Nicolas Anelka (born the March 14th 1979 with Versailles) is a player of Football French evolving/moving at the station of before center.

Biography

His/her parents, Marguerite and Jean-Philippe, originating in the Martinique, arrive to Metropolitan France in 1974.

They settle with Trappes, in the Yvelines, and work for the State education. It has two older brothers, ten years old. According to the biography presents on its site: “I lived a little with the disadvantage of an only son; without playmate of my age. ”

It is formed with INF Clairefontaine of 1993 with 1996. Already laid off with the PSG, Nicolas involves themselves the week with Clairefontaine and plays the weekend with the teams of young people or reserves of the PSG before integrating the flag team the February 7th 1996.

It took part in 2002 in the film the Ball .

The youth of Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka was born at the hospital Andre-Mignot from Versailles on March 14th, 1979. His/her parents Marguerite and Jean-Philippe are originating in the Martinique, and arrived in metropolis in 1974. Installed in Yvelines with Trappes, they are respectively secretary with the Lycée of Rambouillet and Fonctionnaire with the Rectorat of Versailles. Nicolas has two elder brothers, Claude and Didier (10 years more than him), and are who often décriés for the councils that they lavish on their brother. Nicolas grows in the Van Gogh city of Trap door-in-Yvelines and touches with several sports such as the Tennis, the Athlétisme and obviously the football which it practiced place of theSpangled one, in the street of the Moulin of the Wafer or that of the Corn Field. He takes besides his first License with the FC Trap door-St Quentin in 1986 whereas he is only seven years old and plays there until his fourteen years. He starts in Poussin and is already attracted by the goal, he thus plays center-forward, where he puts forward his qualities, in particular its speed. Later, it will become with Jamel Debbouze honorary president of his old club of Trap doors, which will be sponsored by Canal +.

The small last of the Anelka family is brooded and protected by his/her parents and his/her two big brothers, and knows a happy childhood.

His/her Claude big brother also plays football (it passed by the Paris FC) but, very quickly, everyone understands that it is Nicolas who will make career in this sport. With the top of the batch in its club of Trap doors, it is logically accepted with INF Clairefontaine after having made noticed ( detection ) at the thirteen years age.

The INF Clairefontaine (1993-1996)

At thirteen years, Nicolas Anelka thus integrates INF but does not remain far from its family and of her district of Trap doors. It is as in Clairefontaine as it also met Thierry Henry originating him in the Parisian suburbs and Ulis. It cotoie also David Trezeguet, Philippe Christanval, Louis Saha, and even Alioune Touré, which never was essential on the PSG. Anelka often speaks about this time, where it really became aware that it was going to become professional. In spite of separation, it forges a character during its adolescence, and learns enormously on the technical plan.

The first passage to the PSG (1994-1997)

Nicolas Anelka, during his formation with the INF Clairefontaine, sign with the Paris Saint-Germain in 1994. As much of players, he declares wrongly or rightly that being small he only looked at the TV to see the PSG of Ginola, Valdo and Roche. In spite of its presence in week at the training center of the INF, Nicolas Anelka plays the weekend with Paris Saint-Germain. He has good hope to become one day professional and its dream will be carried out on February 7th, 1996 in Monaco whereas he is yet only sixteen years old. At the time of the end of season 95/96, Anelka will play two matches under the orders of Shine Fernandez.

However Luis Fernandez leaves the PSG and Ricardo, the former defender of the PSG replaces it with the head of Paris Saint-Germain. And the things start to be spoiled: indeed Ricardo is rather cold and always does not explain its choices with the Anelka young person. Nicolas estimates thus that at fifteen or thirty years one as well knows football and especially it is better than Dely Valdes or than Loko. It marks besides against Lens with the Park after having recovered a bad master key of the defender lensois Adjovi Bocco.

But the conflict is always present with Ricardo and it does not include/understand the lack of confidence of its coach. He asks him to play to prove his level in the first division. But in spite of his good performances to the drive, Nicolas plays always also little and then decides to join the club of Arsenal on February 14th, 1997 in spite of the requests of the Milan AC, the Real Madrid or of FC Barcelona.

The great jump with Arsenal (1997-1999)

Coveted by Arsene Wenger with Arsenal and not having a professional contract, Nicolas Anelka can thus join the English club which will spend only five franc million. However, its second half of season 96/97 is rather disappointing and Nicolas, barred by Overmars, Bergkamp or the idol Ian Wright, plays only four matches of First League.

But Wenger knows exactly what he wants to do of young French, he had in particular said to him “I swear you, you will have your chance” to convince it to sign at Gunners. And it is what will occur at the time of season 97-98 with six goals in twenty-six matches whereas it is only nineteen years old and a first goal under the colors of Arsenal against the rival Manchester United on November 9th, 1997. Like he says it itself, Nicolas Anelka had a little evil to take the rate/rhythm of First League, with a very hard English play and much of contacts. But this championship enables him to mature, to become more trustful, more extremely physically and especially to carry out doubled the Cut-Championship. Nicolas discovers even the team of France on April 22nd, 1998 vis-a-vis in Sweden right before the World cup 1998. A World cup for which it will not be selected by Aimé Jacquet. He will state later not to have looked at France-Paraguay bus he was with his friends with Trappes and not to have looked at the final France-Brazil bus he was in the train. He is also pleased with his not-selection bus he could pass his license. Already, the personality of Nicolas Anelka disturbs: it is not yet twenty years old, but it unchains passions and also criticisms.

Nicolas tries to be integrated into the London life and he lives with his Claude brother in Edgware. But it is not able to be done with the English life and often returns in its suburbs to Trappes. Already at the time, the bad character of Nicolas Anelka is proposed. It does not support the press conferences, in particular those of the team of France. It is thus shown to have the famous person, to be sulky at the time of the points presses.

However its season 98-99 is excellent and it thus marks seventeen goals in thirty-five matches. It is also convincing with the team of France, in particular in Russia where it marks a goal, but especially in February 1999 when it marks one doubled in Wembley vis-a-vis in England. The compliments fuse: Didier Deschamps, captain of Blue, declares “one found our Ronaldo”, Pelé speaks about Anelka in eulogistic terms. (cf PSGJunior)

But Nicolas Anelka is not well and feels badly in London. He which likes peace and does not like to make speak about him is tracked by the tabloids. He thinks that the fact of being French, young and substitute of Ian Wright plays in his discredit and accepts criticisms of the media on its private life, its entourage, but never on its pure performances. His/her brothers Claude and Didier want that there remains still a season in England, but Nicolas cannot about it any more and wants to leave Arsenal.

He is then coveted by the largest European clubs and its future seems Italian: the Juventus and the Lazio formulate very large offers to acquire the young player. But the dream of Nicolas is to sign in Spain, and it is what it will do in the month of August 1999.

Failure in Real Madrid (1999-2000)

Nicolas Anelka joined the club inhabitant of Madrid in 1999 for a record transfer of 220 franc million whereas it hardly has just celebrated his twenty years. The young French attacker unloads in Madrid and holds its press conference of presentation in front of 200 journalists at the stage Santiago Bernabeu on August 5th. Before him, four French only had carried the shirt merengue: Hon, Kopa, Muller and Karembeu which it finds besides in Madrid. Karembeu helps Anelka to feel well within the Real, it becomes friendly with Cameronian Geremi and Eto' O. In Madrid, his/her Didier brother accompanies it, while Claude prefers to remain in England.

However, very quickly the problems occur for Nicolas Anelka in Spain. Indeed, the results of the Real Madrid of John Toschack are poor and the press falls on the Anelka young person in particular because of the amount of its transfer and its wages. The problems also exist in the cloakroom where Spanish Morientes and Raul does not even address the word to him. On the ground also the things are difficult for French where it is almost never been useful by his fellow-members. The Spanish play does not seem not made for him: Nicolas starts to find time long and despairs never not to play his true station. However, at the beginning of January it finds the way of the nets at the time of the Championship of the World of the Clubs in Brazil where it marks three goals including one doubled against the Brazilian club of the Corinthians de São Paulo. But at the time of the match vis-a-vis the Rajah Casablanca, it fractures the meniscus and is inalienable during six weeks. However its return is crashing to pieces and takes place with Bernabeu at the time of the classico vis-a-vis Barca. Anelka is titular, mark at the 19th minute its first goal in Liga, on February 28th, 2000 and leaves under an ovation the public inhabitant of Madrid.

But Anelka always has problems within the cloakroom of Real. Insulated and badly in its skin, he refuses to involve himself during three days. The sanction falls: Real Madrid and its new trainer Vicente del Bosque decide to suspend it for one duration 45 days and impose a fine to him record of 2.4 franc million the day of sound 21e birthday. The president inhabitant of Madrid Lorenzo Sanz estimates that Nicolas Anelka has psychic problems but also that all does not turn out badly in its head. The player is completely disturbed, he thinks that he will miss the euro 2000 and especially is disgusted world of football. He repeats that he does not like the medium of football, that he wants just to play football and not to be a star. The newspapers ACE and Marca continuous to be caught some with him declaring some that is not in Real to encrust itself in him, but with him to encrust itself in the club. Anelka will be excused 15 days later for its attitude and the suspension of the French attacker will thus be raised on April 6th. It will finish its season inhabitant of Madrid in a very convincing way. Thus at the time of the semi-final outward journey of the League of the Champions, it marks a goal against the Bayern of Munich of the dish of the right foot after being well been useful by Raul. At the time of the return match it will mark beautiful cross head again. At the time of the finale of the League of the Champions, vis-a-vis FC Valence, Anelka will be titular but will not mark. During the summer it will also take part in the French victory at the time of the Euro 2000, even if it says later that it badly lived it because it did not mark at the time of this competition. Season 99-00 will be very problematic for him with difficulties in club and in the media, but it finishes more beautiful manners, with two European titles, the euro 2000 and the League of the Champions.

Of return to Paris Saint-Germain (2000-2001)

Nicolas Anelka had left PSG during the month in January 1997 for Arsenal for the sum of 5 franc million and here of return in his formative club for the sum record of 215 franc million with a 7 year old contract. The transfer was considered since its problems to Real and the PSG of Laurent Perpère, in his will to renovate the club, wanted absolutely to make return the old wonder. Thus Pierre Lescure, owner of Canal+ (the principal shareholder of the PSG), made the voyage to Madrid to convince the young person attacking the Blue ones to return in its club. Very justified, Nicolas Anelka is convinced that it must return to play in France after a last very difficult season. The business is concluded at the end of July and Nicolas Anelka is introduced to the half-time of the match between Corinthians and the PSG with his new floqué shirt of the n°9.

The beginning of championship of the Parisian club is excellent and all the observers think that the PSG slips by towards a championship of France which escapes to him since 1994. In League of the Champions all occurs very well also in particular with the enormous victory vis-a-vis Rosenborg. Nicolas Anelka already marked 6 goals, but very quickly the things occur badly: the " recruitment banlieue" is criticized in the media and the players do not do anything to improve their image. The traditional Parisian crisis of the month of November is there and thus on December 2nd, after a humiliation vis-a-vis Sedan, Philippe Bergeroo is laid off and Luis Fernandez made her return to the PSG. This last tries to do the housework, recruits players of the Spanish championship, but the end of season of the PSG will be average: the Parisian club will finish in the 9th place with 8 goals in 27 matches for Anelka.

During the summer Nicolas Anelka finds once again the team of France and gains the Cut of the Confederations 2001 pennies the blue shirt. But with the beginning of the season of the championship of France, the tensions with Luis Fernandez continue. The puppets of information will caricature the relation between the two men by the famous parody “Nico and Luis”. Laurent Perpère is conscious of the problem of Anelka with the PSG: this one is not at ease in the style of play preached by Luis Fernandez and the surmediatisation of which he is victim (or culprit) gives him an enormous pressure. Thus after one season and half within Paris Saint-Germain (and only 2 goals against Lens and Lorient at the time of its second season) it is lent 6 months in England to Liverpool.

2002: a short passage at Reds

After a difficult passage in the championship of France, Nicolas Anelka finds a championship where he always excelled. Emile Heskey is disappointing with the point of the attack of Liverpool FC and Anelka is awaited to compete with it. In Liverpool, the French attacker finds an imposing French colony and in particular its former trainer among juniors Gerard Houllier. It is essential very quickly with a goal as of its first match on January 5th, 2002. In a role more moved back, Nicolas Anelka proves that he is not only one sprinter and that he is also very gifted technically. The option to buy for the transfer of the attacker is of 190 franc million, and all seems ready for the final signature of Nicolas in Liverpool. But finally, at the end of May 2002, Houllier announces on television that the player will not be prolonged in Liverpool whereas he had however authorized an important fall of wages. Anelka will keep a long time this open scar and will not forgive in Houllier not to have done signed it definitively on the edges of the Mersey.

The second great disappointment of its season will be its not-convocation for the World cup 2002 in Korea.

Nicolas Anelka in Manchester… City (2002-2004)

Persuaded that Liverpool was going to preserve it, Nicolas Anelka did not have in the head a departure. However it should find a club at the beginning of season 2002-2003 knowing that PSG does not wish any more to preserve it. Thus, with the general surprise Anelka joined the English club of Manchester City, just promoted in First League, for the sum of 20 million euros plus an exchange with Alioune Touré and a monthly salary of 250.000 euros. In Manchester City, Nicolas Anelka plays under the orders of Kevin Keegan, ex-large attacker who is completely fan of him and regards it as the best center-forward in the world. The power is on well with the old double Ballon of gold. On the grounds of First League, Anelka carries out good starts, but it is especially in the press that Nicolas will make speak about him with a refusal of selection in team of France. He refuses to play the substitutes and estimates that Jacques Santini does not rely really on him. A media business is launched, qualified Anelka of spoiled child is designated even more as the bad lot of French football, him which admires Cantona. In February 2003 Anelka will declare with the Daily Mirror that he will play never again for the team of France and that to miss two World cups did not kill it. In championship the 9th place of Manchester City rather good for one is promoted and Anelka finished its season with 15 goals, very good score knowing that its fellow-members are not frontier runners of international scale. Anelka declares with Paris Match in August 2003 which it considered a return to the Blue ones only provided that Santini " agenouille" in front of him. New media lynching for a player who gives the stick to be made beat.

The second season of Nicolas under the shirt of the other club of Manchester is still better on the personal level since it registers 17 goals in 32 matches of championship but also 4 goals in 5 matches of Coupe of the UEFA. Nicolas Anelka also opens out in contact with his coach and progresses on the plan of football where he becomes a complete player but also on a more personal level, where he appears much riper far from the mediatization. However, on the collective level, Manchester City carries out one average season in spite of the reinforcements of Seaman and McManaman.

At the beginning of the year 2004, Anelka, its entourage and his sponsor set up an enormous press campaign in order to support the return of the attacker with the Blue ones for the euro 2004. He excuses himself at Santini and speaks about his desire for returning, but the things will not change any more and Anelka will miss the euro in Portugal.

It begins a third season under the colors of Manchester City (7 goals at the semi-season), but it knows already that its future passes by a transfer in a European club of standing. The club of City indeed knows large financial problems and a departure of Nicolas Anelka in a major club is announced. However it is in Turkey that it will sign.

The Turkish madness with Fenerbahce (2005-2006)

Nicolas Anelka unloads in January 2005 in the leader of the championship and is accommodated like a genuine star by the supporters stambouliotes. Nicolas does not play points some because Marcio Nobre is titular, but in a role of right winger Anelka will mark 4 goals of 14 matches at the time of the return matches and will take part largely in the championship of its club of Fenerbahce. Nicolas Anelka will thus play the Ligue of the Champions at the time of the season 2005-06. However, in spite of beautiful matches it will not mark in this competition. In championship Anelka will register 10 goals in 25 matches of championship.

But beyond its Turkish services, the year 2005 will be especially that of its great return in team of France. Indeed Raymond Domenech convenes it for the friendly matches vis-a-vis the Costa Rica and vis-a-vis the Germany in November. The match against Costa Rica takes place on the ground of his/her parents in Martinique and Anelka is illustrated with a goal for its return. Anelka is announced like therefore possible for the world cup 2006, but however it will not be selected, even after the fixed price of Djibril Cissé which will be replaced by Sidney Govou.

A third passage in England (2006-?)

During the summer 2006 Nicolas Anelka is again announced in many clubs but it is with Bolton which it will sign for an amount of 12 million euros and a contract 4 years. Its new trainer Sam Allardyce is very happy signature of his new center-forward and he declared in August that “Nicolas was born to mark goals and its talent to much will bring us”. After a difficult beginning of the season under the colors of the Wanderers, where it is obliged to only play points Anelka of it starts to find its marks and registers its first goal at the time of the 14th day against Arsenal. Since it carries out a beautiful series and marked 11 goals in 32 appearances under the shirt of Bolton. It forms with the Senegalese attacker El-Hadji Diouf one of the best duets of England.

Nicolas Anelka a man of conflict?

The relations of Nicolas Anelka with the supporters, the journalists, the trainers always were very tended. A career marked by muddles since 1997 with its tumultuous departure of the PSG, bad relations with the English tabloïds at the time of its passage to Arsenal, but also of the problems in Real Madrid with the players, the leaders, the supporters and the journalists. The relationship with the French journalists was already very bad before its departure for Madrid and the image of bad servant boy of Nicolas Anelka will be still reinforced with its return to the PSG. A slap with a journalist of the Team, sudden changes of mood to repetition. But the media can also make use of the “phenomenon Anelka”, the crisis with Luis Fernandez is overexploited, the conflicts with Lemerre then Santini also. A book claiming to inquire into Anelka will also leave.

Anelka is a gold mine for all the journalists eager to make articles crashing to pieces by its capacity be left the short phrases:

- in connection with the World cup 1998: “I did not want to take the head with that to me. I immediately passed my driving license. They is sympathetic to return here”; “I was in Trappes with my pals. I was not going to say to them: I return, I want to look at France-Paraguay. That is not made leave its pals like that”; “I was in the train. I returned to London. The commander gave the score progressively, except that it did not give the 3rd goal. I was astonished, I thought that it would be more difficult. ” - in connection with the journalists: “The media activity poses a problem to me: it is too. That obstructs me. I would like to remain quiet. I would prefer that one does not speak about me. Y has anything to say on me. I involve myself, I play foot, I return at home. It is all. I do that the every day. ” - in connection with Shine Fernandez in FourFourTwo : “It is not an intelligent man. As soon as you show good will and discuss with him, it wastes all” in connection with Jacques Santini in Paris-Match : “I do not need the team of France. That he kneels in front of me, excuses itself initially, and afterwards, I will reflect” - in connection with the team of France in France football : “Today, I do not need the team of France” - by the way Jacques Santini in the Team: “Santini I do not even know if it is already able to include/understand itself” - in connection with Roger Lemerre in the Team: “Lemerre I spoke with him but I do not know if it included/understood me” - in connection with Gerard Houllier: “If it had not made me this blow, I would not be there, to play since four years in clubs second-rate, where I would never have imagined to sign one day. ”

Nicolas Anelka, discussed man

Nicolas Anelka was often criticized because of his entourage, and in particular his two brothers Claude and Didier Anelka. His/her Claude brother is still footballer and played in particular Paris FC, while his/her other Didier brother was professor of accountancy, right or of economy. Frederic Drobaje will criticize his transfer to Real Madrid where the agents were his/her brothers and an adviser Marc Roger did not have license FIFA. However Nicolas Anelka often speaks about his family and his brothers as the balance which it needs.

In addition, one also reproached him for being too much sulky person, too nonchalant, too suburbs, too rabble, too young… Autant criticisms perhaps justified but hard to accept by a 20 year old young person. Indeed during the apogee of the phenomenon Anelka (99-01) it was undoubtedly difficult to follow the whims of Nicolas Anelka. However it was right a young person to whom one stole the youth and which just sought to be a footballer as it likes to say it.

As he recently said in an interview, before he was arrogant and sharp sectional view and was foutait of all. But he says to have changed, in particular for his parents because that touched them to intend to speak in evil about the Anelka family in the media. In connection with the media precisely, Nicolas thought that it was not a priority for him, and that it reinforced to him even this arrogant side. Its only priority was to type in a balloon and to be happy. On the other hand he completely contradicts to be instrumentalisé by his brothers, in particular during his transfer to Madrid, knowing that they wanted them that there remains still one or two years with Arsenal before leaving for Spain.

Nicolas Anelka, a complete player of the 21e century

At the beginning of career, in particular in Arsenal was a unidimensional player, the prototype of the sprinter of which one of great qualities was especially speed. English defenses being very friable, the young attacker was very powerful when it was launched in-depth. But its failures in Madrid then has Paris will change the player who understood that it was to become much more complete. And it is in Liverpool in a role much more moved back than it enormously will progress, in the play without balloon, unhookings, the catch of ball and all its epic technical which it had not been able to improve in its youth.

Under the shirt of Manchester City and the orders of Kevin Keegan, Anelka will enormously also learn on its station and will open out as a footballer. Better in its head, Anelka is better on the ground, does not balk any more to play on the sides or even all alone in the axis. Anelka is thus the player of the 21e century, at the same time fast and technical. In spite of that he plays only Bolton, and even if he can be caught some that with him even, he is not the only person in charge of a career which he undoubtedly hoped for better. But it is only 28 years old, the age of maturity for him, and the moment to show with everyone which it is well assailing of class.

Career player

Prize list

In national team

• Victorious of the Championship of Europe of the nations in 2000 ()
• Victorious of the Cut of the Confederations in 2001 ()
• Victorious of the Championship of Europe of football of less than 19 years in 1996

• First selection on April 22nd 1998 against the Sweden (0-0)

In club

• Victorious of the League of the Champions in 2000 with.
• Victorious of the Cut of Europe of the Winners of Cut in 1996 with.
• Champion of England in 1998 with.
• Champion of Turkey in 2005 with.
• Victorious of the Cut of England in 1998 with.
• Victorious of Cut Intertoto in 2001 with.

• Finalist of the Peace Cup in 2007 with.

• Better striker of the Championship of the world of the clubs in 2000 with.

External bonds

• Official site
• Official site of Bolton Wanderers

Sources

• Blog of the author of the portrait

----

Random links:

Route European 70 | Montsûrs | River-of-the-savanna | Pelléas and Mélisande (opera) | Pi Puppis