No less an acolyte than Zinedine Zidane described him as "the jewel of French football".Ģ007 Despite interest from Arsenal and Lyon in the wake of the World Cup he reluctantly stayed on France's south coast but a year later, on 7 June, Bayern Munich paid a club record €25m to sign him on a four-year contract. Two weeks later he started against Switzerland in France's opening group game of the 2006 World Cup – he featured in every game, including the final, scoring in the 3-1 second-round win over Spain. The midfielder finally made an impact in French football, leading OM to two Coupe de France finals and second place behind Olympique Lyonnais in the 2006/07 Championnat.Ģ006 His exploits with OM earned him an international call-up, his debut for France coming on 27 May in a friendly against Mexico. Despite earning the affection of the fans, and the nickname 'Ferraribery' (for his acceleration), he left the Turkish club after just five months in a dispute over pay.Ģ005 In July Fifa endorse his acrimonious move to Olympique Marseille and Galatasaray later have their case for compensation rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
#FRANK RIBERY IN FIFA 2005 PROFESSIONAL#
He played his first professional match in 2003 with Stade Brestois, a Ligue 2 club.Ģ004 Signed for Ligue 1 side Metz and impressed playing on the right wing, scoring twice in 20 games – prompting Galatasaray to sign him in January 2005. After converting to Islam he married his childhood sweetheart, Wahiba, with whom he has two children.ġ996 Inducted into the Lille football academy, the 13-year-old impressed but was expelled three years later for his lax attitude to his academic work.Ģ001 Joined his hometown side, amateur outfit US Boulogne, before moving one season later to Olympique Ales, another amateur side playing in the national league. Thrown through the windscreen of the car in which he was travelling following a collision at the age of two, he still bears facials scars from the hundreds of stitches he required. 1983 Born on 1 April in Boulogne-sur-Mer, he was raised on the disadvantaged Chemin-Vert estate on the fringes of the city.