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.
