Patrick Vieira hangs up his boots at 35

Former-Arsenal great Patrick Vieira has retired after being released by Manchester City earlier this summer.

The 35 year-old former-midfielder had spent 18 months at City and helped the club to a FA Cup victory and Champions League berth last season.

Sad

The former-French international told the clubs official website: “It was something I was preparing for in my head and I think it was the right time.

“It’s a sad day and a sad moment but overall I’ve enjoyed the years I’ve spent in football. Football has brought me a lot.

“I think it will be difficult to find a job that will give me as much satisfaction as football has given me but I just want to give back to society and give back to football what it has given to me. And what a fantastic club for me to do it.”

Illustrious

Helping Manchester City to be successful was a fitting end to what has been a glittering career at the very top of the beautiful game. Wherever he has gone he has collected trophies and won medals.

The one defining theme throughout his career was that Patrick Vieira was a winner. At times he was over aggressive in his style but it was only because he didn’t accept losing easily. It was both his blessing and curse.

Complete

At his prime Patrick Vieira was one of the best midfielders in the world. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger saw something special in the gangly midfielder when he signed him from AC Milan in 1996. The fee in the region of £3.5million proved to be one of the most shrewd signings in the history of the Premier League.

A relatively unknown player, Vieira became the midfield general of one of the most successful teams ever to play football in England’s top flight. Vieira could do just about everything.

He was not just content with shielding the Arsenal back four from opponents attacks though, he strode forward into the opposition half and created goals as well as preventing them.

Vieira was the complete midfielder. Although he wasn’t without his faults, his style of play often lead to him seeing red cards from Premier League referees. However despite being dismissed nine times in England he was still regarded as top-class.

Style

A mix of elegance, physical power and stamina made Vieira an important part of Arsene Wenger’s attacking style during the late-nineties, early noughties. Since Vieira’s departure in 2005 Arsenal have struggled to replace the French international.

International

Not only was he part of the domestic success that Arsenal enjoyed but also a big part of France’s success at international level. Vieira was part of the French team who claimed the World Cup in 1998.

Two years later he was a key part of the France team that won the European Championships, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Vieira ended his illustrious international career in 2009, after winning 107 caps for Les Bleus.

Development

Now that Patrick Vieira has stopped playing football he will now turn his attention to off the field matters. The former-World Cup winner has been appointed as a Football Development Executive at Manchester City.

His role will involve working within Manchester City’s youth system and also with City’s social projects within the local community. This could be Patrick Vieira’s first step into the world of football politics.

Patrick Vieira obviously loves the game.  And I’m sure that the ex-Juve midfielder still has a lot to give back to the game that has given him so much.

Would Patrick Vieira be in your best ever Premier League first 11?