The Rock

French defender and captain Marcel Desailly (R) fights for the ball with Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto 24 March 2001 at Paris Stade de France in Saint-Denis during the friendly soccer game between France and Japan. AFP PHOTO JACQUES DEMARTHON

Marcel Desailly "the Rock" and Laurent Blanc "The President" made up one of the most formidable defensive partnerships at the end of the last century and it was largely thanks to their superb technique and ability that France were able to win their first World Cup.

Born in Accra Ghana, in 1968, Desailly moved to France when he was 4 with his mother and stepfather, from whom he took the name Desailly.

French defender Marcel Desailly (R) congratulates French midfielder and captain Didier Deschamps after the 1998 Soccer World Cup second round match between France and Paraguay 28 June at the Felix Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France. Laurent Blanc scored the first golden goal in World Cup history to give France a 1-0 win over Paraguay. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS

Following in the footsteps of his half-brother Seth Adonkor, Desailly joined the ranks of the junior sides at Nantes in the west of France where he flourished alongside another future star, former French captain Didier Deschamps.

Tragedy struck in 1994 when Adonkor, who by this time was challenging for a place in the French national side, was killed in a car crash.

The accident had a devastating effect on Desailly, and since then the big defender has played every game with the memory of his beloved brother's achievements spurring him on to greater heights.

Marseille

He started his first French first division game in 1986 against Bordeaux at the age of 18 (the year he took French nationality) and was already impressing all who saw him with his strength, technique and superb vision.

In 1992 he moved up a gear by joining high-flying Marseille, at that time run by the charismatic French entrepreneur Bernard Tapie.

Desailly helped Marseille to the domestic championship and a first ever European Cup for a French club in 1993 in a magnificent side that included Deschamps and Ivorian Basile Boli.

Marseille's victims in that European final were AC Milan (1-0), who were so impressed by Desailly's ability to shut them out of the game that they bought him six months later.

Dream position

Milan's Fabio Capello decided to move Desailly into midfield, a decision that delighted the Frenchman, who had always dreamed of being able to push forward.

French Ghanian-born Milan star Marcel Desailly (R) is challenged by a unidentified player of Reggiana during their Italian First League soccer match 11 May. Milan won 3-1.

Within a few months he had won over the Italian fans, who had nicknamed him "Marcello".

French captain Marcel Desailly reacts as he walks off the pitch, 11 June 2002 at the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, after the first round Group A match between Denmark and France in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. Defending champion France crashed out of the tournament following their 2-0 defeat by Denmark. AFP PHOTO/EMMANUEL DUNAND

A year later Desailly won his second European Cup with Milan when they destroyed mighty Barcelona 4-0 with the Frenchman scoring the fourth goal.

Two Italian championships, an Italian Cup and two European Supercups completed his honours list during five years at Milan.

He then moved to London club Chelsea following the World Cup success, where he joined up with Deschamps again and helped Gianluca Vialli's side to the English FA Cup in 2000.

When Deschamps finally retired from the international scene, Desailly took over as captain but the gap between the two players in terms of their leadership qualities was cruelly exposed at the 2002 World Cup as France slumped out in the first round in disarray.

Jacques Santini replaced Roger Lemerre as coach of France following the tournament and retained Desailly as his captain. He picked up his 100th cap in October 2002 during a Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovenia which France won in a stroll 5-0.