CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN
Defender
Date of Birth: 22 Mar 1993
Debut: v Nomme Kalju 30th July 2019
Nationality: French
Signed: 28 June 2019
Christopher Jullien spent his formative years in Auxerre’s youth set-up, before graduating to the French side’s first team. In July, 2013, the centre-back moved to German Bundesliga outfit SC Freiburg, before returning to France via Dijon on loan, and latterly Toulouse on a permanent deal in the summer of 2016. After three years at the League 1 side, Jullien moved to Celtic ahead of the 2019/20 campaign and has since proved integral to the team in the heart of the defence.
The Frenchman made his Hoops debut in the return leg of Celtic’s UEFA Champions League second round qualifier against Estonian side Nomme Kalju on July 30, 2019. The Scottish champions won 2-0 on the night, and progressed 7-0 on aggregate to the competition’s next qualifying round.
An equally impressive performance in the League Cup final against Rangers, when his goal on the hour was all that separated the sides.
Standout appearances in green and white so far have included a resolute display against Lazio at home in the UEFA Europa League, where the towering 26-year-old scored the winner with a header two minutes from time. He produced an equally impressive performance in the League Cup final against Rangers, when his goal on the hour was all that separated the sides, delivering the trophy back to Paradise and ensuring he picked up the first winner’s medal of his career.
Just 12 months later, he also picked up a Scottish Cup medal to make a Treble of medals, but, just two days later in the final game of the calendar year, the defender picked up an injury that ruled him out for the rest of the term.
“The goal against Lazio was huge but the one at Hampden is the best because it gave me my first trophy.”
COUNTRY BHOY
On February 5, 2013, Christopher Jullien made his debut for Pierre Mankowski’s France Under-20 side in a 2-0 win over Portugal. The center-back played the full 90 minutes on this occasion and would record a further six minutes as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Greece on June 11 later that year.
