Cédric Daniel Franck Bardon (born 15 October 1976) is a French former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Bardon began his career at the local Lyon in 1992âÂÂ93. He stayed in the team after 1997âÂÂ98, having proven himself as an established player. Bardon played for Rennes between 1998âÂÂ99 and 2000âÂÂ01. He also had a trial with Premier League side Sunderland in August 2000 and played three pre-season matches for Sunderland against Fortuna Sittard, ASV Apeldoornse Boys and SC Heerenveen respectively. Bardon then moved to Guingamp to remain there until January 2004, when he was transferred to Le Havre.
Bardon was then signed by Bulgarian team Levski Sofia, after a scramble of interesting events. First, he arrived late in the transfer period and having not played for his former club in the previous months, being out of shape. Levski set up a friendly match against the team of Sliven only to have Bardon tried out. Many powerful figures for Levski came to the friendly, most notably Nasko Sirakov and then-owner Todor Batkov. Later it would become clear that they came to watch for Bardon's performance and decide whether to sign him on the spot. Bardon was decided upon after the first half of the match and was offered a contract with Levski. With the team, he played in the UEFA Cup 2005-06, notably scoring a goal against Auxerre in Levski's 2âÂÂ1 loss and being controversially sent off by referee Mike Riley in the first leg against Schalke 04 in the quarter-finals. With Levski Sofia he reached 1/4 finals of UEFA Cup in 2005âÂÂ06. Next season, Levski Sofia with Bardon, reached the group-stage of UEFA Champions League, becoming the first Bulgarian team that reached the groups.
On 14 January 2008, Bardon signed for the Israeli team, Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv He scored two goals for his debut on 26 January 2008 against F.C. Ashdod and Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv went on to win the match 3âÂÂ2.
After the 2007âÂÂ08 season Bardon was transferred to Cypriot champion Anorthosis Famagusta, which paid US$200,000 for him. With Anorthosis, Bardon played in the Champions League, the first time for a Cypriot team.
In the group stage, they earned their first point following a 0âÂÂ0 away draw with Werder Bremen, then got their first win beating Panathinaikos 3âÂÂ1 while Hawar Mulla Mohammed became the first Iraqi player to score in the UEFA Champions League, although they lost to Inter Milan 1âÂÂ0 at San Siro, they drew 3âÂÂ3 in GSP Stadium.
In their fifth Champions League game, Anorthosis had a chance to make it to the knock-out stage if they would have won against Werder Bremen. Anorthosis went up 2âÂÂ0, but in the second half Diego made the score 2âÂÂ1, and minutes before the match ended, Hugo Almeida managed to equalise for Bremen, and the match finished 2âÂÂ2. Anorthosis still had a chance to get into the knock-out stage in the final match against Panathinaikos if they won. However, in the last game they lost 1âÂÂ0 away to Panathinaikos. Inter (who had already qualified for the next stage) lost 1âÂÂ0 to Bremen, meaning that Anorthosis finished fourth â missing out on a consolation UEFA Cup place.
On 2 July 2009, it was announced that Bardon would return to Levski Sofia in a week. He arrived in Bulgaria the next day, to join PFC Levski Sofia for a second time. In the airport, Bardon was wearing Levski Sofia's kit. A few hours later, he signed a two-year contract with the Blues.
Bardon started his second spell at Levski on 15 July 2009 in the second Qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, where Levski beat UE Sant Juliàof Andorra. The result of the match was a 4âÂÂ0 home win for Levski.
In the next round, Levski Sofia faced FK Baku. The blues eliminated the team from Azerbaijan 2âÂÂ0 (on aggregate). In the play-off round Levski was eliminated by Debreceni VSC with 4âÂÂ1 (on aggregate). However, Levski qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
In the 2009/2010 season, despite a couple of bad games and results, Levski qualified for the UEFA Europa League after finishing third in the final ranking.
On 4 June 2010, it was decided that Bardon was to be released by Levski Sofia.
After Bardon was officially released from Levski, on 10 June 2010 he signed a one-year contract with French Championnat National club ÃÂtoile Fréjus Saint-Raphaël.
Lyon
Levski Sofia