Written on 17-Apr-2010 by
davidbruce__4__.jpg "Friio David.jpg")
It is always difficult to judge whether a new signing is going to succeed and throughout history players that looked a good signing on arrival turned out not to prove the success that was hoped for. One of these players was David Friio.-
- David was a French footballer who began his career as a defender with local French league side Épinal in 1994. He made 104 appearances for the club scoring 5 goals before moving to Ligue 2 side Nimes in 1997. In a two year spell at Nimes he made 50 appearances scoring 2 goals. In 1999 he then moved to another Ligue 2 side, Valence. He would only spend one year at his new club as they were relegated meaning cutbacks were required.
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- Friio was one of the players that was released and along with Valence team mate Romain Larrieu they crossed the Channel and signed for Plymouth Argyle in 2000 after impressing in a trial period. It was at Plymouth where manager Paul Sturrock converted Friio from a Defender to a Midfielder. Once he broke into the team in December 2000 there was no looking back for Friio who soon established himself as an important member of the team.
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- In his second season at the club he helped the Pilgrims to win the League Two Title with an impressive total of 102 points. Friio’s performances had impressed fellow players and he was rewarded with an inclusion in the Divisional Team of the Season.
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- Friio and his Plymouth team mates settled well into the higher division and only two seasons later were tasting further glory when they won the League One title. Friio again impressed and was named in the Divisional Team of the Season again.
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- When the new season began with things were different at Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock had moved on and had been replaced by Bobby Williamson, also Friio began the season in an unusual position as a substitute. He soon forced his way into the team but by the time January arrived there were a number of rumours linking Friio with a move to pastures new. Friio was out of contract at the end of the season and the club were unlikely to offer him the deal required so instead of losing him for nothing in the summer they accepted a £ 100,000 from relegation threatened Nottingham Forest on 14th February.
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- It was not a happy start to the club for Friio as would only play 5 games in three months as he was troubled by a calf injury and unable to prevent his new club from relegation. Fully fit for the start of the new season Friio would feature regulary for Forest but injuries struck again and would not play again after a 1-1 draw at Rotherham on 21 January 2006.
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- This would be Friio’s last ever game as although he reported for pre-season training ready for the 2006/07 season he found he had lost his appitite for the game and announced his retirement.
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- Friio then returned to France to began a business within Football. He also acted as a French scout for his final club Nottingham Forest and recommended Guy Moussi to the club. It would a short spell with Forest before Manchester United came calling and he now fills a similar role with them.
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- Perhaps it was the case of the right player at the wrong time for Friio and Nottingham Forest as the club were in need of a box to box central midfielder but he joined the club just as it was in meltdown with numerous rumours of dressing room unrest. His record at Plymouth shows the player had talent so he will go down as one that got away.
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- CAREER STATS
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- Epinal (FRA) 1994/95 to 1996/97 104 (5)
- Nimes (FRA) 1997/98 to 1998/99 50 (2)
- Valence (FRA) 1999/2000 33 (3)
- Plymouth Argyle 2000/01 to 2004/05 167 (39)
- NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2004/05 to 2005/06 22 (1)
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- NFFC SEASON BY SEASON
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- 2004/05 League 5 (0)
- 2005/06 League 11+6 (1)
- TOTAL LEAGUE 16+6 (1)
PLAYED FOR US AND THEM » Plymouth Argyle - David Friio
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