{{Short description|French footballer (born 1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kenny Lala | image = Lala asse sb 2425.png | caption = Lala with [[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]] in 2025 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|10|3|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Villepinte, Seine-Saint-Denis|Villepinte]], France | height = 1.78 m | position = [[Right-back]] | currentclub = [[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]] | clubnumber = 77 | youthyears1 = 2004–2008 | youthclubs1 = ES Parisienne | youthyears2 = 2008–2010 | youthclubs2 = [[Paris FC]] | years1 = 2010–2011 | clubs1 = [[Paris FC]] | caps1 = 33 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2011–2015 | clubs2 = [[Valenciennes FC|Valenciennes B]] | caps2 = 29 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2011–2015 | clubs3 = [[Valenciennes FC|Valenciennes]] | caps3 = 61 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2015–2017 | clubs4 = [[RC Lens|Lens]] | caps4 = 71 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2017–2021 | clubs5 = [[RC Strasbourg Alsace|Strasbourg]] | caps5 = 111 | goals5 = 13 | years6 = 2021–2022 | clubs6 = [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] | caps6 = 31 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2023– | clubs7 = [[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]] | caps7 = 112 | goals7 = 5 | club-update = 19 May 2026 }}
'''Kenny Lala''' (born 3 October 1991) is a French professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[right-back]] for [[Ligue 1]] club [[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]].
==Club career== Lala began his career with local amateur club ES Parisienne before signing with semi-professional club [[Paris FC|Paris]] at the age of 17. Prior to signing with the club, Lala had trials with professional clubs [[Lille OSC|Lille]], [[Stade Malherbe Caen|Caen]], and [[Valenciennes FC|Valenciennes]].<ref name="lala_career2">{{cite news |title=La révélation Kenny Lala |url=http://www.leparisien.fr/yvelines-78/la-revelation-kenny-lala-04-09-2010-1054445.php |work=[[Le Parisien]] |date=4 September 2010 |access-date=28 November 2011 |language = fr}}</ref> After two seasons playing on Paris' reserve team, he was promoted to the club's senior team for the [[2010–11 Championnat National|2010–11 season]].<ref name="lala_career2"/> A successful campaign, in which Lala made 33 league appearances, resulted in the player being linked to several Ligue 1 clubs, most notably Valenciennes who offered Paris €100,000 for his services.<ref name="lala_career2"/>
Despite declining the initial offer, on 15 June 2011, Paris reached an agreement with Valenciennes on a transfer for Lala. He signed a four-year contract with the [[Nord-Pas-de-Calais|Northern]] outfit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kenny Lala officiellement au VAFC |url=http://www.va-fc.com/fr/saison/actualite/article/6537/Kenny-Lala-officiellement-au-VAFC.html |work=[[Valenciennes FC]] |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=28 November 2011 |language=fr |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615131119/http://www.va-fc.com/fr/saison/actualite/article/6537/Kenny-Lala-officiellement-au-VAFC.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lala was assigned the number 18 shirt by manager [[Daniel Sanchez (French footballer)|Daniel Sanchez]] and was placed onto the club's first team, though he has played on the club's reserve team in the [[Championnat de France amateur]]. Lala made his professional debut on 6 November 2011 in a 1–1 draw with [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]] appearing as a substitute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dijon v. Valenciennes Match Report |url=http://www.lfp.fr/ligue1/feuille_match/74496 |work=[[Ligue de Football Professionnel]] |date=6 November 2011 |access-date=28 November 2011 |language = fr}}</ref>
On 30 June 2015, he signed a three-year contract with [[RC Lens|Lens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Kenny-lala-3-ans-a-lens/570592 |title=Kenny Lala, 3 ans à Lens |publisher=L'Équipe |language=fr |date=30 June 2015 }}</ref> In June 2017, Lala joined [[RC Strasbourg Alsace|Strasbourg]] on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kenny Lala rejoint le Racing Club de Strasbourg|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Kenny-lala-rejoint-le-racing-club-de-strasbourg/809938|access-date=22 June 2017|work=L'Équipe|date=12 June 2017|language=fr}}</ref> In his time at the club, he was a regular starter.<ref name="olympiacos"/>
On 1 February 2021, the last day of the 2020–21 winter transfer window, Lala moved to [[Super League Greece]] club [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]].<ref name="olympiacos">{{cite web |title=Kenny Lala quitte Strasbourg pour l'Olympiakos |url=https://www.footmercato.net/a7781015636100716371-kenny-lala-quitte-strasbourg-pour-lolympiakos |website=Foot Mercato |access-date=1 February 2021 |language=French |date=31 January 2021}}</ref> In October 2022, he terminated his contract with the club after being unable to make a single appearance in the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Kenny-lala-a-resilie-son-contrat-avec-l-olympiakos/1362081 |title=Kenny Lala a résilié son contrat avec l'Olympiacos |publisher=L'Équipe |language=fr |date=30 October 2022 }}</ref>
In January 2023, he joined French side [[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]] on a free transfer, and in July that year, he extended his contract with the club until 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Kenny-lala-prolonge-a-brest-jusqu-en-2025/1407977 |title=Kenny Lala prolonge à Brest jusqu'en 2025 |publisher=L'Équipe |language=fr |date=12 July 2023 }}</ref> On 13 August 2023, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win over his former club Lens on the opening matchday of the [[2023–24 Ligue 1|2023–24 season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/677185/lens-brest |title=Brest 3–2 Lens |publisher=ESPN |date=13 August 2023 }}</ref> On 19 May 2024, he scored the last goal in a 3–0 away win over [[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]] on the final matchday of the season, helping his club to secure a third-place finish in the league and first ever qualification to the [[UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/2024/05/19/psg-mbappe-french-league-brest-lille/4dbf18e8-162c-11ef-97db-d9db0c732407_story.html |title=Brest secures final automatic Champions League spot in French league, PSG wins without Mbappé |publisher=The Washington Post |date=19 May 2024 }}</ref>
==International career== Born in France, Lala is of [[Martinique|Martiniquais]] and Malagasy descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footamateur.letelegramme.fr/6537538/non-kenny-lala-ne-devrait-pas-partir-en-selection-avec-madagascar/|title=Non, Kenny Lala ne devrait pas partir en sélection avec Madagascar - Foot Amateur Bretagne|date=5 March 2024|website=footamateur.letelegramme.fr}}</ref> In early March 2024, Lala was called up by the [[Madagascar national football team|Madagascar national team]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/kenny-lala-appele-pour-la-premiere-fois-avec-madagascar-5206a0226a4ac7a6d3110f754673dbef|title=Kenny Lala appelé pour la première fois avec Madagascar|date=3 March 2024|website=Boursorama|access-date=4 March 2024|archive-date=4 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304050426/https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/kenny-lala-appele-pour-la-premiere-fois-avec-madagascar-5206a0226a4ac7a6d3110f754673dbef|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lala was born in [[Villepinte, Seine-Saint-Denis|Villepinte]] and grew up in the [[18th arrondissement of Paris]] near the [[Porte de Clignancourt]].<ref name="lala_career2"/> He has two sisters. Lala's mother previously worked as a [[salesman|saleswoman]] for [[Zara (retailer)|Zara]] and was also his [[sports agent]] having handled the player's four-year ''fédérale'' contract he signed with Paris FC.<ref name="lala_career2"/> She now works for the public management and construction company l'Opac de Paris.<ref name="lala_career2"/>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{updated|match played on 19 May 2024}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |[[Paris FC]] |[[2010–11 Championnat National|2010–11]] |[[Championnat National]] |33||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||0 |- |rowspan="5"|[[Valenciennes FC|Valenciennes]] |[[2011–12 Ligue 1|2011–12]] |rowspan="3"|[[Ligue 1]] |2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0 |- |[[2012–13 Ligue 1|2012–13]] |7||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||1 |- |[[2013–14 Valenciennes FC season|2013–14]] |17||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||0 |- |[[2014–15 Ligue 2|2014–15]] |[[Ligue 2]] |35||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !61!!1!!3!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!64!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|[[RC Lens|Lens]] |[[2015–16 Ligue 2|2015–16]] |rowspan="2"|Ligue 2 |33||1||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||1 |- |[[2016–17 Ligue 2|2016–17]] |37||1||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||40||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !70!!2!!2!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!74!!2 |- |rowspan="5"|[[RC Strasbourg Alsace|Strasbourg]] |[[2017–18 RC Strasbourg Alsace season|2017–18]] |rowspan="4"|Ligue 1 |31||3||4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||3 |- |[[2018–19 RC Strasbourg Alsace season|2018–19]] |34||5||1||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||40||5 |- |[[2019–20 RC Strasbourg Alsace season|2019–20]] |25||2||2||0||2||0||4{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||33||2 |- |[[2020–21 RC Strasbourg Alsace season|2020–21]] |21||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !111!!13!!7!!0!!9!!0!!4!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!131!!13 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] |[[2020–21 Olympiacos F.C. season|2020–21]] |rowspan="2"|[[Super League Greece|Superleague Greece]] |5||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||11||0 |- |[[2021–22 Olympiacos F.C. season|2021–22]] |26||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||12{{efn|Three appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], nine appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||40||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !31!!0!!4!!0!!colspan="2|—!!16!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!51!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Stade Brestois 29|Brest]] |[[2022–23 Stade Brestois 29 season|2022–23]] |rowspan="2"|Ligue 1 |17||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||0 |- |[[2023–24 Stade Brestois 29 season|2023–24]] |33||2||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !50!!2!!5!!1!!colspan="2|—!!16!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!55!!3 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !356!!18!!23!!1!!11!!0!!20!!0!!0!!0!!410!!19 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Strasbourg''' *[[Coupe de la Ligue]]: [[2018–19 Coupe de la Ligue|2018–19]]
'''Olympiacos''' *[[Super League Greece]]: [[2020–21 Super League Greece|2020–21]], [[2021–22 Super League Greece|2021–22]]
'''Individual''' *[[National Union of Professional Footballers|UNFP]] Ligue 1 [[UNFP Player of the Month|Player of the Month]]: December 2018 * [[National Union of Professional Footballers|UNFP]] [[Trophées UNFP du football#Team of the Year|Ligue 1 Team of the Year]]: [[Trophées UNFP du football#2019|2018–19]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/mbappe-wins-awards-double.htm|title=Mbappé Wins Awards Double|website=www.ligue1.com|date=19 May 2019|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Soccerway|139779}} * {{lfpfr2|lala-kenny-1|name=Kenny Lala}} * {{leqstat|37182}} * [http://www.va-fc.com/fr/effectif/pro/joueur/160/Lala-Kenny.html Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723015633/http://www.va-fc.com/fr/effectif/pro/joueur/160/Lala-Kenny.html |date=23 July 2020 }} at Valenciennes FC
{{Stade Brestois 29 squad}} {{2018–19 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lala, Kenny}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1991 births]] [[Category:Footballers from Villepinte, Seine-Saint-Denis]] [[Category:French men's footballers]] [[Category:French sportspeople of Malagasy descent]] [[Category:French people of Martiniquais descent]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:Paris FC players]] [[Category:Valenciennes FC players]] [[Category:RC Lens players]] [[Category:RC Strasbourg Alsace players]] [[Category:Olympiacos F.C. players]] [[Category:Stade Brestois 29 players]] [[Category:Ligue 1 players]] [[Category:Ligue 2 players]] [[Category:Championnat National players]] [[Category:Super League Greece players]] [[Category:French expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Greece]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece]] [[Category:21st-century French sportsmen]]