Marcel Desailly is a French former professional footballer, widely considered to be among the greatest centre-backs and defensive midfielders to ever play football.
28 Facts About Marcel Desailly
2.
Marcel Desailly was born as Odenke Abbey on 7 September 1968 in Accra, Ghana, the son of Ghanaian parents.
3.
Marcel Desailly had his name changed when his mother married the head of the French Consulate in Accra, who adopted all of her children.
4.
The family relocated to France when Marcel Desailly was four years old.
5.
Marcel Desailly turned professional in 1986, two years after his half-brother had died in a car accident.
6.
Marcel Desailly picked up one major trophy in his six seasons with Chelsea, being on the winning side in their FA Cup triumph over Aston Villa in 2000.
7.
Marcel Desailly was snapped up by Qatari outfit Al-Gharafa in 2004.
8.
Marcel Desailly was appointed as the club captain and under the French coach Bruno Metsu they won the Qatar League in 2005.
9.
In 2014, Marcel Desailly had met the Football Association of Malaysia and said he was ready and willing to coach the Malaysia national team.
10.
Marcel Desailly pointed that it was up to the football association whether to hire him or not.
11.
Marcel Desailly has often said that he feels totally French and while having ties with Ghana, never even considered playing for a country other than France.
12.
Marcel Desailly made his international debut in 1993, but was not established as a first choice defender until 1996.
13.
Marcel Desailly was an important part of the French team which won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, albeit being sent off in the final match.
14.
Marcel Desailly is currently a Laureus Academy member and OrphanAid Africa Lifetime ambassador to Ghana and France.
15.
Marcel Desailly was mentioned as a possible candidate for the coaching position of the Ghana national team.
16.
Marcel Desailly has since then pulled out of the race to coach the Ghana National Team, although the option is likely to keep coming up.
17.
Marcel Desailly has opened a sports facility in Ghana called Lizzy Sports Complex, in memory of his late mother, geared to young players and children in particular.
18.
Marcel Desailly worked for BBC Sport in the United Kingdom during the 2006 World Cup, as one of their Match of the Day analysts.
19.
Marcel Desailly worked for BBC Sport at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and Euro 2008 and is a regular commentator for French television channel Canal Plus.
20.
Marcel Desailly became a spokesperson for sports betting website Betclic.
21.
In 2010 Marcel Desailly joined the ITV Sport team for their World Cup coverage from South Africa.
22.
Marcel Desailly is a supporter of the 1GOAL Education for All campaign.
23.
Marcel Desailly is the UNICEF national Goodwill Ambassador for Ghana.
24.
Marcel Desailly is the Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador for his personal Charity OrphanAid Africa, that helps abandoned children in Ghana.
25.
Marcel Desailly is a member of the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation.
26.
Marcel Desailly is an ICON in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team and FIFA 22 Ultimate Team with ratings of 87,88,91, and 92 in both games.
27.
Marcel Desailly is married to Virginie and has four children.
28.
Marcel Desailly's nephew James Edouard Adams is a semi-professional footballer.