Robert Pirès

Robert Pirès (born October 29 1973 in Reims, France) is a French international football player, of Portuguese and Spanish descent. He currently plays for Arsenal as a midfielder. He normally plays on the left side but can play all across midfield or even as a support striker.

Related Topics:
October 29 - 1973 - Reims - France - French international - Portuguese - Spanish - Arsenal - Midfielder

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Pirès was a graduate of the FC Metz youth academy, making his senior debut in 1992. During his six seasons there, he scored over 40 goals, prompting a £5 million move to Olympique de Marseille in 1998.

Related Topics:
FC Metz - Olympique de Marseille

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At Marseille, Pirès had a mixed two-year stay. His first season saw him missed the French league title by a point, and his second season saw him suffer a spate of on- and off-field problems, which led him to boycott the club at the season's end.

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He joined his current club, Arsenal, for £6 million in 2000 from Marseille. Though initially people criticized him for him saying that the English game was too violent, he silenced his critics after scoring a superb goal against S.S. Lazio in the 2000-2001 Champions League season.

Related Topics:
2000 - S.S. Lazio - Champions League

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In 2001-02 Pirès had one of his best seasons. He led the assist charts for the Premiership and was voted the FWA Footballer of the Year for helping Arsenal to the league title; this was despite not playing the last two months of the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury. After a lengthy layoff, Pirès returned, and was a crucial part of Arsenal's quest for the Premiership title in the 2003-04 season (which they achieved unbeaten).

Related Topics:
2001-02 - Premiership - FWA Footballer of the Year - Cruciate ligament - 2003-04

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Pirès was part of France's 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning squads (Pirès laid on the pass for David Trézéguet's winning goal in the final), but had to miss the 2002 World Cup due to the injury he sustained playing for Arsenal. He also played in 1996 Olympic Games and Euro 2004.

Related Topics:
1998 World Cup - Euro 2000 - David Trézéguet - 2002 World Cup - 1996 Olympic Games - Euro 2004

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A dispute in late 2004 with French national coach Raymond Domenech put a halt on Pires' international career. In the 2004-05 season critics said his form had been indifferent. But Pires could still point to the leading goalscorers table, where he finished the third top scorer in the Premiership with 14 goals, behind the peerless Thierry Henry and Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson, who scored many of his goals from the penalty spot.

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At the start of the 2005 season, Pires had a contractual dispute with the club. He was hoping for a new two-year deal to his present contract which expires in the summer, but was only offered a 12-month extension - in keeping with the club's policy to players over 30 years old.

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