Sylvain Armand

Sylvain Armand (born 1 August 1980) is a French former professional footballer who played as a left-back for Rennes, Paris Saint-Germain, Nantes, and Clermont.

He wasn't retained for the club's senior squad and thus moved to Clermont Foot in 1999, where he received his professional debut.

[citation needed] In 2004, Armand and Nantes teammate Mario Yepes both moved to Paris Saint-Germain for approximately $5 million.

[6] In 2007–08, Armand lost his starting spot status for a game against Valenciennes FC in favour of youngster Mamadou Sakho, who also became the youngest captain in the history of the PSG at the age of 17.

During this barren spell, he formed an efficient partnership on the left flank with Jérôme Rothen, and they were a major revelation in an otherwise disappointing Parisian side.

[7][8] After the arrival of new coach Antoine Kombouaré in 2009, Armand was deployed in positions other than left-back, playing in central defence and even as a defensive midfielder when needed.

On 17 April 2011, he reached a new landmark when he participated in his 319th game for PSG, thus overtaking legendary goalkeeper Bernard Lama's record.

[9] After Carlo Ancelotti replaced the sacked Antoine Kombouaré, Armand struggled to remain a regular starter, especially after the influx of new players brought in by the club's wealthy new Qatari owners, led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Armand training alongside Jérôme Rothen in 2010