“did not have much choice about which country to play for,”
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Marcel Desailly
Marcel David Desailly is a former professional footballer, who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder. During a successful career at club level, lasting from 1986 to 2006, Desailly won several titles, including UEFA Champions League medals with both Marseille and AC Milan, and also played for Nantes and Chelsea, among other teams. At international level, he collected 116 caps between 1993…
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sports · French footballer (born 1968) · association football player · also Marcel Desailly, Marcel David Desailly, Odenkey Abbey, Desailly
Born 7 September 1968 · Q193625
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2026· 5 entries
Public attention spiked: 3,064 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.3× the usual 942, with 0 article edits.
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Yardbarker: Marcel Desailly gives two reasons why Xabi Alonso is 'the perfect coach' for Chelsea
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Yahoo! Sports: Marcel Desailly urges Xabi Alonso to sign player who can “bring something special into the system”
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Yahoo! Sports: “I would actually recommend” – Marcel Desailly tells Chelsea to sign “very smart” player this summer
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2025· 1 entry
Yardbarker: Marcel Desailly opens up on why Eden Hazard failed to reach Chelsea heights at Real Madrid
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2023· 1 entry
Ghanaweb.com: Marcel Desailly offered me first coaching role despite not having a certificate – Capasta reveals
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2017· 2 entries
Won: Golden Foot Legends Award with AC Milan Hall of Fame (2017).
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ESPN: Marcel Desailly says captain John Terry's time at Chelsea is up
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2014· 1 entry
Desailly had met the Football Association of Malaysia and said he was ready and willing to coach the Malaysia national team
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2010· 1 entry
Desailly joined the ITV Sport team for their World Cup coverage from South Africa
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2005· 3 entries
Won: Qatar Stars League with Al-Gharafa (2004–05).
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Won: Trophée d'honneur UNFP with UEFA Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament (2005).
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Played for Qatar SC (2005–2006) — 7 appearances, 0 goals.
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2004· 3 entries
Won: FIFA 100 with UEFA Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament (2004).
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Was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 as one of the world's greatest living players
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Played for Al-Gharafa SC (2004–2005) — 28 appearances, 6 goals.
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2003· 2 entries
Won the FIFA Confederations Cup with Chelsea (2003).
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Won: FIFA Confederations Cup with France (2003).
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2001· 4 entries
Won the FIFA Confederations Cup with Chelsea (2001).
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Won: FIFA Confederations Cup with France (2001).
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Won award: Onze de Onze (2001).
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Led France to victory in the Confederations Cup
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2000· 6 entries
Won the English FA Cup with Chelsea (1999-2000).
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Won the English FA Community Shield with Chelsea (2000).
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Won: UEFA European Championship with France (2000).
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Won award: Onze de Onze (2000).
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Won: FA Charity Shield with Chelsea (2000).
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Won: FA Cup with Chelsea (1999–2000).
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1999· 1 entry
Won award: Onze de Onze (1999).
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1998· 8 entries
Won the FIFA World Cup with France (1998).
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Won award: Onze de Onze (1998).
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Won: UEFA Super Cup with Chelsea (1998).
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Won: FIFA World Cup with France (1998).
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Won award: Knight of the Legion of Honour (1998).
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Awarded Knight of the Legion of Honour (1998).
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Played for Chelsea F.C. (1998–2004) — 158 appearances, 6 goals.
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Joined Chelsea in 1998.
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1996· 2 entries
Won: World XI with UEFA Euro 1996 Team of the Tournament (1996).
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Won: Serie A with AC Milan (1995–96).
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1995· 1 entry
Won award: Onze de Onze (1995).
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1994· 6 entries
Won: Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan (1994).
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Won: UEFA Champions League with AC Milan (1993–94).
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Won: European Super Cup with AC Milan (1994).
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Won award: Onze de Onze (1994).
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Won: Serie A with AC Milan (1993–94).
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While playing for AC Milan, he again won the Cup (scoring in the final himself), becoming the first player to win the rebranded tournament with two different clubs, and also the first ever player to win the Cup with diff
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1993· 5 entries
Won: UEFA Champions League with Marseille (1992–93).
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Joined Milan in 1993.
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Played for AC Milan (1993–1998) — 137 appearances, 5 goals.
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Played for France men's national association football team (1993–2004) — 116 appearances, 3 goals.
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But was not established as a first choice defender until 1996
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1992· 3 entries
Moved to Marseille, where he reunited with Deschamps, and won the UEFA Champions League the following year
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Played for Olympique de Marseille (1992–1993) — 47 appearances, 1 goals.
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Joined Marseille in 1992.
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1986· 3 entries
Played for FC Nantes (1986–1992) — 162 appearances, 5 goals.
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Two years after his half-brother had died in a car accident
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Joined Nantes in 1986.
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1968· 1 entry
Born 1968-09-07.
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