Player Details

Name

Benoit Cheyrou

Height

6' 0"

Weight

174 lbs

Date of Birth

5.3.1981 (43)

Birthplace

Suresnes, France

Position

Midfielder
Career Summary

Option declined following 2017 season.

PRONUNCIATION: BUHN-WAH SHEY-ROU

A smart, technical center mid able to roam from box to box or playmaker from deep, Cheyrou has been a constant presence in the engine room as TFC has reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the past two years, including an appearance off the bench in MLS Cup. 

OUTSIDE MLS: Cheyrou spent seven seasons at French Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille, making 304 combined appearances in Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue action, scoring 28 goals and 42 assists and earning Ligue 1 Team of the Year honors on three consecutive occasions (07-08, 08-09, 09-10). Cheyrou helped Marseille win the 2009-10 Ligue 1 title and three consecutive Coupe de la Ligue titles in 2010, 2011, and 2012. 

Cheyrou began his youth career at Racing Club de France, making him, along with his older brother, the third generation of the Cheyrou family to train at the club. He went on to join the youth system at Lille OSC and signed with their first team for the 1999-2000 season; his older brother Bruno also signed for the club the same year. Helped Lille gain promotion into Ligue 1 by winning the Ligue 2 title in 1999-00 and led Lille into European competition, including qualification for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup before departing for AJ Auxerre ahead of the 2004-05 season. Cheyrou helped Auxerre reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup and the 2005 Coupe de France title. 

INTERNATIONAL: Cheyrou represented France at the U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels during his career, highlighted by winning the UEFA European U-19 Football Championship in 2000. He earned a call to the French national team on February 25, 2010 but has yet to earn a cap.