Welcome to the sixth in the "A Tribute To..." series. Today's tribute is to the man who inspired a nation and was the main flag-bearer of French football in the 1980s: Michel Platini.
Throughout footballing history, few players have ever been able to pass a ball as well as Platini, and fewer still could strike a free-kick like him. Despite playing most of his career in midfield, Platini was a deadly finisher as well. He could score from four yards out or 40 yards out.
Born June 21, 1955, Michel Francois Platini was the son of former French footballer and coach Aldo Platini. It was natural, then, that he would go onto to become a successful player himself. But no-one could have forseen just how successful he was to become.
His career didn't get off to the best start, however. While playing for his youth side, AS Joeuf, Platini had a number of trials with different clubs, most notably his boyhood team, Metz.
However, a mixture of bad luck, poor performances, injuries and breathing difficulties thwarted his chances every time he was scouted. At just 16 he was told he would never play for Metz due to his breathing difficulties and weak heart.
In September, 1972, at 17 years of age, Platini joined AS Nancy. A series of good performances in the reserve team put him in with a chance of a a first-team place. However, an injury in another reserve game cruelly sidelined him for much of the season.
It was in May of 1973 when Platini finally made his first team debut. He was in and out of the team for the remainder of the season. The start of the following season saw Platini begin to be picked more regularly, however.
But his bad luck returned in March 1974 when he broke his arm in a match. He missed the rest of the season. Without the youthful but talented Platini able to help them, Nancy were relegated from Ligue 1.
The following season was a brighter one, however. With Platini back to full fitness and starting to pick up experience to add to his extraordinary talent, Nancy won promotion back to Ligue 1 with ease, finishing first and giving Platini his first taste of silverware, albeit a second tier trophy.
Platini's first season back in the top tier of French football was interrupted by national service, and yet more injuries. Despite this, Platini continued to put in fantastic performances, and his dead-ball skills were becoming one of the most feared weapons in France.
It was in 1976 that Platini was first called up to France's first team squad. He made his debut on March 27, 1976, scoring one of his deadly free-kicks one the way to a 2-2 draw with Czechoslovakia.
He was a member of the France squad that went to the Montreal Olympics later that year, making it to the quarter-finals. His year of success wasn't over yet though. Despite his limited appearances for Nancy, Platini won the French Footballer of the Year award, at just 21 years of age.
1977 saw more individual success for the young Platini, as he won the French Footballer of the Year award for the second year running, becoming only the third person in history to complete that feat. He also came third in the voting for European Player of the Year.
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