Didier Frédéric Thierry Digard (born 12 July 1986) is a French professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Le Havre.

[4] Digard impressed the Le Havre's academy that they offered him a contract, leading him to join the club at age twelve.

[5][3] While progressing through the academy, Digard revealed that he had a behaviour problems, getting into fights but the club's then coach Mohamed Sall convinced him to stay and later credited him for understanding and believing in him.

In June 2007, Digard was strongly linked with a move from Le Havre to the Premier League clubs, with Aston Villa, Reading and West Ham United interested.

[6][7] However, he eventually opted to stay in France, and signed a three-year deal with Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on 3 July 2007 for a transfer fee of €2.5 million.

[8] Upon joining the club, manager Paul Le Guen said: "I had one look at Digard and instantly decided that he was the right sort of player for us.

"[18] Digard made his Middlesbrough debut during the first fixture of the 2008–09 Premier League season replacing Tuncay in the 72nd minute in the 2–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium.

[20] After another substitute appearance in the 2–1 away defeat to Liverpool, he, once again, came off the bench in the 2–1 home win against Stoke City, which his misfire shot turned into an assist, with the ball falling to Tuncay to score the winner.

[28] But his return was short–lived when in a 0–0 draw against Wigan on 21 February 2009, Digard was involved in a challenge by Lee Cattermole and was stretchered off midway through the first half suffering an injury to his medial ligaments in his right knee as well as a rupture to the quadriceps muscle in his left leg.

[30] Following the three-month injury lay-off, Digard returned to the team squad as an unused substitute in a 0–0 draw against Fulham on 18 April 2009.

[37] However, Digard soon found his first team opportunities limited for the side, due to rotation change under the new management of Gordon Strachan.

[40] Digard joined French Ligue 1 club Nice on loan for six months on 8 January 2010,[41] having been limited to 34 appearances for Middlesbrough due to a series of injuries.

"[43] Two days later on 10 January 2010, Digard made his Nice debut in the first round of the Coupe de France against Stade Plabennécois, starting the match before being substituted in the 73rd minute, in a 2–1 loss.

[44] Six days later on 16 January 2010, he made his league debut for the club, starting the match before being substituted in the 82nd minute, in a 1–0 loss against Montpellier.

Upon returning to Middlesbrough in the summer, Digard was told by manager Gordon Strachan that he was surplus to requirements and should seek a move elsewhere.

Having featured regularly throughout the campaign, a deal was agreed between both clubs,[59] and Digard completed his permanent transfer in July 2011 for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.

[60] Digard expressed his hope to get his career back on track at Nice following difficult experiences at Paris Saint-Germain and Middlesbrough and to return to the France national side.

[61] "Didier will play in front of the defence," said manager Eric Roy, "this is a pivotal position in modern football and he has all the qualities to do so.

[89] He played and captained the side in both legs of the UEFA Europa League, as Nice lost 2–1 on aggregate against Apollon Limassol.

[94] It wasn't until on 5 January 2014 when Digard scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against Nantes in the first round of the Coupe de France.

[115] At the end of the 2014–15 season, Digard went on to make sixteen appearances and scoring once in all competitions, having helped the club finish in eleventh place in the league.

[122] After an injury of Alfred N'Diaye, Digard was given his first Real Betis start, where he played 45 minutes before being substituted at half time, in a 1–0 win against Málaga on 7 November 2015.

Digard reflected his time in his first season at Real Betis, saying: "Unfortunately I hurt myself just before the first league game and as the team was going well, it was difficult to replay.

[128] It wasn't until on 17 October 2016 when Digard made his CA Osasuna debut, starting a match before being substituted in the 71st minute, in a 3–2 win against Eibar.

[130] It was announced that Digard was sidelined between six and eight months following a successful surgery[131] Following this, he never played for the club for the rest of the 2016–17 season and went on to make three appearances for the side.

[132] It came after when the club's president Ángel Haro told Digard that he was no longer feature in the first team plan ahead of the 2017–18 season.

[133] It was announced on 8 January 2018 Digard signed for Lorca in the Spanish Segunda División for the rest of the season, having spent four months as a free agent.

[135] Digard made his Lorca debut on 11 February 2018, starting a match before being substituted in the 82nd minute, in a 3–0 loss against Reus Deportiu.

[140] In October 2018, he trialled with Ligue 2 side Paris FC for several weeks, but the club decided not to sign him, stating they needed players who would be "physically ready" soon.

"[4] His performance at Middlesbrough led then France Manager Raymond Domenech to be called up for a practice match following an injury crisis in October 2008.