Tony Vairelles


Tony Mickaël Patrice Yves Vairelles is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Club career

A centre-forward, Vairelles started his professional career with hometown club AS Nancy before moving to RC Lens in summer 1995. After four seasons with considerable success he joined Olympique Lyonnais who sent him out on loan three times and finally sold him to Stade Rennais. From then he changed clubs every season. Before the 2008 Major League Soccer season he had a trial with Toronto FC but did not fit into their plans and was not signed. In 2009, he joined FC Gueugnon after a stint at F91 Dudelange. He also became the club's main investor.
In 2002, Sporting CP manager László Bölöni proposed signing Vairelles on loan from Lyon in a deal that would give the French club first option on signing Sporting's young players including Ricardo Quaresma and Cristiano Ronaldo. The deal fell through due to Lyon's lack of interest in the Portuguese players.

International career

Vairelles represented France at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
He made his senior debut for France in an August 1998 friendly match against Austria and went on to earn eight caps, scoring one goal. He played his final international game in April 2000 against Slovenia.

Personal life

Vairelles is the first player from the Romani community to play for the France national team.
He has one sister, Marilyn, and five brothers, Giovan, Diego, Jimmy, Gino, and Fabrice. His cousin David Vairelles and his younger brothers Giovan and Diego are all professional footballers.
Tony Vairelles and his brothers Giovan, Jimmy, and Fabrice were held in pre-trial detention in Nancy from 25 October 2011 after a shooting in a discothèque in Essey-lès-Nancy. He was freed on 27 March 2012 and put on probation. In June 2015, the trial was still ongoing with Tony Vairelles and his brothers being charged with attempted murder.
On 16 May 2022, Vairelles was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in the attack.

Career statistics

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
113 November 1999Stade de France, Saint Denis, France3–03–0Friendly

Honours

Lens
Lyon
Dudelange