Jérémy Toulalan (born 10 September 1983 in Nantes) is a French footballer who plays central midfielder for Olympique Lyonnais and the France national football team.

Career

Toulalan is a pure product of the FC Nantes youth academy, making his first-team debut during the 2001-2002 season against Rennes. He would stay at his hometown club until the end of the 2005-2006 season, when he agreed a transfer to the Olympique Lyonnais, who had just won their fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title.

Since joining Lyon, Toulalan has been one of the their most consistent performers, and whilst perhaps naturally a more attacking player, he has taken over the holding role vacated by Mahamadou Diarra’s transfer to Real Madrid with great success.

International Career

Toulalan was a member of the French squad that participated in the 2006 UEFA U-21 Championship helping France reach the semi-finals before losing to the Netherlands. He was named in the Team of the Tournament as a left winger (to accommodate central midfielders Ismaïl Aissati and Rio Antonio Mavuba, also in that selection).

Toulalan has since become a regular selection of Raymond Domenech for the national team, surplanting Rio Mavuba, Alou Diarra, and Lassana Diarra as the eventual successor to Claude Makélélé.

Honours

• French Ligue 1 championship in 2007 and 2008 with Olympique Lyonnais.
• Coupe de France winner in 2008 with Olympique Lyonnais
• Trophée Des Champions in 2006 and 2007 with Olympique Lyonnais.