Michel Platini Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Michel Platini Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

LifeBogger presents the Full Story of a Football Elite who is best known by the nickname “The King“.

Our version of Michel Platini’s Childhood Story, including his Untold Biography, brings to you a full account of notable events from his childhood time to date.

The analysis of the powerful Football Elite involves his life story before fame, family background, relationship life, and many other OFF-Pitch facts (little known) about him.

Our Michel Platini Biography is another interesting factual piece that takes you on a journey of his rise from obscurity to fame.

As well as the sad end of a progress he committed years to. Now, without further ado, let’s Begin.

Michel Platini Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

For Biography starters, Michel François Platini was born on the 21st day of June 1955 at Joeuf, France. He was born to his father, Aldo Platini, who at the time of his birth, was a teacher and amateur soccer coach.

On the other hand, Michel Platini’s mother, Anna Platini, was a bartender at Bar des Sportifs, which translates as a sports bar. The middle-class family background of his parents suggests a humble beginning for Michel.

Growing up in a middle-class family, young Michel – like most kids of his time – took after his father’s favourite sporting engagement, soccer and was allowed to play street football to a tiresome degree.

The early years of Michel Platini were filled with a massive love for soccer.
The early years of Michel Platini were filled with a massive love for soccer.

It wasn’t long before he became popular among his peers and adopted his first and infamous nickname, “Peleatini“, in recognition of the praises showered on him for his early footballing prowess.

Notable among the childhood skills that he possessed was his ability to take thunderous football shots which neighbours in his hometown considered to be a threat to life and properties.

Michel Platini Biography Facts – Weak Heart Suspicion:

Nonetheless, Michel was positive about what soccer had in stock for him and committed his best to the sport.

After gaining considerable years of experience in street soccer, Michel set sails for a professional engagement at FC Metz but was rejected by the club, which wrongly considered him too feeble to play football on suspicion of having a weak heart.

Young and ambitious, Michel wasn’t someone who would let an opportunity slip through his fingers.

He protested against his rejection by the club and was given a chance to prove his stamina not on the field of play but by blowing air into a machine operated by a consultant doctor engaged by FC Metz.

Not willing to give a chance away, Michel gave the test more than his best and fainted a couple of minutes later, a development the doctor took as an affirmation of his alleged feebleness and justification for rejection.

Michel Platini Bio – Career Buildup:

Downtrodden, shattered but unbowed, Michel picked the pieces of his life and gave professional football another shot at a club he was confident of being accepted as his frail heart could not stand another rejection.

Which other clubs could be more assuring than AS Nancy where his father worked as a member of the club’s football administration?.

As things would later turn out, the wrong lung diagnosis of the Metz club doctor became the good fortune of the club’s neighbours and rivals AS Nancy Lorraine where Michel put up impressive performances that saw him become a prominent player or the club scoring.

Michel Platini Biography – Rise To Fame Success Story:

It was at AS Nancy that Michel developed impressive passing and free-kick skills, as well as accurate finishing abilities, scoring 98 goals in 181 league matches.

At 21 years of age, Mitchel made his international debut for France, where other National teams, especially the Czech Republic, suffered from his bullet free-kicks.

The waves of Fame came washing when Michel, as a player at Juventus (after a successful spell at Saint Etienne) scored a penalty and winning goal against Liverpool that saw his side lift the European Cup. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Michel Platini’s Wife, Christelle Bigoni:

There has only been one woman in Michel Platini’s romantic story, and she happens to be his wife, Christelle Bigoni.

Christelle Bigoni and her husband in their early relationship years.
Christelle Bigoni and her husband in their early relationship years.

Michel was still playing for AS Nancy when he met his wife Christelle, a then student of ecological science. She was also sport-loving and never shied away from identifying with her husband in his various tracksuits.

The couple got married in 1977 and have remained married ever since. Their union is blessed with two kids, Laurent Platini and Marine Platini.

The wedding photo of Christelle and Michel.
The wedding photo of Christelle and Michel.

Michel Platini Biography – Heysel Stadium disaster:

The Heysel Stadium disaster was a clash between Liverpool and Juventus fans that saw the latter pressed onto a wall, which later collapsed.

The tragic event that happened on the 29th of May 1985 led to the death of  39 people—mostly Italians and Juventus fans— while at least 600 others were injured.

The confrontation, which happened on the same day and venue in which Michel Platini scored a penalty and winning goal against Liverpool to clinch the European cup, has made many consider him as insensitive for celebrating his winning goal despite the loss of life recorded on an uneventful day.

Post-Professional Football Endeavours:

Michel Platini retired from professional football when he was aged 32 in June 1987.

Months after his retirement, he picked up a coaching job. As the manager of the French National side in 1988.

He saw his team qualify for the 1992 European Championship. As well as the impressive record of winning all eight group matches.

Between 1988 and 2006, Michel played a great role as a member of the UEFA and FIFA apparatus. Serving under different committees. Until he, in 2006, contested against and defeated Lennart Johansson. For the prized position of UEFA presidency.

From the Field to the Boardroom: Michel Platini's transition from a celebrated footballer to a key figure in UEFA and FIFA, culminating in his triumph as UEFA President in 2006.
From the Field to the Boardroom: Michel Platini’s transition from a celebrated footballer to a key figure in UEFA and FIFA, culminating in his triumph as UEFA President in 2006.

Platini’s presidency tenure lasted for eight years and 255 days. A duration that was a sharp contrast to the 16 years tenure of his predecessor. His predecessor is Lennart Johansson.

What could have made the French intellectual cut short his time as president of UEFA? Is it ambition or necessity?.

Alleged Corrupt Involvement:

Platini was the favourite to replace the then FIFA president, Sepp Blatter. A man who resigned in 2015.

However, the duo (Platini and Blatter) were convicted of alleged corruption. Also, mismanagement, conflict of interest, and false accounting. And noncooperation with the FIFA ethics committee.

The development put an end to Platini’s presidential aspiration. He was handed an 8-year ban from football, which was later reduced to 6 years. He gave way for Gianni Infantino, who contested and won the prized position.

It also led to his resignation as UEFA president after failing to have his six-year ban from football overturned.

Michel Platini Biography Facts:

Platini’s move to Juventus in the summer of 1976 was not based on a contract. But a nominal fee as per French regulation at the time.

He achieved the rare feat of appearing for two countries in international matches. (France and Kuwait)

He is a three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or. This happened in the years 1983, 1984 and 1985.

He was Zinedine Zidane’s childhood idol.

During his time as a football administrator, he was strongly against one thing. The transfer of under-18 players, which he considers an illegal form of child trafficking.

Appreciation Note:

Thanks for reading our Michel Platini Childhood Story and his untold biography facts.

LifeBogger strives for accuracy and fairness while delivering the Biographies of Football Elites.

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Hi there! I am Hale Hendrix, a passionate football enthusiast and writer dedicated to uncovering the untold stories of footballers' childhood and biography. With a deep love for the beautiful game, I have spent countless hours researching and interviewing players to bring to light the lesser-known details of their lives.

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