Patrice Evra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Patrice Evra

Evra in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Patrice Latyr Evra
Date of birth	(1981-05-15) 15 May 1981 (age 44)
Place of birth	Dakar, Senegal
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Youth career
1992–1993	CO Les Ulis
1993–1997	CSF Brétigny
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–1999	Marsala	24	(3)
1999–2000	Monza	3	(0)
2000–2002	Nice	40	(1)
2002–2006	Monaco	120	(2)
2006–2014	Manchester United	273	(7)
2014–2017	Juventus	53	(3)
2017	Marseille	15	(1)
2018	West Ham United	5	(0)
Total		533	(17)
International career
2002–2003	France U21	11	(0)
2004–2016	France	81	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  France UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2016 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Patrice Latyr Evra (born 15 May 1981) is a French former professional footballer. He started his career as a forward, but mostly played as a left-back. Evra was a captain for both Manchester United and the France national team. Many people think he is one of the best full-backs ever.

Patrice Evra was born in Senegal. He moved to Europe when he was one year old because his father was a diplomat. Evra began his professional football journey with the Italian club Marsala. The next season, he joined Monza. A year later, he returned to France to play for Nice, where he became a full-back.

In 2002, Evra joined Monaco. He was part of the team that reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final. His great performances led to a move to English club Manchester United in January 2006. He spent eight years there and won 14 trophies, including five Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League.

In 2014, Evra moved to Italian club Juventus. He won two Serie A titles and played in another Champions League final. Evra joined Marseille in January 2017. He later had a short contract with West Ham United in February 2018. Evra retired from professional football in July 2019. He later trained to become a coach at Manchester United's academy.

Evra played in five big international tournaments for France. These included the 2008, 2012, and 2016 UEFA European Championships. He also played in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. Before the 2010 World Cup, he was named captain of the national team.

Club Career

Starting Out

Evra began his football journey with his local club, CO Les Ulis. He started as a striker. He tried out for professional clubs like Rennes and Lens, but they did not sign him because of his size. In 1993, he joined the amateur club CSF Brétigny. He also tried out for Toulouse and Paris Saint-Germain. Paris Saint-Germain signed him and changed his position to a winger. However, he was later released.

After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Evra was spotted by an Italian scout. This led to a trial with Torino. He was offered a spot on their youth team. But he chose to sign his first professional contract at age 17 with Serie C1 club Marsala. He played one season there, appearing in 27 matches and scoring six goals. After that, he moved to Serie B to join Monza. He only played in three matches for Monza and left after one season.

Playing for Nice

Evra returned to France and joined Nice in Ligue 2, which is the second division of French football. In his first season, he mostly played for the reserve team as a midfielder. He was called up to the first team during the season. He made his debut on 7 October 2000. He played as a left winger.

In the 2001–02 season, Evra became a permanent part of the first team. During a match, the regular left-back got injured. Evra stepped in to play that position. He continued to play as a left-back and sometimes as a left winger. Nice earned promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time since 1997. Evra was named to the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Ligue 2 Team of the Year as a left-back.

Time at Monaco

Didier Deschamps coached Evra during his four-year stint with Monaco.

After his success at Nice, Evra joined Monaco. His coach, Didier Deschamps, told him he would only play as a left-back. Evra later said that Deschamps helped him become a better defender. He quickly became an important player in Monaco's defense. Evra made his debut for Monaco in a 4–0 win against Troyes. He scored his first goal for the club on 28 September 2003. Monaco finished second in the league that season. They also won the Coupe de la Ligue, which was Evra's first major trophy.

In the 2003–04 season, Evra became a vice-captain. He played in 33 matches and helped his team score four goals. Monaco also did very well in the UEFA Champions League. They reached the final, but lost 3–0 to Porto. After this season, Evra won the UNFP Young Player of the Year award. He was also named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

Evra stayed with Monaco for another season. He played in 52 matches, which was a career high for him. He scored one goal and helped with seven assists. Monaco reached the semi-finals in two domestic cups. In December 2005, Evra played his last match for Monaco.

Joining Manchester United

2006 to 2008

Evra comes off the pitch after a match versus Arsenal

On 3 January 2006, Patrice Evra said he wanted to join Manchester United. Four days later, the club made an official offer for him. On 10 January, Evra officially joined Manchester United for about £5.5 million. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract. Evra said that Manchester United was the only club he wanted to join.

Evra found it a bit hard to get used to English football at first. He made his debut on 14 January in a 3–1 loss to Manchester City. He was taken off at half-time. But he soon started playing better. He played in United's 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic in the 2006 League Cup final. He finished his first season with 14 appearances.

In his first full season, Evra became a regular starter. On 18 November, he helped set up the winning goal for Wayne Rooney in a 2–1 win against Sheffield United. Eight days later, Evra scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win over Everton. He also helped with another goal in that match. On 10 April 2007, Evra scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a big 7–1 win over Roma. Manchester United won the Premier League title that season. Evra was named to the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year.

Evra started the 2007–08 season as the main left-back. He played in United's 3–0 win over Chelsea in the 2007 FA Community Shield. He played in the club's first 12 matches. He helped Cristiano Ronaldo score a goal in a 2–2 draw against Arsenal. He played in 48 matches in total that season. Manchester United won their second straight Premier League title. They also won the Champions League by beating Chelsea on penalties. Evra played all 120 minutes in the final. After the season, he signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United.

2008 to 2014

Evra (left) passing the ball to Gabriel Obertan in a match against Everton in the 2009–10 season

Before the 2008–09 season, Evra faced some issues with the FA. He was charged with improper conduct related to an incident after a match. He denied the charges. He still played for United. Manchester United won the Community Shield again. Evra played in most of the team's early matches. He was later given a four-match ban and a fine.

Evra (right) defending against Samuel Eto'o in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

Even with the ban, Evra played for Manchester United in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. United won the tournament after beating LDU Quito in the final. Evra returned to the team in January 2009. He helped United win their third straight Premier League title. They also won the League Cup. Manchester United reached the Champions League final again, but lost 2–0 to Barcelona. Evra was included in the PFA Team of the Year for the second time.

In the 2009–10 season, Evra played in all 38 league matches. He sometimes captained the team when other players were injured. He wore the captain's armband for the first time in a Champions League win against VfL Wolfsburg. In December 2009, Evra was named to the FIFPro World XI. He was also named to the UEFA Team of the Year in January 2010. On 28 February 2010, Evra captained Manchester United to a 2–1 win against Aston Villa in the 2010 League Cup final. This was his first trophy as a captain. Manchester United finished second in the league that season.

Evra playing in the 2011 MLS All-Star Game

At the start of the 2010–11 season, Evra was dealing with questions about the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His contract was also ending soon, and there were rumors he might move to Real Madrid. On 20 November, Evra scored his second Premier League goal in a 2–0 win against Wigan Athletic. On 21 February 2011, Evra signed a new contract with Manchester United. This kept him at the club until at least the end of the 2013–14 season.

In the 2011–12 season, Evra helped United win the 2011 Community Shield against Manchester City. United came back from 2–0 down to win 3–2. On 15 October, Evra captained Manchester United in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool. After the match, Evra said that Liverpool player Luis Suárez had used offensive words towards him. The FA investigated and later charged Suárez.

During the 2012–13 season, Evra became known for scoring goals from corners, even though he was not very tall. He scored three headed goals in 13 games. He continued this in the 2013–14 season. He also scored two goals from open play. On 23 May 2014, Evra signed a new one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

Moving to Juventus

Evra battles Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for the ball during the Champions League final in June 2015.

On 21 July 2014, Evra joined Italian club Juventus. He signed a two-year contract. The transfer fee was about £1.2 million. On 14 December 2014, he scored his first goal for Juventus in a 1–1 draw against Sampdoria. On 6 June 2015, Evra started for Juventus in the 2015 UEFA Champions League final. Juventus lost 3–1 to Barcelona. This was Evra's fifth Champions League final. He became the first player to lose four Champions League finals. He was also the first to lose against the same opponent, Barcelona, three times.

Evra played his 100th UEFA Champions League match on 25 November 2015. This made him the second French player to reach this milestone after Thierry Henry. Evra scored a goal in the last match of the 2015–16 Serie A season. Juventus won the league title for the fifth time in a row. On 6 June 2016, Evra signed a one-year contract extension with Juventus.

Time at Marseille

On 25 January 2017, Evra joined Marseille on a free transfer. He signed an 18-month contract. On 7 May 2017, he scored his only goal for Marseille in a 2–1 win against his old club Nice.

Evra with Marseille in September 2017

Before a Europa League match on 2 November 2017, Evra had an incident with a fan. He was sent off for kicking a fan. Marseille's coach criticized the fans but also Evra for reacting. The next day, Marseille suspended Evra. He also received a ban from UEFA competitions until June 2018. Marseille then ended Evra's contract.

Playing for West Ham United

On 7 February 2018, West Ham United signed Evra. He signed a contract until the end of June 2018. He made his debut on 24 February against Liverpool. Evra left West Ham United when his contract ended, having played five matches for the club. He retired from professional football in July 2019.

Brentham

To get fit for Soccer Aid 2020, Evra played one match for Middlesex County League Premier Division club Brentham. This was a friendly match in August 2020.

International Career

Under-21s

Evra played for the French under-21 team. He got his first call-up in October 2002. He made his under-21 debut against Slovenia, which France won 1–0. Evra played regularly for the team from 2002 to 2004. France tried to qualify for the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and the 2004 Summer Olympics football tournament. However, they did not qualify for either.

Senior Team

Early Years

Evra was first called up to the senior national team in May 2004. He was part of the team for UEFA Euro 2004, but was not in the final squad. After the European Championship, Evra was called up again in August 2004. He made his senior international debut in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He started as a left winger.

Evra became the starting left-back for France in some matches due to an injury to another player. However, he did not get called up for almost two years after March 2005. This meant he missed the 2006 World Cup. He later said this made him more determined.

Euro 2008

Evra returned to the team in November 2006 for a friendly match against Greece. He started playing more regularly in 2007. In May 2008, he was chosen for the squad to play in UEFA Euro 2008. He started in France's second match against the Netherlands, which they lost 4–1. France was eliminated from the competition in the first round.

2010 World Cup and After

After Euro 2008, Evra became the starting left-back for France. He played in ten of the team's 12 matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. On 26 May 2010, Evra captained the national team for the first time in a friendly match against Costa Rica. France won 2–1. He was then named captain for the 2010 World Cup. He wore the armband in the team's first two matches.

During the 2010 World Cup, there was a disagreement within the team. This led to the players refusing to train. Evra was involved in this protest. As a result, he was no longer captain and was benched for the final group match. France lost and was eliminated. After the competition, Evra received a five-match international ban for his part in the incident.

Return to the National Team

Despite the criticism, Evra wanted to continue playing for France. On 17 March 2011, he was called up to the national team again by the new manager, Laurent Blanc. He made his return on 25 March in a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Luxembourg. He played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 win. Evra played regularly in the qualifiers for Euro 2012. He was part of the squad for the finals. France was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Spain.

2014 World Cup and Euro 2016

Evra played in four of France's five matches at the 2014 World Cup. France was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Germany.

In May 2016, Evra was named in the France squad for Euro 2016, which was played in France. He started in France's opening match against Romania. He helped his team win 2–1. In the semi-final against Germany, Evra played very well. He helped France win 2–0 and reach the final. In the final, France lost 1–0 to Portugal after extra time.

How He Played

Patrice Evra was known as one of the best left-backs during his career. He was fast, energetic, and strong, even though he was not very tall. He was good at both defending and attacking. He could also play as a centre-back. Evra was good with the ball and could make good crosses to his teammates. He was also known for his leadership and determination on the field.

Family Life

Evra was born in Dakar, Senegal. His father was from Senegal, and his mother was from Cape Verde. His father was a diplomat. When Evra was one year old, his family moved to Brussels, Belgium. When he was three, they moved to Les Ulis, France. Evra was a good student in school.

He is married to Sandra, and they have a son named Lenny and a daughter named Maona. As of 2020, Evra and his wife are separated. He is engaged to Danish model Margaux Alexandra.

Personal Life

Evra speaks five languages: French, English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. He is allergic to eggs. He has supported charities that help children with cancer.

In September 2019, he returned to Manchester United as a trainee coach. He spent time coaching at the club's Academy. Evra released his autobiography, I Love This Game, in 2021. In February 2023, Evra was fined by a court in Paris for some comments he made in a video from 2019. In May 2023, Evra was part of a group that bought the Portuguese club Estrela da Amadora. The team was promoted to the Primeira Liga shortly after.

In July 2024, a French court found Evra guilty of abandoning his wife and two children. He was given a suspended 12-month prison sentence and owes money for unpaid support.

Career Statistics

Club

Sources:

International

Source:

Appearances and goals by national team and year

Awards and Trophies

Monaco

• Coupe de la Ligue: 2002–03
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2003–04

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
• Football League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
• FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013
• UEFA Champions League: 2007–08; runner-up: 2008–09, 2010–11
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Juventus

• Serie A: 2014–15, 2015–16
• Coppa Italia: 2014–15, 2015–16
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2015
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2014–15

Individual

• UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2003–04
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2003–04
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2009
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2009

Film and TV Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Patrice Evra para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances