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JÉRÔME BONNISSEL
Date of Birth: 16 April, 1973
Nationality: France
Period at Deportivo: 1996 - 1999
Transfer: 350 million pesetas (ca. €2,2 million) (1996, from Montpellier)
Clubs: Fulham (2003-2004), Glasgow Rangers (2003), Girondins de Bordeaux (1999-2003), Deportivo (1996-1999), Montpellier (1992-1996)
Sold: 2.200 million pesetas (together with Ziani) (ca. €14,1 million) (1999, to Bordeaux)
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Position: Defender (left)
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 The summer of 1996 saw a French invasion of La Coruña, because Madar, Martins and BONNISSEL were signed. Besides, goalkeeper Jacques Songo’ o had a double nationality and came from FC Metz, while striker Sylvain Wiltord was signed too (and loaned back to his club Rennes). But as Songo’o became a huge success in Galicia and Martins played a magnificent 1996/1997 campaign, the time of striker Madar and defender Bonnissel cannot be considered to have been satisfying for all parties involved.
The player was born in Montpellier, and made his professional debut for the local club in 1992. Being only twenty years old, he quickly conquered a starting position and played a total of 119 league matches for his club in four seasons. He was considered a huge talent, and was captain of the French team playing the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. So, it was considered that until at least 2001, Deportivo had available a quality defender of just twenty-four.
He must have felt like playing in the French competition, when he made his debut against Real Madrid (1-1) on 31 August, 1996. Songo’o (ex-Metz) was the goalkeeper, Bonnissel (ex-Montpellier) himself played ninety minutes as left defender, Martins (ex-Auxerre) played in the midfield and Madar (ex-Monaco) was the striker. But Bonnissel had problems adapting himself to Spanish football, sustained an injury, and after two matches lost his place to veteran defender Nando. Until mid-February the player only had participated in six Liga matches, but at least didn’t lose any of them.
When Carlos Alberto Silva took over from John Toshack that month, Bonnissel became his left defender. What a difference compared to the first part of the campaign, because Bonnissel played thirteen Liga matches in a row from 19 February, 1997 until 12 May, 1997. Only an injury prevented him from finishing the match against Valencia that day (1-1), but he returned on the final day of the season against Extremadura (1-0 win). In total he played twenty matches that season, most of them as a starter, and Deportivo finished third in he table. Overall not a bad start.
But Bonnissel kept having problems at Deportivo. In March, 1997 he indicated that “although I am playing more under the new coach, my intention is to leave at the end of the season”. In fact, he refused to travel with the squad to play a match against Barcelona in the Nou Camp at the final phase of the season because of family problems. His wife didn’t felt at home in La Coruña, but it’s said that in this way Bonnissel tried to force a move to Arsenal. Despite this, he was obligated by Deportivo to fulfil his contract.
 So the fast defender, who loves to join the attack, was ‘condemned’ to stay at Deportivo. But he took it up well, and lived up during the season 1997/1998. He played nine out of the first twelve Liga matches that campaign, and from December, 1997 until February, 1998 played ten matches in a row. Meanwhile, Nando had been sold to Sevilla so Bonnissel didn’t have much competition anymore at the club. He finished the season at twenty-seven Liga matches, had suffered some injuries, but at the age of twenty-six had conquered a starting place at Deportivo.
Unfortunately, Deportivo suffered a crisis all season long and eventually finished twelfth. Rivaldo and Martins had been sold, Luizão didn’t prove to be a solution and many players suffered injuries. Something had to happen in 1998, and Lendoiro understood it well. He lured coach Irureta away from neighbours Celta de Vigo and both men worked on a battle plan. This included the signing of twenty-seven year old Romero, who soon became one of his favourites.
Because of it, Bonnissel would only start five Liga matches during the season 1998/1999. In the final months of the campaign rumours appeared that Girondins de Bordeaux were after him, and this time Deportivo wanted to cooperate. The club had covered well the position of left back with Romero, and later added Manel to their squad. So, three years after having arrived in La Coruña, the French defender was sold (together with his compatriot Ziani) to the club from West-France.
With Romero in their team, Deportivo won the title that season for the first time in their history. For his part, Bonnissel played eighty-two league matches for Bordeaux before he moved to Glasgow Rangers during the season 2002/2003. In August 2003 he was sold to Fulham, where he currently plays.
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