On July 26th, French U21 assistant coach and former Premier League star Cris celebrated his 39th birthday.
From 2003 to 2011, Cris played for Arsenal, where he was part of the legendary Invincibles squad. After joining Manchester City in 2011, he won the Premier League title twice.
Cris, standing at 176cm tall, primarily played as a left-back on the field, but could also fill in as a left midfielder. Despite being right-footed, Cris trained extensively with his left foot, becoming a versatile left-footed player. He started his career at Cannes before joining Arsenal's youth team at a young age.
During his time at Arsenal and Manchester City, Cris made a total of 325 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 3 goals and providing 20 assists, solidifying his status as a club legend for both teams.
Between 2003 and 2011, Cris made 264 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 2 goals and providing 11 assists, winning one Premier League title and one FA Cup. Despite his hard work, some fans felt he did not fully realize his potential as a top-tier player.
In 2011, Cris joined Manchester City for a bargain price of 6.75 million pounds and spent six successful years at the club. He played a total of 203 games for City, scoring 3 goals and providing 14 assists, under the guidance of managers such as Mancini, Pellegrini, and Guardiola.
During his time at Manchester City, Cris won the league title in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons, as well as lifting the League Cup trophy twice.
Throughout his professional career, Cris also represented the French national team 20 times. Following his departure from Manchester City in 2017, he played in Istanbul and Servette before retiring officially at the age of 38 in the summer of 2023.
Currently, Cris is serving as an assistant coach for the French U21 national team alongside legendary player Thierry Henry. As he celebrates his 39th birthday, we wish Cris a happy birthday and hope for continued success in his coaching career, with the Paris Olympics serving as a promising starting point.
