Three years after that unsuccessful spell he’s gone on to become one of the most prolific strikers in European football. He’s proven his elite finishing ability already with both Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. That makes the 27-year-old forward one of the hottest players in the Bundesliga. He’s set the record as the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer with a superb 13 goals – alone.
Guirassy’s path to success hasn’t always been easy, filled with struggles and key career-defining choices. In the summer of 2020, he rejected a much more lucrative switch to Chelsea, chasing guarantees of first-team action. He decided to move to Ligue 1 side Rennes for around €15 million. Still, this decision would prove to be the most influential factor in the course of his career trajectory.
Guirassy has been one of the more sought after players in the transfer market the last couple of years. Other clubs, including Everton, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle United, are in hot pursuit of his talents. His eye-catching showings from Rennes recently piqued interest when he made a 2022 switch to St James’ Park, underlining his rapid rise in stature through the game.
Regardless of his recent success, Guirassy himself has endured major injuries which killed his 2020 season. In fact, during his 5-year career he’s only missed 75 games total due to injury or illness. Of those, 41 came during his time at the helm of Cologne. He bounced back in a big way last year. He clocked in at 2,211 minutes, the highest total he’s ever racked up in a single league season, and put the finishing touches on an astounding 28 in 28 Bundesliga appearances. He scored a truly remarkable goal every 79 minutes. He ended up losing out to Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot with 36 goals.
Even with all the promise, Guirassy has had his fair share of ups and downs. He’d been through relegations from both the German and French top tier earlier in his career. His real breakthrough was at Laval where he netted six times in 29 appearances in the 2014-15 Ligue 2 campaign. He transferred to Amiens and had a strong second half of the 2018-19 season scoring three goals. This outstanding endeavor helped earn him a permanent transfer of about €5 million.
In a recent statement reflecting on his performance, Guirassy remarked on the sudden attention surrounding him:
“I understand that my form might surprise some, but I’m not surprised.” – Serhou Guirassy
The striker credits his increased performance to being more consistent and not so much to making any major changes to his training routine.
“I have had two crazy seasons, but I’ve not changed anything. I’m not working more, I’m not sleeping more, I’m not doing more video analysis,” he stated.
His persistence and tenacity has finally come to fruition. The impact was evident, as he immediately learned to adjust to the demands of the club and international game.
During negotiations between clubs, Guirassy’s journey to Stuttgart took the form of a spectacularly accidental soccer player-car collision. In his first medical examination, Stuttgart recognized an incredible talent in him. They soon had a payment dispute with Cologne and settled on a deal that significantly reduced their transfer fee for the attacking player. That moment was key in giving Guirassy a chance to take his talents to a bigger stage once and for all.
Along with success at home, Guirassy’s impact on the European front has been impressive. He has recently become the standout star of a breakout Champions League run. With a majestic haul of 13 goals, he newly figured in the tournament legend as one of its highest goal scorers.
Guirassy has had a tough time most of his career with injuries and relegations. Nevertheless, his determination and skill set have enabled him to rewrite his story in the world of pro football. This has turned him into a goal machine, which in turn has been pumping his confidence. He hopes to build on that success internationally and domestically.
“Perhaps that is where the change has come from,” he noted regarding his recent surge in form.
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