Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra Stats
-Full Name: Patrice Latyr Evra
-Birthplace: Dakar, Senegal
-Date of Birth: 15/05/1981
-Height: 173cm (5ft 8ins)
-Weight: 166lbs (11st 12lbs)
-Position: Full back, L.Wing
-Squad Number: 3
International Football
France (2004 -)

Introduction
Patrice Evra is a truly dynamic Left Back who's equally adept at defending as well as bombing forward and supporting the attack. He's extremely athletic and his pace and acceleration are exceptional. In fact I would go as far as saying that Patrice Evra is the complete full-back and what he lacks in stature he makes up with great courage and a superb spring.

Early Career
The young Patrice Evra embarked on the footballing road to stardom by turning out for Paris St-Germain's youth team as a striker. He never received an official players contract at the Parc des Princes and was eventually signed by Scicilian side Marsala, Where he continued playing as a striker scoring just six goals in his one and only season at the club.

The following season the "Black Gazelle" as the Marsala fans nicknamed him, moved to Serie B side Monza, making a paltry 3 league appearances and needless to say failing to get on the scoresheet.

The limited opportunities he was afforded at Monza led Patrice Evra into returning back to France after just two years in Italy, signing for Ligue 2 outfit, Nice. In his early at the club he was forced to play at Left Back due to the mounting injuries at the Stade Municipal du Ray. Needless to say, Evra took to his new position like the proverbial 'Duck to Water' and was named Ligue 2's best left back in the French end of season awards.

AS Monaco
Patrice Evra's performances caught the eye of Monaco boss Didier Deschamps, who moved swiftly to sign the Senegal born player for an undisclosed fee.

Now at his fourth club in just 3 years Patrice Evra quickly claimed the left back slot as his own and in his first season at Monaco he reached the 2004 European Champions League final, losing 3-0 to Jose Mourinho's FC Porto.

After his high ocatane displays in the Champions League; at the age of 23 the player was called up to the French national side by coach Jaques Santini. Although only winning 11 caps in four years, Evra started 2 of France's group games during their ill fated Euro 2008 campaign, replacing Bracelona's Eric Abidal after his poor showing against Romania.

During the early part of the 2005-06 season it waas clear that Patrice Evra had completed his transformation from far from prolific striker, to dominant defender when Deschamps named him captian on numerous occasions.

Manchester United Career
During the 2006 January English transfer window Alex Ferguson splashed out £5.5m to bring the defender to Old Trafford on a 3 1/2 year contract, just five days after the club had signed combative centre back, Nemanja Vidic.

Sir Alex Ferguson saw the new Manchester United recruit as the ideal cover for the side-lined Gabriel Heinze, giving Patrice his debut four days later in the 3-1 defeat to inter-city rivals Manchester City. However, the player struggled to adapt to the ferocity of the encounter and was replaced at half-time by Irishmann John O'Shea.

After the defender's poor showing in the Derby a few pundits and fans alike began to question Fergie's judgement in signing such a "light-weight" player in a rough and tumble league such as the English topflight. But as many times beforehand, Sir Alex proved his doubters wrong as Patrice Evra got better and better with each game, eventually ousting Gabriel Heinze as Manchester United's first choice left-back.

On 29 November 2006 in the home Premier League match against North West rivals Everton, Evra scored his first goal for the club, which helped his team-mates to a vital 3-0 victory.

In the 2007-08 season Evra was a vital part of the Premier League and European Champions League double winning side, forming a tremendous defensive quintet with Edwin Van Der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand who helped themselves to amazing 31 clean-sheets during the campaign.

Patrice Evra Honours
-Monaco
-Coupe de la Ligue: 2002-03
-Ligue 1: Runner Up 2002-03
-UEFA Champions League: Runner Up 2004

-Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-2009
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-League Cup: 2006

-Carling Cup: 2008-2009
-FIFA Club World Cup 2008

-Carling Cup:2009-2010

Patrice Evra Personal Honours
PFA Team of the Year: 2007