Plymouth Argyle supporters will always thank Paul Sturrock for unearthing French gem - He remains an all-time Argyle great | OneFootball

David Friio was a superb player for Plymouth Argyle.

The early 2000s marked a crucial period in Plymouth Argyle's history as they sought to climb back up the English football pyramid, with the Pilgrims languishing in the Third Division (League Two).

In the 1997-98 season, they were relegated from the Second Division (League One) after a dismal campaign, and three disappointing seasons followed, with Argyle stuck in mid-table mediocrity.

Then, in October 2000, Paul Sturrock arrived, tasked with building his own squad and guiding Plymouth away from this low point in their history.

The Scotsman immediately set to work, using his contacts to bring two French players on trial in the South West. They were David Friio and his goalkeeping compatriot Romain Larrieu, both recently relegated from French second-tier side Valence.

Both players went on to become club icons, but it was Friio who particularly captured the imagination of Argyle fans. Under Sturrock’s guidance, Friio was converted from a defender to a box-to-box, goalscoring midfielder.

His contributions played a key role in Argyle’s rise up the English pyramid, and Argyle supporters will forever be grateful for Sturrock’s discovery of their French gem.

David Friio arrives at Plymouth Argyle

Having spent his early career with various French sides, it will come as little surprise to supporters that a move to Argyle was not initially an appealing prospect for Friio.

"An agent called me and said 'Listen, you know in England it's a bit special, it's different than France, they have got short-term contracts," the Frenchman recalled to the Green and White Podcast. "You can train, you can even play for them, and it's a monthly contract so you can leave whenever you want, so it gives you the opportunity to be there'.

"I said 'Okay, which division?' They said 'Fourth Division'. I said 'No thank you, I'm not coming'. Then I was about to sign for a first-division club in Belgium and Romain called me.

"He said to me 'You should come, I have been on trial in Scotland and now there is the opportunity in the south-west of England, maybe it's a good opportunity.' It was the same agent so I said 'I will give it a go'. This is really the start of the story with Argyle."

From that moment, he quickly endeared himself to the supporters, and after impressing in training, he was given his debut against bitter rivals Exeter City. The Pilgrims went on to win the match 2-0, and Friio's commanding performance in midfield proved to be a foretaste of what was to come.

David Friio becomes a Plymouth icon

After integrating himself into the side in 2000-01, Friio became a key part of the setup the following season, with Sturrock placing his trust in the Frenchman at the heart of midfield.

Scoring 11 goals from central midfield, Friio helped Plymouth cruise to the Third Division title, as a squad featuring players like Graham Coughlan, Mickey Evans (pictured above), and Marino Keith stormed to the title with an impressive 102 points.

The Second Division proved a step-up for everyone involved, but the Frenchman continued to play a crucial role, scoring six goals in 36 appearances to help Sturrock’s side secure a respectable eighth-place finish. This laid the groundwork for the following campaign, and despite Sturrock's departure for Southampton with 12 games remaining, the team went on to secure promotion to the First Division (Championship).

Friio was quite brilliant during that campaign and netted an astonishing 14 in 36 games from central midfield. This included doubles over Port Vale and Sheffield Wednesday as well as a miraculous hat-trick in a 7-0 victory over Chesterfield.

The jump to what is now the Championship proved an exciting chapter for all Argyle supporters, but contract issues loomed in the background, as Friio's deal was set to expire at the end of the season. He featured in the opening 28 games of the campaign, but rather than risk losing him on a free transfer, the club decided to sell him to Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £100,000, with then-manager Bobby Williamson unwilling to budge on the wage structure.

His time at Plymouth was nothing short of magical, and the French midfielder ultimately recorded an impressive 44 goals in 185 appearances – figures that truly cemented his status as a club icon.