Pascal Cygan facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 April 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Lens, France | ||
| Height | 1.92 m | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wasquehal | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1995 | Wasquehal | ||
| 1995–2002 | Lille | 179 | (10) |
| 2002–2006 | Arsenal | 63 | (3) |
| 2006–2009 | Villarreal | 45 | (2) |
| 2009–2011 | Cartagena | 57 | (0) |
| Total | 344 | (15) | |
|
|||
Pascal Cygan (born 29 April 1974) is a former French football player. He was a strong defender, usually playing in the center. He could also play as a left back when needed.
Pascal played for teams in France, England, and Spain during his 17-year career. He is best known for his time with Lille, Arsenal, and Villarreal.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Football
Pascal Cygan was born in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France. He began his football journey at a smaller club called ES Wasquehal.
Playing Career
Time at Lille
Pascal Cygan became a professional player with Lille OSC in 1995. He played his first top-division game that year. He spent three seasons in the second division before Lille returned to the top league.
In the 1999–2000 season, he was a key player in defense. He helped Lille win the second division championship. The next year, he helped them finish third in the top league. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Champions League, a huge European competition.
During his time at Lille, Pascal also became the team's captain. He was seen as a great role model for younger players. In his last year in France, he won the Etoile d'Or award, which means "Golden Star."
Playing for Arsenal
In July 2002, Pascal Cygan joined Arsenal in England. He made his first appearance on September 1, 2002. He came on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea.
While at Arsenal, he was often a backup player. However, he played in some important matches. He won a Premier League winner's medal in 2004. This was a special season because Arsenal went undefeated, earning them the nickname "The Invincibles." Pascal played in 18 league games that season.
He scored three goals for Arsenal in the league. Two of these goals came in one game against Fulham in 2005. This was a surprise, as he had only scored once before for the club.
In the 2005–06 season, Pascal also played as an emergency left back. This happened when other players were injured. His team won 12 of the 20 games he played in that season. They also kept 11 clean sheets, meaning they didn't let the other team score.
Pascal played 98 games for Arsenal in total. This included 20 games in the Champions League.
Moving to Spain
In August 2006, Pascal Cygan moved to Spain to play for Villarreal CF. He joined his former Arsenal teammate, Robert Pires, there. He played regularly in his first two years at Villarreal.
On June 6, 2008, he signed a new one-year contract. However, he didn't play as much in the 2008–09 season. He left Villarreal in July 2009. He scored two goals for Villarreal in the Spanish league.
On August 10, 2009, Pascal joined FC Cartagena. This team had just been promoted to the second division in Spain. He played for Cartagena until he was 37 years old. After that, he retired from professional football.
Achievements
Lille
- Division 2: 1999–2000 (Champions)
Arsenal
- Premier League: 2003–04 (Champions)
- FA Community Shield: 2002, 2004
- FA Cup: 2005
Individual
- Etoile d'Or (Player of the Year award): 2001–02
See also
In Spanish: Pascal Cygan para niños
