Claude Makélélé was born on February 18th, 1973 in Kinshasa, Zaire. A defensive midfielder with a voracious appetite for hard work, uncanny anticipation, tireless energy, and tigerish pace, Claude is one of world football's most effective ball-winners. Quietly crucial to his side, he sits in front of the defence and breaks up opposing attacks before launching his own team's forays forward.a
Claude Makélélé was born on February 18th, 1973 in Kinshasa, Zaire. A defensive midfielder with a voracious appetite for hard work, uncanny anticipation, tireless energy, and tigerish pace, Claude is one of world football's most effective ball-winners. Quietly crucial to his side, he sits in front of the defence and breaks up opposing attacks before launching his own team's forays forward. Claude moved to Paris in 1977 when he was four years old.
Aged 18, he was recruited by FC Nantes Atlantique in December 1991. At Nantes, he won the French Championship in 1995 and helped the club to the semi-final of European Cup. Further moves came - to Olympique de Marseille and Celta Vigo - before he joined Real Madrid in 2000. At Real, Makélélé helped win two Spanish La Liga championships, the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. An ever-present in the side, Makélélé established himself as one of the best holding midfielders in the world. In the summer of 2003, he was signed by Chelsea for £16,800,000 and was the unsung hero in Chelsea FC's successful 2004-05 season, winning both the Premiership and the League Cup.
His defensive qualities allowed the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Arjen Robben, and Didier Drogba to parade their attacking skills. In September 2005 he was selected as a member of the World XI at the FIFPro awards. Claude Makelele has had a successful international career playing for France gaining 33 caps, and playing for his country at the 1996 Olympic Games, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and Euro 2004.
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