#12

PLATINI

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The Three times European Footballer of the year and probably the best footballer to have been produced by his country (France), Michel Platini led France to two World Cup semi-finals and to the title during the 1984 European Championship. With Juventus he won the 1985 edition of the European Cup. One of the greatest passers of the ball in the history of the game, Platini was an natural #10, who orchestrated various attacks, scored his share of goals, and was also a great master of free-kicks, a skill which he perfected using a row of dummies during training. During his professional football career, Platini played for the clubs Nancy, Saint-Étienne, and Juventus, and was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top goalscorer and voted the best player. He also participated in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in the latter two. Platini, Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana together made up the “carré magique” (French for “magic square”), the group of midfield players that formed the heart of the French team in the 1980s.

Michel Platini in action for Juventus against AS Roma

Platini was a versatile offensive midfield playmaker renowned for his control, technical ability, and vision, Platini is regarded as one of the best passers in football history, and one of the best penalty kick and free kick specialists. Despite primarily being a creative midfielder who provided assists, Platini was also a prolific goalscorer, renowned for his accurate finishing ability, winning the Serie A capocannoniere award three consecutive times between 1983-1985; he was also the top scorer of Juventus’s victorious 1984-85 European Cup campaign. Platini was the record goalscorer of the France national team until striker Thierry Henry surpassed the 41 goals mark in 2007; Platini holds the record for most goals (9) scored in European Championship final tournaments despite only appearing in the victorious 1984 edition. Due to his leadership, as well as his technical and creative attributes, he was given the nickname “Le Roi”.

Platini was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honour on 29 April 1985 and became Officier in 1988. He was the French national team coach for four years, and was the co-organizer of the 1998 World Cup in France. He has also been the chairman of the FIFA Technical and Development Committee, and vice-president of theFrench Football Federation. -Wiki