Mickael Marsiglia Gets The All-Clear For Clyde

Seven days after signing a short-term contract with Clyde, attacking midfielder Mickael Marsiglia has been cleared to play against Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park tomorrow afternoon.

Acquiring foreign players is a relatively new experience for all concerned behind the scenes at Broadwood, but officials from other clubs, with years of experience in bringing in talent from around the world, have reassured Clyde that it doesn’t get any easier! Patience is the watchword.

Injuries to key experienced players like Darren Sheridan and Gary Bollan have made the wait for twenty-eight year old Mickael’s clearance all the harder to bear, as Clyde have unfortunately lost against Airdrie United and Forfar Athletic during the wait for his papers.

It should be stressed that unlike Clyde’s early-season French imports, Karim Kerkar and Jean Louis Valois, Mickael’s stay with Clyde is expected to last four months, and there is no doubt the Bully Wee will benefit from his presence.

Clyde supporters are reminded that Mickael’s career started with AS Cannes in 1993, where he made his name as a central midfielder. He stayed there until 1999, before moving to Racing Club Strasbourg for two seasons, having previously been on loan to Strasbourg during 1998.

He then hit the headlines on 4 July 2000 when France’s biggest club, Olympique de Marseille, paid Racing £1.75m for his services and gave him a four tyear contract. He was seen as the replacement for Robert Pires, who had moved from Oympique to Arsenal the previous day, but unfortunately only made one first team appearance in his in debut season at Marseille.

Thereafter he never seemed to figure in the scheme of things. During his second season, 2001-02, he was loaned out to Racing de Ferrol, a Spanish Second Division club, for whom he was a key player, making sixteen appearances before returning to Marseille on 7 January 2003. He made a further two appearances during 2002-03 for Marseille, just three in total, before his contract was terminated on 27 August 2003.

During 2003-04 he returned to his first club Cannes, playing in twenty-two matches. Most recently Mickael has been with Spanish Second Division FC Cartagena; now he hopes his four month spell with Clyde, starting tomorrow against Hamilton, will be beneficial to the Bully Wee and to his continuing career.