Patrick Vieira was born on 23 June 1976 and is a French professional football manager and former player.
68 Facts About Patrick Vieira
2.
Patrick Vieira is widely considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history and amongst Arsenal's greatest ever players.
3.
Patrick Vieira 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.
4.
Patrick Vieira was named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004.
5.
Patrick Vieira then returned to Italy, playing for Juventus, but quickly departed after the club was relegated as punishment for its part in the Calciopoli scandal.
6.
Patrick Vieira 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.
7.
Patrick Vieira featured at senior level for much of his international career, representing France over a period of 12 years, where he spent some part as captain.
8.
Patrick Vieira played in the final in his nation's victorious campaign at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and featured heavily as the team won UEFA Euro 2000.
9.
Patrick Vieira 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.
10.
Patrick Vieira departed two years later to become manager of Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
11.
Patrick Vieira subsequently managed French Ligue 1 club Nice between 2018 and 2020, and Premier League side Crystal Palace between 2021 and 2023.
12.
Patrick Vieira's family moved from Senegal to Dreux, France, when he was eight, and he did not return to Senegal until 2003.
13.
Patrick Vieira's parents divorced when Vieira was young, and he never met his father again.
14.
Patrick 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.
15.
On 10 August 1996, the Daily Mirror reported that Patrick Vieira was subject to a move to English club Arsenal, given personal terms with original suitors Ajax were not reached.
16.
Patrick Vieira makes dream passes forward and he's already put me in several times.
17.
Patrick Vieira made his full debut against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, three days after.
18.
Patrick Vieira 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.
19.
Patrick Vieira returned for the trip at Wimbledon on 22 December 1997, which was postponed due to floodlight problems.
20.
Against West Ham United on 2 October 1999, Patrick Vieira was sent off for a second booking, after fouling striker Paolo Di Canio.
21.
Arsenal reached the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, which Patrick Vieira played but the team lost the match on penalties against Galatasaray; Patrick Vieira's spot kick hit the post.
22.
Patrick Vieira was sent off on the opening day against Sunderland and for the second time in 72 hours at home to Liverpool.
23.
Patrick Vieira scored two goals, the following match against Charlton Athletic, in what was his final appearance before a five-match suspension.
24.
Adams' retirement in May 2002 meant Patrick Vieira became club captain.
25.
Patrick Vieira pushed himself very hard and that explains why he was so tired.
26.
Patrick Vieira missed Arsenal's title run-in, which saw Manchester United overtake them in first place, due to sustaining a knee injury.
27.
Patrick Vieira was ruled out of the 2003 FA Cup Final which Arsenal won.
28.
Patrick Vieira went off with a thigh strain during the match against Newcastle United, which commenced a period of being in and out of the side for two months.
29.
Patrick Vieira scored his first goal of the season against Chelsea on 21 February 2004; Arsenal afterwards opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the league.
30.
Patrick Vieira is, in my opinion, the best in the world in his position.
31.
Patrick Vieira was involved in a tunnel bust up with Manchester United captain Roy Keane in February 2005 and was confronted about an incident involving Gary Neville.
32.
Patrick Vieira returned for the opening match of Emirates Stadium, in a testimonial for Bergkamp on 22 July 2006, as one of the Arsenal legends against Ajax.
33.
Patrick Vieira was reunited with Fabio Capello, who had signed him at Milan, as a teenager.
34.
Patrick Vieira was left crestfallen as Pires regained possession and Arsenal attacked, scoring the first goal of the tie through Cesc Fabregas.
35.
Patrick Vieira declared he wanted to continue to play at the highest level at the presentation conference, which is his reason to leave Juve.
36.
The move never happened and Patrick Vieira remained at Inter.
37.
On 6 January 2010, Patrick Vieira unusually played as starter against Chievo, which was his eighth league start of the season.
38.
Jose Mourinho stated that Patrick Vieira had played his last game at Inter after the match.
39.
On 8 January 2010, it was confirmed that Patrick Vieira was having a medical at Manchester City and he would sign a six-month deal, where he would link up with former Arsenal colleagues Kolo Toure and Sylvinho and former Inter manager Roberto Mancini.
40.
On 9 June, Patrick Vieira agreed to a one-year extension to his contract, which kept him at Eastlands until the summer of 2011.
41.
Patrick Vieira made his debut for France in 1997 against the Netherlands.
42.
Patrick Vieira was part of the France squad in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
43.
Patrick Vieira subsequently played as a first choice midfield player in France's successful campaign at UEFA Euro 2000, which they won, beating Italy in the final.
44.
Patrick Vieira helped France to victory in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, ending the tournament as joint top scorer with two goals, including the winner, a header, in the final against Japan.
45.
Patrick Vieira played in all three games in the 2002 World Cup, in which France were eliminated in the group stage, failing to score a goal.
46.
Patrick Vieira was injured and missed France's defeat to Greece, the eventual winners, at Euro 2004.
47.
On 5 August 2006, Patrick Vieira was reappointed captain of the France national team for the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign following Zidane's full retirement.
48.
Patrick Vieira played no part in the group games at Euro 2008 for a struggling France due to a niggling knee injury.
49.
On 7 July 2010, Patrick Vieira confirmed that he was no longer interested in playing for France and would devote his time to Manchester City.
50.
On 14 July 2011, Patrick Vieira announced his retirement from playing and accepted a training and youth development role at Premier League club Manchester City, with the title of "Football Development Executive".
51.
In May 2013, Patrick Vieira was appointed as the manager of the club's new reserve team: the Elite Development Squad.
52.
In May 2015, Patrick Vieira was interviewed to be the next manager of fellow Premier League club Newcastle United, an opportunity which both parties rejected due to difference of policies.
53.
On 9 November 2015, Patrick Vieira was announced as the new head coach of New York City FC - who share owners with Manchester City, in City Football Group - from 1 January 2016, replacing inaugural head coach Jason Kreis.
54.
Patrick Vieira was selected for the role by Director of Football Claudio Reyna due to his familiarity with the structure of operations within the group, as well as his tactical knowledge, which was previously utilized by Jason Kreis on his scholar period in Manchester.
55.
Patrick Vieira's first signing at the club was Jack Harrison, the first pick of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
56.
Patrick Vieira led New York City to their first ever playoff appearance after finishing second in the Eastern Conference.
57.
On 11 June 2018, Patrick Vieira was appointed as the manager of Ligue 1 side Nice.
58.
On 4 December 2020, OGC Nice announced Patrick Vieira was no longer the manager of the club after a run of 5 losses in a row in all competitions and elimination from the group stage of the Europa League.
59.
On 4 July 2021, Patrick Vieira was appointed as manager of Premier League club Crystal Palace on a three-year contract following the departure of their previous manager, Roy Hodgson, who served the club since 2017.
60.
Patrick Vieira was involved in an altercation with pitch-invading Everton fans on 19 May 2022 at Goodison Park.
61.
Patrick Vieira refused to comment on the event, while opposing manager Frank Lampard sympathised with him.
62.
Patrick Vieira was sacked by the club on 17 March 2023, after a twelve-game run without a win, including a three-game span without a single shot on target, left the team three points above the relegation zone.
63.
Patrick Vieira has been known for implementing a methodical, possession-based football in all his teams.
64.
Patrick Vieira has shown a tendency to become more defensive when his side are in a tight spot.
65.
Patrick Vieira's spell at Crystal Palace saw a shift to a proactive style of gameplay from the reactive counterattack-based gameplay prominent under the management of Roy Hodgson.
66.
In 2003, Patrick Vieira returned to Senegal for the first time since his childhood, to lay the foundation stone of the Diambars football academy in Saly.
67.
Patrick Vieira was sponsored by sportswear company Nike and appeared in Nike commercials.
68.
Patrick Vieira worked as a pundit for ITV during their coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.