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Camille Abily

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Camille Abily
Abily with France in 2011
Personal information
Full name Camille Anne Françoise Abily[1]
Date of birth (1984-12-05) 5 December 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth Rennes, France
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea (assistant)
Youth career
1992–1994 Jeanne d'Arc Bruz
1994–1999 FC Bruz
1999–2000 SC Le Rheu
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Stade Briochin 20 (4)
2001–2002 La Roche-sur-Yon 21 (3)
2002–2003 CNFE Clairefontaine 17 (5)
2003–2006 Montpellier 68 (17)
2006–2009 Lyon 56 (34)
2009–2010 Los Angeles Sol 18 (8)
2009–2010 → Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 13 (12)
2010 FC Gold Pride 17 (1)
2010–2018 Lyon 222 (144)
Total 452 (228)
International career
2000–2001 France U18 4 (0)
2001–2002 France U19 5 (0)
2001–2017 France 183 (37)
Managerial career
2019–2024 Lyon Féminin (assistant)
2024– Chelsea (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Camille Anne Françoise Abily (born 5 December 1984) is a French football manager and former player, who is currently the assistant manager of Chelsea F.C. Women.[3] Abily played primarily as a midfielder.During her playing career, Abily featured prominently for both the France women's national team and for Lyon in the Division 1 Féminine. She also played for French teams Stade Briochin, La Roche-sur-Yon, CNFE Clairefontaine, Montpellier, and Paris Saint-Germain, and the Los Angeles Sol and FC Gold Pride in the United States. She has numerous titles, having won the Women's Professional Soccer Championship and numerous Division 1 Féminine league, Coupe de France Féminine, and UEFA Women's Champions League titles. With Lyon, she achieved a continental treble on four occasions, and a total of five Champions League titles.

Abily began her senior career in 2000, joining Stade Briochin. Following stints in a number of French clubs, including league-title winning seasons with Montpellier and Lyon, Abily joined the newly-formed Women's Professional Soccer league. She returned to the French league in 2010, re-joining Lyon where she made 222 league appearances in the final eight years of her professional career.

For France, Abily earned 183 caps and competed in three Euros, two World Cups, and two Olympic Games.

Youth career

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Abily began her football career in 1992, joining Jeanne d'Arc Bruz. In 1994, she joined FC Bruz, before joining SC Le Rheu for a further year.

Career

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Early career, 2000–03

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Abily began her professional career in France's first division, playing for Stade Briochin and La Roche-sur-Yon. In 2002, she was selected to attend the women's section of the nationally recognised Clairefontaine academy.

Montpellier, 2003–06

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After her stint at Clairefontaine, Abily signed with Montpellier. With Montpellier, Abily won two Division 1 Féminine league titles in 2004 and 2005, as well as one Challenge de France cup.

Lyon, 2006–09

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After three seasons with Montpellier, Abily joined Lyon. With the team, she won several titles, including three consecutive titles league from 2006 to 2009. She was selected as the UNFP Female Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

Los Angeles Sol, 2009–10

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In 2008, Abily was selected by the Los Angeles Sol in the 2008 WPS International Draft, and, in March 2009, joined the new United States–based Women's Professional Soccer league.[4] General manager Charlie Naimo sought to bring Abily to the Sol having seen a video of her play.[5] She made her debut in the league's inaugural match against the Washington Freedom, and scored the second goal in the Sol's 2–0 victory.[6] The Sol topped the regular-season league table, but were defeated by Sky Blue FC in the Championship final.[7] Abily was the second highest goalscorer in the 2009 league season, scoring eight times to Sol teammate Marta's nine.[8]

Loan to Paris Saint-Germain, 2009–10

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Following the conclusion of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Abily returned to France where she played for Paris Saint-Germain on loan.[9]

FC Gold Pride, 2010

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Abily was traded to FC Gold Pride in exchange for Tina DiMartino and the 14th pick in the 2010 draft. Of Abily's trade, FC Gold Pride's general manager, Ilisa Kessler, said she ‘‘[couldn't] remember’’ what was traded in return for Abily: “I didn’t care. I just wanted Abily.’’[10] Abily played in 17 games for the Pride, scoring one goal and providing six assists. On 26 September 2010, Abily won the Women's Professional Soccer Championship with FC Gold Pride. On 27 September 2010, Abily's contract with the Gold Pride was mutually terminated as she decided to return to Lyon and focus on the upcoming 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. 51 days after lifting the title, FC Gold Pride ceased operations.[11]

Return to Lyon, 2010–18

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2010–11

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In 2010, Abily announced that she would be returning to Lyon for the 2010–11 season. She won her fourth Division 1 Féminine title, and second with Lyon. On 26 May 2011, she was a part of the Lyon team that won their first Champions League title.[12] Abily was named Player of the Match in the final.[13] She was nominated for the UNFP Women's Player of the Year.

2011–12

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With Lyon, Abily retained the D1 league title, scoring 15 goals across the league season.[14] On 13 May 2012, Lyon defeated Montpellier 2–1 to lift the Coupe de France Féminine.[15] In the Champions League final, Abily scored the second of Lyon's goals as they triumphed over Frankfurt,[16] and was named the final's Player of the Match for a consecutive season.[17] She was the joint-top goalscorer of the 2011–12 Champions League season (alongside Lyon teammate Eugénie Le Sommer), scoring nine goals.[18] Having achieved the domestic league, cup, and Champions League titles, Abily earned her first continental treble.

2012–15: Domestic success, continental struggle

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In the 2012–13 Champions League, Lyon were runners-up following defeat to Wolfsburg.[19] In the 2013–14 season, Abily achieved her seventh league title, and fourth Coupe de France Féminine. She repeated the domestic double in the 2014–15 season.

2015–16

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In the 2015–16 season, Abily lifted the Division 1 Féminine and Coupe de France Féminine titles. On 26 May 2016, Abily lifted her third Champions League trophy with Lyon.[20] She was named to the UEFA Women's Champions League Squad of the Season.[21]

2016–17

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In December 2016, Abily announced that she would retired from competitive play—both internationally and at club level—following the 2017 Euro. However, in May 2017, she signed a one-year contract extension with Lyon to complete a final season with the club.[22] On 1 June 2017, Abily secured her fourth Champions League title following a penalty shoot-out win over domestic rivals Paris Saint-Germain; Abily was Lyon's sixth penalty taker, and successfully scored past Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.[23]

2017–18

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After spending eight seasons at Lyon during her second stint, Abily retired from competitive play in June 2018.[24] She scored in the her final match, the 2018 Champions League final, with Lyon beating Wolfsburg 4–1 in extra time.[25] Following Lyon's 2018 Champions League victory, Abily became one of four Lyon players to hold the record for the most titles (five); she also became the all-time competition appearance maker with 81—overtaking Emma Byrne's previous record of 77—and broke the record for the most Champions League goals for a single club (43).[26] Abily achieved 23 titles with Lyon, and made a club-record 326 appearances.[27] She has been described by Lyon as ‘‘one of [the club's] greatest legends,’’[28] and as having left an ‘‘indelible mark’’ on the club.[27]

International career

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Prior to playing for the senior team, Abily played at youth level representing France's under-18 team at the 2001 Women's Under-18 Euro.

Abily made her senior international debut for Les Bleues in September 2001 during a friendly match against the Netherlands. In February 2007, she scored her first goal for the national team in a 2–0 win over China. Abily made her major international tournament debut for the team at UEFA Women's Euro 2005 and later played on the teams that qualified for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, UEFA Women's Euro 2013 as well as the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 and 2015, finishing fourth place in the former. Abily scored in France's 2–0 victory over England to win the 2014 Cyprus Cup.[29]

At the opening match of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, a 1–0 win over England in Moncton, Abily controversially escaped punishment when she inflicted a black eye on Laura Bassett by elbowing the English player in the face.[30]

Abily competed for France at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where France came in fourth place. She again represented France at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[31][32]

Abily retired from international football in 2017, citing a desire to spend more time with her daughter.[33] Abily earned 183 caps for France.

Managerial career

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From 2019 until 2024, Abily worked as assistant manager for Olympique Lyonnais Féminin.[34]

On 1 July 2024, she was appointed as assistant manager of Chelsea.[35]

Personal life

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In February 2025, Abily and former France and Lyon teammate Sonia Bompastor announced that they had been in a relationship for 13 years.[36] They have four children together.[37] As of July 2024, the pair have coached Chelsea together, with Abily acting as Bompastor's assistant coach. Of their working relationship, Abily has stated that they ‘‘don’t work together because [they] are a couple’’ but ‘‘because [they] complement each other.’’[37]

Career statistics

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Club

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Abily with Lyon in 2012

Statistics accurate as of 1 September 2016[38][39]

Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stade Briochin 2000–01 204––––204
Total 204––––204
La Roche-sur-Yon 2001–02 213––––213
Total 213––––213
CNFE Clairefontaine 2002–03 175––––175
Total 175––––175
Montpellier 2003–04 22+34+00000254
2004–05 22931503010
2005–06 2145390357
Total 6817841409021
Lyon 2006–07 221743002620
2007–08 21841953414
2008–09 13900551814
Total 56348414107848
Los Angeles Sol 2009 188––––188
Total 188––––188
Paris SG 2009–10 131200001312
Total 131200001312
FC Gold Pride 2010 171––––171
Total 171––––171
Lyon 2010–11 191230712913
2011–12 221553893527
2012–13 212046953431
2013–14 191364212718
2014–15 191265232720
2015–16 191043833116
2016–17 19 6 2 0 9 5 30 15
2017–18 21 9 5 6 8 6 34 21
Total 1589735275333247161
Career total 38818151358143521263

International

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Camille Abily playing for France in May 2015
(Correct as of 1 September 2016)[40]
National teamSeasonAppsGoals
France 2001–0220
2002–0300
2003–0400
2004–05110
2005–06130
2006–07136
2007–0872
2008–0941
2009–10136
2010–11145
2011–12183
2012–13200
2013–14205
2014–15161
2015–16132
2016–1762
Total17033

International goals

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Honours

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Montpellier HSC
FC Gold Pride
Lyon
France
Individual

References

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  1. ↑ "Goalscorers" (PDF). UEFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ↑ 2015 World Cup
  3. ↑ "Camille Abily". Chelsea F.C.
  4. ↑ "Camille Abily (WPS playing rights assigned to Los Angeles)". Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  5. ↑ Laverty, Richard (11 August 2022). "Before Angel City, there was LA Sol: A super team with a brief, bright history". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "March 29, 2009 - Washington Freedom vs. Los Angeles Sol". Women's Pro Soccer. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009.
  7. ↑ Witz, Billy (23 August 2009). "Last Laugh and Trophy Are Prizes for Sky Blue". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 October 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "WPS Leaders". Women's Pro Soccer. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  9. ↑ Civin, Todd (7 January 2010). "FC Gold Pulls Pre-Draft Blockbuster, Aquires All-Star Abily From Sol". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Lauretta, Dan (24 September 2015). "The Lowdown: Remembering FC Gold Pride". The Equalizer. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  11. ↑ Linehan, Meg (27 November 2019). "The 2010s: Steps forward and back each year in women's soccer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  12. ↑ Saffer, Paul (26 May 2011). "Lyon triumph is French first". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  13. ↑ Spiro, Matthew (16 May 2012). "Abily: Lyon going from strength to strength | UEFA Women's Champions League 2011/12". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Championnat de France de D1 2011-2012 - Classement des buteuses". Footo Feminin Fr. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Quatrième titre pour Lyon (2-1)". FFF. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  16. ↑ Ashby, Kevin (17 May 2012). "Lyon defeat Frankfurt to retain women's crown". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  17. ↑ Rodríguez, Alfredo (22 May 2013). "Personal glory second for Lyon midfielder Abily | UEFA Women's Champions League 2012/13". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  18. ↑ Saffer, Paul (17 May 2012). "Abily, Le Sommer share top scorer honour". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "History: Wolfsburg 1-0 OL Lyonnes | UEFA Women's Champions League 2012/13 Final". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  20. ↑ UEFA.com (26 May 2016). "Camille Abily introduces champions Lyon". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  21. ↑ UEFA.com (27 May 2016). "Lyon dominate Women's Champions League all-stars". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Monday Roundup: Camille Abily retires from international soccer". The Equalizer. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "History: OL Lyonnes 0-0 Paris SG | UEFA Women's Champions League 2016/17 Final". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "OL Féminin : Le message de Camille Abily". June 2018.
  25. ↑ O'Neill, Jen (25 May 2018). "2018 #UWCL FINAL POST MATCH REACTION: Bronze & Abily buzzing and losing GK Schult brave to talk despite defeat". SheKicks. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  26. ↑ Saffer, Paul (24 May 2018). "Lyon win, Hegerberg makes history: 2018 #UWCL at a glance | UEFA Women's Champions League 2017/18". UEFA. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  27. 1 2 "HOMMAGE À CAMILLE ABILY, CORINE PETIT, ELODIE THOMIS". OL Lyonnes. 5 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  28. ↑ "Camille Abily". OL Lyonnes. Archived from the original on 1 September 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  29. ↑ "France defeats England to win 2014 Cyprus Cup". The Equalizer. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  30. ↑ Taylor, Louise (11 June 2015). "Elbow incident leaves England's Laura Bassett bruised but unbowed". The Guardian. Moncton. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  31. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Camille Abily". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  32. ↑ "Over the years: Chelsea Women's Olympians". Chelsea F.C. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  33. ↑ "Camille Abily Reflects Upon Retirement from International Soccer". Equalizer Soccer. August 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  34. ↑ "OL Staff List: Camille Abily". Olympique Lyonnais. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  35. ↑ "Camille Abily". Chelsea F.C.
  36. ↑ "Sonia Bompastor et Camille Abily, coaches de Chelsea et en couple: « Parler de nos vies privées, ce n'est pas ce qu'on préfère »". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  37. 1 2 Garry, Tom (20 February 2025). "Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor reveals 13-year relationship with assistant Camille Abily". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  38. ↑ "La Carriere de Camille Abily". StatsFootoFeminin. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  39. ↑ "ABILY Camille". Olympique Lyonnais. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  40. ↑ ABILY Camille Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, French Football Federation, Retrieved 19 June 2011
  41. ↑ "Equipe de France A - Camille Abily". footofeminin.fr. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  42. ↑ UEFA.com. "History: Wolfsburg 1-1 Lyon". UEFA. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  43. ↑ "Women's Champions League final: Lyon 0-0 Paris St-Germain (7-6 pens)". BBC Sport. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  44. ↑ UEFA.com. "History: Wolfsburg 1-4 Lyon". UEFA. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
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