Sylvain Distin Bio Send To Friend  

Distin left Portsmouth for Everton in the summer of 2009 after as the south coast club shed their highest paid players.

Distin made his name with FC Gueugnon, winning the French League Cup in 2000, before moving on to Paris St Germain in 2002.

He joined Newcastle United on a season long loan in September 2001, with a view to a permanent move. Despite impressing as Newcastle booked the fourth and final Champions League spot, it was Manchester City who secured his permanent signature in May 2002 for £4m.

Newcastle had been playing him as a left back but he desired to play in the centre, something which City could offer. Distin made 35 appearances for the Magpies.

The defender made his debut for City in a 3-0 defeat at Leeds United and soon became an important figure for Kevin Keegan's side.

He went on to take over as club captain and was named as the supporters' Player of the Year for 2002-03.

When it became apparent that Distin would leave in the summer of 2007, then-boss Stuart Pearce claimed he would be one of the best Bosmans on the market. He was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, and they were reported to have made a late bid to gazump Pompey, but in the end Fratton Park was his destination. He made 206 appearances for City, scoring six goals.

Although a highly dependable defender and a quality performer he is liable to the odd error and lapse in concentration - which is probably the difference between him playing at Fratton Park and Anfield.

He quickly established a great understanding with fellow centre back Sol Campbell and proved to be vital part of the Pompey defence as the club went on to finish a credible eighth in the Premier League and win the FA Cup.

But just a year later the money had run out at Portsmouth and he was offloaded for a fee in the region of £5.5m, signed by Everton as a replacement for Joleon Lescott.