Patrick Vieira facts for kids
Vieira with New York City FC in 2016
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Patrick Paul Vieira | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 23 June 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Dakar, Senegal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Genoa (head coach) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1986 | Trappes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1991 | Drouais | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | Tours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Cannes | 49 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | AC Milan | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2005 | Arsenal | 279 | (29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Juventus | 31 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2010 | Inter Milan | 67 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Manchester City | 28 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 456 | (45) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | France U21 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2009 | France | 107 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | New York City FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Nice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Crystal Palace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Strasbourg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Genoa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Patrick Paul Vieira (born 23 June 1976) is a French football manager and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Italian club Genoa. Many people consider him one of the best midfielders of all time. In 2004, he was named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living footballers.
Vieira started his playing career at Cannes in France. He then moved to Serie A club AC Milan in Italy. In 1996, he joined Arsenal in England. He played there for nine years and became a very important player. He was known for his strong and competitive style as a box-to-box midfielder. He even became the captain of Arsenal from 2002 to 2005.
During his time at Arsenal, Vieira helped the team win many trophies. They won four FA Cups and three league titles, including the famous unbeaten season in 2003–04. He was chosen for the Premier League PFA Team of the Year six times in a row. After Arsenal, he played for Juventus and then Inter Milan in Italy, winning four league titles with Inter. He finished his playing career at Manchester City, where he won another FA Cup before retiring in 2011.
Vieira also had a long international career with the French national team. He played for France for twelve years and was even captain for some time. He helped France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000. He also played in the team that finished second in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played 107 games for France before retiring from international football in 2010.
After he stopped playing, Vieira became a coach. He managed the academy at Manchester City. Later, he became the manager for Major League Soccer club New York City FC. He also managed Nice and Strasbourg in France, and Crystal Palace in England. In 2024, he became the manager of Genoa.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Patrick Paul Vieira was born on 23 June 1976 in Dakar, Senegal. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Dreux, France. He did not go back to Senegal until 2003. His parents divorced when he was young, and he never saw his father again. Vieira's grandfather served in the French Army, which meant Patrick was given French citizenship when he was born. His last name, Vieira, comes from his mother, who is from Cape Verde.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in France and Italy
Vieira first played for Tours U19 in the early 1990s. He then joined Cannes, where he played his first professional game at age 17 in 1993. He even became the team captain when he was just 19. In 1995, he moved to the Italian club AC Milan. He played only a few games for them before moving to England.
Becoming an Arsenal Legend
Joining Arsenal (1996–1997)
On 14 August 1996, Vieira joined Arsenal for £3.5 million. He chose Arsenal because his fellow Frenchman, Arsène Wenger, was about to become the club's new manager. Vieira felt it would be easier to settle in with a French-speaking coach.
Vieira played his first game for Arsenal on 16 September 1996. He quickly became a fan favorite because of his strong performances in midfield. He scored his first goal for Arsenal in December 1996. By the end of his first season, he had played 38 games. Arsenal finished third in the league that year.
Winning Trophies (1997–2002)
In the next season, Vieira and his teammate Emmanuel Petit were key players. They helped Arsenal win both the league title and the FA Cup in 1998. This was called a "double." Vieira was named in the PFA Team of the Year for his great efforts.
He faced some disciplinary problems, getting sent off a few times. In 1999, he was banned for six matches and fined for spitting at an opponent. Despite this, he remained a vital player. In 2000, Arsenal reached the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, but lost on penalties, with Vieira missing his shot.
In 2001, there were rumors that Vieira might leave Arsenal. However, he decided to stay and was made the team's vice-captain. In the 2001–02 season, Arsenal won another "double," taking both the league title and the FA Cup.
Captain and "Invincible" (2002–2005)
After Tony Adams retired in 2002, Vieira became the new captain of Arsenal. He said he was excited to take on the responsibility. In the 2003–04 season, Vieira led Arsenal to an amazing achievement. They won the league title without losing a single game, earning them the nickname "The Invincibles". This was the first time in over a century an English team had done this.
In 2004, big clubs like Real Madrid wanted to sign Vieira. But he chose to stay at Arsenal, saying he was proud to be their captain. In his final season, 2004–05, he scored the winning penalty in the 2005 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. This was his last kick for Arsenal.
Moving to Italy: Juventus and Inter Milan
In July 2005, Vieira joined Juventus in Italy. He played well, helping them win the Italian league title. However, Juventus later had their titles taken away because of a scandal. This meant many players left the club.
On 2 August 2006, Vieira signed with Inter Milan. He quickly made an impact, scoring two goals in his first game. He went on to win three more Italian league titles with Inter Milan. However, injuries meant he did not always play regularly.
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Finishing at Manchester City
On 8 January 2010, Vieira joined Manchester City in England. He reunited with his former Inter manager, Roberto Mancini. Vieira made his debut in February 2010. He helped Manchester City win the FA Cup in 2011. On 14 July 2011, at the age of 35, he announced his retirement from playing football.
International Career for France
Vieira played his first game for the French national team in 1997. He was part of the squad that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the final and helped set up a goal. For their victory, he and his teammates were honored with the Knight of the Legion of Honour award.
He was a key player when France won UEFA Euro 2000. He also helped France win the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring two goals, including the winning goal in the final. He played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but France did not do well.
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Vieira was captain for some games when Zinedine Zidane was suspended. He scored a goal against Togo and another against Spain. France reached the final but lost to Italy on penalties.
Vieira continued to play for France and earned his 100th cap in 2007. His last game for France was in 2009. He played 107 games for his country, scoring six goals.
Playing Style
Experts consider Vieira one of the best players in his position. He was a strong, tough, and athletic footballer. He was known for his excellent tackling and smart play in midfield. He could win the ball back and then start attacks with his good passing and vision. He was also good in the air and could make powerful runs forward. His speed, strength, and stamina allowed him to connect defense and attack very well. He was also a great leader on the field.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Vieira started a new career in coaching.
Manchester City Academy
On 14 July 2011, Vieira became a "Football Development Executive" at Manchester City. In May 2013, he was made the manager of the club's reserve team, the Elite Development Squad (EDS). He led the EDS team to win the Premier League International Cup in 2015.
New York City FC
On 9 November 2015, Vieira was announced as the new head coach of New York City FC, a club that shares owners with Manchester City. He started his role on 1 January 2016. His first game was a 4–3 win against Chicago Fire. He led New York City to a successful first season, improving their league position significantly.
Nice
On 11 June 2018, Vieira became the manager of the French club Nice. In his first season, he guided the team to a seventh-place finish in the league. On 4 December 2020, Nice announced that Vieira was no longer their manager after a series of losses.
Crystal Palace
On 4 July 2021, Vieira was appointed manager of English Premier League club Crystal Palace. In his first season, he led the team to a twelfth-place league finish. He also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Vieira left Crystal Palace on 17 March 2023, after a long period without a win.
Strasbourg
On 2 July 2023, Vieira signed a three-year deal with the French club Strasbourg. His first game was a 2–1 home win. He left the club by mutual agreement on 18 July 2024.
Genoa
On 20 November 2024, Vieira was announced as the new head coach of Genoa in Italy. When he took over, Genoa was close to the relegation zone. However, he successfully guided them to finish safely in 13th place by the end of the season. On 9 June 2025, Vieira signed a contract extension with Genoa until June 2027.
Management Style
Vieira is known for his coaching style that focuses on keeping possession of the ball. He also tends to make his teams more defensive when they are in a difficult situation. At Crystal Palace, he changed the team's style to be more attacking and proactive.
Personal Life
Patrick Vieira is married to Cheryl, who is from Trinidad. They met in England when he played for Arsenal and have a daughter. In 2003, Vieira visited Senegal for the first time since he was a child. He helped start the Diambars football academy there. This academy has helped many young footballers.
Media and Recognition
Vieira has been featured in the EA Sports FIFA video games. He was even on the cover of FIFA 2005. He was also part of the "Ultimate Team Legends" in FIFA 14.
He was sponsored by the sportswear company Nike and appeared in their commercials. He also worked as a football expert for ITV during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Honours and Awards
As a Player
AC Milan
- Serie A: 1995–96
Arsenal
- Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04
- FA Cup: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05
- FA Community Shield: 1998, 1999, 2002
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2006
Manchester City
- FA Cup: 2010–11
France National Team
- FIFA World Cup: 1998
- UEFA European Championship: 2000
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2001
Individual Awards
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000
- FIFA World Cup All-star team: 2006
- PFA Team of the Year: Six times (1998–99 to 2003–04)
- Premier League Player of the Season: 2000–01
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2001
- France Football French Player of the Year: 2001
- Premier League Hall of Fame: 2022
- FIFA 100: 2004
- English Football Hall of Fame: 2014
- Golden Foot Legends Award: 2019
As a Manager
Manchester City EDS
- Premier League International Cup: 2014–15
Orders
See also
In Spanish: Patrick Vieira para niños
