Montreal's Roses FC signs French international midfielder and Canadian goalkeeper
Roses FC, Montreal's entry in the fledgling Northern Super League, has announced veteran French international defensive midfielder Charlotte Bilbault and Canadian goalkeeper Gabrielle Lambert as its first player signings.
The 34-year-old Bilbault, who arrives from Montpellier in France's top flight, has won 56 caps for France and captained her country in a friendly against Kazakhstan in December 2020.
She was part of the French World Cup team in 2019.
Lambert, a native of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., comes from SC Freiburg in the top German women's league.
Earlier Monday, AFC Toronto forward Jade Kovacevic was the first player signing revealed by the six-team women's pro league, which is set to kick off in April.
Bilbault helped France to the semifinals of the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.
"Charlotte is an impact player, with an exceptional ability to read the game and set the pace," Roses athletic director Marinette Pichon said in a statement. "Her presence in midfield, where she gets balls back and leads the phases of the game, will be a major asset for us.
"Her career, marked by exemplary steadiness and consistent performances at the highest level, makes her a natural leader on the field. I'm convinced that she will bring an essential stability to our team."
Pichon should know. She scored 81 goals in 112 matches for France from 1994 to 2007.
Bilbault spent time at France's Clairefontaine training centre before stints with Soyaux (twice), Yzeure, Paris FC, Bordeaux and Montpellier (twice).
"She's a very aggressive player, a true warrior on the field. This is an important element in winning back the ball and taking back the offence," Ella Palis, who played with Bilbault at Bordeaux, told Le Monde in 2022.
A vice-captain under former France coach Corinne Diacre, Bilbault did not make the 2023 World Cup squad under Herve Renard. Bilbault also competed in two FIFA U-20 Women's World Cups.
Lambert, who also played in France for ASPTT Albi, Montpellier and Saint-Etienne, started for Freiburg in a 4-1 loss to VfL Wolfsburg in the German Cup final in May 2023 before more than 44,000 fans at Cologne's Rhein Energie Stadium.
"We're delighted to welcome Gabrielle to our team. She perfectly embodies the values of the Roses, both through her strong ties to the area and her international career," Pichon said. "Her technical skills, precise reflexes and decisive saves make her a key member of our team.
"But beyond her talent on the field, Gabrielle is also an outstanding mentor, capable of passing along her knowledge to the younger players as well as raising the standards of the whole team."
Lambert played university soccer at UQTR.
Roses FC joins Vancouver Rise FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, Halifax Tides FC, Calgary Wild FC and AFC Toronto in the new league.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
Follow @NeilMDavidson on the X platform.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lawsuit alleges Ontario man died after given 10 times prescribed dose in hospital
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
Ottawa journalist says claims that he is a Russian agent are 'fabricated'
A veteran Ottawa journalist is firing back against what he says are "entirely false" claims by a former Conservative cabinet minister that he acted as a Russian agent.
Trump says he's open to eliminating income taxes as he pushes sweeping tariff proposals on podcast with Joe Rogan
Former U.S. president Donald Trump said on Joe Rogan’s podcast Friday that he would be open to eliminating income taxes, while pushing his sweeping tariff proposal and praising the economic policies of the late 19th century.
Frozen waffles from Whole Foods join Canadian recall list over listeria concerns
Whole Foods Market is joining the growing list of brands whose frozen waffles have been recalled in Canada this week because of possible listeria contamination.
What we know about the Canadians busted in an international drug ring led by a former Olympic athlete
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn’t go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
'Did he live? Did he die?': A decades-old mystery stretching from Manitoba to Ireland
The mystery of a 100-year-old letter sent from Manitoba to Ireland is slowly unraveling thanks to the work of one amateur sleuth.
How will the U.S. election affect the way Canadians vote?
As months, become weeks, become days left before this U.S. election cycle comes to an end, here's a look at what each outcome might mean for Canadian politics.
She connected on Instagram with a guy who lived in another country. Then they decided to meet up
In early 2018, Amanda and Sunil started chatting, messaging back and forth on Instagram, introducing themselves and talking a little about their lives. Fast forward to August 2018, the couple got engaged on vacation in Thailand and a year later, after Amanda moved to India, got married.
Here's what buyers should know before making a used car purchase in Canada
Based on initial appearances, there are signs indicating the automobile industry is in healthy shape – for now.