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 captain of the side within a short period, helping them reach the 1997 and 1998 League Cup finals and also winning the top division title in 1999.
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 in Segunda División; after only ten matches to help the Andalusians win promotion to La Liga, he decided to retire at the age of 32 after suffering a serious injury.
On 24 October 2003, Pavon became head coach at Bordeaux after replacing the dismissed Élie Baup,[3] earning a two-year extension at the season's end.
[4] In 2004–05, he suffered from a heart problem which caused him to miss the last three games of the campaign, and president Jean-Louis Triaud announced in June 2005 that the manager was standing down; he continued his work at the club in a scouting function, as Ricardo Gomes took charge.