Claude Makélélé

Makélélé in 2009, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Claude Makélélé Sinda

Place of Birth: Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Date of Birth: 18 February, 1973

Ethnicity: Congolese

Claude Makélélé is a Congolese-born French professional footballer, manager, and coach. A defensive midfielder, he played for Nantes, Marseille, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, and the France national team. He was part of the team that reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup; and also won league titles in France, Spain, and England. He managed Bastia and Eupen.

Claude was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, and moved to Savigny-le-Temple, a suburb of Paris, in 1977, when he was four. His father, André-Joseph Makélelé, was also a professional footballer, who represented the Congo DR, and played with Union Royale Namur in the Belgian First Division. Makélélé means “noises” in Lingala, one of the languages spoken in Congo.

Claude has three children, including a son with his former partner, model and actress Noémie Lenoir.