Michel Platini
The Frenchman was the captain who led his team to success on home soil. But above that he was also the top scorer and the player of the tournament at the 1984 tournament.
Full name: Michel François Platini
Date of birth: 21 June 1955 (age 56)
Place of birth: JÂœuf, France
Playing position: Attacking midfielder
Current role: UEFA President
The Frenchman (seen on the extreme right in picture) was the captain who led his team to success on home soil. But above that he was also the top scorer and the player of the tournament at the 1984 tournament. The nine goals hat he scored in that single edition of the championship is still the record for most goals (9) in the tournament's history. Of the nine goals, he got two "perfect" hat-tricks (one header and one goal with each foot) in the group stage and also found the goal in the semi-final and final. Â
Such was his dominance in the 1984 Euros that he is still regarded as the difference between the French and the Spanish, Portuguese sides. He made the last appearance for France in 1987 in a Euro qualifier against Iceland.
He became the manager of the national side in 1988 but was immediately unsuccessful as the team did not do well in the qualifiers for the 1990 World Cup. The 1992 Euros became his next target and although France did do well in the qualifiers then, they were eliminated in the first round of the final tournament. Platini step down from the post immediately.
He is a one time Ballon d'Or award winner in 1983. Currently he is the President of UEFA since 2007.