From the shores of Europe to a sterling start to life in the MLS; Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris are blossoming even in their twilights.
The former France teammates reached another career milestone after their immense contributions saw LAFC emerge champions of 2024 US Open Cup.
With one playing as forward and the other as the goalie, the duo formed the fulcrum that enabled LAFC roar to a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas to secure the club trophy in the USA.
Significantly, Olivier scored in the match to break the deadlock after a barren first half. Sporting Kansas however equalized seven minutes later through Erik Thommy. The scoreline remained the same during the extra time.
Shortly into the extra-time period however, Omar Campos scored his debut LAFC goal, before Kei Kamara put the game out of reach in the second period of the extra time.
The victory saw Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris, who reunite in the USA elite division after heroic careers in Europe, clinch their first trophy together as MLS footballers.
The triumph is not only significant for its sake but marks another brilliant and fulfilling chapter for the two footballers in the MLS.
The pair shared a heroic career with France’s national team and in Europe before pitting tents with Los Angeles FC in their twilights.
Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris MLS career
Olivier Giroud signed with LAFC from AC Milan on May 14, 2024. Giroud joined shortly after the team completed the signing of Hugo Lloris.
After making his debut for the team on August 13, 2024, in a 4-1 win against San Jose Earthquakes, Giroud has gone on to feature nine more times for the team scoring twice and winning the U.S Open Cup.
Hugo Lloris was brought to the American club on December 30, 2023, from Tottenham. He has played 37 times for the club and won the U.S. Open Cup.
Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris in France’s National Team
Olivier Giroud was called up to France’s National team following a string of impressive performances with Montpellier. He made his national team debut on November 11, 2011, against the United States, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 win.
He has since then gone on to feature in every competition with the national team, appearing in four different European Championships, three World Cup editions, and the UEFA Nations League.
Giroud became the national team’s all-time top scorer on December 4, 2022, in a round-of-16 tie against Poland. The 37-year-old retired from international football after Euro 2024. He has a World Cup and Nations League trophy to show for his time with the national team.
His ex-teammate Hugo Lloris received the national team call-up on February 6, 2008, however, it wasn’t till November 19 of that year, that he won his first cap in a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.
He went on to appear in a total of nine competitions for the national team and was the undisputed starter for nearly a decade.
The 37-year-old retired from the national team after the 2022 World Cup. He won the World Cup and Nations League trophy with the National team.
Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris’ European career
Olivier Giroud made his professional debut with French side Grenoble. It was a screeching start for the footballer. Finding game time was hard to come by and was loaned to Istres in France third tier
He scored 14 goals during his loan spell before returning to Grenoble. From Grenoble, he signed for Tours on a 3-year-deal, and spent 2 seasons with the Ligue 2 side, scoring 36 times in 67 outings.
In 2010, he left Tours for Montpellier and spent two years with the Ligue 1 side, scoring 39 times in 85 games with them. He won a league title with them and then moved to Arsenal in 2012 where his career flourished.
Giroud spent six seasons with the Gunners, played 235 matches, and scored 105 times. He won three FA Cups and three Community Shields with the Gunners.
From Arsenal, Giroud joined Chelsea in 2018. He spent 4 years with the Blues and scored 39 times in 119 appearances for the team.
Notably, he won a Champions League and Europa League along the line before moving to Italy to join AC Milan.
AC Milan was his last stop in his club career in Europe. He spent three seasons with them scoring 49 times in 132 appearances. He won the league title with the team, before departing to join LAFC in 2024.
Hugo Lloris began his professional career with hometown club Nice, after three years with the club he joined Lyon.
He spent five years with the French side, winning Coupe de France and Tropée Des Champions. From Lyon, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League in 2012 and spent 12 years with the club.
For over a decade, the French goalie served as Spurs’ first-choice goalkeeper, making 361 Premier League appearances before joining LAFC.
