Pascal Cygan factfile

13 April 2012

1974:

1995: Moves from Wasquehal to neighbours Lille. Makes debut in August at St Etienne and completes 27 appearances in first season at Stade Grimonprez Jooris.

2000: Voted best defender in Second Division as Lille win championship, giving him first senior winners' medal.

2001: Lille finish second and qualify for Champions League. Cygan makes 29 appearances, scoring twice. He stars as Lille shock Italian giants Parma to reach first group stage of Champions League but fail to go any further.

2002: Lille knocked out of UEFA Cup by eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund. Cygan helps Lille finish fifth in Le Championnat and qualify for Europe again. Season ends in disappointment when he is left out of World Cup squad.

He has been tracked by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and signs a four-year contract after joining for £2million.