فٹ بال کے عظیم کھلاڑی جنھوں نے فٹ بال پر حکمرانی کی

فٹ بال دنیا کا مقبول ترین کھیل ہے۔ آئیے فٹ بال کے دس بہترین کھلاڑیوں کے بارے میں جانیں۔

ایڈسن ارنٹس ڈو ناسیمیٹو المعروف پیلے

پیلے کے نام سے وہ بھی واقف ہیں جنہیں فٹ بال سے دلچسپی نہیں۔ پیلے کو ہر دور کے کھلاڑیوں میں سب سے اعلیٰ قرار دیا جاتا ہے۔ فیفا نے اسے بیسویں صدی کا بہترین کھلاڑی قرار دیا۔ اسے برازیل کا قومی خزانہ سمجھا جاتا ہے۔ پیلے 1940ء میں برازیل میں پیدا ہوا۔ اس نے اپنے فٹ بال کیرئیر کا آغاز ’’سانٹوس‘‘ کے ساتھ معاہدہ کر کے کیا۔ تب پیلے کی عمر 15 برس تھی۔ اپنے پہلے مقابلے میں وہ بحیثیت فارورڈ کھیلا اور اس نے چار گول کیے۔ پیلے کے اصل نام میں لفظ ایڈسن کو پیدائشی سرٹیفکیٹ میں غلطی سے ایڈیسن لکھ دیا گیا اور پھر وہ اسی سے منسوب ہو گیا۔ اس کا نام تھامس ایڈیسن سے متاثر ہو کر رکھا گیا۔ پیلے کا خاندانی نِک نیم ’’ڈیکو‘‘ تھا، لیکن سکول میں اس کے ساتھی اسے پیلے کہنے لگے۔

دوسری طرف پیلے کا کہنا ہے کہ اسے خود نہیں پتا یہ مختصر نام کیسے وجود میں آیا۔ پیلے کا بچپن ساؤ پاولو میں غربت میں گزرا۔ اس نے چائے کی دکان پر کام کیا تاکہ گھر کے بل ادا کر سکے۔ اس کے والد نے اسے فٹ بال کھیلنا سکھایا لیکن شروع میں غربت کی وجہ سے وہ فٹ بال نہیں خرید سکتا تھا، اس لیے اس نے دوسری چیزوں کو فٹ بال کی شکل دے کر پریکٹس کی۔ پھر وہ وقت آیا کہ پیلے دنیا میں سب سے زیادہ معاوضہ لینے والا کھلاڑی بن گیا۔ پیلے نے تین شادیاں کیں۔ 2016ء میں اس نے 73 برس کی عمر میں 41 سالہ خاتون سے شادی کی۔ وہ واحد کھلاڑی ہے جو تین ورلڈ کپ جیتنے والی ٹیموں میں شامل رہا۔

لیونل میسی

میسی 24 جون 1987ء کو ارجنٹائن کے شہر روساریو میں پیدا ہوا۔ اس کی پیدائش اسی شہر میں ہوئی جہاں معروف انقلابی چے گویرا پیدا ہوا تھا۔ بچپن میں میسی زیادہ صحت مند نہیں تھا۔ اسے ہارمون کی کمی کے مسئلے کی تشخیص ہوئی تھی جس سے اس کی نمو کم ہو گئی تھی۔ میسی کے پاس دو پاسپورٹ ہیں۔ ایک ارجنٹائن کا اور دوسرا سپین کا۔ اس نے 13 برس کی عمر میں ’’بارسلونا‘‘ میں شمولیت اختیار کی اور اس کے لیے سب سے زیادہ 491 گول کیے۔ اسے فیفا کی جانب سے پانچ بار سال کا بہترین کھلاڑی قرار دیا گیا۔ اسے سپین کی قومی ٹیم میں شمولیت کی دعوت دی گئی لیکن اس نے اس سے انکار کر دیا۔ کھیلنے کے سٹائل اور جسمانی ساخت کے سبب اسے ڈیگو میرا ڈونا سے مماثل قرار دیا جاتا ہے۔ میرا ڈونا اسے اپنا جانشین کہہ چکا ہے۔

ڈیگو میراڈونا

اس فہرست میں تیسرا نمبر ڈیگو میرا ڈونا کا ہے۔ وہ 30 اکتوبر 1960ء کو پیدا ہوا۔ اس نے ارجنٹائن کی 91 بار نمائندگی کی اور 34 گول کیے۔ اس نے اپنے ملک کے لیے چار ورلڈ کپ ٹورنامنٹ کھیلے۔ عالمی کپ میں کسی بھی ملک کی جانب سے سب سے زیادہ بار بطور کپتان شامل ہونے کا اعزاز ڈیگو میرا ڈونا کے پاس ہے۔ اس نے 15 برس کی عمر میں پروفیشنل کیرئیر کا آغاز کیا۔ میراڈونا کے بازو پر چے گویرا کا ٹیٹو ہے۔ عالمی کپ میں اس کے خلاف سب سے زیادہ فاؤل ہونے کا ریکارڈ قائم ہوا۔ 1982ء میں اٹلی نے اس کے خلاف 23 بار فاؤل کیے۔ ارجنٹائن کے اس مِڈ فیلڈر کو ڈربلنگ اور فُٹ ورک کی وجہ سے شہرت ملی۔ اس نے عالمی کپ میں انگلینڈ کے خلاف ’’صدی کا بہترین گول‘‘ کیا جس میں وہ گیند کو ارجنٹائن کے ہالف سے لے کر پوری انگلینڈ کی ٹیم میں سے نکال کر لے گیا اور نیٹ میں ڈال دیا۔

رونالڈو نازاریو

برازیل میں اسے ’’او فنومینو‘‘ یا ’’ایک مظہر‘‘ کے طور پر جانا جاتا ہے۔ بہت سے لوگوں کا خیال ہے کہ وہ دنیا کا سب سے اچھا سٹرائیکر ہے۔ وہ 1999ء تک اپنے ملک کے لیے ’’رونالڈینو‘‘ کے نام سے کھیلتا رہا۔ 1998ء کے فائنل میں جب برازیل کا مقابلہ فرانس سے تھا، تمام نظریں بہترین کھلاڑی رونالڈو پر تھیں۔ لیکن وہ دن اس کے لیے بدقسمت تھا۔ فائنل کے دن اسے اچانک جھٹکے پڑے۔ اسے ہسپتال لے جایا گیا اور ایک گھنٹے بعد وہ ڈس چارج ہو گیا۔ ڈاکٹروں نے اسے کھیلنے سے منع کر دیا۔ جب ٹیسٹ ٹھیک آئے تو اسے آخر میں کھیل میں شامل کر لیا گیا۔ اس بارے میں بہت سے سازشی نظریات نے جنم لیا۔

کرسٹینو رونالڈو

وہ ایک غریب گھرانے میں پیدا ہوا۔ اس کا ایک بھائی ہے اور دو بہنیں ہیں۔ غربت کے سبب انہیں ایک ہی کمرے میں سونا پڑتا۔ اس کے لیے غربت سے نکلنے کا ایک راستہ فٹ بال تھا۔ اس کے والدین نے اس کی بھرپور معاونت کی۔ وہ کئی برس رئیل میڈریڈ کا پرتگالی ستون رہا۔ اسے چار بار فیفا پلیئر کا اعزاز ملا، اس نے تین چیمپئنز لیگ میں اہم کردار ادا کیا۔ وہ بڑی لیگ میں چھ مسلسل سیزن تک 50 گول کرنے میں کامیاب ہونے والا واحد کھلاڑی ہے۔

الفرڈو ڈی سٹیفانو

فہرست میں اس کھلاڑی کا نمبر چھٹا ہے۔ اپنے 20 سالہ کیرئیر میں ارجنٹائن کے اس کھلاڑی نے رئیل میڈرڈ کے ساتھ 307 گول سکور کیے۔ یورپی کپ کے فائنلز میں مسلسل پانچ بار سکور کرنے والا وہ واحد کھلاڑی ہے۔ اس نے یورپی کپ کے 58 میچوں میں 49 گول کیے۔ وہ ارجنٹائن میں پیدا ہوا لیکن عالمی کپ میں کبھی اس ملک کی نمائندگی نہ کر سکا۔

فرانز بیکن باؤر

ہو سکتا ہے آج کی نوجوان نسل اس نام سے زیادہ واقف نہ ہو لیکن وہ اپنے دور کا بہت مشہور کھلاڑی تھا۔ میدان میں اس نے اپنی پوزیشن کا حق ادا کیا۔ وہ جرمنی کا سنٹرل ڈیفنڈر تھا۔ اس کا شمار ان دو کھلاڑیوں میں ہوتا ہے جو بطور کھلاڑی اور بطور منیجر دونوں حیثیتوں میں عالمی کپ جیتے۔

جوہان کرویف

فہرست میں اس کھلاڑی کی پوزیشن آٹھویں ہے۔ اس ولندیزی کھلاڑی کو ’’ٹوٹل فٹ بالر‘‘ کا لقب ملا۔ اس نے سوائے گول کیپر کے تمام پوزیشنز کی تربیت حاصل کی۔ وہ کھیل کے اس داؤ کا ماہر تھا جسے ’’کرویف ٹرن‘‘ کہا جاتا ہے۔

زین الدین زیدان

فرانس کے اس شاندار کھلاڑ ی نے 1998ء کے عالمی کپ میں اپنے ملک کو جتوانے میں اہم کردار ادا کیا۔ فرانس بس یہی عالمی کپ ہی جیتا۔ اسے بال کو ہینڈل کرنے کی مہارت پر شہرت ملی۔ چیمپئنزلیگ 2002ء میں اس نے فٹ بال کی تاریخ کے بہترین گولوں میں سے چند کیے۔

نیمار ڈا سلوا سانتوس جونیئر

نوجوان برازیلی سپر سٹار اپنی عمر کے لحاظ سے میسی اور رونالڈو سے آگے نکل چکا ہے یعنی نوجوانی میں جتنا اچھا کھیل ان دو کھلاڑیوں نے پیش کیا نیمار نے شاید ان سے بہتر پیش کیا۔ بہت سے ماہرین کا خیال ہے کہ دنیا کے صفِ اول کے فٹ بال کھلاڑیوں میں شامل ہو جائے گا۔

ناتھن جیمز

بشکریہ دنیا نیوز

Real Madrid wins Champions League

A sensational overhead strike from Real Madrid substitute Gareth Bale and two calamitous errors by Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius gave the Spanish side a third straight Champions League title with a 3-1 win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

کرسٹیانو رونالڈو : اپنے دور کا بہترین کھلاڑی

‘بڑے میچوں میں وہ ہمیشہ کارکردگی دکھاتا ہے۔ رونالڈو بلاشبہ اپنے دور کا بہترین کھلاڑئ ہے۔’ یہ الفاظ تھے سابق فرانسیسی کپتان اور فٹبال لیجینڈ زینیدین زیدان کے۔ پرتگال اور ریال میڈرڈ کے لیے کھیلنے والے سٹار فٹبالر کرسٹیانو رونالڈو کو لندن میں منعقدہ فیفا ایوارڈز میں رواں سال کا بہترین کھلاڑی قرار دیا گیا ہے۔ رونالڈو نے یہ ایوارڈ ارجنٹینا اور بارسلونا کی نمائندگی کرنے والے سٹار فٹبالر اور حریف لائنل میسی کو شکست دے کر حاصل کیا۔ چاہے وہ فٹبال کے چاہنے والے ہوں یا کھیل پر گہری نظر رکھنے والے ماہرین رونالڈو اور میسی کی بحث ان کے لیے کبھی پرانی نہیں ہوتی۔

مجھے یاد ہے کہ میسی اور رونالڈو سے پہلے بالکل اسی انداز میں فٹبال شائقین زینیدین زیدان اور برازیل کی طرف سے کھیلنے والے سٹار کھلاڑی رونالڈو نزاریو کا موازنہ کرتے تھے۔ شائقین فٹبال میں اوریجینل رونالڈو یا رونالڈو نائن کے نام سے جانے جانے والے نزاریو کا کریئر اپنے عروج پر تھا جب انھیں گھٹنے کی انجری اور ہائپو تھائرائڈ کی بیماری لاحق ہو گئی۔ ماہرین فٹبال آج بھی اسے ’گریٹیسٹ سپورٹنگ ٹریجیڈی‘ یعنی کھیلوں کی دنیا کا سب سے بڑا سانحہ کہہ کر یاد کرتے ہیں۔ اپنے عروج پر رونالڈو نزاریو تقریبًا ہر میچ میں تین سے چار ڈیفینڈروں کے درمیان سے گیند نکال کر لے جاتے ہوئے نظر آتے تھے۔

برازیلین رونالڈو اگر کھیل جاری رکھتے تو وہ کہاں ہوتے اور ان کا مقام کیا ہوتا یہ ایک الگ بحث ہے لیکن یہاں جو بات قابل ذکر ہے وہ یہ ہے کہ اس زمانے میں لوئس فیگو، روبرٹبو کارلوس، مروسلو کلوزے اور راؤل جیسے کھلاڑی بھی موجود تھے۔ لیکن میڈیا اور شائقین کی زیادہ توجہ زیدان اور رونالڈو پر رہتی تھی جیسا کہ آج کے دور میں یہ توجہ کرسچیانو رونالڈو اور لائنل میسی پر مرکوز رہتی ہے۔ رونالڈو نزاریو کا کیریر اپنے عروج پر تھا جب انھیں گھٹنے کی انجری اور ہائپو تھائرائڈ کی بیماری لاحق ہو گئی.

کہتے ہیں کہ تیس کا ہندسہ پار کرنے کے بعد فٹبال کھلاڑی اپنے کیریر کے آخری راؤنڈ میں داخل ہو جاتے ہیں، جہاں ان کے پاس 4 زیادہ سے زیادہ پانچ سال کے عرصہ کا فٹبال رہ جاتا ہے۔ رونالڈو اس وقت بتیس کے ہیں اور میسی 30 کے۔ تو ان دونوں کھلاڑیوں کے بعد کونسے ایسے کھلاڑی ہیں جو کہ ان کی جگہ لے سکتے ہیں۔ حال ہی میں پیرس سینٹ جرمین کو ٹرانسفر ہونے والے 25 سالہ نیمار جونئیر کا شمار دنیا فٹبال کے بہترین ڈربلرز میں سے ہوتا ہے۔

رونالڈہینیو، روبرٹو کارلوس اور رونالڈو نزاریو کے بعد بہت عرصے بعد برازیل کی طرف سے ایک مکمل کھلاڑی سامنے آیا ہے۔ خاص طور پر اس وقت جب فٹبال کا گھر لاطینی امریکہ سے تبدیل ہو کر کے یورپ ہو گیا ہے۔ نیمار نہ صرف جدید فٹبال کو سمجھتے ہیں بلکہ وہ ٹیم پلئیر بھی ہیں۔ بارسلونا کی طرف سے کھیلتے ہوئے نیمار، لوئس سواریز اور لائنل میسی نے شراکت میں تین سیزنز میں تین سو سے زیادہ گول کیے ۔

دوسرے نمبر پر ہیں چھبیس سالہ فرنچ کھلاڑی انٹوان گریزمن۔ ہسپانوی کلب ایتھلیٹکو میڈریڈ کی طرف سے کھیلنے والے گریزمن گزشتہ سیزن میں گولز کی تعداد ٹیبل پر رونالڈو اور میسی کے بعد تیسرے نمبر پر تھے۔ تیسرے نمبر پر ہیں انگلش کھلاڑی ہیری کین۔ چاہے وہ مڈفیلڈ سے تھرو پاس ہو یا پھر ونگر کی طرف سے بھیجا گیا کراس، ہیری کین اسے پلک چھپکتے گول میں تبدیل کر دیتے ہیں۔ ٹاٹنہم ہاٹ سپرز کی طرف سے فارورڈ کی پوزیشن پر کھیلنے والے ہیری کین کو ‘ڈیڈلیئسٹ فنشرر آف دی گیم’ کہا جا رہا ہے۔ انھوں نے پچھلے گیارہ میچوں میں پندرہ گول سکور کیے ہیں۔ چوتھے نمبر پر ہیں 18 سالہ کائلن ایمباپے۔ فرانس کی قومی ٹیم اور پی ایس جی کی طرف سے فارورڈ پوزیشن پر کھیلنے والے ایمباپے نے گزشتہ سیزن میں موناکو کی طرف سے کھیلتے ہوئے پندرہ گول کیے تھے۔

غضنفر حیدر
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، لندن
 

Zinedine Zidane : New Coach of Real Madrid

Italy’s Marco Materazzi falls on the pitch after being head-butted by France’s Zinedine Zidane (R) during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match in Berlin July 9, 2006.

Real Madrid’s new coach Zinedine Zidane appears before the media at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, January 4, 2016. Real Madrid have sacked coach Rafa Benitez after less than half a season in charge and promoted former France and Real great Zidane from the B team to replace him, president Florentino Perez said. 

Italy’s Marco Materazzi (R) lies injured on the pitch after France’s Zinedine Zidane headbutted him in the chest, as Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro and David Trezeguet (L, back to camera) gesture during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match in Berlin July 9, 2006.

Referee Horacio Elizondo (R) of Argentina shows France’s Zinedine Zidane a red card during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match against Italy in Berlin July 9, 2006.

France’s Zinedine Zidane stands on the pitch during their World Cup 2006 final soccer match against Italy in Berlin July 9, 2006.

Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane of France controls the ball during his team’s Spanish first division soccer match against Villarreal at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium May 7, 2006. 

Former soccer star Zinedine Zidane (L) signs autographs during the Columbus beach soccer event in Monaco .

France’s Zinedine Zidane (top) jumps over Spain’s Xabi Alonso (L) and Marinano Pernia during their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Hanover. 

Real Madrid’s French soccer player Zinedine Zidane poses during a ceremony in Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane of France lifts the Soccer World Cup trophy after their victory over [Brazil] in the World Cup Final 

Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri (born 26 June 1987) is a French international footballer who plays for English club Manchester City in the Premier League and the France national team. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield. Nasri is known for his technical ability, creativity, pace, and ability to read the game.^[3][4] Of Algerian heritage, he is described as a player whose “vision and imagination make him an unpredictable opponent”.^[5] His playing style, ability, and cultural background have drawn comparisons to French legend Zinedine Zidane.^[6][7]

Nasri began his football career playing for local youth clubs in his hometown of Marseille. At the age of nine, he joined professional club Olympique de Marseille and spent the next seven years developing in the club’s youth academy at La Commanderie, the club’s training center. In the 2004–05 season, Nasri made his professional debut in September 2004 at the age of 17 against Sochaux. In the following season, he became a regular starter in the team and also participated in European competition for the first time after playing in the 2005–06 edition of the UEFA Cup. In the 2006–07 campaign, Nasri won the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Young Player of the Year award and was also named to the Team of the Year. He finished his career with Marseille amassing over 160 appearances. He played in the teams that reached back-to-back Coupe de France finals in 2006 and 2007.

 

In June 2008, Nasri joined Premier League club Arsenal agreeing to a four-year contract. He reached prominence with the team in his third season winning the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Fans’ Player of the Month award on three occasions and being named to the association’s Team of the Year. In December 2010, he was named the French Player of the Year for his performances during the calendar year.^[8] In August 2011, after three seasons with Arsenal, Nasri joined Manchester City on a four-year contract. In his first season with the club, he won his first major honour as a player as the club won the 2011–12 edition of the Premier League. Nasri is a former French youth international and has represented his nation at every level for which he was eligible. Prior to playing for the senior team, he played on the under-17 team that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. Nasri made his senior international debut in March 2007 in a friendly match against Austria. Two months later, he scored his first senior international goal in a 1–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying win over Georgia. Nasri has represented France at two major international tournaments: UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012.

Personal life

Nasri was born in Septèmes-les-Vallons, a northern suburb of the Marseille, to French nationals of Algerian descent.^[9][10] His mother, Ouassila Ben Saïd, and father, Abdelhafid Nasri, were both born in France; his father being born and raised in Marseille, while his mother being from nearby Salon-de-Provence.^[10][11] Nasri’s grandparents emigrated to France from Algeria.^[12] His mother is a housewife and his father previously worked as a bus driver before becoming his son’s personal manager. At the start of his football career, Nasri initially played under his mother’s surname, Ben Saïd, before switching to Nasri, his father’s surname, following his selection to the France under-16 team.^[13] He is the eldest of four children and is a non-practising Muslim.^[14] Nasri has a younger sister named Sonia and twin brothers named Walid and Malik.^[10] All four were raised in La Gavotte Peyret. After joining Arsenal in England, Nasri settled in Hampstead, a district of North London.^[15]

Club career

Early career

While growing up in La Gavotte Peyret, Nasri grew an attraction to the sport of football at a young age.^[7] He regularly played the sport on the streets where he learned many of his skills. Upon noticing his prodigious talent, his parents signed him up to play with the local club in his hometown. Nasri spent one year playing with the club in La Gavotte Peyret before moving to Pennes Mirabeau in nearby Mirabeau at the age of seven. While playing with Pennes, Nasri was discovered by Marseille scout Freddy Assolen who had been informed of the player’s talent through local word of mouth.^[10][16] After noticing Nasri’s skill in person, Assolen recruited the player to travel with a group of other young players to Italy to participate in a youth tournament where they would play against the youth academies of Milan and Juventus. Nasri impressed at the tournament and Assolen was jokingly told by a Milan scout that “he (Nasri) stays here, you leave him”.^[10] After returning to France, Marseille officials organized a meeting with the player’s father and the group agreed to allow Nasri insertion into the club’s academy at the age of nine.

Marseille

 

Upon entering the Marseille youth academy, Nasri quickly impressed. Upon moving to Bastide, where the club’s youth players reside, his style of play began to take shape. In 2007, Nasri admitted that the move to Bastide really helped his game stating, “That’s where I really started to progress. Training was different and the facilities are beautiful, all of which helps you work well.”^[16] As a result of his quick progression, Nasri was an integral part of every youth team he was a part of winning several trophies, such as the Championnat de Provence, Coupe de Provence, and the Ligue de la Méditerranée. After spending most of the 2003–04 season playing with the club’s under-18 team, for the latter part of the season, the now 16-year old Nasri was promoted to the club’s reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. He appeared primarily as a substitute in a few matches during the campaign as the reserve team failed to rebound from its bad start to the season, which resulted in a 16th place finish and relegation to the Championnat de France amateur 2.^[17]

Debut season

Ahead of the 2004–05 season, several clubs were reported to be interested in signing Nasri, most notably English clubs Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle.^[18] In an effort to decrease the speculation, Nasri was offered a three-year professional contract by Marseille officials led by president Pape Diouf and manager José Anigo. On 13 August 2004, Nasri agreed to the contract. Marseille officials had been eager to sign Nasri to a contract in an attempt to not undergo a situation similar to the departure of Mathieu Flamini, in which the player departed the club without Marseille receiving any compensation.^[19] As a result of his professsional contract, Nasri was promoted to the senior team by Anigo and assigned the number 22 shirt. He began the season playing on the club’s reserve team and appeared in four matches before earning a call up to the senior team in September 2004.^[20] Nasri made his professional debut on 12 September in a 2–0 league defeat to Sochaux appearing as a substitute for Bruno Cheyrou.^[21] On 17 October, he made his first professional start playing the entire match in a 1–1 draw with Saint-Étienne.^[22] Nasri featured heavily within the team under Anigo and later Philippe Troussier. In the team’s first match following the winter break, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 away victory over Lille.^[23] Nasri finished his rookie campaign with 25 total appearances, one goal, and two assists.

Mssut Ozil

Mesut Özil  born 15 October 1988) is a German footballer who plays for Premier League club Arsenal and the German national team. Özil has been a youth national team member since 2006, and a member of the German national team since 2009. He gained international attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was nominated for the Golden Ball Award, which is awarded to the tournament’s best player. Özil started his senior career at hometown club Schalke in the Bundesliga in 2006, transferred to Werder Bremen in 2008 and transferred to Real Madrid in August 2010 following his breakout performance at the FIFA World Cup with Germany. On transfer deadline day of summer 2013, he moved to Arsenal in a club record of £42.5 million.^[4][5][6][7]The transfer makes him the most expensive German football player of all time.

 

Özil is acclaimed for his finesse and improvisation as an attacking midfielder. His style and ability for providing assists for his team-mates has been compared by former manager José Mourinho to that of Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane.^[8] In 2011, Özil ranked first in assists in major European and domestic competitions with 25. In 2012, he ranked first in assists in La Liga with 17.^[9][10] He was also one of the top assist providers in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012 with three in both.

Gelsenkirchen and Rot-Weiss Essen

Özil began his youth career playing for various clubs in Gelsenkirchen and then played five years for Rot-Weiss Essen.

Schalke 04

In 2005, Özil moved to the youth department of FC Schalke 04. He was a midfielder and wore 17 as his squad number, after starting as a playmaker and central attacking midfielder in the place of the suspended Lincoln in Ligapokal matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.^[11] On making the first team there, he was described as “the next big thing,” but he eventually fell out with club management and moved on to Werder Bremen in January 2008.^[12]

Werder Bremen

On 31 January 2008, Özil moved to Werder Bremen for a reported fee of €4.3 million, signing a contract with the German club until 30 June 2011.^[13] Fresh off his fallout at Schalke 04, he stepped into the shoes of Brazilian playmaker Diego to help lead the north German club to the 2009 DFB-Pokal with the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Berlin.^[14] He also excelled in Europe where he led Werder Bremen to the final of the last ever UEFA Cup, losing out to Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.^[15] Although Bremen failed to get going in their 2008–09 Bundesliga season, eventually finishing a disappointing 10th, Özil managed to make a significant impact in most games and came away with a respectable three goals and 15 assists that highlighted his attacking credentials.^[15] In his second season, Bremen finished a respectable third, with Özil contributing 9 goals and 17 assists in 31 league fixture appearances.

Real Madrid

2010–11 season

Due to his performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Özil ensured his place among Europe’s top young talents. He was sought by teams like Barcelona, Arsenal, and Manchester United and reports even claimed that a deal was struck for a transfer to Barça. Werder Bremen denied the report and on 17 August 2010, the team announced that they had reached an agreement with Real Madrid.^[16] The transfer fee is believed to have been in the region of €15 million.^[17] Upon signing, Özil said, “When the offer came in to join Real Madrid, there is no decision to make. Let’s be honest – you don’t refuse this club. I was in no rush to leave Werder Bremen, but this is one club you say yes to. They are an institution, a club with a fantastic history, stadium and squad full of world-class players. The prospect of performing at the Bernabeu is so awesome you jump straight in.”^[18] Özil made his debut on 22 August in a friendly match against Hércules, which Real Madrid won 3–1.^[19] His jersey numbers were changed often before the season started. He was given the number 26 in the pre-season and 19 for his debut. But following the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart to Tottenham Hotspur, he was given the vacant 23.

 

Özil was brought in to back up teammate Kaká, but due to his surgery, Özil obtained a starting role. He then made his La Liga debut for Real Madrid as a substitute for Ángel di María in the 62nd minute against Mallorca, which Real Madrid drew 0–0.^[20]He made his season debut in the Champions League on 15 September. He got his first assist with Real Madrid in the 74th minute against Ajax after he crossed for a Gonzalo Higuaín goal.^[21]He walked off the pitch as a second half substitute to standing ovations in his first two games as a starter at the Santiago Bernabéu. His first goal came in a league match against Deportivo La Coruña on 3 October 2010, in a 6–1 victory.^[22] Özil’s first Champions League goal with Real came in the 14th minute against Milan on 19 October 2010.^[23] On 22 December, he made his debut in the Copa del Rey, scoring once in a 8–0 victory over Levante.^[24]He finished the season with 25 assists, the highest for any player in any major European competition that season. Özil’s performances for Real Madrid during his first season were praised by media, fans and players.^[25][26]

2011–12 season

Özil began wearing the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid in 2011–12, signalling manager José Mourinho‘s intent to use the German international as his main playmaker.^[27] On 14 August 2011, Özil scored his first goal against Barcelona in El Clásico in the first leg of the 2011 Supercopa de España.^[28] On 17 August 2011, Özil was sent off in the last minute of the second leg of the 2011 Supercopa after an altercation with Barça forward David Villa.^[29] Özil expressed his desire to end his football days at the club in an interview with German magazine kicker, saying, “I’d like to end my career at Real Madrid. I know it will be difficult because I have many more years ahead of me and many younger and good players will also be out there, but I want to be part of that future. I know what I’m capable of and I’m convinced I’ll stay at Real Madrid many years.”^[30]Özil was on the short-list of 2011–12-year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or award.^[31]

 

He finished atop the La Liga assists chart,with 17 assists.^[32] On 2 May 2012, he helped Real Madrid to clinch its 32nd La Liga title as he assisted Real Madrid’s first goal and scored the second goal against Bilbao, which Real Madrid later won by 3–0. Eleven days later, Özil scored two goals in the final game of the regular season against RCD Mallorca, once again consolidating his excellent performance with the club. The win made Real the first club in the Spanish top flight to ever reach 100 points in a season.^[33] His fine form with Real Madrid and German national team saw him earn nomination for UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, in which he finished 10th, being youngest in Top 10.^[34]

2012–13 season

With arrival of Luka Modrić before the start of the season, some in the media claimed Özil was unhappy at Real Madrid, but he later rejected such talk and claimed he was happy at the club and looking forward to compete for his place.^[35] After the start of the season, he added the Spanish Super Cup title to his honours. In league play, he provided an important assist to Cristiano Ronaldo who equalized in a 2–2 draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou.^[36] On 6 November, Özil scored a crucial 89th-minute free-kick to rescue a draw for Real Madrid and secure a point against Borussia Dortmund.^[37] He continued his fine form in the league as he scored another brace against Real Valladolid to rescue Real Madrid in a 3–2 win.^[38] He then went on to finish the season with 29 assists, although Real Madrid did not win any silverware except for the Spanish Super Cup, Özil’s performance was praised. At the end of the season Ozil had more assists then any other player in the league, with 26 assists.

Arsenal

2013–14 season

On 2 September 2013, Özil agreed to join English side Arsenal.^[4] Both fee and contract duration were undisclosed, but they are believed to be around £42.5 million for a five-year deal.^[5] The transfer makes him the most expensive German football player of all time.^[6] Özil was assigned the number 11 shirt and the centre-attacking midfield role by the team.^[7]Özil said of transfer: “At the weekend, I was certain I would stay at Real Madrid but afterwards I realised I did not have the faith from the coach or the bosses. I am a player who needs this faith and that is what I have felt from Arsenal, which is why I have joined.”^[39] Several Real Madrid players were dissatisfied with Özil leaving the club, namely Cristiano Ronaldo who said: “He was the player who best knew my moves in front of goal…I’m angry about Özil leaving.”^[40]

 

Özil made his debut for Arsenal in their league game away to Sunderland on 14 September 2013. He assisted Olivier Giroud‘s goal in the 11th minute of the match as they went on to win 3–1.^[41][42] Three days after that, he made his Champions League debut for Arsenal against Marseille.^[43] Just over three weeks later since he made his debut for Arsenal, he made his home debut against Stoke City in a 3–1 victory. He was involved in all three goals, with two assists and a free kick which was saved but it fell into Ramsey’s path.^[44] He scored his first goal for Arsenal, a brilliantly controlled finish from an Aaron Ramsey cross, in a 2–0 win against Napoli in the Champions League. ^[45] He scored his first Premier League goals during the 4–1 home win against Norwich City on 19 October.^[46]

Franck Ribéry

Franck Ribéry  (born 7 April 1983) is a French international footballer who plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and for the France national team. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side although being right-footed, and is known for pace, energy, skill and precise passing.^[2] Ribéry is described as a player who is fast, tricky and an excellent dribbler, who has great control with the ball at his feet.^[3] Since joining Bayern, he has been recognised on the world stage as one of the best French players of his generation. The previous talisman of the French national team, Zinedine Zidane, has called Ribéry the “jewel of French football”.^[4]

 

Ribéry’s career began in 1989 as a youth player for local hometown club Conti Boulogne. He left the club after seven years to join professional outfit Lille, but departed the club after three years after having difficulties adjusting. In 1999, Ribéry joined US Boulogne, where he played for two years. After spending two more years in the amateur divisions with two different clubs (Alès and Brest), in 2004, Ribéry earned a move to Ligue 1 club FC Metz. After six months with the club, Ribéry moved to Turkey in January 2005 joining Galatasaray where he won the Turkish Cup. After six months at Galatasaray, he departed the club in controversial fashion in order to return to France to join Marseille. Ribéry spent two seasons at the club helping the Marseillais reach the final of the Coupe de France in back-to-back seasons.

 

In 2007, Ribéry joined German club Bayern Munich for a then club-record fee of €25 million. There, he has won the double on two occasions; in the 2007–08 and 2009–10 seasons. In 2010, Ribéry reached with FC Bayern the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final, but was unable to participate in the match due to suspension. In 2012, Ribéry reached the final again, but Bayern lost against Chelsea on penalties. Finally in 2013, Ribéry won the Champions League and the Treble, with Bayern Munich in a “German” final against rivals Borussia Dortmund. Ribéry is a French international. Prior to representing the senior team, he played at under-21 level. At senior level, Ribéry has represented his nation at two FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Football Championships. He made his international debut in May 2006 against Mexico. At the 2006 World Cup, Ribéry scored his first international goal against Spain and played in the final match against Italy. Individually, Ribéry is a two-time winner of the French Player of the Year award and has also won the German Footballer of the Year becoming the first player to hold both honours. He has also been named to the UEFA Team of the Year and declared the Young Player of the Year in France. In 2013, Ribéry was ranked as the third-best footballer in Europe by Bloomberg^[5] and won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award

Personal life

Ribéry was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais and raised in a low-income neighbourhood on the fringes of the city.^[7] When he was two years old, he and his family were involved in a car accident in his hometown, colliding with a truck.^[8] Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries that resulted in more than one hundred stitches and which left two long scars down the right side of his face, and another across his brows.^[8] Prior to joining Stade Brestois in 2003, he worked as a construction worker with his father, which Ribéry referred to as a “learning experience”.^[9]Ribéry’s younger brother François is also a football player, and has played for numerous amateur clubs in France. François played for Bayonne in the Championnat National.^[10] Ribéry’s wife, Wahiba, is a French national of Algerian descent and the couple have two daughters and a son.^[2][11][12] Ribéry is a convert to Islam^[13][14] and, following his conversion, adopted the name Bilal Yusuf Mohammed.^[15][16]

Since establishing himself as an international, Ribéry has been involved in numerous promotional campaigns. For the 2008–09 season, he appeared, alongside international teammate Karim Benzema, on the French cover of video game FIFA 09.^[17] Ribéry is sponsored by American sportswear company Nike and regularly wears Nike Mercurial Vapors. He has appeared in several television advertisements for the brand and, during the 2007–08 Bundesliga season, starred in a one-time television show called “The Franck Ribéry Show”, which aired on Direct 8 in France.^[18][19]

 

The show, sponsored by Nike, acted as a variety show with Ribéry appearing in several sketches.^[20]On 25 May 2010, a 27 by 30 metres (89 × 98 ft) billboard of Ribéry was officially unveiled in his home city of Boulogne-sur-Mer ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The billboard paid tribute to a similar billboard that was erected for Zinedine Zidane in his home city of Marseille during his career.^[21] The construction of the billboard was initially suspended due to possible image ramifications associated with Ribéry’s alleged relationship with an underage prostitute.^[22] However, the Regional Council of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, which initially opposed the billboard, agreed to allow construction of the billboard. The billboard was a project of Ribéry’s sponsor Nike and was on display for the duration of the FIFA World Cup.^[23]

Alleged prostitute scandal

On 18 April 2010, it was first reported by French television service M6 that four members of the French national team were being investigated for their roles as clients of a prostitution ring that was being operated inside of a Paris nightclub with some of the women possibly being underage. The report also stated that two of the players were already questioned as witnesses by judge André Dando and a group of magistrates. The report described the two players as being one who “is a major player in a big foreign club” and that the other “plays in the championship of France Ligue 1”.^[24] Later that day, the players were discovered to be Ribéry and Sidney Govou.^[25] During his interview with Dando, Ribéry reportedly admitted to having a relationship with a prostitute, but did not know that she was a minor at the time the relationship began.^[26][27]

 

On 29 April 2010, the country’s Secretary of State for Sports Rama Yade, after refusing to publicly comment on the case in its infancy, declared that any player placed under investigation should not represent the France national team.^[28] The following day, a judicial source confirmed that Ribéry would not be placed under official investigation, if at all, before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.^[29] On 20 July, Ribéry was questioned by Paris police and, following questioning, was indicted by judge Dando on the charge of “solicitation of a minor prostitute”.^[30][31][32] In November 2011, prosecutors asked for the cases against Ribéry and Benzema to be dropped, saying that the players were not aware that the escort, identified as Zahia Dehar, was 16 years old when they had paid to have sex with her.^[33]

Club career

Early career

Ribéry began his football career at age six playing in the youth section of amateur club FC Conti de Boulogne-sur-Mer.^[34][35] After a seven-year stay, in 1996, he joined professional outfit Lille, who were playing in the second division. While at Lille, Ribéry excelled athletically, but developed academic and behavioral problems, which led to Lille releasing him.^[34][36] In 2012, during a press conference ahead of Bayern Munich’s Champions League tie against his former club Lille, Ribéry explained that he was released from the Lille academy after suffering a broken elbow and that Lille officials had previously wanted to drop him from the academy for being “too small”.^[37]

 

After leaving Lille, Ribéry returned to his hometown joining the biggest club in the city, US Boulogne. After spending a year in the reserves, he was promoted to the senior team. Ribéry only made four appearances in his debut season as Boulogne, who were playing in the CFA, the fourth division of French football, earned promotion to third-tier Championnat National.^[38] In his second season with the club, Ribéry appeared in 25 league matches converting five goals. Though Boulogne finished 17th, which meant a return to the fourth division, Ribéry’s solid performances earned him a move to fellow National club Olympique Alès.^[39] In his only season at the club, Ribéry made 18 appearances scoring only one goal.^[40] Following the season, despite finishing safe, Alès were relegated to the Division d’Honneur, the sixth division of French football, by the DNCG after the club declared bankruptcy.^[41] The resulting news led to Ribéry signing with Stade Brest, another Championnat National club. At Brest, Ribéry established himself as a premier player in the league appearing in 35 league matches scoring three goals.^[42] Ribéry’s performance and the team as a whole led to the club finishing second in the league, thus earning promotion to Ligue 2.^[35]

 

Despite the success with Brest, Ribéry sought to play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. His dream came to fruition when FC Metz‘s manager Jean Fernandez took a liking to him and recruited him on a free transfer.^[35] Ribéry only spent half a season at Metz, but impressed earning the UNFP Player of the Month in August 2004. He scored his only league goal for Metz on 6 November in the team’s 1–1 draw with Toulouse.^[43] His stellar play on the right side of midfield led to Metz supporters comparing him to Robert Pirès, a former Metz legend.^[36] After negotiations on an extension ended in a stalemate, in January 2005, Ribéry relocated to Turkey. There he joined Galatasaray on an initial loan deal; the Istanbul-based outfit had the right to pay Metz €2 million to make the move permanent.

Galatasaray

At Galatasaray, Ribéry was brought in by manager Gheorghe Hagi and appeared in 14 league matches as the club finished in third place position. While playing for the club, Galatasaray supporters nicknamed him Ferraribery, in reference to his quick acceleration with the ball at his feet and also Scarface, due to a large scar located on the right side of his face.^{[44][45][46][47]} In the Turkish Cup, Ribéry was instrumental in the club’s 5–1 thrashing of rivals Fenerbahçe in the competition’s ultimate match. He scored the opening goal in the 16th minute and also assisted on another goal. Ribéry was later substituted in the 52nd minute with Galatasaray leading 3–1. The trophy was Ribéry’s first major honour..^[6]

Zinedine Zidane

 

Zinedine Yazid Zidane (French pronunciation: ​[zinedin zidan], born 23 June 1972) is a French assistant coach and sporting director at Real Madrid, and a retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder for the French national team, Juventus and Real Madrid.^[3][4] Renowned for his elegance, vision and technique, Zidane was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years by UEFA,^[5] and has been described as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}At club level Zidane won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, two Serie A league championships with Juventus and an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup each with both aforementioned sides. On the international stage Zidane won 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. Amongst his personal accolades Zidane has won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, and the Ballon D’Or once. He was Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 1996, Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2001 and La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2002. He was awarded the Euro 2000 Player of the tournament and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball. He retired from professional football after the 2006 World Cup.

Early life and career

Zidane is of Kabyle Berber descent.^[11][12] His parents, Smaïl and Malika, emigrated to Paris from the village of Aguemoune in the Berber-speaking region of Kabylie in northern Algeria in 1953 before the start of the Algerian War. The family, which had settled in the city’s tough northern districts of Barbès and Saint-Denis, found little work in the region, and in the mid-1960s moved to the northern Marseille suburb of La Castellane. On 23 June 1972, Zidane was born there as the youngest of five siblings. His father Smaïl worked as a warehouseman at a department store, often on the night shift, while his mother was a housewife.^[11] The family live a reasonably comfortable life by the standards of the neighborhood, which was notorious throughout Marseille for its high crime and unemployment rates.^[12]

 

It was in La Castellane that Zidane had his earliest introduction to football, joining in at the age of five in football games that the neighbourhood’s children played on the Place Tartane, an 80-by-12-yard plaza that served as the main square of the housing complex.^[13] In July 2011, Zidane named former Olympique Marseille players Blaž Slišković, Enzo Francescoli and Jean-Pierre Papin as his idols while growing up.^[14][15]At the age of ten, Zidane got his first player’s license after joining the junior team of a local club from La Castellane by the name of US Saint-Henri. After spending a year and a half at US Saint-Henri, Zidane joined SO Septèmes-les-Vallons when the Septèmes coach Robert Centenero convinced the club’s Director to get Zidane. Zidane stayed with Septèmes until the age of fourteen, at which time he was selected to attend a three-day training camp at the CREPS (Regional Centre for Sports and Physical Education) in Aix-en-Provence, one of several such footballing institutes run by the French Football Federation. It was here that Zidane was spotted by AS Cannes scout, and former player, Jean Varraud who recommended him to the training center director of the club.^[16]

Club career

Cannes

Zidane went to Cannes for a six-week stay, but ended up remaining at the club for four years to play at the professional level. Having left his family at the age of fourteen to join Cannes, he was invited by Cannes director Jean-Claude Elineau, to leave the dormitory he shared with 20 other trainees and to come and stay with him and his family. Zidane later said that it was in living with the Elineaus that he found equilibrium.^[11]

 

Zidane made his professional debut with Cannes on 18 May 1989 at the age of sixteen in a Ligue 1 match against Nantes.^[17] He scored his first goal for the club on 10 February 1991^[18] also against Nantes in a 2–1 win. After the match during a party for all the Cannes players, Zidane was gifted a car by Cannes chairman Alain Pedretti, who had promised him one the day he scored his first goal for the club.^[19] On the pitch, Zidane displayed extraordinary technique on the ball, offering glimpses of the talent that would take him to the top of the world game.^[16] In his first full season with Cannes, the club secured its first ever European football berth by qualifying for the UEFA Cup after finishing 4th in the league. This remains the club’s highest finish in the top flight since getting relegated for the first time from the first division in the 1948–49 season.^[20]

Bordeaux

Zidane was transferred to Girondins de Bordeaux in the 1992–93 season, winning the 1995 Intertoto Cup,^[21] and finishing runner-up in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup in four years with the club. He played a set of midfield combinations with Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry, which would become the trademark of both Bordeaux and the 1998 French national team. In 1995, Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish had expressed interest in signing both Zidane and Dugarry, to which team owner and chairman Jack Walker reportedly replied, “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?”^[22] Also towards the beginning of the 1996 season, according to football agent Barry Silkman, Zidane was offered to Newcastle United for £1.2 million, but the club turned down the offer after watching him, claiming that he was not good enough for the First Division.^[23] In 1996, Zidane received the award for Ligue 1 Player of the Year.^[24]

Juventus

After a series of consistently outstanding performances for both Bordeaux and France, Zidane had offers to join Europe’s top clubs in the spring of 1996, deciding on a move to UEFA Champions League winners Juventus during the close season.^[26] Zidane’s impact in Italy was immediate, and won the 1996–97 Serie A title and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup.^[27] He lost in the 1997 UEFA Champions League Final 3–1 to Borussia Dortmund when he was unable to make an impression against the close marking of Paul Lambert.^[28][29][30] The following season, Zidane netted 7 goals in 32 matches in the league to help Juventus win the 1997–98 Serie A and thus retain the Scudetto. In Europe, Juventus made their third consecutive UEFA Champions League Final appearance, but lost the game 1–0 to Real Madrid, a club Zidane would later join. In 1998 Zidane was named FIFA World Player of the Year, and won the Ballon D’Or. Juventus finished second in the 2000–01 Serie A, but were eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League, after Zidane was banned for head-butting Hamburger SV player Jochen Kientz.^[31] In 2001, Zidane was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year for the second time.