Sylvain Distin

Sylvain Distin is a French footballer of English side Everton, who can play both as a centre and left back. He was born in Bagnolet, France.

Sylvain began his career in Joué-lès-Tours in 1997. A year later the footballer raised his level of skill and joined stronger club Tours. Another year later the back moved to Gueugnon of Ligue 2. In 2000 he lifted the Coupe de la Ligue with his new team and was invited to one of the most famous French side clubs Paris Saint-Germain.

Distin played 29 matches for PSG during one season. In 2001 he was sent on loan to English side Newcastle United and made 28 Premier League appearances in 2001/2002. After that season the management of ‘The Magpies’ wanted to sign a contract with the footballer on permanent basis, but Sylvain decided to continue his career in Manchester City. The club paid about £4 million, which was the English Premier League record for the transfer fee of a back at that time.

In 2002/2003 Sylvain went on with demonstrating a solid play, due to which he was voted the Manchester City Footballer of the Year. The following season former leader Ali Benarbia left the club and Distin started to captain his squad. In total, the back made 207 appearances for City and netted six goals during seven seasons in the English side team. In the summer 2007 he decided not to extend the contract and left the club.

In June 2007 the footballer moved to Portsmouth on a free transfer and signed a three-year contract with the new team. Then head coach of Pompey Harry Redknapp appointed Sylvain vice-captain and the new player helped the club to lift the FA Cup in 2008. In the summer 2009 Distin became the leader of his team after the departure of former captain Sol Campbell. However, the French back managed to come on the field at the helm of the squad only three times, because Everton bought him for about £5 million in August 2009.

The footballer made 37 appearances for ‘The Toffees’ in all tournaments and kicked two Europa League goals during his first season. In 2010/2011 the French player took part in all 38 Premier League games of his club and scored twice: in a 2-1 victory over his former team Manchester City and in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.

The 2011/2012 season was a bit worse for the back, because he made only 27 appearances in the English Premier League and did not manage to find the net.

Distin failed to make international début as Lilian Thuram, Bixente Lizarazu, Éric Abidal and William Gallas shined with talent in ‘Les Tricolores’ from 2000. Sylvain could start to play for the Guadeloupe national team, because his father was born there, but the back decided not to perform for that squad despite receiving several invitations.