Kenny Lala

Kenny Lala (born 3 October 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Ligue 1 club Brest.

Club career
Lala began his career with local amateur club ES Parisienne before signing with semi-professional club Paris at the age of 17. Prior to signing with the club, Lala had trials with professional clubs Lille, Caen, and Valenciennes. After two seasons playing on Paris' reserve team, he was promoted to the club's senior team for the 2010–11 season. A successful campaign, in which Lala made 33 league appearances, resulted in the player being linked to several Ligue 1 clubs, most notably Valenciennes who offered Paris €100,000 for his services.

Despite declining the initial offer, on 15 June 2011, Paris reached an agreement with Valenciennes on a transfer for Lala. He signed a four-year contract with the Northern outfit. Lala was assigned the number 18 shirt by manager Daniel Sanchez and was placed onto the club's first team, though he has played on the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur. Lala made his professional debut on 6 November 2011 in a 1–1 draw with Rennes appearing as a substitute.

On 30 June 2015, he signed a three-year contract with Lens. In June 2017, Lala joined Strasbourg on a two-year contract. In his time at the club, he was a regular starter.

On 1 February 2021, the last day of the 2020–21 winter transfer window, Lala moved to Super League Greece club Olympiacos. In October 2022, he terminated his contract with the club after being unable to make a single appearance in the 2022–23 season.

In January 2023, he joined French side Brest on a free transfer, and in July that year, he extended his contract with the club until 2025. On 13 August 2023, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win over his former club Lens on the opening matchday of the 2023–24 season. On 19 May 2024, he scored the last goal in a 3–0 away win over Toulouse on the final matchday of the season, helping his club to secure a third-place finish in the league and first ever qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

International career
Born in France, Lala is of Martiniquais and Malagasy descent. In early March 2024, Lala was called up by the Madagascar national team.

Personal life
Lala was born in Villepinte and grew up in the 18th arrondissement of Paris near the Porte de Clignancourt. He has two sisters. Lala's mother previously worked as a saleswoman for Zara and was also his sports agent having handled the player's four-year fédérale contract he signed with Paris FC. She now works for the public management and construction company l'Opac de Paris.

Honours
Strasbourg
 * Coupe de la Ligue: 2018–19

Olympiacos
 * Super League Greece: 2020–21, 2021–22

Individual
 * UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: December 2018
 * UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2018–19