Platini is the French player of the century

PARIS, DEC. 26. Michel Platini has been named the greatest French player of the century in a poll to be published in Tuesday's edition of France Football magazine.

A panel of experts assembled by the influential magazine chose former French captain Platini ahead of Zinedine Zidane and Raymond Kopa.

Midfielder Platini scored 41 goals in 72 internationals for France - more than any other player - was skipper on 50 occasions and led France to the 1984 European title.

Aime Jacquet, who guided France to its 1998 World Cup triumph, was named coach of the century by the magazine's panel, ahead of former Reims, St. Etienne and national team coach Albert Batteux, who coached France between 1955 and 1962, and Michel Hidalgo, who coached the national team to the 1984 European title.

The French team of 1998-2000, which won the World Cup and the European championship, was named as the French team of the last 100 years, ahead of the team of 1982-86, which made the semifinals of the 1982 World Cup and won the 1984 European title.

Then came the St. Etienne side of the 1974-77, which won three straight league titles and reached the European Cup final in 1976 only to lose to Bayern Munich.

- Reuters

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Section  : Sport
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