Yann Kermorgant
A French striker whose audacious backheel penalty became an emblem of both sublime skill and crushing pressure in football folklore.
Born 1981 (age 45)·French footballer·Birthday: November 8·Millennials
Biography
Yann Kermorgant's football journey is a tale of resilience and a single, unforgettable moment. Born in Vannes, he carved a solid, if unspectacular, career across France and England, known for his physicality and aerial threat at clubs like Leicester City and Charlton Athletic. His legacy, however, is forever tied to a 2010 Championship play-off shootout. With the score level, he attempted a casual, chipped backheel that sailed over the bar, a miss that sent his team out and made him a target for furious criticism. Yet, Kermorgant rebuilt his reputation, becoming a fan favorite at Bournemouth where his goals helped propel the club toward the Premier League. His career stands as a testament to enduring a very public failure and emerging with respect on the other side.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Yann was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Yann Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Yann's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the EFL Championship with Bournemouth in the 2014-15 season, securing the club's first-ever promotion to the Premier League.
- Scored 17 league goals in the 2013-14 season for Charlton Athletic, his highest individual tally in English football.
- Earned the Charlton Athletic Player of the Year award for the 2013-14 season.
- Helped FC Angers achieve promotion to France's Ligue 1 in 2015 after joining the club.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified electrician, having completed his apprenticeship before focusing fully on football.
His missed backheel penalty for Leicester City is often cited in discussions about the psychology of penalty kicks.
He scored on his debut for three different English clubs: Leicester City, Charlton Athletic, and Bournemouth.
“That penalty miss taught me more than a hundred goals ever could.”
