Michel Platini

Le Roi of French football, three-time Ballon d'Or winner and UEFA president.

Michel François Platini (born 21 June 1955) is a French football administrator and former player and manager. Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Platini won the Ballon d'Or three times in a row, in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and came seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. In recognition of his achievements, he was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1985 and became an Officer in 1998. As the president of UEFA in 2015 he was banned from involvement in football under FIFA's organisation, over ethics violations. The ban lasted until 2023.

Quick Facts

Office: President of UEFA
Took office: 26 January 2007
Left office: 21 December 2015
Predecessor: Lennart Johansson
Successor: Ángel María Villar (acting); Aleksander Čeferin
Birth name: Michel François Platini
Born: 21 June 1955
Birthplace: Jœuf, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France

Lore & Background

Michel François Platini was born on 21 June 1955 in Jœuf, Meurthe-et-Moselle, the son of Aldo and Anna (née Piccinelli), both of Italian ancestry. He played for Nancy, Saint-Étienne, and Juventus. Nicknamed Le Roi, he was a prolific goalscorer, winning the Serie A capocannoniere award three consecutive times between 1983 and 1985, and was the top scorer of Juventus's victorious 1984–85 European Cup campaign. Platini was a key player for France that won the 1984 European Championship, where he was top scorer and best player, and reached the semi-finals of the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

Together with Alain Giresse, Luis Fernández and Jean Tigana, he formed the carré magique. He was France's record goalscorer until 2007, and held the record for most goals (9) in the European Championship until 2021. After retiring, he coached France from 1988 to 1992, co-organized the 1998 World Cup, and became UEFA president in 2007.

Reader's Guide

Platini began his professional career at Nancy in 1972, helping them win the 1978 French Cup. He moved to Saint-Étienne in 1979, winning the French league title in 1981. In 1982 he joined Juventus, where he won Serie A titles in 1984 and 1986, the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1984, the European Super Cup in 1984, the European Cup in 1985, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1985. He finished top scorer in Serie A three times and was top scorer in the 1984–85 European Cup.