Patrick Vieira

Patrick Paul Vieira (born 23 June 1976) is a French professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of club Strasbourg.

He is widely considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

Vieira began his playing career at Cannes, where several standout performances garnered him a move to Serie A club AC Milan.

Patrick Paul Vieira was born on 23 June 1976 in Dakar, Senegal.

His performances for Arsenal in the subsequent months made him a fans’ favourite and was lauded as "…the playmaker Arsenal have sought since Paul Davis pulled the strings in the 1991 championship-winning team."

Davis himself noted that in the matches Vieira was suspended during the Christmas period, Arsenal struggled to win.

He ended his first season with 38 appearances in total and Arsenal finished in third place, missing out on a spot in the UEFA Champions League via goal difference.

Vieira's partnership with international teammate Emmanuel Petit the following season was instrumental in helping Arsenal complete a domestic league and cup double.

Vieira first played for FC Tours U19 in the early 90s, before moving to Cannes, where he made his debut at the age of 17, in 1993, and captained the team at just 19 years old.

In the summer of 1995, he was signed by Italian giants AC Milan, although he made just two first-team appearances for the club.

In 1996, he relocated to England to join fellow countryman Arsène Wenger at Arsenal for a fee of £3.5 million.

On 10 August 1996, the Daily Mirror reported that Vieira was subject to a move to English club Arsenal, given personal terms with original suitors Ajax were not reached.

He joined Arsenal four days later in a £3.5 million move.

The peculiarity of Vieira and fellow Frenchman Rémi Garde arriving at the club, coupled with manager Bruce Rioch's dismissal before the season had begun, suggested that Arsenal was managed by exterior influence.

Vieira later revealed he signed for Arsenal because his compatriot Arsène Wenger was going to be the club's next manager: "I am delighted to be joining Arsenal at the same time as Mr Wenger becomes their coach. Being able to speak French to him will make life a lot easier for me."

Wenger was officially in command of managerial affairs at Arsenal by the start of October, but Vieira had already made his mark, coming on as a substitute against Sheffield Wednesday on 16 September 1996; The Times described him as a "thinking man's Carlton Palmer … who, at last, gives the Arsenal midfield some variety."

Vieira made his full debut against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, three days after.

He scored his first goal for the club against Derby County on 8 December 1996 – a late equaliser in a 2–2 draw.

Vieira scored his first goal of the campaign against Manchester United in a 3–2 victory on 9 November 1997.

Vieira, however, twisted his knee during the match, and was ruled out from playing for a month.

He returned for the trip at Wimbledon on 22 December 1997, which was postponed due to floodlight problems.

He played in the final in his nation's victorious campaign at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and featured heavily as the team also won UEFA Euro 2000.

In a game against Coventry City on 17 January 1998, Vieira received his first red card for using "foul and abusive language" at referee Stephen Lodge.

Vieira was again dismissed a month later, this time in a League Cup semi-final against Chelsea, a decision which Wenger described as "absolutely ridiculous."

Towards the finishing straight of the campaign, Vieira helped Arsenal make ground on league leaders Manchester United and his card record had improved, "…with only one booking in the latter stages of the season".

After a successful World Cup campaign with the national team, Vieira had another productive season at Arsenal in 1998–99.

He was named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004.

He returned to Italy, playing for Juventus, but quickly departed after the club was relegated as punishment for its part in the Calciopoli scandal.

During his nine-year stint in the Premier League, Vieira established himself as a dominating box-to-box midfielder, noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play, an attitude that also helped him excel as captain of the club from 2002 until his departure in 2005.

He helped Arsenal achieve a sustained period of success during his time at the club, where he lifted four FA Cups and three league titles, including one unbeaten.

He also appeared for France at the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004, in the side that finished runners-up in the 2006 World Cup, and at Euro 2008, before retiring from international competition in 2010, having made 107 appearances for the side.

Vieira's family moved to Dreux, France, when he was eight, and he did not return to Senegal until 2003.

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.

His surname Vieira, which is Portuguese, is the maiden name of his mother, who is from Cape Verde.

He then signed for Inter Milan, where he consecutively won four league titles, before featuring for Manchester City, where he won another FA Cup, before retiring in 2011.

Vieira featured at senior level for much of his international career, representing France over a period of twelve years, where he also spent some time as captain.

Following retirement, Vieira transitioned into coaching and took charge of the academy at Manchester City in 2013.

He departed two years later to become manager of Major League Soccer club New York City FC.

He subsequently managed Ligue 1 club Nice between 2018 and 2020, and Premier League side Crystal Palace between 2021 and 2023.