Marc Vidal (footballer)

Marc Vidal (born 3 June 1991 in Saint-Affrique) is a French football player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for French club Toulouse in Ligue 1. He is a French youth international having represented the under-18 and under-19. Vidal currently plays for the under-20 team. He made his professional debut on 13 February 2010 in a league match against Lorient.

Football career

Early career

Vidal began his football career playing for his hometown club Stade Saint-Affrique Sportive in Saint-Affrique, a small commune in the Aveyron department. Vidal's ability at Saint-Affrique saw him achieved selection to the Castelmaurou academy, which serves as the Clairefontaine of the Midi-Pyrénées region. While at the academy, Vidal crafted his goalkeeping skills under the tutelage of former French international Fabien Barthez, who grew up in the area and served as an occasional coach. Vidal stated he models his game after the former Manchester United netminder. After a two-year stint at the academy, Vidal signed with the biggest club in the region, Toulouse.

Toulouse

Vidal established himself at the club's training center becoming a youth international. For the 2009–10 season, Vidal was installed as the head goalkeeper of the club's amateur team playing in CFA 2, the fifth division of French football, and the third goalkeeper on the club's senior team. In late September 2009, Vidal suffered an extensive injury to his shoulder and also fractured his fifth metatarsal bone during a training session and missed several months. During his recovery phase, the senior team endured a disastrous injury crisis losing both Yohann Pelé (starting goalkeeper) and Olivier Blondel (backup goalkeeper) to injuries. The resulting injuries led Toulouse to start 17-year-old Anthony Loustallot in goal against Sochaux. Toulouse won the match 2–0. For the early part of 2010, Vidal was relegated to the club's 5th goalkeeper following the acquisition of Mathieu Valverde and the emergence of Loustallot. However, following a severe groin injury to Valverde against Brest mid-week in the Coupe de France, Vidal was inserted into the starting role for the club's league match against Lorient on 13 February. Vidal made his professional debut in that match, which ended 1–1. Vidal performed well and preserved the draw following a tremendous save in injury time.

Honours

International

• France
  • UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2010