UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

Robert Pires is a complete modern midfield player whose clever passing and ability to score crucial goals have made him a Highbury favourite.

National team
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was robbed of one of Europe's in-form players after the mercurial was ruled out of the tournament by a knee ligament injury. Pires was a World Cup winner on home soil in 1998, and then created David Trezeguet's golden goal which won UEFA EURO 2000™ for Les Bleus. He played in all four French games at UEFA EURO 2004™, but by March the following year was no longer a regular in the squad.

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

1998: Pires was often brilliant for Marseille and though he struggled in his second season, Arsenal FC had seen enough to invest €9.8m move in the player in summer 2000.

2000: Arsenal fans soon warmed to his skills, with Pires the club'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.

2003: 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 FA Cup final. The Frenchman was a key member of the Arsenal side that won the championship in 2003/04 without losing a game.

2004/05: For the third successive season Pires scored 14 Premiership goals from midfield but, like Arsenal, he could not reach the same heights as in the previous campaign, although he did help the club to another FA Cup success.

Did you know?
Pires was offered race driving lessons by former Formula 1 star Jean Alesi.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

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

National team
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.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
Although France's road to Portugal began in Cyprus in September 2002, Pires only started against the same opponents in Paris the following September, the first of three qualifying appearances for the fit-again midfielder.

Club
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.

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.

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.

2003/04: 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.

Did you know?
Pires was offered race driving lessons by former Formula 1 star Jean Alesi.

©uefa.com 1998-2004. All rights reserved.