Michel Platini: the autumn of a person 'born in football'

Michel Platini: the autumn of a person 'born in football'

Until recently one among the foremost powerful figures in world soccer, Michel Platini's career within the sport currently seems to be over.

Banned from all football-related activities by FIFA’s committee for eight years following a corruption investigation, it ends his hopes of succeeding Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

He will got to step down as a FIFA vp and because the head of the Union of European soccer Associations (UEFA) - a job that gave him enormous power in footballing circles.

He was banned for accepting a disloyal payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.35m, $2m) from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who was also banned for eight years.

The ethics committee's verdict was damning:

"Mr Platini didn't act with complete credibleness and integrity, showing unknowingness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities."

The FIFA investigation was sparked by a criminal investigation by the Swiss professional general into the payment.

This investigation is ongoing and his status has been described as somewhere between that of a witness and an accused person by investigators.

The 60-year-old Frenchman had been widely favored to take over from Mr. Blatter as FIFA president in an emergency election to be held on 26 February, but that is now impossible.

He has served as European soccer chief since 2007, however rose to fame as a player with prodigious talent and aptitude.

Born on twenty one June 1955 in Josef, jap France, Platini began his professional football career playing for French clubs Nancy and Saint-Etienne and later, Italy's Juventus.

The midfielder went on to steer host nation France to triumph within the 1984 European soccer Championship - and he remains the incomparable leading European Championship scorer, with 9 strikes.

He also helped inspire France to the semi-finals of two World Cups, in 1982 and 1986.

"I was born in football," he once said.

During his international career, during which he created seventy-two appearances for France, Platini scored 41 goals and was his country's leading scorer until his mark was surpassed by Thierry Henry in 2007.

Dubbed "le Roi" (the king), Platini was one in all France's greatest footballers. He was a dashing playmaker World Health Organization musical organization matches with a swagger allied to talent, aptitude and intelligence. He was named European football player of the Year on 3 occasions - 1983, 1984 and 1985.

After 501 matches and 265 goals, he turned to coaching job and managed the French national team with mixed results from 1988 to 1992.

After turning down a suggestion to educate Real Madrid, he was asked by French President Francois Mitterrand to organize the 1998 tournament in France.

"I met people from FIFA, Sepp Blatter asked me to help him become president and I became his adviser," he said.

He quickly rose through the ranks to become co-president of the FIFA tourney Organizing Committee for the 1998 tournament. And 2 years later, he was appointed vice-president of the French Football Federation.

Since 2002, Platini has been a member of the chief committee of UEFA, and compete a number one role within the organization of the ultimate spherical of the Germany World Cup in 2006.