FREDERIC PIQUIONNE

Born: 8 December 1978, Noumea, New Caledonia
Former clubs: Nimes Olympique, Stade Rennais, AS Saint-Etienne, AS Monaco, Olympique Lyonnais

A tall and powerful forward, Frederic Piquionne became West Ham United's third summer 2010 signing when he arrived from French club Olympique Lyonnais.

Born on the Pacific Ocean collective of New Caledonia, Piquionne moved to the Caribbean nation of Martinique before settling into life as a professional footballer in mainland France in 2000.

On moving to England in 2009, France international Piquionne helped Portsmouth to reach their second FA Cup final in the space of three seasons.

2011/12

Was sent off in the last minute of the 4-3 home npower Championship victory former club Portsmouth on 10 September 2011, earning a three-match ban...Scored his first goal of the season by netting the winner in a 2-1 npower Championship victory at Coventry City on 19 November 2011.

2010/11

Joined West Ham United on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee on Friday 16 July 2010...Made his first-team debut as a half-time substitute in the Barclays Premier League defeat at Aston Villa on 14 August 2010...Scored his first West Ham United goal in the 2-1 Carling Cup third-round win at Sunderland on 21 September 2010...Netted the winner in a 1-0 home Barclays Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur on 25 September 2010...Added further league goals Fulham (home and away), Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Everton...Netted six goals in 34 Barclays Premier League appearances, 26 of them starts...Was sent-off after scoring in the 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Everton on 22 January 2011...Scored in the 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Barnsley and 2-1 sixth-round defeat at Stoke City...Totalled 41 apppearances in all competitions, 31 of them starts, scoring nine goals.

International career

Appeared briefly for the Caribbean island nation of Martinique in 2002…Made his senior debut for France as a substitute in a 1-0 friendly win over Austria at the Stade de France in Paris on 28 March 2007…Appeared for France B in a 1-0 defeat by Slovakia B in August 2007.

Before West Ham United

Born in the city of Noumea, the capital of the French overseas islands of New Caledonia in the south west Pacific Ocean…Appeared for Golden Star on the Caribbean island of Martinique between 1996 and 1999…Joined Nimes Olympique in 2000…After impressing for Nimes and Stade Rennais, Piquionne moved to AS Saint-Etienne, initially on loan, in 2004, spending three years with Les Verts and scoring 23 goals in 91 league appearances…Joined AS Monaco in January 2007, netting 12 times in 46 games…Moved to Olympique Lyonnais in August 2008…Scored two goals in 19 league appearances for Olympique Lyonnais in 2008/09…Loaned to Portsmouth for the 2009/10 season…Scored in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley in April 2010…Totalled eleven goals in 45 appearances for Portsmouth, 34 of them starts.

Any other business

Played alongside West Ham United left-back Herita Ilunga at French club AS Saint-Etienne…Is friends with fellow New Caledonia-born France international Christian Karembeu.