Yohan Cabaye

Yohan Cabaye (born 14 January 1986) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Cabaye began his football career playing for hometown club US Tourcoing at the age of six.

After seven years developing in the club's youth academy, he joined professional club Lille.

In July 1998, he signed youth papers with Lille and was inserted into the club's academy.

Cabaye developed quickly in the club's academy and, by the 2003–04 season, was playing on the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football.

Cabaye appeared in ten matches and scored one goal in his first season with the team.

In the next season, Cabaye rotated between the reserve team and the first team.

Cabaye spent six years in the club's youth academy before making his professional debut in the 2004–05 season helping Lille win the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

He became a regular starter in the following season and participated in the UEFA Champions League for the first time under Claude Puel.

Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Cabaye signed his first professional contract with Lille agreeing to a three-year deal.

He trained with the team in the pre-season and participated in the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, which Lille won, appearing in four matches.

Cabaye was called up to the senior team for the first time under coach Claude Puel in November 2004.

He made his league debut on 7 November 2004 in a league match against Istres.

At under-19 level, he played on the team that won the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

With the under-20 team, Cabaye played at the 2006 edition of the Toulon Tournament.

At under-21 level, he served as captain of the team for a portion of his stint.

Under manager Rudi Garcia, Cabaye developed into a playmaker and had his best season to date in the 2009–10 season scoring over 15 goals from the midfield position.

In the 2010–11 season, he was a part of the Lille team that won the league and cup double.

In August 2010, Cabaye was called up to the senior team for the first time under new manager Laurent Blanc, and made his international debut on 11 August in a 2–1 friendly defeat against Norway.

In June 2011 following the end of the season, Cabaye joined English club Newcastle United on a five-year deal.

He went on to earn 48 caps and represented France at two UEFA European Championships (2012, 2016) and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Cabaye was born in the northern commune of Tourcoing in the department of Nord.

His father, Didier, is a former football player who now works in the health care field in the city of Roubaix.

At the age of 16, Cabaye's father played for professional club Lens and spent a year there training before a double leg fracture abruptly ended his career at the club.

After healing, he spent time playing for amateur clubs Stade Jean-Macé and US Tourcoing.

The two clubs later merged to form Tourcoing FC.

Cabaye has a younger brother, Geoffrey, who has played football in the lower divisions of the French and Belgian leagues, most notably with Tournai and Wasquehal.

He is of Vietnamese descent through his paternal grandmother, and has stated he would like to visit the country, possibly to contribute to the development of football there.

On 29 January 2014, Newcastle accepted a £19 million offer for Cabaye from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Cabaye joined, signing a three-year contract with the club.

On 10 July 2015, he joined Crystal Palace.

After signing for Dubai club Al-Nasr and later returning to France to play for Saint-Étienne, Cabaye announced his retirement in February 2021.

Cabaye was a former French youth international, having represented his nation at under-16, under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 level.

He played in 15 matches and scored two goals with the reserve team helping the team finish in 2nd place in its group, which resulted in qualification to the league playoffs.

He later attended one of Vietnam's matches during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Cabaye is a Roman Catholic.

Cabaye began his football career playing for hometown club Tourcoing FC.

He started out at the club at the age of six.

Cabaye, initially, did not meet the age requirement to enter the club's youth academy, however, due to his father working at the club at the time, he was allowed entrance into the club's academy.

Cabaye spent several years developing at the club and, after excelling in youth games, gained the attention of professional club Lille.