Michel Platini

Early Life

Michel Platini was born on June 21, 1955, in France. He grew up in a small town called Joeuf. His father was a football coach, and young Michel loved to play football from a very early age. Every day after school, he would play football with his friends in the street.

Learning to Play Football

When Michel was young, he practiced football all the time. His father taught him how to kick the ball well. Michel was not very big or strong, but he was very smart. He could think quickly and knew where to put the ball. He learned to use both feet to kick the ball, which made him special.

Starting His Career

At age 16, Michel started playing football for his first team, AS Nancy. This team was in his home area. He was very young, but he was very good! The coaches saw that Michel had a special talent. He could score many goals and help other players score too.

Becoming a Star Player

Michel got better and better at football. He moved to a bigger team called Saint-Étienne in 1979. Here, he became one of the best players in France. People started to know his name all over the country. They loved to watch him play because he made football look easy and beautiful.

In 1982, something very big happened. Michel moved to Italy to play for Juventus. Juventus was one of the best teams in the world. In Italy, Michel became even more famous. He helped Juventus win many important games and competitions.

Playing for France

Michel played for the French national team for many years. He wore the number 10 shirt, which is usually given to the best player. He played 72 games for France and scored 41 goals. This was a lot of goals for someone who was not a striker!

The best time for Michel with France was in 1984. France hosted the European Championship that year. Michel was amazing in this tournament. He scored nine goals in just five games! This is still a record today. France won the tournament, and Michel became a national hero.

His Special Skills

Michel was known for many things on the football field:
- He was very good at free kicks
- He could pass the ball perfectly
- He could score goals from far away
- He was a good team leader
- He could think faster than other players

People called him "Le Roi" (The King) because he was so good at football. He made the game look easy. When he had the ball, everyone watched to see what he would do next.

How He Played

Michel was not like other football players. He was not very fast, and he was not very strong. But he was very smart. He knew where to be on the field. He could see passes that other players could not see. When he got the ball, he almost never lost it.

He was also very good at scoring goals. He could score in many different ways:
- With his right foot
- With his left foot
- With his head
- From free kicks
- From far away
- From close to the goal

His Best Years

The 1980s were Michel's best years in football. During this time:
- He won many trophies with Juventus
- He won the European Championship with France
- He won the Ballon d'Or (Best Player in Europe) three times
- He scored many important goals
- He helped his teams win many games

After Playing Football

Michel stopped playing football in 1987. He was 32 years old. But he did not leave football completely. He became a coach and later worked in football management. He had important jobs in UEFA (the organization that runs European football) and helped make football better in Europe.

His Impact on Football

Michel Platini changed how people thought about football. He showed that you did not need to be big and strong to be a great player. You needed to be smart and skilled. Many young players tried to play like him.

Today, people still talk about Michel Platini. They remember:
- His amazing goals
- His perfect passes
- His leadership on the field
- His skill at free kicks
- His way of making football look beautiful

Important Facts About Michel Platini

Here are some easy-to-remember facts about Michel:
- Born: June 21, 1955
- Country: France
- Position: Midfielder
- Main teams: Nancy, Saint-Étienne, Juventus
- Games for France: 72
- Goals for France: 41
- Major awards: Three Ballon d'Or awards
- Special skill: Free kicks and passing

His Style of Play

Michel had a special way of playing football:
- He walked a lot during games
- He watched everything carefully
- He waited for the right moment to move
- He could control the ball perfectly
- He made difficult things look easy

His Legacy

Many things remind us of Michel Platini today:
- His records in football
- The way he changed the game
- His goals in important matches
- His leadership of the French team
- His influence on young players

Learning from Michel Platini

Young players can learn many things from Michel:
- You don't need to be the biggest or strongest
- Being smart is very important in football
- Practice makes you better
- Team play is important
- You can be good with both feet

Words People Use to Describe Him

When people talk about Michel Platini, they often say he was:
- Skilled
- Smart
- Creative
- Elegant
- A leader
- A winner

Interesting Numbers

Here are some important numbers from Michel's career:
- 3 Ballon d'Or awards
- 72 games for France
- 41 goals for France
- 224 goals in his club career
- 9 goals in one European Championship

What We Can Learn

Michel Platini's story teaches us many things:
- Work hard for your dreams
- Practice every day
- Use your brain, not just your body
- Help your team
- Never give up

Vocabulary Words from Michel's Story

Here are some important words to learn:
- Footballer: Someone who plays football
- Midfielder: A player who plays in the middle of the field
- Goal: When the ball goes in the net
- Free kick: A special kick in football
- Trophy: A prize for winning
- Team: A group of players
- Coach: Someone who teaches players
- Skill: Something you are good at
- Practice: When you work to get better
- Leader: Someone who helps guide others

Simple Questions to Think About

1. Where was Michel Platini born?
2. What was his best year in football?
3. How many goals did he score for France?
4. What teams did he play for?
5. What made him special as a player?

Michel Platini's story shows us that with hard work and smart thinking, we can do great things in sport and in life.

Questions About Michel Platini

True or False Questions
1. Michel Platini was born in Italy.
2. His father was a football coach.
3. Michel could only kick the ball with his right foot.
4. He played for Juventus in Italy.
5. People called him "Le Roi" which means "The King."

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where did Michel Platini first play football?
a) Juventus
b) AS Nancy
c) Saint-Étienne
d) Paris

2. How many games did he play for France?
a) 41 games
b) 82 games
c) 72 games
d) 62 games

3. In which year did France win the European Championship with Platini?
a) 1982
b) 1983
c) 1984
d) 1985

4. How many Ballon d'Or awards did Platini win?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four

5. How old was Platini when he stopped playing football?
a) 30 years old
b) 31 years old
c) 32 years old
d) 33 years old

Fill in the Blanks
1. Michel Platini was born on _______ 21, 1955.
2. He grew up in a town called _______.
3. People liked to watch him play because he made football look _______ and _______.
4. He scored _______ goals in five games during the 1984 European Championship.
5. After playing football, he worked for _______, which runs European football.

Short Answer Questions
1. Name three teams that Michel Platini played for.
2. What special skills did Platini have on the football field?
3. Why did people say he was different from other players?
4. What did he do after he stopped playing football?
5. How many goals did he score for France?

Match the Words
Match these words with their meanings:
1. Midfielder a) A prize for winning
2. Trophy b) A player in the middle of the field
3. Coach c) When you work to get better
4. Practice d) Someone who teaches players
5. Skill e) Something you are good at

Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Michel Platini was a good football player?
2. What can we learn from Michel Platini's story?
3. Would you like to play football like Platini? Why or why not?
4. What do you think makes a good football player?
5. Why is it important to practice in sports?

## Answer Key

### True or False
1. False - He was born in France
2. True
3. False - He could use both feet well
4. True
5. True

### Multiple Choice
1. b) AS Nancy
2. c) 72 games
3. c) 1984
4. c) Three
5. c) 32 years old

### Fill in the Blanks
1. June
2. Joeuf
3. easy, beautiful
4. nine
5. UEFA

### Short Answer Questions (Sample Answers)
1. AS Nancy, Saint-Étienne, Juventus
2. Free kicks, passing, scoring goals from far away, leadership
3. He was not very fast or strong but was very smart with the ball
4. He became a coach and worked in football management
5. 41 goals

### Match the Words
1. b
2. a
3. d
4. c
5. e

### Discussion Questions
(These are open-ended questions with no single correct answer. Students should be encouraged to use the information from the text and their own ideas to answer these questions.)