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Michel Platini was born on 21 June 1955 in Jœuf, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. His parents were of Italian descent, though they were both born in France. Coming from a modest background, Platini took to football at a young age, reportedly beginning to play at just seven years old. His father, Aldo Platini, was a former professional footballer who later managed the local club AS Nancy.
Encouraged and supported by his father, Michel Platini joined AS Nancy’s youth team. Despite a setback during a 1969 youth tournament, his talent remained evident. In 1972, under his father’s management, he was signed to the senior team of AS Nancy. Over the following seven years, Platini developed into a top-tier midfielder, leading the club to several notable victories, including winning the Coupe de France in 1978.
In 1979, after making a significant mark at Nancy, Platini signed with AS Saint-Étienne, one of France’s most prominent clubs at the time. While his tenure there was less celebrated than his spells at other clubs, he still played an instrumental role in helping the team win the French league title in 1981. Despite Saint-Étienne’s domestic success, Platini's personal performances saw both highs and lows during this period.
In 1982, Michel Platini transferred to Italian giants Juventus. Though his initial displays drew some criticism, he quickly adapted and became a central figure for the club. He helped Juventus win the Serie A in the 1983–84 and 1985–86 seasons. Platini also led Juventus to victory in the 1984 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the 1985 European Cup—scoring the decisive goal in the final against Liverpool.
From 1983 to 1985, Platini won the Ballon d’Or three consecutive times, an accolade awarded to the best footballer in the world. He also topped Serie A’s scoring charts for three straight seasons during this period, demonstrating his exceptional ability as a goal-scoring midfielder.
The 1985 European Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool, held at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, was overshadowed by a tragic incident. Just before the match began, rioting between the two sets of fans led to the collapse of a wall, resulting in the deaths of 39 people and injuries to over 600 others. Platini scored the winning goal from a penalty in the match, although the victory remained deeply marred by the tragedy.
Platini faced some criticism for celebrating the goal, though later clarified he had not been fully aware of the scale of the disaster during the game. The Heysel tragedy remains one of the darkest days in football history.
Michel Platini's international career with the French national team was equally distinguished. He first represented France in the 1976 Olympics, although the team was eliminated in the group stage. In the 1982 FIFA World Cup, he played a pivotal role in leading France to the semifinals, where they lost to West Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout. Platini has described this match as one of the most memorable moments of his international career.
His greatest international triumph came in 1984, when he captained France to victory in the UEFA European Championship. He was instrumental throughout the tournament, scoring nine goals—a record for a single Euro campaign that still stands.
Following his retirement from professional play in 1987, Platini transitioned into coaching and football administration. He served as the head coach of the French national team from 1988 to 1992. Although his tenure as coach did not result in significant success, it marked the beginning of his move into football governance.
In 2007, Platini was elected President of UEFA, the governing body for European football, after previously holding roles within both UEFA and FIFA. He served in that position until 2015, initiating reforms and changes aimed at balancing club competition across Europe. His presidency focused on financial fair play and reforming the UEFA Champions League structure.
Platini's career in football administration came to an abrupt halt due to a financial scandal. In 2015, he was banned from football-related activities after being found guilty of receiving an improper payment of $2 million from then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Although Platini argued the payment was for consultancy work, the lack of written documentation led to his suspension by FIFA's ethics committee.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the decision, resulting in a multi-year ban from all football administration roles. Platini has continually denied any wrongdoing and has stated his intention to clear his name.
Michel Platini is married to Christelle Platini, and they reside in France with their family. Widely regarded as one of the greatest French footballers of all time, he remains a significant figure in the history of European football. Despite controversies later in his career, his contributions as a player and administrator have left a lasting impact on the sport.
His exact net worth and salary figures remain undisclosed, but his long and successful career in football—both on and off the pitch—have made him a wealthy and influential figure in the sport's history.
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