Sylvain Distin

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Sylvain Distin
Personal information
Full name	Sylvain Distin
Date of birth	December 16, 1977 (age 29)
Place of birth	Bagnolet, France
Height	6 ft 4 in
Position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Manchester City
Number	15
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2002 2001-2002 2002-	Joué-lès-Tours Tours Gueugnon PSG Newcastle United (loan) Manchester City	- (-) 26 (3) 32 (1) 28 (1) 28 (0) 145 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 3, 2006.

Sylvain Distin (born 16 December 1977 in Bagnolet, France) is a French footballer who is currently playing for Manchester City.

[edit] Club career

Distin started his career at French non league side Joue-les-Tours, moving to Paris Saint-Germain a season later. His time at PSG was shortlived; after a year Distin moved again in a loan move to Newcastle United. Following the loan spell, Newcastle wished to sign Distin permanently, but instead he opted to sign for Manchester City as he wished to play in his preferred position of central defence (Distin had mainly been used as a left sided defender as Newcastle).

Consistent performances in his first Manchester City season resulted in Distin being named Manchester City's Player of the Year for the 2002/03 season. At the start of the 2003/04 season Distin was named captain of Manchester City following the retirement of Ali Benarbia. As of the end of the 2005/2006 season, Distin has made 163 appearances for Manchester City, scoring four times.

Distin's contract is due to expire at the end of the 2006/2007 season. He is yet to pen a new deal. Manchester City appointed Richard Dunne as their new captain in July 2006.

Distin has been linked with moves to Middlesbrough, Newcastle United F.C. and Portsmouth during the summer, with Middlesbrough lining him up as a replacement to retired player and new manager Gareth Southgate. Middlesbrough were believed to have made a £3million bid in an attempt to lure him to the Riverside Stadium, a move which Distin ultimately rejected.

Manchester City F.C. - Current Squad
1 Isaksson | 2 Richards | 3 Thatcher | 4 Jordan | 5 Dabo | 6 Reyna | 7 Ireland | 8 Barton | 11 Vassell | 12 Weaver | 14 Dickov | 15 Distin | 16 Onuoha | 17 Sun | 18 D. Mills | 20 Samaras | 21 Hamann | 22 Dunne | 24 Beasley | 25 Hart | 26 M. Mills | 27 Trabelsi | 28 Sinclair | 30 Corradi | 33 Johnson | 39 Laird | 43 Miller | Manager: Pearce