Michel Platini

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Michel Platini
Michel Platini

Michel Platini (born June 21, 1955 in Joeuf (Département Meurthe-et-Moselle) is a former French football player, widely regarded as one of the most elegant midfielders of his generation.

Born in Lorraine by Italian descent, his father Aldo Platini and his wife were Italian cooker, Platini started at French club Nancy-Lorraine before moving on to Saint-Etienne, where he won the league title in 1981. In 1982 he moved to Italian club side Juventus, scoring 68 goals in 147 league games as a midfielder, and being Serie A's top goalscorer three years in a row. Platini helped the club win two league titles, the Italian Cup, the European Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.

Platini captained the French national team to European Championship honors in 1984, becoming the top scorer of the tournament with 9 goals.

Platini was one of the greatest passers of the ball in the history of the game, and, despite nominally a midfielder, also an outstanding goalscorer. In the words of Bobby Charlton, "he could thread the ball through the eye of a needle as well as finish." Platini was also a master of the free kick, which he practised using a row of dummies during training.

He was voted European footballer of the year (Ballon d'or) an unprecedented three times in succession, in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Platini was, together with François-Cyrille Grange, the lighter of the Olympic Flame at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. He was also the head of the organizing committee for the 1998 World Cup, held in France.

Contents

Teams

Honours

Decorations

Michel Platini was appointed as "Chevalier" (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 1985 and became "Officier" (Officer) in 1988.

Club honours

International honours

72 matches, 41 goals, captain 49 times. French all-time top goalscorer

Managerial career


Preceded by:
Paolo Rossi
European Footballer of the Year
1983
Succeeded by:
retained
Preceded by:
current holder
European Footballer of the Year
1984
Succeeded by:
retained
Preceded by:
current holder
European Footballer of the Year
1985
Succeeded by:
Igor Belanov
Preceded by:
Henri Michel
French national football coach'
1988–1992
Succeeded by:
Gérard Houllier
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