Place of birth La Ciotat, France 1994–1996 Montpellier Position Midfielder 1986–1994 Toulouse Height 1.80 m | Years Team Role Footballer Playing position Name Michel Pavon | |
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Date of birth (1968-11-07) 7 November 1968 (age 47) Number 7 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / Midfielder) | ||
Michel Pavon (born 7 November 1968) is a French retired footballer, and a current 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 Bordeaux, as both a player and coach.
Football career
Pavon was born in La Ciotat, Bouches-du-Rhône (in the Marseille region) to a Spanish father, Pépito Pavon, who was also a footballer, and a French mother, and started his professional football career with Toulouse FC, playing his first Ligue 1 match on 7 November 1986 against Paris Saint-Germain FC (3–2 away win on the day of his 18th birthday). During 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 top division title in 1999.
In his last years 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 26 August 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 in Segunda División; after only ten matches to help the Andalusian side return to La Liga, he decided to hang up his boots after suffering a serious injury.
On 24 October 2003 Pavon became head coach at Bordeaux, replacing dismissed Élie Baup, and earning a two-year extension at the season's end. In the 2004–05 campaign, he suffered from a heart problem which caused him to miss the last three games of the season, and team 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.
In the 2010 summer Pavon returned again to Bordeaux, being named newly appointed coach Jean Tigana's assistant.