AGE: Legendary footballer, Patrick Vieira, celebrates his 47th birthday today

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Legendary footballer, Patrick Vieira, celebrates his 47th birthday today.

BIOGRAPHY AND WIKIPEDIA OF Patrick Vieira:

Patrick Vieira (born 23 June 1976) is a French professional football manager and former player. He is widely considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation,[4] one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history[5] and amongst Arsenal’s greatest ever players.[6] Vieira began his playing career at Cannes, where several standout performances garnered him a move to Serie A club Milan.

In 1996, he relocated to England to join fellow countryman Arsène Wenger at Arsenal for a fee of £3.5 million. During his nine-year stint in the Premier League, Vieira established himself as a dominating box-to-box midfielder, noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play, an attitude that also helped him excel as captain of the club from 2002 until his departure in 2005. He helped Arsenal achieve a sustained period of success during his time at the club, where he lifted four FA Cups and three league titles, including one unbeaten. He was named in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for six consecutive years from 1999 to 2004.

Vieira won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with the Gunners, before moving to Italy, winning four Serie A titles in a row with Inter Milan, as well as the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League.

The Frenchman was also a part of France’s 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship-winning squads.

He stepped into management in 2013, joining Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad before taking the reins at New York City in the MLS in 2016.

Vieira moved to Nice in Ligue 1 in June 2018, but only lasted until December 2020 when he was sacked after a run of five defeats. Crystal Palace appointed him as their head coach in July 2021, leading the Eagles to 12th in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup in his first season in charge.

However, he was sacked by the South London club on March 17, 2023 after a winless start to the year.

Palace were sitting just three points above the drop zone after losing seven of their last 12 outings, and claiming just five points since the turn of the year.