David Ginola

1997-2000
Appearances: 127. Goals: 22.
League Cup winner, 1999.
PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, 1999.

David Ginola lit up the Lane in the late 1990s. With his movie star looks and style both on and off the pitch, Ginola was pure box office - his performances worthy of star billing.

A throwback to our great wingers Cliff Jones and Chris Waddle, Ginola had the lot – skill, pace, strength, the ability to shoot and cross with both feet and that French flamboyance we all loved.

If anyone needs convincing just how good Ginola was at his peak in 1998/99, just take a look at individual honours that season. Manchester United won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. They had Schmeichel, Neville, Stam, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Sheringham, Yorke and Cole. Household names across the world. Yet Ginola won both the PFA and Football Writers’ awards. That’s how good he was.

Ginola was the inspiration as we toppled United in quarter-finals of the League Cup, the only trophy Alex Ferguson’s men didn’t win in 98/99. We went on to win that trophy against Leicester City.

Loved by the fans, Ginola put together a showreel of spectacular goals - highlights include FA Cup goals against Barnsley, Leeds, Watford and Wimbledon in the FA Cup, a shift away from Giggs and ping into the top corner against United in that League Cup tie and Premier League strikes against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Everton. We could go on - David didn’t do tap-ins!

Born in Gassin, France, David’s performances for PSG – including an ECWC semi-final win against Arsenal in 1994 – caught the eye of Newcastle and he helped the Toon to successive second places in the Premier League in 1995/96 and 1996/97. After three years at Spurs, David had spells at Villa and Everton. He retired in 2002.

Now a TV personality in France, including hosting the French equivalent of Match of the Day, David recovered from a heart scare in 2016 and was back home again in March, 2019, to play for our Legends team against Inter at the new stadium.