| Lionel
Charbonnier 22, Goalkeeper Born: Poiters
(France), 25/10/1966
Charbonnier was signed from Auxerre for £1.2
million in the Summer of 1998. He arrived with a
World Cup winner's medal as a member of the
victorious French squad - although he didn't play
in any of the games.
He had his first taste of Ibrox when Auxerre
beat Rangers 2-1 in the 1996-97 Champions' League
and decided then he wanted to move to Glasgow.
He says: "From that moment I wanted to
join the club. The fans were great and the whole
atmosphere of Ibrox - on and off the pitch - was
something I'd never experienced before."
Charbonnier kept the crowd entertained during
that game by hopping around his penalty area
dodging the white lines. He explained: "I
had knee trouble and I didn't like to put my
weight on both feet when the ball wasn't at my
end.
"Also I didn't like to step on the white
lines of the penalty box. It was my one and only
superstition - but I don't need that any
more."
Charbonnier left Auxerre after 11 seasons and
made his Rangers debut in the 2-1 League victory
over Motherwell in August.
But after making 19 consecutive appearances in
goal and keeping ten clean sheets, Charbonnier
damaged the ligaments in his left knee in UEFA
Cup tie against Bayer Leverkusen at Ibrox in
November.
The injury required surgery and ruled him out
for the rest of the season.
Charbonnier is a talented painter who went to
one of France's top art schools, Les Beaux Arts.
He also owns and trains horses.
After a brief return to top team action,
Charbonnier was again struck by the injury curse
that has hit Rangers' keepers this season, but
following Stefan Klos' injury he made a few
starts in late December including the Old Firm
clash on December 27th.
<<<20
Jonaton Johansson] [26
Tugay Kermioglu>>>
|