The player that Arsenal still can't replace: Who is Patrick Vieira?

He was strong, and in addition to his physical and athletic qualities, he was a determined, aggressive football player, a leader, and read the game well. He would play the leading role in helping his team attack as soon as the opponent's attacks were broken. He was brave...

By Jane Dickens Published on 12 Eylül 2023 : 15:24.
The player that Arsenal still can't replace: Who is Patrick Vieira?

Island football enthusiasts who grew up in the 90s remember that he was one of the best of his generation. The Senegalese midfielder started in Cannes in 1994, and when he could not find a chance to play for AC Milan, he was transferred to Arsene Wenger's team for £ 3.5 million in 1996. He won three league championships in the nine seasons he stayed with the team. He was Wenger's best signing, appearing in 279 matches from 1999 to 2004, and was named to the Premier League team of the season six years in a row. He would shuttle between the two penalty areas and stand out with his endless energy and toughness.

Patrick Vieira (born 23 June 1976) is a French professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. He 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.

He was strong, and in addition to his physical and athletic qualities, he was a determined, aggressive football player, a leader, and read the game well. He would play the leading role in helping his team attack as soon as the opponent's attacks were broken. He was daring, once even diving into Manchester United's tough captain Roy Keane in the Old Trafford tunnel. Schmeichel, the legendary goalkeeper of the Red Devils, said: “I was looking forward to playing against him because we knew that we had to raise the bar as a team. "Arsenal were a great team at the time, but I would have believed they would have been 25 percent weaker without him." In my humble opinion, Arsenal has not been able to replace him in time, there has been no one like him. Chants written on match days echo in the Emirates skies. Let us remind you that Arsenal is ranked 5th in the list of the best in the club's history...

Who is Patrick Vieira?

French football player born in Senegal in 1976.

Vieira, who was born in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, immigrated to France with his family when he was eight years old. He started playing football in the AS Cannes team and became the captain of this team when he was nineteen years old.

In 1995, he was transferred to Italy's AC Milan team.

In September 1996, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger negotiated with Milan for the transfer of Vieira.

An agreement was reached with Vieira for 3.5 million pounds and the transfer was made. He enjoyed 3 Premier League championships and 4 Federation Cups with Arsenal.

Vieira's rising form and his contributions to his team attracted the attention of big teams in Europe.

Real Madrid offered 23 million pounds for Vieira's transfer. Vieira did not accept this offer, saying that he wanted to continue his football life in the club where he made his name. A year after this offer, Juventus' offer of 13.7 million pounds was accepted and the transfer took place.

After Juventus was relegated due to the match-fixing scandal, he was transferred to Inter Milan for 12.2 million dollars.

He retired from football in 2011.

Vieira last played for Manchester City.