About
Wendeleine Thérèse Renard (born 20 July 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Première Ligue club Lyon and the France national team.
Renard is one of the most decorated players in modern women’s club football. She has won a record 18 French league titles and eight European Cups. In 2019, the New York Times described her as an “institution” at Lyon, the most successful club in European women’s football.
Renard was born in Schœlcher in Martinique, a French island in the Lesser Antilles. She is the youngest of 4 daughters. Her father died of lung cancer when she was eight years old. Prior to moving to the mainland, Renard played for Essor-Préchotain on her home island.
When she was 15, Renard flew to mainland France for a trial at Clairefontaine but was not accepted into the national training program. She subsequently took the train to Lyon and, after a more successful trial, landed a spot with Lyon. She left Martinique to permanently live in Lyon at the age of sixteen.
Renard made her debut at L’Essor Préchotin at the age of seven and then played for Rapid Club Le Lorrain. In 2006, Farid Benstiti, then coach of Olympique…
Awards & Recognition
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Bio and photo via Wikipedia, used under Creative Commons licensing.