Stéphane Guivarc'h

Early career at Brest and Guingamp

Guivarc'h's career started at the Breton club Stade Brestois in 1989. Following back to back relegation due to their financial predicament, and the club's loss of Professional status in 1991, Guivarc'h signed for fellow Breton club En Avant Guingamp then playing in Division 2. After a difficult first season, Guivarc'h started to see more regular playing time in 92/93, scoring 14 league goals in 33 appearances. However despite his personal success, Guingamp were relegated following a league restructure. Now in National 1, Guivarc'h scored a league leading 25 goals to earn Guingamp promotion at the first attempt. The following season he scored 23 goals to lead Guingamp to a second consecutive promotion. Over three seasons at Guingamp his goalscoring rate was better than one every two games (68 in 110 league games).

Auxerre, and Rennes loan

Guivarc'h success prompted interest throughout the league, but he was ultimately signed by AJ Auxerre by Guy Roux for the 1995/96 season. He played for the club as they won a double of Ligue 1 and Coupe de France in 1995–96, under manager, but only scored three goals in 23 league appearances as he fell down the pecking order behind Lilian Laslandes following an injury. Unhappy with his lack of opportunity, Roux agreed to a loan arrangement for Guivarc'h and he joined his third Breton club, Stade Rennais for a single season. At Rennais he played alongside Sylvain Wiltord and Pierre-Yves…

Guivarc'h made 14 appearances for France between 1997 and 1999; his only international goal came on his debut, in a 2–1 home victory in a friendly against South Africa on 11 October 1997. As a result of his domestic goalscoring record Guivarc'h was selected as the lone striker in the World Cup winning France team of 1998, with the tournament being held on home soil. Despite going scoreless throughout the competition, he played an important role in the team's victory by creating space with his movements and pressing defenders with his work-rate; his role in the team has been retroactively compared to Olivier Giroud's in France's 2018 FIFA World Cup victory. He was given the number 9 shirt by manager Aimé Jacquet and appeared in six of France's seven matches throughout the tournament. In the opening 3–0 victory over South Africa Guivarc'h was substituted for Christophe Dugarry in the 29th minute. He did not play at all in the following 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia. He appeared as an 85th minute substitute for David Trezeguet in a 2–1 victory over Denmark in the final group stage match. In the round of 16 against Paraguay he was substituted on in the 76th minute for his Auxerre teammate Bernard Diomède; France went on to win the match 1–0 after extra-time with a Golden goal from Laurent Blanc. Guivarc'h was yellow carded in the quarter-final against Italy and substituted in the 65th minute along with Christian Karembeu for Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet; France would win…

Guivarc'h was born in Concarneau, Finistère.

Guivarc'h was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1998 after the World Cup victory. Since retirement as a player, Guivarc'h has returned to his hometown of Concarneau and become a swimming pool salesman. He is married and has three children. Despite the criticism, France's World Cup-winning manager Aimé Jacquet supported Guivarc'h's performances for his ability to contribute as a pivot despite not scoring in the tournament. He remains incredulous that the striker is perceived as a flop.