Didier Digard
Personal information
Full name	Didier Digard
Date of birth	12 July 1986 (1986-07-12) (age 23)
Place of birth	Gisors, France
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club	Middlesbrough
Number	8
Youth career
1999–2003	Le Havre
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2003–2007 2007–2008 2008–	Le Havre Paris Saint-Germain Middlesbrough	72 (3) 16 (0) 26 (0)
National team2
2007–2009	France U21	04 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:34, 8 August 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 17:35, 30 October 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Didier Digard (born 12 July 1986 in Gisors), is a French football midfielder currently playing for Middlesbrough.

[edit] Football career

Digard started his career with Le Havre, and spent eight years at the club.

In June 2007, he was strongly linked with a move from Le Havre to the English Premier League with Aston Villa, Reading and West Ham United interested.^[1] However, he eventually opted to stay in France, and signed a three year deal with Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain on 3 July 2007 for a transfer fee of €2.5 million.^[2] Digard made his debut for PSG in their opening match draw against Sochaux.

On 4 July 2008, he signed for Middlesbrough on a four-year contract after the club agreed a €5 million (£4 million) deal with PSG.^[3]

In the process of signing with Middlesbrough, Digard rejected overtures from Newcastle United, as well as Portsmouth and AS Monaco.^[4]

He made his Middlesbrough debut during the first fixture of the 2008–09 Premier League season, replacing Tuncay Sanli on the 72nd minute in the 2–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium. He made his first contribution of note in the 86th minute of the same game, when his wayward shot turned into an assist when it was deflected goalwards by Mido, a goal which turned out to be the winner.

He made his Cup debut against Yeovil Town in the Carling Cup. He scored a 30 yard goal and the score ended up 5–1 to Middlesbrough.^[5]

After another substitute appearance in the 2–1 away defeat to Liverpool, Digard once again came off the bench in the 2–1 home win against Stoke City. Once again, a mishit shot from Digard turned into an assist, with the ball falling to Tuncay to score the winner.

On 17 January 2009, Digard was sent off against West Bromwich Albion for a tackle on Borja Valero.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Didier Digard profile at the Middlesbrough official web site (English)
• Didier Digard career stats at Soccerbase