MICHEL PLATINI

Michel François Platini (born June 21, 1955 in Jœuf, France) is a French former football player, manager and current president of UEFA. Platini was a member of the French national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was voted the best player and top goalscorer. He 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 national team throughout the 1980s. He is also widely regarded as one of the best passers in football history as well as one of history's greatest free kick specialists and finishers. He holds the record for most goals (9) scored in European Championship final tournaments despite only appearing in one such tournament (1984). Despite being a midfielder, he held the national team top scorer record until striker Thierry Henry surpassed the 41 goals mark in 2008.
Platini was named Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour on April 29, 1985 and became Officier (Officer) 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 the French Football Federation.

Honours

 Individual honours

• 1976
  • France Football French Player of the Year
• 1977
  • France Football French Player of the Year
  • L'Équipe French Champion of Champions
• 1979
  • Selected in FIFA XI to play Argentina
• 1982
  • Selected in Europe team to face FIFA XI in charity match for UNICEF
• 1983
  • Capocannoniere (top scorer) in Italian championship (16 goals)
  • Coppa Super Clubs player of the tournament
  • Chevron Award (best goal per game ratio in Italian league)
  • European Footballer of the Year
  • Onze d'Or
• 1984
  • Capocannoniere (top scorer) in Italian championship (20 goals)
  • European Championship player of the tournament
  • European Championship top goalscorer (9 goals)
  • European Footballer of the Year
  • Guerin Sportivo magazine's player of the Italian championship
  • L'Équipe French Champion of Champions
  • Onze d'Or
  • World Soccer Player of the Year
• 1985
  • Capocannoniere (top scorer) in Italian championship (18 goals)
  • Chevron Award (best goal per game ratio in Italian league)
  • European Cup top scorer (7 goals)
  • Knight of the Legion of Honour
  • European Footballer of the Year
  • Onze d'Or
  • Intercontinental Cup Man of the match
  • World Soccer Player of the Year
• 1987
  • English Football League Centenary Classic match, Man of the Match
• 1988
  • Officer of the Legion of Honour
• 1991
  • El País European Coach of the Year
  • World Soccer Manager of the Year
• 1992
  • Winter Olympics, Albertville, France, lighter of the Olympic Flame with François-Cyrille Grange
• 2003
  • Artemio Franchi Prize
• 2004
  • Named in FIFA 100
• 2007
  • Elected UEFA President.

 Club honours

• Nancy
  • 1975 French second division champion
  • 1978 French Cup winner
• Saint-Étienne
  • 1981 French league champion
  • 1981 French Cup runner-up
  • 1982 French Cup runner-up
• Juventus
  • 1983 Italian Cup winner
  • 1983 European Cup runner-up
  • 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup winner (first French player to win the trophy)
  • 1984 European Super Cup winner
  • 1984 Italian league champion
  • 1985 European Cup winner
  • 1985 Intercontinental Cup winner
  • 1986 Italian league champion

 International honours

• 1984 European Championship winner
• 1985 Artemio Franchi Trophy winner
• 1986 World Cup third place
• 1976 Pre-Olympic Zone European

During Platini's international career, France were five times holders of Nasazzi's baton, and Platini was captain on the third, fourth, and fifth occasion that the French national team held the unofficial title while he was an international.