Footballer, coach, and administrator, born in Joeuf, Merthe de Moselle, NE France. Generally regarded as the greatest French player, Platini made his senior debut for Nancy-Lorraine in 1973 and won his first international cap in 1976. A midfield player, he scored 41 times in 72 international appearances for France, leading them to the European Championship in 1984. He reached his peak as a player with Juventus between 1982 and 1988, winning election three times running (19835) as European Footballer of the Year. He coached France from 1989 to 1992, and as FIFA Sports Director (from 1998) was largely responsible for organizing the 1998 World Cup in France.
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| Michel Platini | |||||||||||||||
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Michel Platini (left) with Lionel Jospin in 1997. |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Michel François Platini | ||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | June 21, 1955 | ||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jœuf, France | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Platoche | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||
| Youth clubs | |||||||||||||||
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1966-1972 |
AS Joeuf |
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| Professional clubs* | |||||||||||||||
| Years | Club | Apps (goals) | |||||||||||||
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1972-1979 1979-1982 1982-1987 |
AS Nancy Saint-Étienne Juventus |
175 (98) 107 (58) 147 (68) |
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| National team | |||||||||||||||
| 1976-1987 | France | 72 (41) | |||||||||||||
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* Professional club appearances and goals Platini was part of the France national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the best player and top goalscorer. He was a notable taker of free kicks, as demonstrated by his numerous goals from dead balls with the national team and with the club Juventus, where Platini played for five years and won most of his club career honours. He was the France national team coach four years, and was the co-organizer of the 1998 World Cup in France. Club careerEarly career, Nancy and Saint-ÉtiennePlatini started his professional career at French club AS Nancy-Lorraine in September 1972. Platini helped the club win two league titles, the Italian Cup, the European Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup. 1985 European Cup finalPlatini scored the goal that gave Juventus the European Cup 1984-85 title, in the final against Liverpool FC. National teamPlatini was an integral part of the "carré magique" (French for "Magic Square") that included Alain Giresse, Luis Fernandez and Jean Tigana. From 1976 to 1987, Platini played 72 matches for the national team – 49 of them as captain – and scored 41 goals, including 27 goals in 41 matches in official FIFA competitions. 1978 World CupPlatini made his first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1978, aged 22. France didn't pass the first group stage, but Platini scored his first World Cup goal against Argentina who would go on to become champions. 1982 World CupDuring the 1982 World Cup qualification in 1981, once again, he scored a goal through a free-kick, described as "sumptuous" by the official 2002 FIFA World Cup site, against Netherlands that would give France "a ticket" to the World Cup. 1984 European ChampionshipPlatini captained the French national team to European Championship honours in 1984. Platini scored the first goal of the tournament against Denmark, as France won 1-0. Platini played in all five matches and scored all five game-winning goals, finishing as the top scorer of the tournament, with nine goals. 1986 World CupIn 1985, as he had done 4 and 8 years before, Platini scored, against Yugoslavia, the goal that ensured qualification for France to the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. At the World Cup finals, France finished third, with Platini scoring two goals, one in the Round of 16 against Italy and one in the quarter-finals against Brazil. Playing style
Platini is considered a football legend. Coaching careerAfter hanging his boots in 1987, Platini became a coach. Although Platini did not achieve qualifying to the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he qualified the team for the 1992 European Championship at which France drew two games and lost one in the group stage. Administrative rolesPlatini was, along with Fernand Sastre, head of the organizing committee for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, held in France. "What Zidane does with a ball, Maradona could do with an orange." HonoursPlatini was voted European footballer of the year (Ballon d'Or) by the magazine France Football three times, in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
References and notes^ IFFHS' Century Elections - rsssf.com - by Karel Stokkermans, RSSSF, 2000. |
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