Emmanuel Petit
French defensive midfielder who scored the 1,000th goal in French football history in the 1998 World Cup Final.
Emmanuel Laurent Petit (born 22 September 1970) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder at club level for Arsenal, Barcelona, Monaco, and Chelsea. He represented France at international level in two FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships; he scored the third goal in France's 3–0 victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final and was also a member of the French squad that won UEFA Euro 2000. He was known for his strong defensive abilities, including tackling, interceptions, and marking, as well as his passing range and ability to transition play from defense to attack. In his prime, he was one of the best left-footed players in European and world football.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1970, Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France
Lore & Background
Emmanuel Petit was born on 22 September 1970 in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, and grew up in Arques-la-Bataille, Seine-Maritime. He began his career at minor club ES Arques-la-Bataille before being signed by Arsène Wenger's Monaco side at age 18. He made his debut soon after and played in the 1989 Coupe de France final. In 1991, he won the Coupe de France with Monaco and played in the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup final.
In 1996–97, his final season at Monaco, he captained his side to the Ligue 1 title. He joined Arsenal in June 1997 for £2.5 million, where he was reunited with Wenger. Wenger switched him from central midfielder to defensive midfielder, partnering him with Patrick Vieira. Petit won the double with Arsenal in his first season.
He moved to Barcelona in summer 2000 for £7 million, but failed to settle due to injuries and being played out of position. He joined Chelsea in 2001 for £7.5 million, initially a regular, but after knee injuries he was released in summer 2004. He retired on 20 January 2005 after failing to recover from knee surgery. Petit earned 63 caps and scored six international goals, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000.
He scored twice in the 1998 World Cup, including the third goal in the final, which was the 1,000th goal in the history of the French Football Federation and the last World Cup goal of the 20th century. He retired from international football in September 2003.
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