Lionel Perez

France

Perez was born in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Gard. His football career started with French club, Bordeaux. However, much of this time was spent out on loan with Nîmes Olympique then Stade Lavallois.

Sunderland

Perez made his Sunderland debut, aged 29 on 19 October 1996, as a substitute for Tony Coton, in a 3–0 away defeat against Southampton. Perez won Sunderland's Player of the Year Award for the 1996–97 season. During his time at Sunderland, Perez was famously chipped by his former Nimes team-mate Eric Cantona from 25-yards out in a 5–0 defeat away to Manchester United in December 1996. The goal is also memorable due to Cantona's celebration. Cantona later admitted his celebration was intended to humiliate Lionel because Perez refused to shake Cantona's hand before the game – Cantona stated that in his celebration he wanted Perez to "be able to see him from every possible angle." Perez's final game for Sunderland was in the 1998 Football League First Division play-off final at Wembley Stadium against Charlton Athletic. Sunderland drew 4–4 with Clive Mendonca scoring a hat-trick for Charlton; Perez failed to save a penalty in the resulting shoot-out which Charlton won 7–6 which saw The Addicks promoted to the Premier League. Perez stated that the defeat was the worst moment of his career. After being released by Sunderland at the end of the 1997–98 season, Perez signed for the club's arch-rivals Newcastle United on a free transfer.

Newcastle United…

On leaving his coaching role with Stevenage in 2006, Perez and his family moved back to France where he had spells coaching at FC PHA Chusclan Laudun and SO Cassis Carnoux. He holds a UEFA B Licence. He has been inactive in football since 2010. In an interview in May 2021, Perez stated that he was working in a factory in his hometown Bagnols-sur-Cèze saying "I spent all my money and I need to pay the bills and raise my kids."

Cambridge United

Football League Trophy runner-up: 2001–02