Sylvain Distin
Sylvain Distin (2007)
Sylvain Distin ( born December 16, 1977 in Bagnolet, France ) is a French football player. With over 1.90 meters grown large, physically robust and mostly used in the course of his career in central defense, he won in 2000 with the French second division side FC Gueugnon surprisingly the League Cup before him over the capital club Paris Saint- Germain in September 2001 in the English Premier League moved. There Distin made especially from 2002 at Manchester City as a longtime regulars a name, won in 2008 with the Portsmouth FC FA Cup since August 2009 and is under contract at Everton.
Playing career
France
Sylvain Distin was trained from 1992 in the youth department of the French capital club Paris St Germain. The admission into the professional team of "PSG" remained to him but denied later because you could open no guarantee as to its perspective as a professional footballer him in 1997, he joined the Amateur League CFA U.S. Joue -les- Tours. After just one season he left the club and hired at city rivals FC Tours. There he was able to prevail immediately and with consistently good performances he recommended himself for his first professional contract.
Which is part of Burgundy and then coached by Alex Dupont second division side FC Gueugnon undertook the talented defender. Distin was now a regular player, came in the 1999/2000 season at the club internally use third highest number and surprisingly won the French League Cup, the first trophy in his pro career. He defeated in the finals of all his former club from Paris and was in a 2-0 win on the defensive physically very present. As PSG then signaled Distin like to retrieve, this did not hesitate and joined the class Ligue 1 team of Philippe Bergeroo needed more members, especially on the left side of defense and although Distin on the center-back position felt alien, he was henceforth also strengths in aggressive action on the outside. He made his debut on 28 July 2000 in the highest French league against Racing Strasbourg (3:1), shot against Girondins Bordeaux his first ( and only ) goal in Ligue 1 and completed ten Champions League games.
That also Distins second attempt to establish themselves permanently in the first team of PSG failed, was also due to the new coach Luis Fernandez, who swung the scepter from December 2000. Fernández built the defensive formations around a fiver chain and often joined the cast. When finally the Argentine Gabriel Heinze was committed early in the season, the rumors about Distins imminent departure to England were increasing. It was followed last operations under the Intertoto Cup, but agree but one was at first only a lending transaction. Here, the choice fell on Newcastle United, where already Distins teammate Laurent Robert was staying.
England
As of September 2001 was Distin in the ranks of the " Magpies ", debuted by Substitutes shortly before closing at home against Manchester United and was immediately part of the extended squad. In 20 league games of the season 2001/ 02 the left-sided player was in the starting, usually held the position of left full-back and confident despite his size with high speed. To this end, he set out with his wide throw-ins in the penalty box a name.
After the end of the laid to one year rental period, he moved permanently to the English Premier League, with the election in the summer of 2002 but fell to Manchester City take on Newcastle United. A decisive factor for this was in addition to the willingness to pay a transfer fee of four million pounds that Distin at the "Citizens" was used primarily for internal defense. Once there, he showed up right away in good shape, was a regular player with 34 Premier League games and proved next to his athletic advantages, technical skills and strengths in the building game. Next clue for his rapid rise in English club football was promoted to captain in the subsequent 2003/ 04 by coach Kevin Keegan and together with the Irish Richard Dunne he made more and more one of the best center-back pairs in the Premier League. The 2006/07 season was Distins last season for Manchester City. He stood again in 43 appearances for Manchester City on the pitch and left the club when his contract expired and a total of 206 missions and scored six goals.
New employer was the League rival Portsmouth FC, whose manager Harry Redknapp Distin designated as "the best transfer free transfer of the season ." At Distins page henceforth acted as if the physically robust Sol Campbell in the central defense and both caused in equal 19 competitive games that " Pompey " did not concede. Although he scored no own goal during his 45 missions, he also has also participated in offensive actions. For this he won the 2008 FA Cup - voices that called for consideration in the French national team, however, went unheeded. After the sudden departure of coach Redknapp end of October 2008 Distin lost his formerly good shape and was a bit confused under his successor Tony Adams before 2008/ 09 Paul Hart stabilized in the third coach of the season again, and ultimately not a minute in the Premier League missed.
Shortly after the start of the 2009/ 10 and three days before the end of the summer transfer window Distin joined the League rivals Everton. There he was primarily the Joleon Lescott to Manchester City migrated replace and David Moyes put additional value that the new center-back was a left-footed. Without settling difficulties as well as with peace and serenity he found another good time in a new team was in and - with the exception of an injury due to thigh problems - regular at the " Toffees ". Despite increasing competition, he defended his seat in the 2010/ 11 and scored 16 January 2011 against Liverpool after previous three seasons without a league goal once again a Premier League matches.
Title / Awards
- French League Cup (1 ): 2000
- English Cup ( 1): 2008