Yoann Gourcuff

Yoann Gourcuff (born July 11, 1986) is a French footballer who is presently playing with AC Milan.

Career

Gourcuff was born in Ploemeur, Morbihan, Brittany. Having started out with FC Lorient (whose manager is his father Christian Gourcuff) at a young age, Gourcuff signed a youth contract with Stade Rennais in 2001, followed by a professional contract two years later.

Making only 9 appearances in the 2003-04 season, the following seasons were more successful, with him scoring 6 goals in the 2005-06 season, helping Rennes to finish 7th in Ligue 1 and winning them a place in the 2006 Intertoto Cup.

Having been linked with a host of big name European clubs such as Ajax Amsterdam, Valencia CF and Arsenal F.C., at the end of the 2006 season, he moved to A.C. Milan where his contract runs until the 2010-11 season.

He has been capped for France at schoolboy level and was part of the winning French team at the 2005 European Under-19 Football Championship.

He started his Milan career by scoring a goal and being one of the best players on view in Milan's first UEFA Champions League match against AEK Athens.

Gourcuff is being talked of by many as Zinédine Zidane's heir apparent due to his similar height, build, movement, and skill. Others have named him rather as the next Youri Djorkaeff.