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Claude Makelélé
Claude Makélélé Sinda is a French football manager and former professional player who played as a defensive midfielder. He last managed Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis. Regarded as one of the greatest defensive midfielders of all time, Makélélé has been credited with redefining the defensive midfield role in English football, especially during the 2004–05 FA Premier League season, where…
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sports · French footballer and manager (born 1973) · association football player · association football coach · also Claude Makelélé, Claude Makélélé, Claude Makelele, Claude Makélélé Sinda, Claude Makelele Sinda, Makelélé
Born 18 February 1973 · Q184362
80 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 18 entries
“He’s been a reference to all his team-mates throughout the years and is now in history for such a brilliant career at his club for all his life.”
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“His story is one of those stories to be told, one of those fairytales - just like it happened to me - to be narrated to your children and grandchildren.”
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“He’ll absolutely be remembered as one of the greats; for me, he is already one of them. There are so many things [that are good about Steven Gerrard]. He is so inspirational. In the key moments he has that difference – a spark that is difficult to define.”
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“Steven Gerrard would be the captain of my World XI dream team.”
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“I was glad that the Chelsea fans applauded Gerrard. It was just for a few seconds, but it did show that as fans we can look beyond our club rivalries when necessary. I don’t think it ever happened to me. Maybe when I got substituted at my testimonial! As a season-ticket holder in the Stretford End, I would have applauded Steven off the pitch – albeit just the once. There would have been a few in the seats around me who would object. But just as many who would have done the same.”
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“He was someone in my hometown when we used to watch the highlights of the Premier League he used to score these screamers from outside the box, and running into space, and he used to be everywhere and I used to look up to him a lot.”
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“Since I was little I had this thing about Steven Gerrard,”
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“He was physically the most difficult opponent to handle. He was the box-to-box player, he could be on his right or left, shooting from the outside of his boot. He was a machine.”
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“Put it this way. If i'm saying tomorrow rewind the clock, you're going into battle now, you're playing in the Champions League final, who's your first pick? I'd have Steven Gerrard as my first pick out of anyone.”
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“And he does it week in, week out for Liverpool.”
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“Personally, I think Gerrard is England’s greatest ever player. I wish him a happy retirement”
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“Cristiano is a great player. But Steven Gerrard is, for me, one of the very best in the world. For the job he performs, for me, he is one of the greatest.”
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“But to me, Stevie's on a different level than anything I've seen or played with and as you've said, I'm not blowing smoke up my a***, I've played with some great Man United players, Liverpool players, Real Madrid, England.”
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“I’d have to say Gerrard. At times you know he got us through games, at the period where we lost a lot of players like yourself, Rio, Becks. It was me, Stevie and Frank left. Stevie pulled us through a lot of games then.”
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“The best player ever you’ve played with for England?”
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Football.fr: Claude Makelélé en sort indemne
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2021· 1 entry
“Of course, Lampard was pretty amazing, Scholes the classic. But I'll have Gerrard.”
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2020· 1 entry
“But there's that and there's the actual practicalities of playing on a big pitch where you need size, strength, substance, running ability, all these things. And if you play one v one, you against you, Stevie against any of the names that you've played, I think he would eat them for dinner.”
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2018· 2 entries
“One of my toughest but most sporting opponents. An example on and off the pitch. Good luck Steven #Gerrard @LFC“ https://twitter.com/nesta/status/599613168541933568?lang=en Alessandro Nesta On Twitter (May 2015) “Toughest opponent in the Premier League?”
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“Best player I’ve played against in the Premier League? Steven Gerrard. Stevie G for the amount of consistency over the years. When Stevie was on it at Anfield he had everything. He was physical, he could run past you, he could shoot, he had everything.”
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2017· 1 entry
“Steven Gerrard probably edges it as the best I have played against, for his consistency over the years”
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2015· 7 entries
“Steven Gerrard is for sure one of my favourite enemies and for sure my dear enemy, the one who made me a better manager. To stop him or try to stop him has been very, very difficult. I lost against him, I won, I drew, I was happy. I am very sad it’s the last day against him. He’s had an amazing career with his (own) people. He refused to play in other big clubs, other big leagues to play only for Liverpool and this is a feeling that stays together.”
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“The best midfielder I would say is Steven Gerrard. I really rate him as a player and as a man.”
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“I have said in the past that at his peak he was the best in the world. I think it was the summer of 2004 I was having a conversation with Florentino (Perez) and I told him I wanted him to partner me in midfield for Madrid. I know the club tried twice but he wouldn’t leave Liverpool. Not many players turn down Real Madrid but I think that tells you a lot about the loyalty of the man.”
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“Alex Ferguson is obviously one of the most successful coaches the game has ever had. But I did find his comments about Steven Gerrard very strange. To say he is not a top player is wrong. For two or three years, Steven Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. Even now he is playing at a high level for Liverpool and England.”
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“I would have in my team any top technically-gifted player. John Barnes was one, Paul Gascoigne another. Gerrard could have played for Barcelona, as could Lampard. They're players with top-quality technique. Here we prioritise technique over the physical aspect of the game. So a lot of English players could play for Barcelona.”
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“If I have to say one - and I really enjoyed playing against - I would say Steven Gerrard.”
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“We beat Real Madrid 4-0 at Anfield and Raul came up and asked if he’d go to Real Madrid in that summer, so that is how strong the feeling was from Real Madrid – the actual captain asking if he’d sign! We used get that type of thing plenty of times!”
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2013· 1 entry
Labelled Makélélé as a type of holding midfielder he described as a "destroyer" - a player who is primarily tasked with running, winning back possession, and distributing the ball to other players
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2010· 2 entries
Won award: UNFP Trophée d'Honneur (2010).
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Won: Coupe de France with Paris Saint-Germain (2009–10).
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2009· 3 entries
Won award: ESPN World Team of the Decade (2009).
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“He was a fantastic player who had the qualities that every midfielder dreams of. He scored goals, he could pass. He had commitment and motivation.”
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Clarifying their former relationship, saying, "I'm not and have never been married
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2008· 3 entries
Runner-up: UEFA Champions League with Chelsea (2007–08).
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“He's one of the players I would have loved to coach, and I thought about him so many times in the past when I was at Milan. But it was impossible because he was very much linked with Liverpool. We had sounded him out but Gerrard's bond with Liverpool was unbreakable. I don't remember exactly what year it was but we did try. Of course, I wanted to pair him up with Pirlo, it was a fantastic combination. Putting Gerrard in midfield with Pirlo. It would have been fantastic.”
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Played for Paris Saint-Germain FC (2008–2011) — 98 appearances, 1 goals.
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2007· 5 entries
Won the English Football League Cup with Chelsea (2006-2007).
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Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (2006-2007).
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Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (2006–07).
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Won: Football League Cup with Chelsea (2006–07).
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“I would say he is the hardest player to play against in midfield because he's got everything. He is a very complete midfield player. He's the stand-out one in England. Maybe when we play Arsenal and they are sometimes on top form, you could pick one of their players but Gerrard is the main one for me. Stevie is one of the best players in the England team and probably in the world to be honest, so it's always nice to play with great players and against them as well.”
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2006· 4 entries
Won award: Chelsea Players' Player of the Year (2006).
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Won: Premier League with Chelsea (2005–06).
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Runner-up: FIFA World Cup with France (2006).
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McManaman described Makélélé as the most important and yet least appreciated midfielder at Real
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2005· 8 entries
Won the English Premier League with Chelsea (2004-2005).
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Won the English FA Community Shield with Chelsea (2005).
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Won the English Football League Cup with Chelsea (2004-2005).
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Won award: FIFPro World XI (2005).
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Won: FA Community Shield with Chelsea (2005).
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Won: Premier League with Chelsea (2004–05).
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Won: Football League Cup with Chelsea (2004–05).
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“I have played alongside some of the greatest footballers of my generation, but there is only one ex-team-mate I would rate higher than Steven Gerrard. The biggest compliment I can give him is he is second only to Zinedine Zidane in terms of his world-class status.”
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2004· 1 entry
“Steven Gerrard is undoubtedly a world class player and I wish he'd played for United. I went on a tapping-up mission at Euro 2004 when I knew Chelsea were trying to take advantage of Liverpool being in turmoil. 'Come play for United,’ I said one day to Steven when we were in the hotel. 'The fans will take to you in no time.' He just laughed, and said: 'I’ll do it if you go to Anfield.'”
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2003· 4 entries
Won: La Liga with Real Madrid (2002–03).
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Won: Supercopa de España with Real Madrid (2003).
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Played for Chelsea F.C. (2003–2008) — 144 appearances, 2 goals.
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Joined Chelsea in 2003.
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2002· 3 entries
Won: UEFA Super Cup with Real Madrid (2002).
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Won: UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid (2001–02).
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Won: Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid (2002).
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2001· 2 entries
Won: La Liga with Real Madrid (2000–01).
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Won: Supercopa de España with Real Madrid (2001).
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2000· 2 entries
Joined Real Madrid in 2000.
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Played for Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (2000–2003) — 94 appearances, 0 goals.
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1998· 2 entries
Joined Celta Vigo in 1998.
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Played for RC Celta de Vigo (1998–2000) — 70 appearances, 3 goals.
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1997· 2 entries
Joined Marseille in 1997.
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Played for Olympique de Marseille (1997–1998) — 32 appearances, 2 goals.
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1995· 4 entries
Won: Division 1 with Nantes (1994–95).
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Played for France national under-21 association football team (1995–1996) — 11 appearances, 1 goals.
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Played for France men's national association football team (1995–2008) — 71 appearances, 0 goals.
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And helped the club to the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League the following season
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1991· 2 entries
Joined Nantes in 1991.
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Played for FC Nantes (1991–1997) — 169 appearances, 9 goals.
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1990· 1 entry
Played for Stade Brestois 29 (1990–1991) — 12 appearances, 3 goals.
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1973· 1 entry
Born 1973-02-18.
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