View source for Pascal Cygan

{{short description|French footballer (born 1974)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{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<ref name="Lequipe">{{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}}</ref>
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = [[ES Wasquehal|Wasquehal]]
| years1 = 1994–1995 | clubs1 = [[ES Wasquehal|Wasquehal]] | caps1 = | goals1 =
| years2 = 1995–2002 | clubs2 = [[Lille OSC|Lille]] | caps2 = 179 | goals2 = 10
| years3 = 2002–2006 | clubs3 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] | caps3 = 63 | goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2006–2009 | clubs4 = [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] | caps4 = 45 | goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2009–2011 | clubs5 = [[FC Cartagena|Cartagena]] | caps5 = 57 | goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 344 | totalgoals = 15
}}
'''Pascal Édouard Cygan''' (born 29 April 1974) is a French former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]]. His favoured position was [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|central defender]], but he could also play as a [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|left back]].

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

==Early life==
Pascal Édouard Cygan<ref>{{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}}</ref> was born on 29 April 1974<ref name="Lequipe"/> in [[Lens, Pas-de-Calais]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Career==
===Lille===
Cygan started his senior career in the ranks of lowly [[ES Wasquehal]] before going professional with [[Lille OSC]] in 1995, making his [[Ligue 1|Division 1]] debut that year but also going on to also spend three seasons in [[Ligue 2|Division 2]]. In [[1999–2000 French Division 2|1999–2000]] he was an instrumental defensive element for the champions and, in the [[2000–01 French Division 1|subsequent top-flight campaign]], helped them achieve a third-place finish, with [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|qualification]] to the [[UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In this time, Cygan was also promoted to the [[Captain (association football)|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.<ref name=LOLJ>{{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}}</ref>

===Arsenal===
Cygan joined [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in July 2002 for £2&nbsp;million,<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> making his debut in a 1–1 draw with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on 1 September after coming on as a late [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Nwankwo Kanu]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> but did pick up a [[Premier League]] winners' medal in [[2003–04 FA Premier League|2004]] after contributing with 18 appearances.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

Cygan scored three goals for Arsenal in league action, including an unlikely brace in his first game of [[2005–06 FA Premier League|2005–06]] against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] (4–1 home win).<ref>{{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}}</ref> Until then he had only netted once, against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in March 2003.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Also that season, following injuries to both [[Ashley Cole]] and [[Gaël Clichy]], Cygan was drafted in as an emergency [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|left back]], and was even named in the ''Opta'' team of the week on 9 January 2006.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Overall, his side won 12 of the 20 matches he played in and kept 11 [[clean sheet]]s in the process. He suffered a hamstring injury in January against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 

Cygan played 98 competitive games during his spell at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]], including 20 in the Champions League.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Spain===
In August 2006, Cygan completed a transfer to [[Villarreal CF]] for a £2&nbsp;million transfer fee, joining former Arsenal teammate and compatriot [[Robert Pires]] at the club.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> On 6 June 2008, after having been fairly used in his first two years, mainly due to consecutive serious injuries to [[Gonzalo Rodríguez (footballer, born 1984)|Gonzalo Rodríguez]], he signed a new one-year deal.<ref>{{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}}</ref> However, following a lack of first-team opportunities in [[2008–09 La Liga|2008–09]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and with Villarreal unwilling to extend his contract for a further campaign, he left in July 2009;<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> his [[La Liga]] goals came on 5 November 2006 against [[Real Betis]] (3–2 home win),<ref>{{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}}</ref> and against [[Levante UD]] on 31 October 2007 (3–0, also at [[Estadio de la Cerámica|El Madrigal]]).<ref>{{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}}</ref>

On 10 August 2009, Cygan joined [[FC Cartagena]], [[2008–09 Segunda División B|recently promoted]] to [[Segunda División]], on a one-year deal.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Aged 37, he was released by the [[Region of Murcia|Murcians]] and retired from professional football.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{WorldFootball.net | pascal-cygan | Pascal Cygan }}</ref>
|-
!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
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Lille OSC|Lille]]
|1995–96
|rowspan="2"|[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]
|27||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||33||0
|-
|1996–97
|14||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||15||0
|-
|1997–98
|rowspan="3"|[[Ligue 2|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 FC|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 CF|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"|[[FC Cartagena|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
|}

{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''Lille'''
*[[Ligue 2|Division 2]]: [[1999–2000 French Division 2|1999–2000]]<ref name=LOSC>{{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}}</ref>

'''Arsenal'''
*[[Premier League]]: [[2003–04 FA Premier League|2003–04]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/2162/Pascal-Cygan/overview |title=Pascal Cygan: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[FA Community Shield]]: [[2002 FA Community Shield|2002]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[2004 FA Community Shield|2004]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*Etoile d'Or: [[2001–02 French Division 1|2001–02]]<ref name=LOLJ/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{BDFutbol}}
*{{Soccerway}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cygan, Pascal}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lens, Pas-de-Calais]]
[[Category:Footballers from Pas-de-Calais]]
[[Category:French men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Wasquehal Football players]]
[[Category:Lille OSC players]]
[[Category:Arsenal F.C. players]]
[[Category:Villarreal CF players]]
[[Category:FC Cartagena footballers]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Ligue 2 players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Segunda División players]]
[[Category:French expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]