Youl moved to North End following a last gasp bid to snatch him from the clutches of Championship rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers for whom he had played three trial games during the summer of 2004.

He arrived at Deepdale on a Bosman free transfer after his contract at Derby County came to an end. The Frenchman was a popular player for the Rams and was voted as the club's player of the year in the 2003/04 campaign.

The defender followed it up with the Preston Player of the Year award the following season, after an outstanding season where he was an ever present and formed a tremendous partnership with Chris Lucketti.

The following season may have seen him partnered by someone else but the outcome was the same - outstanding as he and Claude Davis at the back proved a rock difficult to move.

Mawene spent four years at Pride Park, two of which were in the Premiership where he became good friends with Brian O'Neil who he links up with once again at Deepdale.

His most memorable match with the Rams no doubt the win over Manchester United at Old Trafford which kept Derby in the Premiership back in 2001.

Before moving to England, Mawene was an important part of the Lens side which was defeated by Arsenal in the semi-finals of the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup.

He missed the whole of last season after snapping both his cruciate and medial ligament during the final pre season match with Manchester United.

He returned to full training during the latter part of the season and played in a handful of reserve team games to try and force his way back into contention. Thankfully, he has now returned to full fitness, becoming a mainstay in the Preston side throughout the 2007/08 season.