Sylvain Distin

Sylvain Distin
Distin with Everton before the 2012 FA Cup semi-final
Personal information
Full name Sylvain Distin[1]
Date of birth (1977-12-16) 16 December 1977 (age 46)[1]
Place of birth Bagnolet, France
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Joué-lès-Tours 32 (4)
1998–1999 Tours 26 (3)
1999–2000 Gueugnon 32 (1)
2000–2002 Paris Saint-Germain 28 (0)
2001–2002 → Newcastle United (loan) 28 (0)
2002–2007 Manchester City 178 (5)
2007–2009 Portsmouth 77 (0)
2009–2015 Everton 174 (2)
2015–2016 AFC Bournemouth 12 (0)
Total 587 (15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sylvain Distin (born 16 December 1977) is a French former professional footballer. He is left-footed and played as a centre-back, and was also capable of playing at left-back.

Distin began his career playing for French amateur sides, working his way up to professional sides Gueugnon and subsequently Paris Saint-Germain. He moved to England in 2001, first joining Newcastle United on a loan move from PSG, before signing a permanent contract with Manchester City, where he spent five seasons. He then spent two years at Portsmouth where he won the FA Cup, before joining Everton in 2009. In six seasons at Goodison Park, he made 210 appearances across all competitions, leaving in 2015 for AFC Bournemouth.

After one season with Bournemouth, Distin was released when his contract expired in June 2016. He played fifteen consecutive seasons in the Premier League, with over 450 appearances in England's top flight – the most of any foreign outfield player.[3]

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 171. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Players Index". Premier League. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2015.