One to watch: the staying power of Marseille’s Gignac

Andre-Pierre Gignac has been the centre-forward at Olympique Marseille for nearly five years. To stay in that position at Marseille for so long would normally be considered a failure. Gignac has bucked the trend.

A more svelte version of the striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has thrived, hitting 10 goals in 10 matches in Ligue 1 this season. Jean-Paul Pelissier / Reuters

Andre-Pierre Gignac has been the centre-forward at Olympique Marseille for nearly five years. To stay in that position at Marseille for so long would normally be considered a failure. Unless they belong to Paris Saint-Germain, high-achieving strikers in France’s Ligue 1 tend to be hooked and gathered by major clubs from wealthier leagues. Gignac bucks the trend.

A dream pairing

When Gignac signed for Marseille in 2009, it looked like the best sort of marriage. He comes from Martigues, to the north-west of the city, and he proclaimed his long-term love for the club on joining, for €20 million (Dh92.8m), from Toulouse, where he scored 39 goals in two seasons.

Marseille are the troubled giants of French football. They are the only French club to have won the European Cup, in 1993, but they have had a tortured 21 years since that triumph, including a forced relegation in 1994 after a match-fixing scandal.

The battle of the bulk

Gignac made his reputation as an orthodox target man with a deft touch. Though not especially tall, he has a physical power that can intimidate opposition defenders. However, at other times that strength can seem a problem, feeding a perception that he has problems with weight control. Opposition fans have been known to mock his size in a chant that cites a popular variety of hamburger which, alas, rhymes with his surname. “A Big Mac for Gignac.”

The renaissance

His fitness, and shape, were an issue when Marcelo Bielsa, the demanding Argentinian coach, took over Marseille last summer. He reportedly ordered Gignac to lose 5kg. A more svelte version of the striker has since thrived, hitting 10 goals in 10 matches in Ligue 1 this season. He has also been recalled to the France side, after a long period out of consideration. In the last round of internationals, Gignac scored his first France goal for five years. He and Marseille return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday at Lyon.

The future

Gignac’s contract expires in June. He is among the club’s highest earners, on a €350,000 per month contract that budget-conscious Marseille will be reluctant to renew without a pay cut. He turns 29 in December, and has advisers reminding him his next deal may be his last and that if he stays on top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts, and in good shape, he fits the prototype of striker that tends to tempt offers from the English Premier League or the top tier of Serie A employers.