Yohann Lacroix

The club's only ever French player who signed on a short-term emergency loan in January 2014 from Crusaders during an injury crisis between the sticks.

Born in Thonon-Les-Bains, a Swiss border town in France, Yohan began his football career as a youth team player at Auxerre before a move to Lille OSC in July 2003. The goalkeeper made his senior debut a year later in the UEFA Intertoto Cup for Lille against Dinamo Minsk in July 2014 at the age of 19. It was the custodian's only senior appearance at the club, as he spent the majority of his time with the 'B' team and also had a season on loan at L'Entente SSG in Championnat National (France's third tier).

Lacroix left his native France in 2008 after his contract at Lille ended and moved to Greece to join newly promoted Thrasyvoulos. His stay only lasted a single season with his team relegated from the Greek Super League, after finishing bottom of the league. In a landmk move, Yohan became the first European player to play in Singapore's S-League in 2010, as he joined Etoile, winning both the League Championship and League Cup in his first season. His impact secured a move to Tampines Rovers in 2011 and a second consecutive league Championship followed.

His footballing odyssey continued in January 2013 when a move back to Europe with Stephen Baxter signing the goalkeeper as cover for the injured Sean O'Neill. His debut shortly after signing was a stellar 2-1 victory over Linfield but then a few weeks later the goalkeeper self confessed 'nightmare' as the Crues lost 4-0 to derby rivals Cliftonville in the League Cup final. Following O'Neill's return to the side, Yohan's appearances were soon limited at Seaview.

In January 2014, following injuries to Dwayne Nelson and Stuart Addis ' Glenn Ferguson called in a favour from Baxter to loan the goalkeeper for four games and also kept a clean sheet on his debut on New Year's Day against Ards. Restricted from playing in Irish Cup games, Ferguson also signed Southern 'keeper Aaron Shanahan from Dundalk which curtailed any longer-term interest in retaining the Frenchman who returned to North Belfast at the end of January 2014.

Crusaders proved to be Yohan's final senior club, as having moved into the business aspect of football during his stay in Singapore, he continued to work full-time with both the Irish FA and the new NI Football League whilst in Northern Ireland. A commercial media partnership opportunity in Geneva linked to UEFA in 2014 effectively drew to an end to Lacroix's playing wanderlust, but has undoubtedly opened up a new path in professional football.

Last updated: 19 March 2017