Patrick Vieira

Patrick Donalé Vieira (born June 23, 1976 in Dakar, Senegal) is a France football (soccer) midfielder who currently plays for F.C. Internazionale Milano. He came to prominence during his time at Arsenal F.C. between 1996 and 2005, where he won three FA Premier League titles and four FA Cups, and eventually became club captain. He spent a single season at Juventus F.C. before joining Inter in 2006, after Juventus were relegation due to their part in a 2006 Serie A scandal. He has 101 cap (sport) for France national football team, and was part of their FIFA World Cup 1998 and 2000 European Football Championship winning sides and is now the team captain.

Club career

Early career

Born in Senegal in the Christian Cap-Vert community, Vieira's family moved to Paris when he was aged 8; he did not return to Senegal until 2003. Vieira first played for AS Cannes, where he made his debut at the age of 17 and captained the team aged only 19. His height, stamina and physical strength meant he settled in England quickly, while his composure and the quality of his passing meant he became an integral part of Wenger's stylish attacking side. Forming a powerful midfield partnership with compatriot Emmanuel Petit, Vieira won the FA Premier League and FA Cup the Double in 1998, his first full season at the club. That summer, he was called up to France's Football World Cup 1998 squad.

Vieira's earlier years at Arsenal were beset by disciplinary problems - in FA Premier League 2000-01 he was sent off twice in two consecutive matches (the opening matches of the season), though after returning he did not receive another card for 28 matches. In all he has been sent off twelve times in his career (nine times with Arsenal and once each with Juventus, France and Internazionale).

Vieira would go on to win 2000 European Football Championship with France, as well as a second Double with Arsenal in 2002. After Tony Adams (footballer)'s retirement in 2002, Vieira (already vice-captain) became club captain, since which his disciplinary problems cooled significantly. Though he missed Arsenal's 2003 FA Cup final win with injury, Vieira lifted the trophy jointly with captain for the day David Seaman.

In FA Premier League 2003-04 at Arsenal, he captained the side on an historic unbeaten season in the FA Premier League. At the beginning of this campaign he was in and out of the side because of a hamstring injury, with Ray Parlour replacing him in the side. However, Vieira returned for the UEFA Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow, with the Gunners winning 2-0 and qualifying for the 1st Knockout round. At the end of this season Vieira was considered the World's best all-round midfield player and was heavily linked with moves to Real Madrid and Chelsea F.C. who were reportedly ready to offer around £30 million for his services. Then in the 2005 FA Cup Final he scored the winning kick in a penalty shootout (football) with his final kick in Arsenal colours, after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United F.C.. In total, Vieira played 407 times for Arsenal and scored 34 times.

Madrid reportedly offered Arsenal £23 million for him, so he could fill the role of the departed Claude Makelele in the holding midfielder position, which was reluctantly accepted. However at the last moment after much deliberation Vieira decided to stay at the club where he made his name. Others suggest that the deal failed because Madrid president Florentino Pérez had refused to pay high wages for defensive players. A year later, Vieira did move away from Highbury. Arsenal accepted a bid of £13.7m from Italian giants Juventus F.C. on July 14, 2005, and Vieira agreed a five-year contract with the Serie A side the following day. In his autobiography, he cited the main reason for his leaving Arsenal as the board's "neutral" position over the Juventus bid. One of the reasons for his transfer was also the emergence of teenager Cesc Fàbregas, who had played in place of Vieira when the latter was injured.

The then Juventus coach Fabio Capello used Vieira in a midfield consisting of Brazilian Emerson Ferreira da Rosa and Czech Republic Pavel Nedvěd. He helped Juventus to record their best ever start to a league season. Despite his performances dipping as the result of a persistent groin injury and a reported training ground bust-up with team mate Zlatan Ibrahimović, Vieira helped Juventus retain the Italian Championship.

In a twist of fate, Vieira returned to Highbury on March 28, 2006 to play against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Arsenal won 2-0 on aggregate, scoring twice in the first leg. Vieira received a Misconduct (football) in the first leg match at Highbury and was suspended for the return leg on April 5, 2006. During the first leg he was the subject of a strong tackle by former club and national team mate Robert Pires. Vieira was left crestfallen as Pires regained possession and Arsenal attacked, scoring the first goal of the tie through Cesc Fàbregas. Pires humorously quipped that it was the first time in 13 years he had got the better of Vieira physically. During that match, newspapers and reporters said that Cesc Fabregas totally out-classed Patrick Viera in every midfield department.

Internazionale

However, Juventus were stripped of their 2005-06 title (as well as the 2004-05 title) after it was revealed they were involved in a 2006 Serie A scandal. Juventus were relegated to Serie B and deducted 17 points by the Italian Football Federation for their involvement,

In his first season at Inter, he added to his impressive trophy cabinet, with the Italian Super Cup(scoring a brace in that game) as well as the 2006-07 Serie A title.

International career

While at Arsenal, he made his debut for France national football team, in 1997 against the Netherlands national football team. Vieira was part of the France squad in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the final against Brazil national football team, and set up Emmanuel Petit for France's third goal in a 3-0 win. He, with the rest of the squad, received Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration in 1998.

He subsequently played as a first choice midfield player in France's successful campaign in 2000 European Football Championship, which they won, beating Italy national football team in the final. He also played in all three games in the FIFA World Cup 2002, in which France were eliminated in the group stage, failing to score a goal. He was injured and missed France's defeat to Greece national football team at 2004 European Football Championship.

Vieira was appointed national team captain on Zinedine Zidane's retirement from international football. Nonetheless, he and veteran defender Lilian Thuram were instrumental in convincing Zidane to end his retirement and help the flagging campaign to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Vieira even handed back the captaincy of the team to Zidane.

On June 23, 2006, his birthday 30th, Vieira took the captain's armband for the match in place of the suspended Zidane, whom he shared the birthday with, scoring the first goal when France national football team defeated Togo national football team 2-0 in the group stages of the FIFA World Cup 2006; Vieira set up Thierry Henry for France's second. This win helped France advance to the knockout stages, coming second behind Switzerland national football team, and it prolonged Zidane's international career. In the round of sixteen, Vieira scored the second goal in France's 3-1 defeat of Spain national football team; France went on to beat favourites Brazil national football team 1-0 in the quarter-finals, and Portugal national football team by the same score in the semi-finals, which gave them a place in the final against Italy. Vieira was one of the best midfielders at the world cup with a string of fine dominant performances. Vieira has received criticism in the past over his international performances, with both fans and pundits commenting that he does not play for France as he did for Arsenal, Thierry Henry has also received similar criticism in the past. Having played in every match up to the final, Vieira started the match but was substituted due to injury in the second half, likely sustained when he collided with Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro. Italy won 5-3 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after extra time. As of November 23,2006 Vieira has appeared 100 times for France, scoring 6 goals.

On August 5, 2006 Vieira was reappointed captain of the French national team for the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Honours

Club

With Arsenal F.C
- FA Premier League 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04
- FA Cup 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005

With Juventus
- Serie A Scudetto 2005/06- (Juventus were stripped of the title after being found guilty in a match fixing scandal)

With Internazionale
- Serie A Scudetto 2006/07
- Italian Super Cup 2007

International (with France)
- - Football World Cup 1998 winner 1998
- - 2000 European Football Championship winner 2000
- - Football World Cup 2006 runner-up 2006

Individual
- Selected to FIFA 100: 2004
- Carlsberg Player of the Year : 2004
- Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration, 1998