Michel Pavon
Encyclopedia
Michel Pavon is a retired French
footballer, and a current a coach.
During his playing career, the defensive midfielder was mostly known for his hard-working approach. He played for three teams in 14 years (a very brief spell in Spain
notwithstanding), appearing in 378 games as a professional, and worked mainly with Girondins de Bordeaux
, as both a player and coach.
region to a Spanish
father and a French mother, and started his professional football career with Toulouse FC
, playing his first match on November 7, 1986, against Paris Saint-Germain FC. In his long period at Toulouse, he was selected for the French U21 team
, and had a successful last season, scoring seven goals.
In 1994, Pavon moved to Montpellier HSC
on a two-year contract. When it expired, he signed with FC Girondins de Bordeaux
, where he garnered a firm fan base due to his enthusiastic play and hard work. He became the captain of the team within a short period, helping it reach the 1997 and 1998 League Cup
finals, and also winning the first division
title in 1999.
In his last seasons with Bordeaux, it was rumoured that Pavon would move to Olympique de Marseille
. Although raised in that area, he gave his heart to Bordeaux and ignored the rumours, playing his last match on August 26, 2000, against RC Lens
; after four successful seasons, he finally left the Girondins to play in his father's native country, signing a three-year contract with Real Betis
, then in the second division
. After only ten matches to help the Andalusia
ns return to the topflight
, he decided to hang up his boots after suffering a serious injury.
On October 24, 2003, Pavon became head coach at Bordeaux, replacing dismissed Élie Baup
, and earning a two-year extension at the season's end. In 2004–05, he suffered from a heart
problem which caused him to miss the last three games of the season. Team president Jean-Louis Triaud
announced in June 2005 that Pavon was standing down, not able to coach the club the next season. He continued his work at the club in a scouting function, as Brazil
ian Ricardo Gomes took charge.
In the 2010 summer, Pavon returned again to Bordeaux, being named newly appointed coach Jean Tigana
's assistant.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
footballer, and a current a coach.
During his playing career, the defensive midfielder was mostly known for his hard-working approach. He played for three teams in 14 years (a very brief spell in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
notwithstanding), appearing in 378 games as a professional, and worked mainly with Girondins de Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, as both a player and coach.
Football career
Pavon was born in the MarseilleMarseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
region to a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
father and a French mother, and started his professional football career with Toulouse FC
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
, playing his first match on November 7, 1986, against Paris Saint-Germain FC. In his long period at Toulouse, he was selected for the French U21 team
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, and had a successful last season, scoring seven goals.
In 1994, Pavon moved to Montpellier HSC
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
on a two-year contract. When it expired, he signed with FC Girondins de Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, where he garnered a firm fan base due to his enthusiastic play and hard work. He became the captain of the team within a short period, helping it reach the 1997 and 1998 League Cup
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
finals, and also winning the first division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
title in 1999.
In his last seasons with Bordeaux, it was rumoured that Pavon would move to Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. Although raised in that area, he gave his heart to Bordeaux and ignored the rumours, playing his last match on August 26, 2000, against RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
; after four successful seasons, he finally left the Girondins to play in his father's native country, signing a three-year contract with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, then in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
. After only ten matches to help the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns return to the topflight
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, he decided to hang up his boots after suffering a serious injury.
On October 24, 2003, Pavon became head coach at Bordeaux, replacing dismissed Élie Baup
Élie Baup
Élie Baup is a former French football player and now a manager.- Coaching career :He won the French championship with the FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 1999. Fired in October 2003 by the president Jean-Louis Triaud, Baup signed for AS Saint-Étienne in 2004 with one of his favourite player: Pascal...
, and earning a two-year extension at the season's end. In 2004–05, he suffered from a heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
problem which caused him to miss the last three games of the season. Team president Jean-Louis Triaud
Jean-Louis Triaud
Jean-Louis Triaud is the current president of FC Girondins de Bordeaux. He was first elected in 1996, and upon completion of the term, reelected in 2002....
announced in June 2005 that Pavon was standing down, not able to coach the club the next season. He continued his work at the club in a scouting function, as Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Ricardo Gomes took charge.
In the 2010 summer, Pavon returned again to Bordeaux, being named newly appointed coach Jean Tigana
Jean Tigana
Jean Amadou Tigana is a manager and former French international footballer, having played in midfield and managed professional football extensively throughout France, including 52 appearances and 1 goal for the France national football team during the 1980s.-Playing career:Tigana started his...
's assistant.