Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for the France national team. He is best remembered for his time at Arsenal where he was a part of the ‘Invincibles’ squad in the 2003-04 season. He is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

He is currently a manager and most recently coached Premier League side Crystal Palace until he was let go in March 2023, after two years in charge.

Early Life

Patrick Vieira was born on June 23, 1976, in Dakar, Senegal. When Vieira was eight years old, his family moved to Dreux, a town located in north-central France.

He joined a local club, AS Dreux, when he was just nine years old. Despite his talent, Vieira faced discrimination and racism from some of his teammates and coaches due to his African heritage. He caught the attention of scouts from other clubs and was eventually recruited to play for the youth academy of FC Tours, a professional club in France.

Club Career

Vieira began his professional career at French club Cannes where he played for one season from 1994-95. After a successful debut season at Cannes, Vieira was signed by Italian giants AC Milan. However, he struggled for game time in a star-studded team and only played 2 league games before being loaned out.

In 1996, Vieira was signed by English Premier League club Arsenal for a fee of £3.5 million. He quickly established himself as a key player for the Gunners, playing a vital role in their successes during the late 1990s and early 2000s. During his time at Arsenal, Vieira won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and was part of the "Invincibles" team that went unbeaten in the 2003-04 season. He made over 400 appearances for the club.

In 2005, Vieira was signed by Italian club Juventus for a fee of €20 million. He had a solid first season with the club, helping them win the Serie A title. He was signed by Juventus' rivals, Inter Milan, for a fee of €9 million. He played an important role in Inter's Serie A title wins in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Vieira also won two Italian Cups with the club.

In 2010, Vieira joined Manchester City where he spent two years at. He won the FA Cup during his second season with the Cityzens. He retired at the end of the season at the age of 35.

International Career

Vieira made his debut for the French national team in a friendly match against the Netherlands in November 1997. He was part of the squad for the 1998 World Cup held in France, where he played a key role in France's success, helping them win their first-ever World Cup.

Vieira was a crucial member of the French team that won the Euro 2000, scoring the winning penalty in the final against Italy. He was also part of the team that won the Confederations Cup in 2001.

He played in the 2002 World Cup, but France was knocked out in the group stages. He also played in Euro 2004, where France reached the quarterfinals but lost to Greece. Vieira played a vital role in the French team that reached the World Cup final in 2006, however, they ended up losing to Italy. He started every match in the tournament and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.

He also played in Euro 2008, where France was knocked out in the group stages. He retired from international football in 2010 after making 107 appearances for the French national team, scoring six goals.

Records

• Vieira captained Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona, becoming the first Arsenal player to lead the team in a European Cup final.

• Vieira holds the record for the most consecutive Premier League appearances by a non-English player, having played in 73 consecutive games for Arsenal between 2001 and 2003.

• Vieira holds the record for the most yellow cards received in Premier League history, having been shown the yellow card 97 times during his time in the league.

• Vieira holds the record for the most successful tackles in a Premier League season, having made 114 successful tackles during the 1998-1999 season.

• Vieira holds the record for the most successful dribbles in a single World Cup, having completed 31 successful dribbles during the 1998 World Cup.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Off the pitch, Vieira is known for his charitable work. He founded the Patrick Vieira Foundation in 2005, which aims to improve the lives of young people in disadvantaged communities through education and sport. He is also known for his interest in fashion and has been involved in various fashion-related projects.

Furthermore, Vieira has a UEFA Pro coaching license and has coached several clubs, including New York City FC, Nice, and Crystal Palace.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $33 million.

Family

His parents divorced when Vieira was young, and he never met his father again. His French citizenship was conferred on him at birth as his grandfather served in the French Army and his surname Vieira is the maiden name of his mother, who is from Cape Verde.

Wife

Vieira is married to his longtime partner, Cheryl Plaza. They got married in 2005 and have three children together, a son named Sean, and two daughters named Naomi and Savannah.

Houses

One of his most well-known homes was a luxurious penthouse apartment in London's Marylebone neighborhood, which he bought for around £2.2 million in 2006. The apartment featured floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of London, four bedrooms, a spacious living area, and a rooftop terrace.

Vieira also owned a property in Cannes, France, which he purchased for around €2.9 million in 2007. The house, which was located in a gated community, had four bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a large garden.