var playerInfo={"Amc7rMSsqlc=":"Robert Pires","HqBUMXWg5SY=":"3630","sGPt2HUOhrE=":"Robert Pires","gyU2qgZnfi8=":"22735","0cHQ44GfRK8=":"1","fFaETeBoA8R6k+6TrMtmGA==":"","OtSVGqqcufp89p7xdNfnxQ==":"","1LcpFZUTiAesTtwptr\/GLQ==":"\u0e41\u0e2d\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e31\u0e19 \u0e27\u0e34\u0e25\u0e25\u0e48\u0e32","G+tDALs0SHp2Rc4kRYBB+g==":"\u0e1d\u0e23\u0e31\u0e48\u0e07\u0e40\u0e28\u0e2a","MfYo5M+5B2M=":"185cm","e76RPirVkz989p7xdNfnxQ==":"1","AU+VA6hXPM8cY81bDbwvgg==":"\u0e41\u0e2d\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e31\u0e19 \u0e27\u0e34\u0e25\u0e25\u0e48\u0e32,\u0e1a\u0e35\u0e22\u0e32\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e25,\u0e2d\u0e32\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e0b\u0e19\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e25,\u0e42\u0e2d\u0e25\u0e34\u0e21\u0e1b\u0e34\u0e01 \u0e21\u0e32\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e01\u0e40\u0e0b\u0e22,\u0e40\u0e21\u0e47\u0e15\u0e0b\u0e4c","wqEY76BJhCw=":"74kg","LBxVjlQQG8R89p7xdNfnxQ==":"1973-10-29","+RGRpJTyb3E=":"FC Goa","58f\/Yhbxosbppgb+UCyUnw==":"","TP9hMO1MOgzppgb+UCyUnw==":"\u3000\u3000Robert Pires is a complete modern midfield player whose supporters appreciate his clever passing and ability to cut inside and score crucial goals.

National team

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was robbed of one of Europe's in-form players after the mercurial Frenchman's wonderful season was cruelly cut short when he injured knee ligaments in an FA Cup game. A World Cup winner on home soil in 1998, Pires created David Trezeguet's golden goal which won UEFA EURO 2000? for Les Bleus.

UEFA EURO 2004? qualifying

Although France's road to Portugal began in Cyprus in September 2002, Pires only started against the same opponents in Paris the following September, the first of three qualifying appearances for the fit-again midfielder.

Club

Pires was a graduate of the FC Metz youth academy, making his senior debut in 1992. During six seasons at the Saint-Symphorien stadium, he scored over 40 goals, prompting a €7.5m move to Olympique de Marseille.

1998: Pires was often brilliant for Marseille but his second season was far from memorable, as his form dipped and he lost the captaincy, prompting a €9.8m switch to England in the summer of 2000.

2000: The fee initially proved a burden to Pires but Arsenal fans soon warmed to his skills. He was Arsenal's outstanding performer as they won both the Premiership and FA Cup in 2001\/02 - a watershed campaign for the player. Pires added vital goals to his many assists as the team built up an irresistible post-Christmas charge, his displays earning him the Football Writers' Player of the Year award.

2002\/03: He made his first appearance in October in a UEFA Champions League game against AJ Auxerre after recovering from his cruciate ligament injury. His season ended on a high when he scored the only goal as Arsenal defeated Southampton FC in the FA Cup final.

Did you know?

Pires was offered race driving lessons by former Formula 1 star Jean Alesi.","IJm6455eac0uKBaW5hwYsw==":"7","e_index":3}; var playerStats={"e_index":3};