Sports Nicknames - Le Roi

The name Michel Platini will be one familiar to football fans all over the world. If not for his legendary playing career, in which he won 3 Ballon d'Ors, then perhaps for his banishment from football in 2015 over ethics violations. Nicknamed Le Roi (The King), Platini has had a Shakespearen journey through the game.



Platini won everything at the club level, as he played for Nancy and St. Etienne in France before finishing his career with Juventus in Italy. Le Roi was an attacking midfielder who was prolific at goalscoring, with his free-kicks becoming famous for their deadly precision. He was also becoming rather famous for the leadership qualities that he brought to each team. With Nancy, he won the French Cup in 1978. At St. Etienne, he would win Ligue 1, but losing two French Cup finals and failures in Europe ensured it was a mixed time.

His transfer to Juventus was his most successful move, winning the Italian Cup, two Serie A titles, the European Cup and a host of other trophies, all while being the top scorer in Italy for three consecutive years. His France career was great on the individual level, becoming the record goalscorer until 2007.

Michel Platini went on to coach before becoming an administrator of UEFA. Here his name would become soured when he was found guilty of corruption alongside FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

While many people now see Blatter as part of the larger corrupt administration run by Sepp Blatter and FIFA, it's hard to forget the legendary days of Le Roi scoring for fun and leading teams to trophy after trophy.


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