Forever Green Member - 818

Forever Green Icon - Class of 2024

When Argyle took the field against Exeter City in December 2000, there was a name on the team sheet precious few had heard of.

D. Friio was news to most Pilgrims in the ground that day. In an era before social media and the like, the signing of Friio, which was a short-term deal, went under the radar. Few could would have predicted the extraordinary impact Friio would have on Plymouth Argyle.

During the rest of that season, in the fourth tier, it became clear that the French midfielder was a class act, and plenty of Argyle fans suspected he would play at a higher level. He did – and it was with the Pilgrims!

Few had more impact on Argyle in the first few years of the 21st century than David. He was integral to the title-winning promotions of 2001/02 and 2003/04, and epitomised the recruitment process of Paul Sturrock, who plucked Friio and Romain Larrieu from relative obscurity in their native France, and turned them into heroes in the English South West.

David played 188 times for Argyle, scoring 44 goals, the most iconic of which was the second as Argyle beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 to clinch the Division Three title at Home Park in April 2004.

Chapeau, David!