The black pearl

Chelsea's Claude Makelele (R) from France and Besiktas Istanbul's player Daniel Pancu from Rumania fight for the ball in a Champions league soccer match in Gelsenkirchen, 09 December 2003. AFP PHOTO DDP/TORSTEN SILZ

The best things come in small packages and France's defensive midfielder Claude Makelele, at 1m70, is the proof.

With a permanent smile Makelele seems to be always in the right place to mop up balls now playing for Chelsea after a move from Real Madrid in 2003, plying his visionary and super accurate distribution to one of his lurking teammates.

Claude Makelele of France (R) vies for the ball with Denmark's Stig Tofting (L), 11 June 2002 at the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, during first round Group A action between Denmark and France in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. AFP PHOTO /PATRICK HERTZOG

Many agreed that within Real Madrid's adventurous and often 'swashbuckling' approach Makelele was the Spanish giants concession to realism.

The French international will be a fully mature 30-years-old by the time France defend their European Championship crown in Portugal 2004 and after five seasons at Nantes, and another seasons with first Celta Vigo and Madrid he should be at the height of his powers.

The horrible disappointment of France's 2002 World Cup first-round elimination, his only international tournament, should also spur on the Zaire-born midfielder.

French connection

Olympique Marseille's midfielder Claude Makelele (L) strikes a goal past SC Bastia's defender Pierre-Yves André (R), 15 March during their match counting for the 29th day of France's First Division Championships.

After moving to Marseille in 1997 a poor season in a less preferred right sided position saw him miss out on the 1998 World Cup, however, his switch to Celta Vigo on the Spanish Atlantic coast gave him a new lease of life.

The discerning Spanish football fans stood up and took notice of Makelele's combative spirit, tactical awareness and silky passing.

So did Real Madrid, who bought his considerable talents in the summer of 2000. Makalele's 'realism' helped Madrid to the Spanish league crown that season. His efforts the following year when Madrid won the Champions League crown earned him the nickname "the Monster".

Star players of Spanish club team Real Madrid, L-R: Claude Makelele of France, Jose Maria Gutierres of Spain, Zinedine Zidane of France, and Luis Figo of Portugal, celebarte their victory over Paraguay's Olimpia during an award cereomy for the Toyota Cup, Europe/South America football club championship at Yokohama International Stadium 03 December 2002. Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid beat Paraguay's Olimpia 2-0. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI

Real Madrid's French Claude Makelele, flanked by his teammate French Zinedine Zidane (L), waves the Champions League cup from a balcony overlooking the Puerta Del Sol square in Madrid 16 May 2002. Real Madrid defeated Bayern Leverkusen 2-1 in their final match of the UEFA Champions League Cup 15 May 2002 in Glasgow. AFP PHOTO CHRISTOPHE SIMON

His link up with Real superstar Zinedine Zidane also saw him break into the French international set-up, no mean feat when the opposition for the holding role is Arsenal's Patrick Vieira and Chelsea's Emmanuel Petit, although the latter has now stepped down from international football.

Unhappy at being one of the lowest paid players at Real, he seized the opportunity to join big spending Chelsea and tripled his salary in a move to the Premiership in 2003. Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri said on signing him: "I have a fantastic watch and Claude is my battery".

He is likely to keep things ticking over nicely both at club and country with a host of major prizes now on offer including the upcoming Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal.