Emmanuel Petit

1.1. Childhood and formative years

Petit was born in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France, and grew up in Arques-la-Bataille. He began his football career at the local minor club ES Arques-la-Bataille. At the age of 18, his talent was recognized when he was signed by Arsène Wenger's Monaco side, marking the beginning of his professional journey.

1.2. Family and personal influences

Petit's personal life was profoundly affected by family tragedies during his formative years. In 1988, when Petit was a teenager, his older brother Olivier, an amateur footballer, collapsed while playing for his club Arques and was pronounced dead due to a brain blood clot. This devastating event, occurring within two years of his grandfather's passing, deeply shocked Petit and almost led him to abandon football entirely. He regarded his brother as a highly gifted individual who excelled in all his endeavors, both on the football field and in his education. In tribute to Olivier, who died at the age of 17, Emmanuel Petit consistently wore the number 17 shirt throughout his club career and during major international tournaments with the French national team, including the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000, and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

2.1. AS Monaco

Petit began his professional career with Monaco at the age of 18 in 1988. He quickly made his debut and became a regular player for the club. Initially, he played in various midfield roles, including as a left-sided or central midfielder, and also occasionally featured as a defender. In 1989, he played in the Coupe de France final. His time at Monaco brought early success, as he won the Coupe de France with the team in 1991. He also featured in the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup final, which Monaco unfortunately lost to Werder Bremen. In his final season at Monaco, 1996-97, Petit captained the side to win the Ligue 1 title. In total, he made 222 appearances and scored 4 goals for Monaco in the league.

2.2. Arsenal

In June 1997, Petit made a significant move to Arsenal for a transfer fee of 2.50 M GBP, where he was reunited with his former Monaco manager, Arsène Wenger. Wenger decided to switch Petit's primary position from central midfielder to defensive midfielder. In this new role, Petit formed a highly effective and successful midfield partnership with fellow Frenchman Patrick Vieira. This French duo's synergy brought immediate success to Arsenal, as Petit won the double in his very first season, clinching both the Premier League title and the FA Cup in the 1997-98 season. Over his three seasons with Arsenal, Petit made 118 appearances across all competitions, scoring 11 goals. A notable goal during this period was a stunning strike from outside the penalty area against Derby County in the 1997-98 season, which also proved to be the winning goal of the match.

2.3. FC Barcelona

In the summer of 2000, Petit transferred to Barcelona for 7.00 M GBP (approximately 14.00 M EUR), moving alongside his Arsenal teammate Marc Overmars. At Barcelona, he faced considerable challenges, as he was often deployed in defense rather than his preferred midfield role. He also suffered from a series of persistent minor injuries, which hampered his ability to settle and secure a regular place in the team. In his 2008 biography, Petit recounted that Barcelona coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer did not even know his primary playing position when he joined the club. His sole goal for Barcelona came on 13 May 2001, in a 5-1 home victory against Rayo Vallecano. After just one season at Camp Nou, Petit sought a move back to England.

2.4. Chelsea

Following his single season in Spain, Petit returned to England, joining Chelsea in 2001 in a transfer deal worth 7.50 M GBP. Initially, he was a regular starter for the Blues, though his first season was largely disappointing for the club. He participated in the 2002 FA Cup Final, where Chelsea were defeated by his former club, Arsenal. His first goal for Chelsea was scored on 30 March 2002, in a 2-1 win against Derby. His second season saw a significant improvement in his performance; he formed an impressive midfield partnership with Frank Lampard. Chelsea secured a crucial fourth UEFA Champions League qualification spot after a decisive final game of the season against Liverpool. During this improved season, Petit scored twice: once against Everton in the League Cup and another against his former club, Arsenal, in a league match. However, a series of persistent knee injuries plagued his final season, keeping him sidelined for much of it. He was subsequently released on a free transfer in the summer of 2004. His last appearance for Chelsea was on 1 February 2004, against Blackburn Rovers.

2.5. Retirement from football

After his release from Chelsea, Emmanuel Petit declined an opportunity to sign with Bolton Wanderers. On 20 January 2005, he officially announced his retirement from professional football. This decision came after he failed to make a full recovery from knee surgery, which effectively ended his illustrious playing career. Following his retirement, Petit transitioned into a career as a football commentator and analyst for television.

3.1. Early international years and Euro 1992

Petit made his debut for the French national team on 15 August 1990, in a match against Poland. He was part of the French squad for UEFA Euro 1992, though he did not make any appearances during the tournament. Later in his early international career, he participated in the infamous 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria on 17 November 1993, a match known as the "Tragedy of Paris," where France's late loss cost them qualification for the World Cup. After this setback, Petit was often left out of the national squad, missing out on Euro 1996.

3.2. 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000

Petit's international career reached its pinnacle with the 1998 FIFA World Cup hosted in France. He played in six matches during the tournament and scored two crucial goals. His first World Cup goal came in the group stage match against Denmark, a powerful shot from just outside the box that proved to be the match-winner. His second and most memorable goal was scored in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final against Brazil. In the final minute of regular time, Petit embarked on an optimistic run across the field before calmly slotting the ball into the net, sealing France's 3-0 victory. This goal was not only the 1,000th goal in the history of the French Football Federation, but also the last World Cup Finals goal of the 20th century. Earlier in that same final, an accurate corner kick from Petit had set up Zinedine Zidane's header for France's opening goal. Petit was also an instrumental part of the squad that went on to win UEFA Euro 2000, appearing in three matches during the tournament.

3.3. Later career and retirement

Petit was included in the French squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he made two appearances. However, the tournament proved disappointing for France, as they failed to advance past the group stages and notably did not score a single goal in their three matches as defending champions. Petit's final international appearance was in 2003, and he officially retired from international football in September 2003.

5.1. Family and personal relationships

Petit married French actress Agathe de La Fontaine in 2000. They had one child, a daughter named Zoe, before their divorce in 2002. He later began a relationship with Maria Servello, with whom he had another child, a daughter named Violet, in 2007. As previously noted, the profound impact of his brother Olivier's death in 1988 significantly shaped Petit, leading him to wear the number 17 shirt throughout his career in honor of his brother's age at the time of his passing.

5.2. Media activities and ambassadorship

After retiring from professional football, Petit transitioned into a career in media. He frequently appears on French television as a football analyst and pundit, offering his insights and commentary on the sport. Outside of his punditry, Petit has also made appearances in popular culture, including starring as himself in a Christmas special episode of the British police drama The Bill in 1998. Since the tournament was hosted in Paris in 2011, Petit has served as an ambassador for the Homeless World Cup movement, contributing to a social cause aimed at ending homelessness through football. His likeness was also included in EA Sports' video game FIFA 16 as an Ultimate Team legend.

6.1. Club honors

AS Monaco

• Division 1: 1996-97
• Coupe de France: 1990-91

Arsenal

• Premier League: 1997-98
• FA Cup: 1997-98
• FA Charity Shield: 1998, 1999

6.2. International honors

France

• FIFA World Cup: 1998
• UEFA European Championship: 2000

6.3. Individual honors

• Division 1 Rookie of the Year: 1990
• Premier League Player of the Month: April 1998
• Onze de Bronze: 1998
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 1998-99

6.4. National orders

• Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1998

7.1. Club statistics

The "National Cup" column includes the Coupe de France, FA Cup, and Copa del Rey. The "League Cup" column includes the Coupe de la Ligue and Football League Cup. The "Continental" column includes appearances in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. The "Other" column for Arsenal represents appearances in the FA Charity Shield.

7.2. International statistics

This table details Emmanuel Petit's appearances and goals for the French national team by year.

Below is a list of the 6 international goals scored by Emmanuel Petit for France. Scores and results list France's goal tally first, with the score column indicating the score after each Petit goal.