Claude Makelele: biography

Claude Makelele is a Congolese-born French international footballer. Widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation he has played for FC Nantes, Olympique Marseille, Celta Vigo, most famously Real Madrid, Chelsea and currently Paris Saint-Germain. He is one of few modern French greats who missed out on their back-to-back World Cup and European Championship triumphs.

Beginnings

Born on 18 February 1973 in Kinshasa, DR Congo, then known as Zaire, Claude Makelele Sinda moved to Paris aged four. Living in the Savigny-le-Temple suburb of the French capital, his father Andre-Joseph also played professional football. Aged sixteen Claude joined the academy of Brest. After two years of hard work Nantes came in for him and in 1992 he made his debut in Ligue 1 at the start of the season.

Career

During five campaigns with Nantes, Makelele helped them to the French league championship in 1994-95 and this earned him a move to Olympique Marseille, after just one season on the south coast he moved abroad to Spain with Celta Vigo. Claude was instrumental in their run in the UEFA Cup, including famous victories over Liverpool and Juventus. Real Madrid
This attracted the attention of Real Madrid. Vigo accepted a €14 million bid when Makelele forced a move through to the Spanish giants. This highly successful spell in the capital, including the La Liga title and Champions League glory meant he could be ignored at international level no more. After three seasons at Madrid he asked for a better contract. When this was refused he secured an £16.8 million move to the Premier League with Chelsea. Chelsea
A Claudio Ranieri signing, Claude’s success in England came under successor Jose Mourinho though. In 2004 he began dating French model Noemie Lenoir. Twice coaxed out of international retirement by Raymond Domenech he was part of the France team that reach the 2006 World Cup final that lost to Italy on penalties. PSG
After two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and reaching the Champions League final again, Makelele moved back to France, signing for PSG. Winning the French cup in 2010, Claude will play until the end of 2011 season when he intends to retire. His relationship with Lenoir has broken down and the model attempted suicide in May 2010. An altercation at her home with Thandi Ojee last year saw Makelele break his jaw during a fist fight.

Achievements

With seventy-one caps for France, Claude won nothing for his country despite going to four major tournaments. At club level his honours include league titles in England, France and Spain and the FA and French Cups besides the
2001 Champions League with Madrid.