Patrick Vieira is one of the experienced players that will feature for France in this year’s edition of the European Championships. Vieira is 31 years old and he plays for Inter Milan as a central midfielder. He will also, most probably, be the captain for the French squad in the mentioned tournament, leading youngsters and experienced players alike, with his influence and determination.
Â
Vieira started playing football at youth level at the age of eight years. He featured for youth sides FC Trappes, FC Drouais and Tours, before signing his first professional contract with AS Cannes in 1993. He left for AC Milan in 1995 but only made two appearances. He was transferred to Premiership club Arsenal in 1996, making a huge success of his move in his 9-year spell at the club. He was named captain of the Gunners and led his team to an unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04 among other personal and club honours. On July 14th 2005, Patrick moved to Serie A club Juventus for £13.7 million. He spent just one season at the club, after the Calciopoli scandal hit Italian football and especially Juventus. He moved to their bitter rivals Inter, where he still is today.
Â
Patrick Vieira made his international debut on the 26th February 1997 against the Netherlands. He was born in Senegal but chose to feature for France rather than his country of origin. He was part of the squad that won the 1998 World Cup, even assisting one of the goals in the Final against Brazil, by setting up Emmanuel Petit. He was also part of the squad that won the European Championship two years later in 2000. He also featured in the unsuccessful squads of World Cup 2002, Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. On the 5th August 2006, Vieira was appointed captain of the French squad, after he had already been named captain several times before, in the absence of legend Zinedine Zidane. After Zidane’s retirement at the end of World Cup 2006, the captain’s armband went to Patrick Vieira. He is a player that young players look up to. He has qualities similar to Man Utd’s Roy Keane, and will be an amazing captain for Les Blues in Euro 2008. If he makes just 3 appearances in Euro 2008, he will equal Zinedine Zidane’s number of caps for France, taking his total number of appearances to 108 (currently: 105 caps).
Â
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBtQJf0sxtc]
Real Madrid reportedly strike £120m agreement for Enzo Fernandez- Paul Scholes Says Marcus Rashford Should Make Shock Arsenal Move
- Romano reveals Man Utd plan after Ederson as £50.5m player heads for exit
- Liverpool Stunned as Ibrahima Konate Was Open to Man Utd or Chelsea Move
- Alex Scott Contract Delay Puts Man Utd and Chelsea on Alert
- Rafael Leao Offered to Arsenal as Man Utd Twist Changes the Picture
- Arsenal line up Julian Alvarez talks as Barcelona battle hands Gunners major hook
- Andoni Iraola gives Liverpool ‘yes’ as new Reds era begins with backroom team revealed
- PSG Cool Julián Álvarez Interest, Leaving Atlético Madrid Clear Path
- Arsenal, Chelsea or Man City? Ranking the Best Destinations for Rafael Leão
You must be logged in to post a comment Login