Gilbert Meriel

Gilbert Meriel (born 11 November 1986) is a soccer player from Tahiti currently playing for A.S. Vénus and for the Tahiti national football team. He was part of the Tahitian squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.[2]

Gilbert Meriel
Personal information
Full name Gilbert Meriel[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-11) 11 November 1986
Place of birth Tahiti
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 A.S. Vénus
Number 1
Youth career
1995–2000 A.S. Vénus
2000–2003 Angers
2003–2006 Carquefou
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Carquefou
2010–2011 A.S. Tefana
2011–2014 AS Central Sport
2014– A.S. Vénus
National team‡
2012– Tahiti 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:16, 23 June 2013 (UTC)

Meriel started playing soccer at the age of nine on Tahitian club A.S. Vénus. Five years later, he went to France to join the youth academy at Angers SCO, where he stayed for three years. While in France, Meriel also played for US Jeanne d'Arc Carquefou competing in the lower leagues, before returning home at 18. Upon his return home Meriel, like many of his national team colleagues, was forced to get another job and become a semi-professional athlete. Metiel earned a bachelor in economy and administration, becoming an auditor for consulting group KPMG.[3]

On the Confederations Cup, Meriel had his first cap as the starting goalkeeper for Tahiti's in the squad's final game against Uruguay in Recife. While Tahiti lost 8-0, Meriel was applauded once he saved a penalty kick from the eventually sent-off Andres Scotti.[4][5]

References
  1. "Squad lists for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 7 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  2. "Profile". Football Database. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Confederations Cup: Tahitian delight at penalty save". BBC Sport. 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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