Franck Ribéry

Franck Ribéry: French winger, Bayern Munich legend, and one of the greatest wingers of his generation.

Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry (born 7 April 1983) is a French former professional footballer who primarily played as a winger, preferably on the left side, and was known for his pace, energy, skill, and precise passing. He is regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest wingers in the history of the sport.

Quick Facts

Full name: Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry
Born: 7 April 1983
Birthplace: Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, France
Height: 1.70 m / 5 ft 7 in
Position: Winger
Current club: Salernitana (technical collaborator)

Lore & Background

Ribéry began his career in 1989 as a youth player for FC Conti Boulogne. He left after seven years to join Lille, but departed after three years due to difficulties adjusting. In 1999, he joined US Boulogne for two years, then spent two more years in the amateur divisions with Alès and Brest. He earned a move to Metz in 2004, then joined Galatasaray in January 2005, winning the Turkish Cup.

After six months, he left controversially to join Marseille, where he spent two seasons, helping the club reach the Coupe de France final in back-to-back seasons. In 2007, he joined Bayern Munich for a then club-record fee of €25 million. With Bayern, he won nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokal, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup, including five doubles and one treble, amounting to 24 titles over twelve seasons. His form in the 2012–13 treble-winning season saw him nominated alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

He was known for his partnership with Arjen Robben, nicknamed 'Robbery'. He left Bayern in summer 2019, joined Fiorentina, then Salernitana, and retired in 2022. He played for France 81 times between 2006 and 2014, appearing at two World Cups (2006, 2010) and two European Championships (2008, 2012). He is a three-time French Player of the Year, won German Footballer of the Year, was named to the UEFA Team of the Year, and won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in 2013. He is currently a technical collaborator at Salernitana.

Did You Know?

Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries in a car accident at age two, requiring over 100 stitches and leaving scars on the right side of his face.
He worked as a construction worker with his father before joining Stade Brestois in 2003.
He was nicknamed 'Ferraribery' by Galatasaray fans for his acceleration.