Sylvain Distin

Football player infobox
playername = Sylvain Distin


fullname = Sylvain Distin
nickname =
height = 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|12|16|df=y
cityofbirth = Bagnolet
countryofbirth = France
currentclub = Portsmouth
clubnumber = 15
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1997–1998
1998–1999
1999–2000
2000–2002
2001–2002
2002–2007
2007–
clubs = Joué-lès-Tours
Tours
Gueugnon
Paris St-Germain
→ Newcastle United (loan)
Manchester City
Portsmouth
caps(goals) = 032 (4)
026 (3)
032 (1)
028 (1)
028 (0)
178 (5)
040 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 19:15, 13 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Sylvain Distin (born 16 December 1977 in Bagnolet, France) is a French footballer who currently plays for Portsmouth, having joined them on a free transfer on 23 May 2007.

Club career

Distin started his career at French non league side Joue-les-Tours, and moved to Tours a year later, where he played 26 times, scoring three goals. He then moved to Gueugnon of Ligue 2, signing his first professional contract. With Gueugnon he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2000. [cite news | title=Profile: Sylvain Distin | work=Manchester City FC vs Blackburn Rovers match programme | date=2005-11-19 ] His performances for Gueugnon prompted Paris Saint-Germain to sign him, though his time at PSG was shortlived; after a year Distin moved again in a loan move to Newcastle United where he made 35 appearances.cite book |last=Clayton |first=David |title=Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC - and more! |publisher=Mainstream publishing |location=Edinburgh |date=2002 |id=ISBN 1-84018-687-9 p68] Following the loan spell, Newcastle wished to sign Distin permanently, but instead he opted to sign for Manchester City as he wished to play in his preferred position of central defence (Distin had mainly been used as a left sided defender at Newcastle). The transfer fee was £4million, setting a club record for a defender. Consistent performances in his first Manchester City season resulted in Distin being named Manchester City's Player of the Year for the 2002/03 season. [cite web | title=Sylvain Distin|work=ESPN Soccernet| url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=10438&cc=5739| accessdate=December 28 | accessyear=2006] At the start of the 2003/04 season Distin was named captain of Manchester City following the retirement of Ali Benarbia. In total, Distin played 207 times for Manchester City and scored six goals.

Reports say that Distin turned down a Liverpool's late bid for him to sign for Portsmouth in order to get regular first team football.

Distin decided to leave Manchester City at the end of his contract on 22 May 2007, seeking a "fresh challenge",cite news
title = Distin confirms City exit
url = http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=467915&plid=6219&clid=43&cpid=8
publisher = Sky Sports
date = 2007-05-22
accessdate = 2007-05-23] and moved to Portsmouth on a three year deal a day later.cite news
title = Distin signs Portsmouth contract
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/6683999.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-05-23
accessdate = 2007-05-23] Distin was appointed vice captain by Harry Redknapp, and has lead Portsmouth in Sol Campbell's absences due to injury.

In a recent game, after criticism of his rough tactics, Sylvain Distin, in defense of his rough playing style, claimed that you cannot defend without contacting the opponent. Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.