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Football Biography

Camille Abily

French flag French · Rennes, France · Born 5 December 1984

Midfielder

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French midfielder and Lyon great who won five UEFA Women's Champions League titles and 183 caps for France

Camille Abily became the first player to win the UNFP Female Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons, taking the honour in both 2006 and 2007, and went on to build one of the most decorated careers in French women's football across two spells at Lyon, winning numerous league titles and Champions League trophies. She began her senior career with Montpellier before joining Lyon in 2006, launching an association with the club that would define her playing career. Abily became one of the most decorated midfielders in French women's football history, winning the UNFP Female Player of the Year award in both 2006 and 2007, becoming the first player to win the honour in consecutive seasons. She briefly played in the United States with the Los Angeles Sol and FC Gold Pride, gaining experience in the fledgling Women's Professional Soccer league, before returning to Lyon in 2010 for a second, longer spell. Over her career at Lyon, Abily won numerous French league titles and UEFA Women's Champions League trophies, establishing the club as the dominant force in European women's football during her time there. She earned dozens of caps for France across a 16-year international career from 2001 to 2017. After retiring as a player in 2018, Abily transitioned directly into coaching, serving as assistant manager of Lyon's women's team for five years before moving to Chelsea in 2024, continuing her involvement in the game at the top level of European women's football.

Famous For

Being the creative anchor of Lyon's Champions League dynasty and a French international record-holder

Playing Style

How They Played

Two-footed attacking midfielder with sharp passing range, intelligent positioning and a keen eye for a late run into the box

Legacy

Lasting Impact

One of the defining midfielders of Lyon's European dominance and a pioneer of the professional pathway from France to the United States

Honours & Achievements

Career Honours

  • UEFA Women's Champions League 5x
  • Division 1 Feminine 11x
  • UNFP Female Player of the Year 2x
Club Career
Club Period Fee Apps Goals
Stade Briochin2000–2001—204
La Roche-sur-Yon2001–2002—213
CNFE Clairefontaine2002–2003—175
Montpellier2003–2006—6817
Lyon2006–2009—5634
Los Angeles Sol2009–2010—188
Paris Saint-Germain2009–2010loan1312
FC Gold Pride2010–2010—171
Lyon2010–2018—222144
French flag France——18337
Career Journey

Timeline

2001 🌍 France senior debut
2007 🥇 Becomes first player to win UNFP Female Player of the Year in consecutive seasons
2011 🏆 First UEFA Women's Champions League title with Lyon
2011 🌍 Helps France reach fourth place at the FIFA Women's World Cup
2018 🎯 Retires from playing after second Lyon spell
2024 🎯 Appointed Chelsea assistant manager
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

3 common questions about Camille Abily

She earned 183 caps for France between 2001 and 2017, scoring 37 goals.

She moved into coaching after retiring in 2018, later becoming assistant manager at Chelsea in 2024 after several years on Lyon's staff.

She won the competition five times with Lyon between 2011 and 2018.