own [[football chant|song]], an adaptation of the theme tune to British television programme ''[[The Sweeney]]''. On 29 January 2008, he scored an extraordinary {{convert|25|yd|adj=on}} strike in Arsenal's 3–0 win over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in the Premier League. He played on 8 April 2008, a [[UEFA Champions League]] match in which Arsenal were knocked out by English rival Liverpool. After the match, he was reported injured and it proved to be his last match for Arsenal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=738435.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411110625/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=738435.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2008|title=Flamini out for three weeks|agency=AFP  |date=10 April 2008|access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> In April 2009, he stated in an interview that he is still an Arsenal fan and that he has no hard feelings towards the club: "Arsenal are in my heart and they will be in my heart for ever," he said. "I will always be an Arsenal fan and leaving was not easy."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/8010235.stm|title=Mathieu Flamini interview |date=23 April 2009|work=BBC Sport  |access-date=23 April 2009}}</ref>

===Milan===
[[File:David Beckham of AC Milan, April 19, 2009.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Flamini with [[David Beckham]] and [[Filippo Inzaghi]] in action for Milan, [[Goal celebration|celebrating]] a [[Goal (sport)|goal]] against [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] in the [[Serie A]], at the [[San Siro]].]]
Flamini signed a contract with Italian club [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] on 5 May 2008.<ref name="sports">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/young-gunner-flamini-agrees--to-join-milan-1360892.html|title=Young Gunner Flamini agrees to join Milan|work=Independent |location=UK |access-date=28 April 2008|first=Jason|last=Burt|date=28 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7383314.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Flamini seals switch to AC Milan | date=5 May 2008 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> Flamini wore the number 84 on his shirt to represent his year of birth.

He made his Serie A debut on 30 August 2008 in a 2–1 loss to [[Bologna F.C. 1909|Bologna]].<ref>[http://www.serieatalk.com/bologna-ruin-ronaldinho-debut/254 Bologna ruin Ronaldinho debut]. serieatalk.com.</ref> Initially, Flamini did not enjoy the number of starts or appearances for the Italian team, and was regarded as a [[utility player]] at Milan. Nevertheless, injuries to other players and his consistent good form helped him to cement a starting place at [[San Siro]]. With Milan failing to find a stable defence and a lack of a fit, consistent and reliable right back, [[Gianluca Zambrotta]] was switched to the left flank to help Flamini develop as a tenacious right back. After stating that his preferred position is in the midfield, Milan re-deployed him as a defensive midfielder.

Flamini saw limited playing time towards the end of [[2009–10 A.C. Milan season|2009–10 season]] due to the great form of club captain [[Massimo Ambrosini]]. In the following season, Flamini became an important asset of the team that would win its 18th ''[[scudetto]]'', playing many games as starter and scoring two goals against [[A.S. Bari|Bari]] and [[Bologna F.C. 1909|Bologna]], respectively. After playing as a rotation role in the [[2010–11 A.C. Milan season|2010–11 season]], he injured himself in a pre-season training session, suffering a serious knee injury which required an operation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2011 |orig-date= |title=Milan's Flamini to miss group stage with knee injury |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01f4-0e796b24f70b-073d32d216a5-1000--milan-s-flamini-to-miss-group-stage-with-knee-injury/ |website=UEFA}}</ref> Flamini spent the entire [[2011–12 A.C. Milan season|2011–12 season]] out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prindiville |first=Mike |date=2013-08-29 |title=Arsenal re-sign French midfielder Mathieu Flamini from AC Milan |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/arsenal-re-sign-french-midfielder-mathieu-flamini-from-ac-milan |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 20 June 2012, it was confirmed by the club that he had left following the expiration of his [[Association football contracts|contract]], as they had ended negotiations with the player, and so he became a [[free agent]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Arsenal sign their former midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=29 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309103206/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10273980/Arsenal-sign-their-former-midfielder-Mathieu-Flamini-on-a-free-transfer.html |archive-date=2023-03-09 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10273980/Arsenal-sign-their-former-midfielder-Mathieu-Flamini-on-a-free-transfer.html}}</ref> Two weeks later, Flamini and [[Adriano Galliani]] reached a new agreement for a one-year contract, with the Frenchman taking a significant cut in his wages.<ref name="Milan confirm Flamini U-turn">{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1116167/mathieu-flamini-signs-one-year-extension-with-ac-milan?cc=5901|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629035826/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1116167/mathieu-flamini-signs-one-year-extension-with-ac-milan?cc=5901|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2012|title=Milan confirm Flamini U-turn|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=26 June 2012|date=26 June 2012}}</ref> On 7 April 2013, Flamini scored his first goal of the season, and Milan's second of the game, in a 2–2 draw against [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/ac-milan-tops-fiorentina-serie-a-1.1386831|title=AC Milan tops Fiorentina: Serie A|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=7 April 2013|date=7 April 2013}}</ref>

===Return to Arsenal===
[[File:Mathieu Flamini (19468174744).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Flamini in 2015]]
Flamini began training with Arsenal midway in early August, with the reason to "solely maintain fitness" with a view to signing for a club in England. Immediately it sparked media attention with claims rising that he would soon sign for Arsenal, but these reports were shunned by many journalists, pointing out that many other ex-Arsenal players had returned to train with Arsenal, including club legends [[Robert Pires]] and [[Thierry Henry]].

Flamini, however, did indeed sign for Arsenal on 29 August 2013 and became Arsenal's second acquisition of the summer, after [[Yaya Sanogo]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Club confirms Mathieu Flamini signing|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/mathieu-flamini-rejoins-arsenal|publisher=Arsenal F.C|date=29 August 2013 |access-date=29 August 2013}}</ref> He made his returning debut on 1 September at [[Emirates Stadium]] against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], coming on for [[Jack Wilshere]] and helping the team secure a 1–0 win. His performances after signing were lauded by both critics and fans alike, and had featured in all of Arsenal's [[Premier League]], [[Football League Cup]] and [[UEFA|European]] games since, with many seeing his signing, and his combative style of play, as one of the key reasons for Arsenal's excellent early season form.<ref name="Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham">{{cite news|title=Arsenal 1–0 Tottenham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23831033|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|work=[[BBC]]|date=1 September 2013|access-date=7 September 2013|last=Magowan|first=Alistair}}</ref> He scored his first goal in his second spell at Arsenal on 30 November, the second in a 0–3 away win at [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]. He has also scored in a crucial 1–1 draw against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] after a run of bad form from Arsenal, helping the club rejuvenate and achieve an eventual top four league finish. At the start of Arsenal's [[2013–14 FA Cup]] run, Flamini expressed his desire to win the Cup, having been left out of the squad when Arsenal won the [[2005 FA Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://news.arseblog.com/2014/01/flamini-eyes-second-fa-cup-triumph/
|title=Flamini eyes second FA Cup triumph
|publisher=arseblog.com
|date=4 January 2014 |access-date=22 December 2014}}</ref> Arsenal went on to win the tournament, though Flamini was an unused substitute in the [[2014 FA Cup Final|Final]], also remaining on the substitutes' bench when Arsenal repeated the feat, becoming [[2014–15 FA Cup|FA Cup]] champions again in [[2015 FA Cup Final|2015]].

On 23 September 2015, Flamini earned his first start of the [[2015–16 Arsenal F.C. season|2015–16 season]] in the [[2015–16 Football League Cup|Football League Cup]] third round tie against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. He scored both of Arsenal's goals with a Man of the Match performance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/23/tottenham-arsenal-capital-one-cup-match-report|title=Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini rediscovers scoring flair to down Tottenham|last=Lane|first=David Hytner at White Hart|date=23 September 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=9 September 2016}}</ref>

===Late career===
Flamini signed as a free-agent for [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] at the beginning of the 2016–17 season,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flamini Joins Crystal Palace|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2016/september/flamini-joins-crystal-palace-/|website=cpfc.co.uk |date=8 September 2016 |access-date=8 September 2016}}</ref> and released by the club at the season's end.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crystal Palace release Fraizer Campbell, Mathieu Flamini and Joe Ledley|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11706/10910054/crystal-palace-release-fraizer-campbell-mathieu-flamini-and-joe-ledley|access-date=9 June 2017|publisher=Sky Sport|date=9 June 2017}}</ref> He joined [[Getafe CF|Getafe]] in February 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flamini en el Getafe|url=http://getafecf.com/Noticia/tabid/137/Article/5061/Flamini-en-el-Getafe.aspx|website=getafecf.com |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref> making eight appearances in [[2017–18 La Liga|La Liga]] before leaving the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Mathieu Flamini laissé libre par Getafe |url= https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Mathieu-flamini-laisse-libre-par-getafe/917388 |trans-title= Mathieu Flamini leaves Getafe |website= [[L'Équipe]] |language=fr |date= 30 June 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref> He rejoined Getafe in December 2018,<ref>{{cite news|title=El Getafe vuelve a fichar a Flamini|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/laliga/getafe-vuelve-fichar-flamini-7209419|access-date=20 December 2018|publisher=Sport|date=18 December 2018}}</ref> and retired from playing in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title=Mathieu Flamini now worth £10 BILLION after becoming incredibly successful since retiring |url=https://www.givemesport.com/mathieu-flamini-ex-arsenal-midfielder-is-now-worth-an-insane-amount/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}}</ref>