Gervais Yao Kouassi, known as Gervinho, was born on May 27, 1987, in Anyama. Here is an overview of his career:
- Early Career:
- Gervinho began his playing career at the ASEC Mimosas youth academy under the guidance of Jean-Marc Guillou.
- Nicknamed “Gervinho,” which means “little Gervais” in Portuguese.
- Club Career:
- 2005-2007: KSK Beveren
- 2007-2009: Le Mans
- July 20, 2009: Signed a three-year contract with Lille OSC for a transfer fee of 6.5 million euros.
- July 18, 2011: Signed a “long-term” contract with Arsenal. The transfer amount was unspecified.
- National Selection:
- 2008: Captained the Ivorian selection in the Olympic Games in Beijing, where Ivory Coast qualified for the first time but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Nigeria (2-0).
- 2010: Participated in the African Cup of Nations in Angola, where Ivory Coast was eliminated in the first round.
- 2012: Played in the African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Ivory Coast reached the final but lost on penalties to Zambia (8-7) after a goalless draw.
- Achievements:
- 2011: Won the Ligue 1 title with Lille OSC.
- 2011: Won the Coupe de France with Lille OSC.
- 2012: Reached the final of the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
Gervinho has had a successful career, contributing to both Lille OSC and Arsenal, and has been a key figure in the Ivorian national team.
