Laurent Paganelli Biography: Nationality, Wife, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Clubs, Canal+, Journalist, Instagram

Laurent Paganelli is a Journalist, football consultant, and former professional footballer, who gained recognition as a prodigious talent in French football when he stepped onto the professional pitch at an age when most teenagers are still focusing on their secondary education.

His rise to fame began at AS Saint-Etienne, where his speed and technical ability on the ball quickly made him a standout figure in the top flight of French sport.

Beyond his playing days, he transitioned into a media role that has kept him in the public eye for decades.

He is widely known for his work as a touchline reporter, where his unconventional style of interviewing players and coaches immediately after matches has defined his second career in broadcasting.

Profile

• Full Name: Laurent Paganelli
• Date of Birth: October 20, 1962
• Age: 63 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of Birth: Aubenas, France
• Nationality: French
• Profession: Journalist, football consultant, and former professional footballer
• Height: 1.67 meters
• Weight: 66 kg
• Eye Color: Brown
• Hair Color: Greyish-brown
• Parents: Mr. Paganelli and Mrs. Paganelli
• Siblings: Three brothers
• Spouse: Carole Paganelli
• Children: Laurent Paganelli Jr.
• Relationship Status: Married
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Laurent Paganelli is now at the age of 63 and was born on October 20, 1962. He spent his earliest years in Aubenas before his family moved to Avignon due to his father’s employment as a railway worker.

He grew up in a household with three brothers, though his childhood was partly spent under the care of his grandmother and aunt during his family’s transition between cities. He belongs to the Caucasian ethnic group and follows the Christian faith.

Regarding his formal schooling, he attended local institutions in Avignon but his academic journey was truncated by his rapid ascent in professional sports.

He did not attend a traditional university to major in a specific subject, as he was already a professional athlete by the age of fifteen, focusing instead on the internal training programs of the AS Saint-Etienne youth academy.

Personal Life

Laurent Paganelli has maintained a stable life throughout his long career in the spotlight. He met his wife, Carole, during his youth, and the two were married in 1981.

Their relationship has endured for over four decades, providing him with a foundation of support during his transition from an athlete to a media professional. Together, they have one son, Laurent Paganelli Jr., who was born in 1988.

Unlike his father, his son chose a path in the creative arts and moved to Japan to work as a filmmaker.

The family has faced significant challenges, including the death of one of Laurent‘s brothers in a traffic accident and Laurent‘s own struggle with depression after he stopped playing football, but he credits the presence of his wife for his recovery and continued success.

Career

Laurent Paganelli career is divided into two distinct phases. He began as a footballer, making his debut for AS Saint-Etienne in 1978 at the age of 15 years and 10 months, which remains one of the youngest debuts in the history of the French league.

He contributed to the club’s league title win in 1981. He later moved to SC Toulon, where he enjoyed several productive seasons before injuries and personal struggles led to his early retirement from the pitch in 1991.

In 1997, he joined the television network Canal+, where he reinvented himself as a consultant and field reporter.

His role involves providing live updates from the sidelines during major matches, a position he has held for over twenty-five years, making him one of the longest-serving figures in French sports media.

Awards

• Ligue 1 Champion (1981)
• Coupe de France Finalist (1981)
• Coupe de France Finalist (1982)
• Lucarne d’or Best Pitch-side Reporter (2013)

Net Worth

Laurent Paganelli has an estimated net worth of $5 million. This wealth was accumulated through his initial years as a high-profile professional footballer in the French first division and, more significantly, through his long-term contract as a premier consultant for Canal+.

Social Media

• Instagram: @paga_officiel
• X: @LaurentPaganel1

Filmography

• La machine à baiser (2020)

Books

• Paga à nu (2009)
• Le Paga dico (2010)