Pascal Cygan

Last updated

Pascal Cygan
Personal information
Full name Pascal Cygan [1]
Date of birth (1974-04-29) 29 April 1974 (age 50) [2]
Place of birth Lens, France
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) [2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Wasquehal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1994–1995 Wasquehal
1995–2002 Lille 179 (10)
2002–2006 Arsenal 63 (3)
2006–2009 Villarreal 45 (2)
2009–2011 Cartagena 57 (0)
Total344(15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pascal Cygan (born 29 April 1974) is a French former footballer who played as a defender. His favoured position was central defender, but he could also play as a left back.

Contents

After starting out at Lille in his country, Cygan would play four years in the Premier League with Arsenal and three in La Liga with Villarreal, in a 17-year professional career.

Early life

Cygan was born in Lens, Pas-de-Calais. [3]

Career

Lille

Cygan started his senior career in the ranks of lowly ES Wasquehal before going professional with Lille OSC in 1995, making his Division 1 debut that year but also going on to also spend three seasons in Division 2. In 1999–2000 he was an instrumental defensive element for the champions and, in the subsequent top-flight campaign, helped them achieve a third-place finish, with qualification to the UEFA Champions League. [4]

In this time, Cygan was also promoted to the captaincy, seen as a role model to help develop the younger players. He was also winner of the Etoile d'Or in his last year in France. [5]

Arsenal

Cygan joined Arsenal in July 2002 for £2 million, [6] [7] making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Chelsea on 1 September after coming on as a late substitute for Nwankwo Kanu. [8] While he featured notably in some of the team's more important fixtures, he was mostly considered only a fringe player; he missed the 2003 FA Cup final through injury, [9] but did pick up a Premier League winners' medal in 2004 after contributing with 18 appearances. [10] [11]

Cygan scored three goals for Arsenal in league action, including an unlikely brace in his first game of 2005–06 against Fulham (4–1 home win). [12] Until then he had only netted once, against Everton in March 2003. [13]

Also that season, following injuries to both Ashley Cole and Gaël Clichy, Cygan was drafted in as an emergency left back, and was even named in the Opta team of the week on 9 January 2006. [14] Overall, his side won 12 of the 20 matches he played in and kept 11 clean sheets in the process. He suffered a hamstring injury in January against Middlesbrough [15] and was unable to play again that season as he was fourth choice behind Sol Campbell, Philippe Senderos and Kolo Touré, with young Johan Djourou also competing for a place. [16] [17]

Cygan played 98 competitive games during his spell at Highbury, including 20 in the Champions League. [18] [19]

Spain

In August 2006, Cygan completed a transfer to Villarreal CF for a £2 million transfer fee, joining former Arsenal teammate and compatriot Robert Pires at the club. [20] [21] On 6 June 2008, after having been fairly used in his first two years, mainly due to consecutive serious injuries to Gonzalo Rodríguez, he signed a new one-year deal. [22] However, following a lack of first-team opportunities in 2008–09, [23] and with Villarreal unwilling to extend his contract for a further campaign, he left in July 2009; [24] [25] his La Liga goals came on 5 November 2006 against Real Betis (3–2 home win), [26] and against Levante UD on 31 October 2007 (3–0, also at El Madrigal). [27]

On 10 August 2009, Cygan joined FC Cartagena, recently promoted to Segunda División, on a one-year deal. [28] Aged 37, he was released by the Murcians and retired from professional football. [29]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [30]
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] Continental [b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lille 1995–96 Division 1 27060–330
1996–9714010–150
1997–98 Division 2 26310–273
1998–9921110–221
1999–200033220–352
2000–01Division 1292––292
2001–02292–100392
Total1791011010020010
Arsenal 2002–03 Premier League 18120110311
2003–041803030240
2004–051505030230
2005–061225030202
Total633150200983
Villarreal 2006–07 La Liga 211––211
2007–082016050311
2008–094020–60
Total4528050582
Cartagena 2009–10 Segunda División 260––260
2010–11310––310
Total5700000570
Career total3441534035041315

Honours

Lille

Arsenal

FA Cup 2005

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thierry Henry</span> French football manager (born 1977)

Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional football coach, pundit, sports broadcaster and former player. He is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, and one of the greatest players in Premier League history. He has been named by Arsenal as the club's greatest ever player. Henry was runner-up for both the Ballon d'Or in 2003 and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He was named the FWA Footballer of the Year a record three times, the PFA Players' Player of the Year a joint-record two times, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year six consecutive times. He was also included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI once and the UEFA Team of the Year five times. In 2004, Henry was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Pires</span> French footballer (born 1973)

Robert Emmanuel Pires is a French former professional footballer. He is widely regarded as one of Arsenal's greatest ever players and one of the best wingers in the history of the sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Antonio Reyes</span> Spanish footballer (1983–2019)

José Antonio Reyes Calderón was a Spanish professional footballer who played mainly as a left winger and also as a forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesc Fàbregas</span> Spanish footballer (born 1987)

Francesc Fàbregas Soler is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who played as a central midfielder. He is currently the head coach of Serie A club Como.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolo Touré</span> Ivorian footballer (born 1981)

Kolo Abib Touré is an Ivorian professional football manager and former player. He most recently managed Championship club Wigan Athletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikaël Silvestre</span> French footballer (born 1977)

Mikaël Samy Silvestre is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is best known for a nine-year spell at Manchester United, with whom he won numerous Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup, two FA Community Shields, the Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikel Arteta</span> Spanish football manager (born 1982)

Mikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Gallas</span> French footballer (born 1977)

William Eric Gallas is a French football coach and former professional footballer who played as a defender. He played most of his footballing career in France and England before finishing his career in Australia with A-League club Perth Glory. Gallas is currently a youth team coach at Hungarian club Zalaegerszegi TE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santi Cazorla</span> Spanish footballer (born 1984)

Santiago Cazorla González is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Segunda División club Oviedo. A former Spanish international, Cazorla operates primarily as an attacking midfielder, but also plays as a winger, central midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unai Emery</span> Spanish football manager (born 1971)

Unai Emery Etxegoien is a Spanish football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the world.

The 2003–04 season was Arsenal Football Club's 12th season in the Premier League and their 78th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. It began on 1 July 2003 and concluded on 30 June 2004, with competitive matches played between August and May. The club ended the Premier League campaign as champions without a single defeat – a record of 26 wins and 12 draws. Arsenal fared less well in the cups, eliminated in the FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals to Manchester United and Middlesbrough respectively, and at the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League to Chelsea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred N'Diaye</span> Footballer (born 1990)

Alfred John Momar N'Diaye is a professional footballer who most recently played for FC Noah as a defensive midfielder, who can also play as a centre back. Born in France, he played for the Senegal national team.

The 2002–03 season was Arsenal Football Club's 11th season in the Premier League and their 77th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club retained the FA Cup, a feat last achieved by Tottenham Hotspur in 1982, but finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League. In the UEFA Champions League, defeat to Valencia in the second group stage meant Arsenal exited the competition at the same round for the second successive year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Coquelin</span> French footballer (born 1991)

Francis Joseph Coquelin is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. He has also featured for Valencia, Arsenal, Lorient, SC Freiburg, Charlton Athletic and Villarreal in his career.

The 2005–06 season was Arsenal Football Club's 14th season in the Premier League and their 80th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. It was the final season in which home matches were played at the club's Highbury stadium after 93 years; Arsenal intended to move to its new 60,000 capacity Emirates Stadium in time for the following season. The club ended their Premier League campaign in fourth, having pipped local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the position on the final day. Arsenal became the first London club to reach a UEFA Champions League final, though lost 2–1 to Barcelona in Paris. In the League Cup the club was eliminated in the semi-finals on aggregate score by Wigan Athletic and knocked out of the FA Cup, against Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsène Wenger</span> French football manager (born 1949)

Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger is a French former football manager and player who is currently serving as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development. He was the manager of Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, where he was the longest-serving and most successful in the club's history. His contribution to English football through changes to scouting, players' training and diet regimens revitalised Arsenal and aided the globalisation of the sport in the 21st century.

Wellington Alves da Silva is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club Sport Club do Recife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Campbell</span> Costa Rican football player (born 1992)

Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atlético Gonianiense on loan from Liga FPD club Alajuelense and the Costa Rica national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel Paulista</span> Brazilian footballer (born 1990)

Gabriel Armando de Abreu, commonly known as Gabriel Paulista or simply Gabriel, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicolas Pépé</span> Footballer (born 1995)

Nicolas Pépé is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for La Liga club Villarreal. Born in France, he plays for the Ivory Coast national team.

References

  1. ↑ "SCI CYCOM". Verif.com (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2022.
    "Pascal Cygan". Verif.com (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Pascal Cygan". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ↑ Fosseux, Olivier (25 November 2019). "Quand Cygan glisse à Ecker: "Johnny, tu ne vas quand même pas la tenter?"" [When Cygan whispers to Ecker: "Johnny, you're not going to even try?"]. La Voix du Nord (in French). Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Carlier, Morgane; Beneytou, Antoine; Teillet, Boris (20 August 2014). "Quand Lille se payait Parme" [When Lille mocked Parma]. So Foot (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Étoiles d'or: Pascal Cygan meilleur joueur de D1" [Étoiles d’or: Pascal Cygan best D1 player]. L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 10 November 2001. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Cygan joins Arsenal". BBC Sport. 11 July 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  7. ↑ Pearson, James (11 July 2002). "Cygan will make French national team – Wenger". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Arsenal make their point". BBC Sport. 1 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Seaman to skipper Gunners in FA Cup final". The Guardian. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Biagchi, Rob (24 October 2014). "Arsenal's Invincibles from 2003–04: where are they now?". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  11. ↑ Sank, Sam (17 October 2015). "10 of the worst players to have ever won the Premier League title". 90min. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Arsenal 4–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  13. ↑ "Arsenal back on top". BBC Sport. 23 March 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  14. ↑ Chong, Jonathan (6 January 2006). "Look who's made it into Opta Team of the Week!". Arsenal Mania. Archived from the original on 8 January 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  15. ↑ "Arsenal 7–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  16. ↑ Lawrence, Amy (15 May 2005). "Campbell waiting for the call". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  17. ↑ "Wenger hints at Walcott deal". The Guardian. 15 January 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  18. ↑ Cummings, Michael (24 May 2012). "World football: Whatever happened to Arsenal defender Pascal Cygan?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Wenger has faith in young Gunners". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  20. ↑ "Cygan secures Villarreal transfer". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  21. ↑ Adams, Tom (1 September 2006). "Cygan seals Spanish switch". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "Cygan stays with Villarreal". Sky Sports. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  23. ↑ "Argentino Gonzalo es único jugador de Villarreal que jugó todos los minutos" [Argentine Gonzalo is the only Villarreal player to have played all the minutes]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  24. ↑ Gourizro, Giscard (23 May 2009). "Cygan looking to head home". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  25. ↑ "Cygan va quitter Villarreal" [Cygan to quit Villarreal]. Sport 24 (in French). 14 March 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  26. ↑ "El Villarreal destroza al Betis en dos minutos" [Villarreal destroy Betis in two minutes]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 5 November 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  27. ↑ Pérez, Javier (1 November 2007). "El Levante es un chollo" [Bargain Levante]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  28. ↑ "El Cartagena ficha a Cygan" [Cartagena sign Cygan]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 August 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  29. ↑ "Pascal Cygan anuncia su retirada del fútbol y encamina sus pasos a ser entrenador" [Pascal Cygan announces retirement from football and edges closer to becoming a manager]. Sportcartagena (in Spanish). 8 June 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  30. ↑ Pascal Cygan at WorldFootball.net
  31. ↑ "Pascal Cygan, dogue à pleines dents" [Pascal Cygan, full-toothed dogue] (in French). Lille OSC. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  32. ↑ "Pascal Cygan: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  33. ↑ "Slick Arsenal win Shield". BBC Sport. 11 August 2002. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  34. ↑ "Arsenal 3–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.