International Soccer Archive - Player Profiles - Robert Pires (Arsenal & France)

Full Name: Robert Pires
Date of Birth: October 29th, 1973
Place of Birth: Reims, France

Robert Pires is a complete modern midfield player whose supporters appreciate his clever passing and ability to cut inside and score crucial goals.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was robbed of one of Europe's in-form players after the mercurial Frenchman's wonderful season was cruelly cut short when he injured knee ligaments in an FA Cup game. A World Cup winner on home soil in 1998, Pires created David Trezeguet's golden goal which won UEFA EURO 2000™ for Les Bleus.

Pires was a graduate of the FC Metz youth academy, making his senior debut in 1992. During six seasons at the Saint-Symphorien stadium, he scored over 40 goals, prompting a €7.5m move to Olympique de Marseille.

In 1998 Pires was often brilliant for Marseille but his second season was far from memorable, as his form dipped and he lost the captaincy, prompting a €9.8m switch to England in the summer of 2000. The fee initially proved a burden to Pires but Arsenal fans soon warmed to his skills. He was Arsenal's outstanding performer as they won both the Premiership and FA Cup in 2001/02 - a watershed campaign for the player. Pires added vital goals to his many assists as the team built up an irresistible post-Christmas charge, his displays earning him the Football Writers' Player of the Year award. After recovering from his cruciate ligament injury, Pires's season ended on a high when he scored the only goal as Arsenal defeated Southampton FC in the 2003 FA Cup final. A key member of the Arsenal side that made history by winning the championship without losing a game, Pires came close to emulating his stunning form of two years ago. Fourteen league goals - coupled with four in Europe - helped lift the goalscoring burden from Thierry Henry.

Career Record

Stade Reims
FC Metz
Marseille
Arsenal