Wikipedia

Sylvain Distin

Sylvain Distin(born 16 December 1977) is a French former professionalfootballer.He is left-footed and played as acentre-back,and was also capable of playing atleft-back.

Sylvain Distin
Distin withEvertonbefore the 2012FA Cupsemi-final
Personal information
Full name Sylvain Distin[1]
Date of birth (1977-12-16)16 December 1977(age 47)[1]
Place of birth Bagnolet,France
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Joué-lès-Tours 32 (4)
1998–1999 Tours 26 (3)
1999–2000 Gueugnon 32 (1)
2000–2002 Paris Saint-Germain 28 (0)
2001–2002 →Newcastle United(loan) 28 (0)
2002–2007 Manchester City 178 (5)
2007–2009 Portsmouth 77 (0)
2009–2015 Everton 174 (2)
2015–2016 AFC Bournemouth 12 (0)
Total 587 (15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Distin began his career playing for French amateur sides, working his way up to professional sidesGueugnonand subsequentlyParis Saint-Germain.He moved to England in 2001, first joiningNewcastle Unitedon a loan move from PSG, before signing a permanent contract withManchester City,where he spent five seasons. He then spent two years atPortsmouthwhere he won theFA Cup,before joiningEvertonin 2009. In six seasons atGoodison Park,he made 210 appearances across all competitions, leaving in 2015 forAFC Bournemouth.

After one season with Bournemouth, Distin was released when his contract expired in June 2016. He played fifteen consecutive seasons in thePremier League,with over 450 appearances in England's top flight – themost of any foreign outfield player.[3]

Club career

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Early career

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Born inBagnolet,Distin started his career at French non-league sideJoué-lès-Toursbefore moving toToursa year later, where he played 26 times and scored three goals. He then transferred toGueugnonofLigue 2,signing his first professional contract. With Gueugnon he won theCoupe de la Liguein 2000. His performances for Gueugnon promptedParis Saint-Germainto sign him, though his time at PSG was short-lived and after a year, Distin went on loan toNewcastle Unitedwhere he made 35 appearances in all competitions.

Manchester City

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Distin withManchester Cityin 2007

Following the loan spell, Newcastle wanted to sign Distin permanently but he instead opted to sign forManchester Citywhere he could play in his preferred position ofcentral defence,rather than left-back at Newcastle. The transfer fee was £4 million, setting a club record for a defender. Consistent performances in his first Manchester City season resulted in Distin being named the club's Player of the Year for the 2002–03 season.[4]At the start of the 2003–04 season, Distin was named captain of Manchester City following the retirement ofAli Benarbia.In total, Distin played 207 times for Manchester City and scored six goals.

Portsmouth

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Distin left City at the end of his contract in May 2007, seeking a "fresh challenge",[5]and moved toPortsmouthon a three-year deal.[6]Distin was appointedvice captainbyHarry Redknappand led Portsmouth inSol Campbell's absences due to injury. At the end of Distin's first season atFratton Park,he won his first and only major honour in English football, the2008 FA Cup.[7]

AfterSol Campbell's departure from Portsmouth, Distin was named the new club captain.[8]

Everton

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Distin (left, in blue) playing forEvertonin a Premier League match againstLiverpoolon 13 March 2012

In August 2009,Evertonsigned Distin from Portsmouth for a fee of about £5 million on a three-year contract.[9]He was given the number 15 shirt and made his debut in a 2–1 victory overWigan Athletic.On 17 September 2009, he scored his first goal for Everton in theUEFA Europa Leagueagainst Greek teamAEK Athens.[10]He scored his second goal for Everton in the UEFA Europa League on 16 February 2010 againstSporting CPto give Everton a 2–1 win. Distin was later sent off resulting in Sporting's goal from the penalty spot after a poor touch following an equally poorJack Rodwellpass. Distin scored his first league goal for the club againstLiverpoolon 16 January 2011, heading in from a corner at the start of the second half. During his 2011–12 season, Distin assisted goalkeeperTim Howard's 100-yard goal, notable as only the fourth goal from a keeper in the history of the Premier League.

On 14 April 2012, he made a rare mistake in theFA Cup semi-finalwhen a poor back pass giftedLuis Suárezthe equalising goal for Merseyside rivalsLiverpool.Everton went on to lose the game 2–1, and Distin took to Twitter to apologise to the Everton fans.[11]However, he was named Everton's players' player of the year at the end of season awards ceremony,[12]and then agreed a one-year contract extension to stay at the club for the2012–13 season.[13] On 24 January 2013, Distin signed a new one-year contract with Everton, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2014.[14]On 23 February, he made his 400th Premier League appearance againstNorwich CityatCarrow Road.A few weeks later he made his 402nd appearance – more than any other foreign outfield player.[15]Distin's centre back partnership withPhil Jagielkaremained Everton's first choice through the2013–14 season,despite the emergence ofJohn Stones,with the club finishing fifth with their record Premier League points tally of 72.[16][17]He signed a new one-year contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2015.[18]

AFC Bournemouth

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In June 2015, after being released by Everton at the end of the2014–15season, Distin agreed in principle, a free transfer to newly promotedAFC Bournemouth,[19]signing on 1 July.[20]

Distin spent one season with Bournemouth and was released when his contract expired at the end of June 2016.[21]

International career

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In 2003 Distin represented theL'équipe de l'amitiéin a posthumous testimonial game for his former Manchester City teammate,Marc-Vivien Foé,versus the Cameroon national football team.[22]

In addition to France, Distin was also eligible to play for the non-FIFA affiliated nation ofGuadeloupeas his father was born there. Distin was approached to play in the2011 CONCACAF Gold Cupby the Guadeloupean federation, but he rejected the advances as he didn't feel it would be beneficial for his pre-season routine with Everton.[23]

In March 2013, Distin made his 402nd English Premier League appearance, the most of any foreign outfield player, but he never received any international call-ups. Despite this, Distin stated that he has no regrets over his career.[15]In May 2014, Distin humorously announced his international retirement on Twitter, calling his record of 0 caps for France a "wonderful experience".[24]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[25]
Club Season Division League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Joué-lès-Tours 1997–98 CFA 32 4 ? ? — — 32 4
Tours 1998–99 CFA 26 3 ? ? — — 26 3
Gueugnon 1999–2000 Division 2 32 1 3 0 5 0 — 40 1
Paris Saint-Germain 2000–01 Division 1 28 0 1 0 1 0 10 0 40 0
2001–02 — — — 5 0 5 0
Total 28 0 1 0 1 0 15 0 45 0
Newcastle United(loan) 2001–02 Premier League 28 0 5 0 2 0 0 0 35 0
Manchester City 2002–03 Premier League 34 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 36 0
2003–04 38 2 5 1 2 0 5 0 50 3
2004–05 38 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 41 1
2005–06 31 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 36 0
2006–07 37 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 43 2
Total 178 5 16 1 7 0 5 0 206 6
Portsmouth 2007–08 Premier League 36 0 6 0 3 0 0 0 45 0
2008–09 38 0 3 0 1 0 5 0 47 0
2009–10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 77 0 9 0 4 0 5 0 95 0
Everton 2009–10 Premier League 29 0 1 0 2 0 6 2 38 2
2010–11 38 2 4 0 2 0 — 44 2
2011–12 27 0 5 0 1 0 — 33 0
2012–13 34 0 5 0 1 1 — 40 1
2013–14 33 0 2 0 2 0 — 37 0
2014–15 13 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 18 0
Total 174 2 18 0 9 1 9 2 210 5
AFC Bournemouth 2015–16 Premier League 12 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 17 0
Career total 587 15 55 1 30 1 34 2 706 19

* Doesn't include2008 FA Community Shieldappearance.

Honours

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Gueugnon

Portsmouth

Individual

References

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  1. ^abHugman, Barry J., ed. (2005).The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005.Queen Anne Press.p. 171.ISBN1-85291-665-6.
  2. ^"Premier League Player Profile".Premier League. Archived fromthe originalon 31 October 2010.Retrieved9 April2011.
  3. ^"Players Index".Premier League. Archived fromthe originalon 4 June 2013.Retrieved7 November2015.
  4. ^"Sylvain Distin".ESPN Soccernet.Archivedfrom the original on 23 July 2014.Retrieved28 December2006.
  5. ^"Distin confirms City exit".Sky Sports.22 May 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2007.Retrieved23 May2007.
  6. ^"Distin signs Portsmouth contract".BBC Sport.23 May 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 7 June 2007.Retrieved23 May2007.
  7. ^Lovejoy, Joe (18 May 2008)."Kanu's goal clinches FA Cup for Portsmouth".The Times.London. Archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2008.Retrieved30 July2009.
  8. ^Davies, Gregg (27 August 2009)."Storrie: Distin wants to go".FourFourTwo.Retrieved28 September2020.
  9. ^Matthew Gamble (28 August 2009)."Everton Seal Distin Deal".Everton F.C.Archived fromthe originalon 29 August 2009.Retrieved28 August2009.
  10. ^James Standley (17 September 2009)."Everton 4 – 0 AEK Athens".BBC Sport.Archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2009.Retrieved16 February2010.
  11. ^"Twitter post".14 April 2012.Retrieved14 April2012.
  12. ^Andy Lewis."Distin Wins Players' Player".Everton F.C. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2012.Retrieved25 May2012.
  13. ^"Everton defender Sylvain Distin signs one-year contract".BBC Sport.Archivedfrom the original on 25 May 2012.Retrieved25 May2012.
  14. ^"Sylvain Distin: Everton defender signs one-year contract".BBC Sport. 24 January 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2013.
  15. ^ab"Everton FC defender Sylvain Distin has no international regrets".Liverpool Daily Post.Archived fromthe originalon 29 June 2013.Retrieved29 June2013.
  16. ^O'Keeffe, Greg (5 July 2020)."How Roberto Martinez made Everton fans dream big in his first season".The Athletic.Retrieved28 September2020.
  17. ^Adam Clark."Magic Numbers: Roberto's Record-Breakers".Everton F.C.Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2014.Retrieved26 May2014.
  18. ^"Transfer news: Everton's Sylvain Distin signs a contract extension at Goodison Park".Sky Sports.29 January 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2014.Retrieved26 May2014.
  19. ^"Sylvain Distin: Bournemouth agree deal for ex-Everton defender. On the 1st July 2015 the one year deal was made official – legend".BBC Sport.22 June 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 23 July 2014.Retrieved22 June2015.
  20. ^"Sylvain Distin: Bournemouth sign 37-year-old ex-Everton defender".BBC Sport. 1 July 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.
  21. ^"AFC Bournemouth has announced that six out of contract players will be leaving the club – including defender Sylvain Distin".24 May 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2016.Retrieved24 May2016.
  22. ^"Le Cameroun gagne pour Marc-Vivien Foé (3–1)"[Cameroon wins against Marc-Vivien Foe (3–1)]. fff.fr. 11 November 2003. Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2012.Retrieved15 March2012.
  23. ^"Distin turned down Guadeloupe".ESPN FC. 6 July 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 23 July 2014.Retrieved15 March2012.
  24. ^"Distin humourously [sic] retires from international football on Twitter...without a single cap ".The Independent.14 May 2014.Retrieved14 May2014.
  25. ^"Sylvain Distin Career Stats".Soccerbase. 24 April 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2013.Retrieved27 November2010.
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