Robert Pirés

Date of birth29 October 1973
Place of birthReims
NationalityFrench
Weight78 kg
Height1.85 m
PositionMidfielder

Pires joined Arsenal soon after France's triumph at Euro 2000.

A quick, skilful ball-player, being equally comfortable on either left or right flank makes him a constant threat.

Having been a member of Le Bleus' World Cup winning squad in 1998, Pires joined Arsenal after triumphing at Euro 2000 with France when he set up David Trezeguet's 'golden goal' in the final against Italy.

Before long he began to show the sort of form that earned him a regular spot in his national side.

A quick, skilful ball-player, equally comfortable on either left or right flank and exciting to watch when attacking opposition defences, Pires played a key role in the Gunners' 2002 Premiership success as well as winning the FA Cup in 2002 and 2003.

He also won the Football Writers' Player of the Year award in 2002.

'Bobby' continued to perform well for his country and was a member of the team that defeated Japan to win the FIFA Confederations Cup during the summer of 2001, and winning the Player of the Tournament award.

By then with over 60 caps to his name, Pires made his full international debut against Mexico in August 1996.

Born in Reims, Pires began at his local club before moving on to Metz (French League Cup winner in 1996) then Olympique Marseille (UEFA Cup finalist in 1999).

He joined Aston Villa in November 2010 with a contract to June 2011.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Stade de Reims 01 Jul 1989 01 Jul 1992
Metz 01 Jul 1992 01 Jul 1998
Olympique Marseille 01 Jul 1998 24 Jul 2000
Arsenal 24 Jul 2000 30 Jun 2006
Villarreal 01 Jul 2006 30 Jun 2010
Aston Villa 18 Nov 2010 30 Jun 2011

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1996-97 Metz UEFA Cup 2
1999-00 Olympique Marseille UEFA Champions League 3
1
1
2000-01 Arsenal FA Cup 6
3
2000-01 Arsenal Premier League 29
4
4
1
2000-01 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 11
1
1
1
2001-02 Arsenal FA Cup 3
2
1
1
2001-02 Arsenal Premier League 27
1
9
6
2001-02 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 12
3
1
2002-03 Arsenal FA Cup 5
1
1
2002-03 Arsenal League Cup 1
1
2002-03 Arsenal Premier League 21
5
14
2002-03 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 8
1
2
2003-04 Arsenal FA Community Shield
1
2003-04 Arsenal FA Cup 3
1
1
1
2003-04 Arsenal Premier League 33
3
14
2003-04 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 10
4
2004-05 Arsenal FA Cup 4
2
2
1
2004-05 Arsenal Premier League 26
7
14
2
2004-05 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 7
1
1
2005-06 Arsenal FA Community Shield 1
2005-06 Arsenal FA Cup 1
2
2005-06 Arsenal League Cup
1
2005-06 Arsenal Premier League 23
10
7
2
2005-06 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 7
5
2
2008-09 Villarreal UEFA Champions League 3
1
2010-11 Aston Villa FA Cup 2
1
2010-11 Aston Villa League Cup
1
2010-11 Aston Villa Premier League 2
7


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
17 Sep 2008 Manchester United v Villarreal D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group E
25 Nov 2008 Villarreal v Manchester United D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group E
07 Apr 2009 Villarreal v Arsenal D 1-1 UEFA Champions League Quarter-final 1st leg
15 Apr 2009 Arsenal v Villarreal L 3-0
Agg: 4-1
UEFA Champions League Quarter-final 2nd leg


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1993-94 France Toulon Under-21 4
1
1993-94 France Under-18 1
1994-95 France Toulon Under-21 4
1
1
1994-95 France UEFA Under-21 6
1994-95 France Under-21 2
2
1995-96 France UEFA Under-21 7
4
1995-96 France Under-21 v A 1
1996-97 France International Friendly 1
4
2
1996-97 France Olympics 3
1
1
1996-97 France Tournoi de France 1
1997-98 France FIFA World Cup 1
2
1997-98 France International Friendly 2
4
1997-98 France King Hassan II Cup 1
1
1998-99 France International Friendly 1
2
1998-99 France Jean-Pierre Papin Testimonial 1
1998-99 France UEFA European Championship 4
3
1
1999-00 France Hassan II Tournament 1
1999-00 France International Friendly 4
2
2
1999-00 France UEFA European Championship 1
2
2000-01 France Childrens Charity
1
1
2000-01 France FIFA Confederations Cup 4
1
2
1
2000-01 France International Friendly 2
3
2001-02 France International Friendly 5
2
2002-03 France FIFA Confederations Cup 2
3
3
2002-03 France International Friendly 1
1
1
2003-04 France FIFA Centenary International 1
2003-04 France International Friendly 3
2
1
2003-04 France UEFA European Championship 5
2
1
2004-05 France FIFA World Cup 3
1
2004-05 France International Friendly
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
08 Dec 1993 France v Denmark L 1-2 U18
29 May 1994 France v USA W 3-0 Toulon Under-21 Group A
31 May 1994 France v England W 3-0 Toulon Under-21 Group A
02 Jun 1994 France v Russia D 0-0 Toulon Under-21 Group A
05 Jun 1994 France v Portugal L 1-1 (2-3) Toulon Under-21 Semi-final
17 Aug 1994 France v Czech Republic W 3-1 U21
06 Sep 1994 Slovakia v France W 0-3 UEFA U21 Group 1
07 Oct 1994 France v Romania D 0-0 UEFA U21 Group 1
15 Nov 1994 Poland v France W 0-4 UEFA U21 Group 1
13 Dec 1994 Azerbaijan v France W 0-5 UEFA U21 Group 1
17 Jan 1995 Netherlands v France W 1-2 U21
28 Mar 1995 Israel v France D 1-1 UEFA U21 Group 1
26 Apr 1995 France v Slovakia L 0-1 UEFA U21 Group 1
05 Jun 1995 France v Korea Republic W 1-0 Toulon Under-21 Group A
07 Jun 1995 France v Scotland L 1-2 Toulon Under-21 Group A
09 Jun 1995 France v Mexico W 5-0 Toulon Under-21 Group A
12 Jun 1995 France v England W 2-0 Toulon Under-21 Semi-final
14 Jun 1995 France v Brazil L 0-1 Toulon Under-21 Final
16 Aug 1995 France v Poland W 4-1 UEFA U21 Group 1
06 Sep 1995 France v Azerbaijan W 5-0 UEFA U21 Group 1
09 Oct 1995 Romania v France D 0-0 UEFA U21 Group 1
15 Nov 1995 France v Israel W 3-0 UEFA U21 Group 1
23 Jan 1996 France v Morocco W 1-0 U21 v A
13 Mar 1996 Germany v France D 0-0 UEFA U21 Quarter-final
26 Mar 1996 France v Germany W 4-1 UEFA U21 Quarter-final
28 May 1996 Italy v France L 1-0 UEFA U21 Semi-final
20 Jul 1996 France v Australia W 2-0 Olympics Finals Group B
22 Jul 1996 France v Spain D 1-1 Olympics Finals Group B
24 Jul 1996 France v Saudi Arabia W 2-1 Olympics Finals Group B
27 Jul 1996 France v Portugal L 1-2 Olympics Quarter-final
31 Aug 1996 France v Mexico W 2-0 International Friendly
09 Oct 1996 France v Turkey W 4-0 International Friendly
09 Nov 1996 Denmark v France L 1-0 International Friendly
22 Jan 1997 Portugal v France W 0-2 International Friendly
26 Feb 1997 France v Netherlands W 2-1 International Friendly
03 Jun 1997 France v Brazil D 1-1 Tournoi de France
11 Oct 1997 France v South Africa W 2-1 International Friendly
28 Jan 1998 France v Spain W 1-0 International Friendly
25 Feb 1998 France v Norway D 3-3 International Friendly
25 Mar 1998 Russia v France L 1-0 International Friendly
22 Apr 1998 Sweden v France D 0-0 International Friendly
27 May 1998 Belgium v France W 0-1 King Hassan II Cup
29 May 1998 Morocco v France L 2-2 (5-6) King Hassan II Cup
05 Jun 1998 Finland v France W 0-1 International Friendly
18 Jun 1998 France v Saudi Arabia W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
24 Jun 1998 France v Denmark W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
28 Jun 1998 France v Paraguay W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
19 Aug 1998 Austria v France D 2-2 International Friendly
05 Sep 1998 Iceland v France D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Group 4
10 Oct 1998 Russia v France W 2-3 UEFA European Championship Group 4
14 Oct 1998 France v Andorra W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
20 Jan 1999 France v Morocco W 1-0 International Friendly
10 Feb 1999 England v France W 0-2 International Friendly
27 Mar 1999 France v Ukraine D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
31 Mar 1999 France v Armenia W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
30 May 1999 France v World XI D 2-2 Jean-Pierre Papin Testimonial
05 Jun 1999 France v Russia L 2-3 UEFA European Championship Group 4
09 Jun 1999 Andorra v France W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Group 4
18 Aug 1999 Northern Ireland v France W 0-1 International Friendly
04 Sep 1999 Ukraine v France D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
13 Nov 1999 France v Croatia W 3-0 International Friendly
23 Feb 2000 France v Poland W 1-0 International Friendly
29 Mar 2000 Scotland v France W 0-2 International Friendly
26 Apr 2000 France v Slovenia W 3-2 International Friendly
28 May 2000 Croatia v France W 0-2 International Friendly
04 Jun 2000 France v Japan D 2-2 Hassan II Tournament
21 Jun 2000 Netherlands v France L 3-2 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
28 Jun 2000 France v Portugal W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Finals semi-final
02 Jul 2000 France v Italy W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Final
16 Aug 2000 France v World XI W 5-1 Childrens Charity
02 Sep 2000 France v England D 1-1 International Friendly
27 Feb 2001 France v Germany W 1-0 International Friendly
24 Mar 2001 France v Japan W 5-0 International Friendly
28 Mar 2001 Spain v France L 2-1 International Friendly
25 Apr 2001 France v Portugal W 4-0 International Friendly
30 May 2001 Korea Republic v France W 0-5 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
01 Jun 2001 Australia v France L 1-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
03 Jun 2001 France v Mexico W 4-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
07 Jun 2001 France v Brazil W 2-1 FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-final
10 Jun 2001 Japan v France W 0-1 FIFA Confederations Cup Final
15 Aug 2001 France v Denmark W 1-0 International Friendly
01 Sep 2001 Chile v France L 2-1 International Friendly
06 Oct 2001 France v Algeria W 4-1 International Friendly
11 Nov 2001 Australia v France D 1-1 International Friendly
13 Feb 2002 France v Romania W 2-1 International Friendly
12 Feb 2003 France v Czech Republic L 0-2 International Friendly
30 Apr 2003 France v Egypt W 5-0 International Friendly
18 Jun 2003 France v Colombia W 1-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
20 Jun 2003 France v Japan W 2-1 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
22 Jun 2003 France v New Zealand W 5-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
26 Jun 2003 France v Turkey W 3-2 FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-final
29 Jun 2003 France v Cameroon W 1-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Final
20 Aug 2003 Switzerland v France W 0-2 International Friendly
06 Sep 2003 France v Cyprus W 5-0 UEFA European Championship Group 1
10 Sep 2003 Slovenia v France W 0-2 UEFA European Championship Group 1
11 Oct 2003 France v Israel W 3-0 UEFA European Championship Group 1
15 Nov 2003 Germany v France W 0-3 International Friendly
18 Feb 2004 Belgium v France W 0-2 International Friendly
20 May 2004 France v Brazil D 0-0 FIFA Centenary International
28 May 2004 France v Andorra W 4-0 International Friendly
06 Jun 2004 France v Ukraine W 1-0 International Friendly
13 Jun 2004 France v England W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
17 Jun 2004 Croatia v France D 2-2 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
21 Jun 2004 Switzerland v France W 1-3 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
25 Jun 2004 France v Greece L 0-1 UEFA European Championship Quarter-final
18 Aug 2004 France v Bosnia and Herzegovina D 1-1 International Friendly
04 Sep 2004 France v Israel D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
08 Sep 2004 Faroe Islands v France W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
09 Oct 2004 France v Republic of Ireland D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4
13 Oct 2004 Cyprus v France W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 4


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.