French · Rennes, France · Born 5 December 1984French midfielder and Lyon great who won five UEFA Women's Champions League titles and 183 caps for France
Camille Anne Françoise Abily was born on 5 December 1984 in Rennes, France, and progressed through several regional youth clubs in Brittany before joining the prestigious Clairefontaine national academy. 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.
Being the creative anchor of Lyon's Champions League dynasty and a French international record-holder
How They Played
Two-footed attacking midfielder with sharp passing range, intelligent positioning and a keen eye for a late run into the box
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
Career Honours
- UEFA Women's Champions League 5x
- Division 1 Feminine 11x
- UNFP Female Player of the Year 2x
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stade Briochin | 2000–2001 | — | 20 | 4 |
| La Roche-sur-Yon | 2001–2002 | — | 21 | 3 |
| CNFE Clairefontaine | 2002–2003 | — | 17 | 5 |
| Montpellier | 2003–2006 | — | 68 | 17 |
| Lyon | 2006–2009 | — | 56 | 34 |
| Los Angeles Sol | 2009–2010 | — | 18 | 8 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2009–2010 | loan | 13 | 12 |
| FC Gold Pride | 2010–2010 | — | 17 | 1 |
| Lyon | 2010–2018 | — | 222 | 144 |
 France | — | — | 183 | 37 |
French Athletes