Mikael Silvestre

Mikael Sammy Silvestre is a French international football player who currently features for the Premiership and European powerhouse Arsenal. He is a versatile defender who can play either at centre-back or at left back.

Mikael Silvestre commenced his footballing career at French club Rennes in 1995 and made 49 league appearances in three seasons at the club. He was then signed by Italian superpowers Inter Milan in the summer of 1998 but after a modest at best season in the Italian Serie A, he was signed by Manchester United in the summer of 1999 for 3.5 million pounds.

Mikael Silvestre made his debut for United against Liverpool at Anfield in 1999 and although he initially struggled to get into the first team, he however gradually came to gain the confidence of Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Mikael Silvestre featured in over 300 matches for United in all competitions and endeared himself both to the club and the supporters. In the summer of 2008 he was surprisingly signed by Man United’s arch-rivals Arsenal.

Mikael Silvestre made his international debut for France in February 2001 in a friendly international against Germany and won the FIFA Confederations Cup both in 2001 and 2003 and was also part of the French squad for Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup.