Louisa Necib

Louisa Nécib

Nécib with France in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Louisa Nécib Cadamuro
Date of birth	(1987-01-23) 23 January 1987 (age 29)
Place of birth	Marseille, France
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2002	US Marseille
2002–2004	Celtic de Marseille
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	CNFE Clairefontaine	38	(9)
2006–2007	Montpellier	20	(11)
2007–2016	Lyon	173	(64)
National team‡
2003	France U17
2004–2005	France U19
2006	France U20	6	(2)
2005–2016	France	145	(36)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:13, 14 August 2016 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 03:13, 14 August 2016 (UTC)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:13, 14 August 2016 (UTC).

Louisa Nécib Cadamuro (French pronunciation: ​[luiza neˈsib]; born 23 January 1987) is a retired French women's international footballer. She spent the majority of her career at Lyon, amassing eighteen titles with the French club over a nine-year span. She played as a central attacking midfielder and is described as a "gifted playmaker" who "possesses superb technique". Nécib is also known for her "elegant possession, sublime passing skills, and cultured touch on the ball".

She has been labeled by the French media as "the female Zidane" - like Zinedine Zidane, she has Algerian ancestry, grew up in Marseille and possesses immense skill, especially as a playmaker with an eye for goal. As such, she has been nicknamed "Ziza", a variant of Zidane's "Zizou". In an interview with FIFA.com just before the 2012 Olympics, she alluded to the comparison, saying, "Zidane is a role model for me. He was always the player that I most enjoyed watching. The comparison was made frequently when I was starting out, and now, as the years pass, it happens less and less often. But I wouldn't say I’m tired of it." She often attempts to downplay the comparison, though, stating "Being compared to Zidane is really nice, but I don’t think it can harm me because I’ve been hearing it since I was very young. It always makes me proud, but as I always say, I don’t think you can compare anyone to him. He’s unique". While training at the Clairefontaine academy in 2004, Nécib met Zidane, who was at the training center in preparation for qualifying for the 2006 World Cup (the finals would eventually be his last act as a professional). The two players exchanged shirts, and the shirt Nécib acquired from Zidane is currently in the possession of her father.

Nécib began her football career playing for local youth clubs in her hometown of Marseille, such as Union Sportive Marseille and Celtic de Marseille. With the latter club, she made her senior team debut in 2003 and, in the following season, helped the club win the Division 3 Féminine. In 2004, Nécib was selected to attend CNFE Clairefontaine, the women's section of the Clairefontaine academy. She spent two years at the training center, and in 2006, departed for Montpellier of the Division 1 Féminine. In her only season with Montpellier, Nécib helped the team win the 2006–07 edition of the Challenge de France. After departing Montpellier, she joined Lyon. Since joining the club, Nécib has won a slew of trophies, which include four league titles, one Challenge de France, and one UEFA Women's Champions League title. For her performances during the 2008–09 season, she was named the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Female Player of the Year.