:Pascal Cygan

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Pascal Cygan

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Pascal Édouard Cygan

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|4|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France

| height = 1.92 m{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur3244.html |title=Pascal Cygan |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=4 February 2019 |language=fr}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Wasquehal

| years1 = 1994–1995 | clubs1 = Wasquehal | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1995–2002 | clubs2 = Lille | caps2 = 179 | goals2 = 10

| years3 = 2002–2006 | clubs3 = Arsenal | caps3 = 63 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2006–2009 | clubs4 = Villarreal | caps4 = 45 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2009–2011 | clubs5 = Cartagena | caps5 = 57 | goals5 = 0

| totalcaps = 344 | totalgoals = 15

}}

Pascal Édouard Cygan (born 29 April 1974) is a French former footballer who played as a defender. His favoured position was central defender, but he could also play as a left back.

After starting out at Lille in his country, Cygan would play four years in the Premier League with Arsenal and three in La Liga with Villarreal, in a 17-year professional career.

Early life

Pascal Édouard Cygan{{cite web |url=https://www.quesomecanico.com/web/component/albastats/matchdetails/14160 |title=F.C. Cartagena 1–1 Albacete Balompié |website=Quesomecanico.com |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=es}} was born on 29 April 1974 in Lens, Pas-de-Calais.{{cite news |url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/670718/article/2019-11-25/quand-cygan-glisse-ecker-johnny-tu-ne-vas-quand-meme-pas-la-tenter |title=Quand Cygan glisse à Ecker: "Johnny, tu ne vas quand même pas la tenter?"|trans-title=When Cygan whispers to Ecker: "Johnny, you're not going to even try?" |newspaper=La Voix du Nord |last=Fosseux |first=Olivier |language=fr |date=25 November 2019|access-date=11 April 2020}}

Career

=Lille=

Cygan started his senior career in the ranks of lowly ES Wasquehal before going professional with Lille OSC in 1995, making his Division 1 debut that year but also going on to also spend three seasons in Division 2. In 1999–2000 he was an instrumental defensive element for the champions and, in the subsequent top-flight campaign, helped them achieve a third-place finish, with qualification to the UEFA Champions League.{{cite web |url=https://www.sofoot.com/quand-lille-se-payait-parme-188105.html |title=Quand Lille se payait Parme|trans-title=When Lille mocked Parma |website=So Foot |last1=Carlier |first1=Morgane |last2=Beneytou |first2=Antoine |last3=Teillet |first3=Boris |language=fr |date=20 August 2014|access-date=17 December 2018}}

In this time, Cygan was also promoted to the captaincy, seen as a role model to help develop the younger players. He was also winner of the Etoile d'Or in his last year in France.{{cite news |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/357172/Etoiles_d%27or_%3A_Pascal_Cygan_meilleur_joueur_de_D1.html |title=Étoiles d'or: Pascal Cygan meilleur joueur de D1|trans-title=Étoiles d’or: Pascal Cygan best D1 player |newspaper=L'Orient-Le Jour |language=fr |date=10 November 2001|access-date=15 December 2017}}

=Arsenal=

Cygan joined Arsenal in July 2002 for £2 million,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2095996.stm |title=Cygan joins Arsenal |website=BBC Sport |date=11 July 2002|access-date=19 July 2009}}{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/2240700/cygan-will-make-french-national-team-wenger |title=Cygan will make French national team – Wenger |website=Sky Sports |last=Pearson |first=James |date=11 July 2002|access-date=11 April 2020}} making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Chelsea on 1 September after coming on as a late substitute for Nwankwo Kanu.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2224616.stm |title=Arsenal make their point |website=BBC Sport |date=1 September 2002|access-date=19 January 2018}} While he featured notably in some of the team's more important fixtures, he was mostly considered only a fringe player; he missed the 2003 FA Cup final through injury,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/15/newsstory.sport11 |title=Seaman to skipper Gunners in FA Cup final |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 May 2003|access-date=29 March 2020}} but did pick up a Premier League winners' medal in 2004 after contributing with 18 appearances.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/arsenals-invincibles-from-200304-where-are-they-now-30689480.html |title=Arsenal's Invincibles from 2003–04: where are they now? |newspaper=Irish Independent |last=Biagchi |first=Rob |date=24 October 2014|access-date=19 January 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.90min.com/posts/2651150-10-of-the-worst-players-to-have-ever-won-the-premier-league-title |title=10 of the worst players to have ever won the Premier League title |website=90min |last=Sank |first=Sam |date=17 October 2015|access-date=19 January 2018}}

Cygan scored three goals for Arsenal in league action, including an unlikely brace in his first game of 2005–06 against Fulham (4–1 home win).{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4171162.stm |title=Arsenal 4–1 Fulham |website=BBC Sport |date=23 August 2005|access-date=2 September 2009}} Until then he had only netted once, against Everton in March 2003.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2847645.stm |title=Arsenal back on top |website=BBC Sport |date=23 March 2003|access-date=2 September 2009}}

Also that season, following injuries to both Ashley Cole and Gaël Clichy, Cygan was drafted in as an emergency left back, and was even named in the Opta team of the week on 9 January 2006.{{cite web |url=http://arsenal-mania.com/news/1005812/Look-whos-made-it-into-Opta-Team-of-the-Week.html |title=Look who's made it into Opta Team of the Week! |website=Arsenal Mania |last=Chong |first=Jonathan |date=6 January 2006|access-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108031642/http://arsenal-mania.com/news/1005812/Look-whos-made-it-into-Opta-Team-of-the-Week.html|archive-date=8 January 2007}} Overall, his side won 12 of the 20 matches he played in and kept 11 clean sheets in the process. He suffered a hamstring injury in January against Middlesbrough{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4590256.stm |title=Arsenal 7–0 Middlesbrough |website=BBC Sport |date=14 January 2006|access-date=12 July 2013}} and was unable to play again that season as he was fourth choice behind Sol Campbell, Philippe Senderos and Kolo Touré, with young Johan Djourou also competing for a place.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/may/15/sport.comment8 |title=Campbell waiting for the call |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Lawrence |first=Amy |date=15 May 2005|access-date=12 April 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jan/15/newsstory.sport10 |title=Wenger hints at Walcott deal |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 January 2006|access-date=11 April 2020}}

Cygan played 98 competitive games during his spell at Highbury, including 20 in the Champions League.{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1194724-world-football-whatever-happened-to-arsenal-defender-pascal-cygan |title=World football: Whatever happened to Arsenal defender Pascal Cygan? |website=Bleacher Report |last=Cummings |first=Michael |date=24 May 2012|access-date=21 January 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0407/247615-arsenal/ |title=Wenger has faith in young Gunners |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=7 April 2009|access-date=11 April 2020}}

=Spain=

In August 2006, Cygan completed a transfer to Villarreal CF for a £2 million transfer fee, joining former Arsenal teammate and compatriot Robert Pires at the club.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/5304198.stm |title=Cygan secures Villarreal transfer |website=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2006|access-date=19 July 2009}}{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/2388472/cygan-seals-spanish-switch |title=Cygan seals Spanish switch |website=Sky Sports |last=Adams |first=Tom |date=1 September 2006|access-date=11 April 2020}} On 6 June 2008, after having been fairly used in his first two years, mainly due to consecutive serious injuries to Gonzalo Rodríguez, he signed a new one-year deal.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11827/3649346/cygan-stays-with-villarreal |title=Cygan stays with Villarreal |website=Sky Sports |date=4 June 2008|access-date=11 April 2020}} However, following a lack of first-team opportunities in 2008–09,{{cite news |url=http://www.elconfidencial.com/archivo/2008/12/11/33_argentino_gonzalo_unico_jugador_villarreal_todos.html |title=Argentino Gonzalo es único jugador de Villarreal que jugó todos los minutos|trans-title=Argentine Gonzalo is the only Villarreal player to have played all the minutes |newspaper=El Confidencial |language=es |date=11 December 2008|access-date=19 January 2018}} and with Villarreal unwilling to extend his contract for a further campaign, he left in July 2009;{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11065/5345081/cygan-looking-to-head-home |title=Cygan looking to head home |website=Sky Sports |last=Gourizro |first=Giscard |date=23 May 2009|access-date=11 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.com/football/championnats-etrangers/fil-info/cygan-va-quitter-villarreal-129633/ |title=Cygan va quitter Villarreal|trans-title=Cygan to quit Villarreal |website=Sport 24 |language=fr |date=14 March 2009|access-date=19 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322094919/http://www.sport24.com/football/championnats-etrangers/fil-info/cygan-va-quitter-villarreal-129633/|archive-date=22 March 2008}} his La Liga goals came on 5 November 2006 against Real Betis (3–2 home win),{{cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2006/11/05/futbol/1162750966.html |title=El Villarreal destroza al Betis en dos minutos|trans-title=Villarreal destroy Betis in two minutes |newspaper=El Mundo |language=es |date=5 November 2006|access-date=19 January 2018}} and against Levante UD on 31 October 2007 (3–0, also at El Madrigal).{{cite news |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2007/11/01/deportes/1193871617_850215.html |title=El Levante es un chollo|trans-title=Bargain Levante |newspaper=El País |last=Pérez |first=Javier |language=es |date=1 November 2007|access-date=19 January 2018}}

On 10 August 2009, Cygan joined FC Cartagena, recently promoted to Segunda División, on a one-year deal.{{cite news |url=http://www.marca.com/2009/08/10/futbol/equipos/cartagena/1249933467.html |title=El Cartagena ficha a Cygan|trans-title=Cartagena sign Cygan |newspaper=Marca |language=es |date=10 August 2009|access-date=19 January 2018}} Aged 37, he was released by the Murcians and retired from professional football.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportcartagena.es/articulo/fc-cartagena/pascal-cygan-anuncia-retirada-futbol-y-encamina-pasos-ser-entrenador/20110608102400014199.html |title=Pascal Cygan anuncia su retirada del fútbol y encamina sus pasos a ser entrenador|trans-title=Pascal Cygan announces retirement from football and edges closer to becoming a manager |website=Sportcartagena |language=es |date=8 June 2011|access-date=19 January 2018}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup{{efn\|Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, FA Community Shield, EFL Cup, FA Cup and Copa del Rey.}} !colspan="2"\|Continental{{efn\|Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.}} !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{WorldFootball.net \| pascal-cygan \| Pascal Cygan }}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="8"\|Lille \|1995–96 \|rowspan="2"\|Division 1 \|27	0	6	0	colspan="2"\|–	33	0
1996–97 \|14	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	15	0
1997–98 \|rowspan="3"\|Division 2 \|26	3	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	27	3
1998–99 \|21	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	22	1
1999–2000 \|33	2	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	35	2
2000–01 \|rowspan="2"\|Division 1 \|29	2	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	29	2
2001–02 \|29	2	colspan="2"\|–	10	0	39	2
colspan="2"\|Total !179	10	11	0	10	0	200	10
rowspan="5"\|Arsenal \|2002–03 \|rowspan="4"\|Premier League \|18	1	2	0	11	0	31	1
2003–04 \|18	0	3	0	3	0	24	0
2004–05 \|15	0	5	0	3	0	23	0
2005–06 \|12	2	5	0	3	0	20	2
colspan="2"\|Total !63	3	15	0	20	0	98	3
rowspan="4"\|Villarreal \|2006–07 \|rowspan="3"\|La Liga \|21	1	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	21	1
2007–08 \|20	1	6	0	5	0	31	1
2008–09 \|4	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	6	0
colspan="2"\|Total !45	2	8	0	5	0	58	2
rowspan="3"\|Cartagena \|2009–10 \|rowspan="2"\|Segunda División \|26	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	26	0
2010–11 \|31	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	31	0
colspan="2"\|Total !57	0	0	0	0	0	57	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !344	15	34	0	35	0	413	15

Honours

Lille

Division 2: 1999–2000{{cite web |url=https://www.losc.fr/actualites-foot-lille/pascal-cygan-dogue-à-pleines-dents |title=Pascal Cygan, dogue à pleines dents|trans-title=Pascal Cygan, full-toothed dogue |publisher=Lille OSC |language=fr |date=30 December 2015|access-date=15 December 2017}}

Arsenal

Premier League: 2003–04{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/2162/Pascal-Cygan/overview |title=Pascal Cygan: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=16 April 2018}}
FA Community Shield: 2002,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2182875.stm |title=Slick Arsenal win Shield |website=BBC Sport |date=11 August 2002 |access-date=30 July 2022}} 2004{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3532952.stm |title=Arsenal 3–1 Man Utd |website=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2004 |access-date=30 July 2022}}

Individual

Etoile d'Or: 2001–02