Benjamin Nivet
Benjamin Nivet is one of the legends of the first and second divisions of French football, with more than 700 matches played for French clubs, he will have marked the French football of his time.
Games
Goals
Assists
Trophies
1996/99 AJ Auxerre (FRA) 15 matches
1999/2002 LB Châteauroux (FRA) 96 matches, 14 goals
2002/07 ESTAC Troyes (FRA) 183 matches, 34 goals
2007/12 SM Caen (FRA) 180 matches, 24 goals
2012/19 ESTAC Troyes (FRA) 250 matches, 51 goals
Benjamin Nivet
Born January 2, 1977 in Chartres (FRA)
French, Attacking-midfielder, Central-midfielder, Defensive-midfielder, 1m78
A shy and reserved young player
Benjamin Nivet was born on January 2, 1977 in Chartres, France. Son of parents who had a sporting goods store, he started playing football at the age of 7 in the OC Châteaudun club. Teammate of Patrick Vieira in the departmental selection, he was spotted by US Orléans. Then he joined the training center of AJ Auxerre, a major French club in the late 90s. At the same time, he joined the French under-18 selection before signing his first professional contract at the age of 18.
Unfortunately, after making his debut in the French first division in 1997, he failed to become a major player in his team. Having a reserved nature, he had great respect for his elders and his teammates, something that was pushed to the extreme and which pushed him to be impressed by the group.
The revelation in Ligue 2
He then decided to leave for the French second division, on the side of La Berrichone de Châteauroux where he scored his first professional goal in September 1999. Due to a change of coach, the playmaker lost his starting place for two long months before regaining his place due to injuries and suspensions of teammates.
He then discovered a more defensive position and showed that he was a complete playmaker capable of evolving in the different axial positions of the midfield. Scoring 14 goals during his time at this club, his career finally had a real start.
Often compared in his style of play to Zinédine Zidane, he was an old-school playmaker, with an exceptional technique and a very good quality of passing. He also had an incredible vision and an ability to understand the game perfectly. Clever, he was often in the right place at the right time.
A player loyal to small French clubs
In January 2002, he was finally recruited by ES Troyes AC for around 1 million euros. At 25, he finished in 7th place in the French first division, a great performance for this modest club. But the following season, he experienced a terrible season on a collective level, finishing last in the championship and being relegated. ESTAC sank into the middle of the Ligue 2 table.
From that moment on, the player would experience the rise between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. In total, he would experience 4 promotions in Ligue 1 and 7 relegations in Ligue 2. Another highlight of his career was his great longevity, he played professionally until the age of 42, finally retiring in 2019, while he was playing again at ESTAC Troyes.
Trophies :
French Second League x2
- 2010 (SM Caen)
- 2015 (ESTAC Troyes)
Intertoto Cup x1
- 1997 (AJ Auxerre)