Pascal Vahirua
Encyclopedia
Pascal Vahirua is a retired French footballer of Tahiti
an descent, who played mostly as a left winger.
His career was intimately connected with AJ Auxerre
. Vahirua appeared for the French national team
at Euro 1992.
, Vahirua moved to AJ Auxerre
's youth academy in 1982, aged 16. He went on to amass nearly 400 official appearances for the club in nine full professional seasons, although he made his Ligue 1
debut on 25 September 1984, in a 3–1 home success against Stade Brestois 29
.
During the 90's, speedy Vahirua was part of a solid team whose offensive unit also included striker Gérald Baticle
, winger Christophe Cocard
and midfielder
Corentin Martins
, reaching the semifinals of the 1992–93 UEFA Cup, lost on penalties to Borussia Dortmund
; he left the club in 1995 – precisely the year the club would go on to conquer an historic double – with only the 1994 French Cup
to his credit.
In the following seven seasons, Vahirua represented SM Caen
, Atromitos F.C. in Greece
and Tours FC
, professionally retiring in 2002. He still played amateur football for three more years in the city of Auxerre
, with neighbours Stade Auxerrois and AJ's reserves, after which he took charge of football development in the area, which he accumulated with the club's youth sides.
for France
on 21 January 1990, in a friendly home with Kuwait
(1–0), and scored his only goal in another friendly, against Belgium in preparation for the UEFA Euro 1992 (3–3), on 25 March.
Summoned for the final stages by the coach who also gave him his debut, Michel Platini
, Vahirua played twice in an eventual group stage exit, and was also part of the nation's infamous 1994 FIFA World Cup
qualification campaign
, with two home losses in the final two rounds.
With a total of 22 internationals, Vahirua was the first Polynesian ever to don the French shirt.
. He was brought up in another famed academy in France, FC Nantes, appearing professionally for the club from 1999–2004.
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
an descent, who played mostly as a left winger.
His career was intimately connected with AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
. Vahirua appeared for the French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
at Euro 1992.
Club career
Discovered by legendary club manager Guy Roux, who was vacationing in TahitiTahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, Vahirua moved to AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
's youth academy in 1982, aged 16. He went on to amass nearly 400 official appearances for the club in nine full professional seasons, although he made his Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
debut on 25 September 1984, in a 3–1 home success against Stade Brestois 29
Stade Brestois 29
Stade Brestois 29 is a French football club based in Brest. The club was founded in 1903 under the name Armoricaine de Brest and adopted its current name in 1950...
.
During the 90's, speedy Vahirua was part of a solid team whose offensive unit also included striker Gérald Baticle
Gérald Baticle
Gérald Baticle , is a former French football player and manager.-Playing career:Baticle started his pro-career in his native Picardie region at Amiens SC but quickly attracted the attention of Guy Roux who recruited him at AJ Auxerre. He played his first game in Ligue 1 on September 19, 1991...
, winger Christophe Cocard
Christophe Cocard
Christophe Cocard, is a former footballer. He spent the majority of career at AJ Auxerre, while representing France at the Euro 1992....
and midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Corentin Martins
Corentin Martins
Corentin Martins da Silva , known as Martins, is a retired French footballer of Portuguese descent, who played as an attacking midfielder.-Club career:...
, reaching the semifinals of the 1992–93 UEFA Cup, lost on penalties to Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
; he left the club in 1995 – precisely the year the club would go on to conquer an historic double – with only the 1994 French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
to his credit.
In the following seven seasons, Vahirua represented SM Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
, Atromitos F.C. in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Tours FC
Tours FC
Tours Football Club is a French association football club based in Tours, the capital city of the Indre-et-Loire department. The club was formed in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Tours plays its home matches at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher located within...
, professionally retiring in 2002. He still played amateur football for three more years in the city of Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
, with neighbours Stade Auxerrois and AJ's reserves, after which he took charge of football development in the area, which he accumulated with the club's youth sides.
International career
Vahirua gained his first capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
on 21 January 1990, in a friendly home with Kuwait
Kuwait national football team
The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal...
(1–0), and scored his only goal in another friendly, against Belgium in preparation for the UEFA Euro 1992 (3–3), on 25 March.
Summoned for the final stages by the coach who also gave him his debut, Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Michel François Platini is a former French football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He participated in the 1978, 1982...
, Vahirua played twice in an eventual group stage exit, and was also part of the nation's infamous 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
qualification campaign
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
, with two home losses in the final two rounds.
With a total of 22 internationals, Vahirua was the first Polynesian ever to don the French shirt.
Honours
- Auxerre:
- French CupCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
: 1993–94 - Gambardella CupCoupe GambardellaThe Coupe Gambardella is a French football cup competition held between the under-19s of the French football clubs, organized by the French Football Federation ....
: 1985 - French Third DivisionChampionnat NationalThe Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
: 1985–86
- French Cup
Personal
Vahirua is cousin to another footballer (and winger), Marama VahiruaMarama Vahirua
Marama Vahirua is a French footballer who plays for Monaco, on loan from Nancy, as a forward.-Career:Vahirua started his career at the famed youth academy of Nantes. He then went to Nice in August 2004, where he enjoyed two spectacular seasons, being reconverted to attacking midfielder in the...
. He was brought up in another famed academy in France, FC Nantes, appearing professionally for the club from 1999–2004.