Player Profile

Marcel Lavinier joined Town from Tottenham on deadline day in September 2021 with excellent pedigree, having spent thirteen years at Chelsea in the same youth team as Conor Gallagher, Marc Guehi and Tariq Lamptey before joining Spurs, making a single first team appearance in the Europa League. Naturally a right-back, but versatile enough to play on the left or in midfield, he found it hard to break into a Town side where Remeao Hutton was firmly established as the first choice right back for most of the season.

Lavinier’s debut came two days after signing in the 0-0 draw away at Gillingham, but that was one of only four league starts before Christmas. His first major impact came on 29th December against Northampton - selected at left back with Frazer Blake-Tracy forced into the centre to cover for injuries, Lavinier put in a strong - if mostly right footed - performance, which included Town’s goal of the season: picking up the ball on the left half way inside the Northampton half, he took two touches inside and then unleashed a scorching effort into the far top corner of the Northampton goal. He only scored once more in the season, but that goal too was a nominee for the best of the season as Lavinier volleyed into the far corner of the goal from a perfect Remeao Hutton cross.

When Jody Morris, his former youth coach, was appointed Town manager in January, it seemed likely to herald an extended run in the side for Lavinier, but he picked up a knock which kept him out for most of February and, when fit again, was often used at left back once more. He acquitted himself well enough, but it always felt that he was out of position and Lavinier was probably hoping for a more settled position on the right in his second season in SN1.

As it happened, there was to be no second season in SN1: Lavinier was part of a rarely seen straight swap deal with Forest Green that brought Udoka Godwin-Malife to Town. Swindon seemed to get the better side of that deal, with Lavinier featuring only fifteen times as FGR were relegated, whilst Godwin-Malife was almost ever present at Town and won players’ player of the season.

Playing Record

Senior

Career details

Club	Details
Chelsea Chelsea	2007 (academy) cs 2017 (youth scholarship) cs 2019 (signed professional contract); released (2019/0)
Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham	rptd October 3rd, 2020 (academy); released (rptd September 1st, 2022)
Swindon Town Swindon	September 1st, 2022 (unattached); transferred out (August 3rd, 2023)
Forest Green Rovers Forest Green	August 3rd, 2023 (transferred in, undisclosed fee)