Nicolas Anelka

At 45 years old, Nicolas Anelka has this physical status:

Nicolas Sébastien Anelka (French pronunciation: 'la anlka]; born 14 March 1979) is a French professional football coach and former player who competed as a forward. He played regularly in his country's national team, often scoring at critical moments. He has been described as a versatile and quick player with solid aerial ability, drill, shooting, and mobility off the field, as both a main striker and a second striker, and has been known for his ability to both score and assist goals.

Anelka started his career at Paris Saint-Germain but soon moved to Arsenal. He was a first team regular and received the PFA Young Player of the Year Award the following season. In 1999, he went to Real Madrid for £22.3 million, but he didn't settle well and returned to PSG in a £20 million contract. Anelka first team football in Paris set his sights on the Premier League once more, moving to Liverpool on loan in January 2002 but Manchester City secured them for £13 million in the 2002–03 season.

After three seasons in Manchester, he joined Fenerbahçe for two seasons before returning to England to join Bolton Wanderers in contracts worth £7 million and £8 million respectively. He was then transferred to Chelsea from Bolton for £15 million in January 2008. He received the Premier League Golden Boot award in 2009 as the league's best goalscorer. He has estimated an annual transfer bill of just under £90 million over his years of moves. Shanghai Shenhua announced on December 12, 2011 that they had reached an agreement with Anelka to join the team in the winter transfer window. After one season with Anelka, he joined Juventus on a six-month loan contract in 2013, after which he was released from Shanghai and signed for West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer. Following his release by West Brom, he signed for Mumbai City FC as a marquee player and was named player-manager in 2015.

Anelka earned his first international recognition with France at UEFA Euro 2000 and 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, and won the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. His inability to settle at a club level limited his international exposures, but he returned to the national team for Euro 2008. He was banned from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by the French Football Federation (FFF) for making "comments directed against Raymond Domenech, the national coach who was incompatible with the FFF, French football, and the principles they uphold." He was banned from France's next 18 matches by the FFF two months after failing to turn up to his disciplinary hearing, effectively ending his international career. Later this year, Anelka said he was "dying with laughter" at the 18-match ban, despite the fact that he had already decided against international play.

Early and personal life

Anelka was born in Le Chesnay, Yvelines, to parents who had migrated from Martinique in 1974. They then settled in Trappes, near Paris. Omar Sy and Jamel Debbouze, both from Trappes, are among his childhood friends. His mother is a secretary at the local high school.

Anelka is married to Barbara Tausia, a Belgian choreographer, and she is married to her. Kaiss, born in 2008, and Kahil born in 2010. Nicolas was a footballer in Le Boulet, a 2002 film. He has stated that if he leaves football, he would like to work in film because he has a friend who works in the film industry. "I have a friend who is a director who makes a lot of films," he said. Astérix was his most recent work. So I'm already decided that I'm going to do other films. It's helpful to know actors and producers. It's different from football, and it's something I love because there is no football. I like pretending to be someone else; it's amusing."

Claude and Didier, Anelka's two brothers, are twins.

Anelka converted to Islam in the UAE in 2004, adopting the Muslim name "Abdul-Salam Bilal" after discussing religion with some childhood friends. Anelka has said he fasted during daylight hours as required for Ramadan's Muslim month, but "I learned I got sick right after Ramadan's time, so I don't do it strictly any more." Anelka's initial plan was to leave European football to play in the UAE: "I am determined to stay here and play for a club in the UAE." I am not keen to return to England or France." However, this did not happen, and he did not come to Turkey for a short time, as well as three other English clubs.

Anelka has also known for his tumultuous friendship with French comedian Dieudonné M'bala M'bala M'bala M'bala M'bala, which attracted widespread mockery after displaying the quenelle hand wave, which was created by M'bala and regarded as anti-Semitic when playing for West Bromwich Albion in 2013. Anelka said that the gesture was anti-establishment, not anti-Semitic. Anelka was banned for five matches by an FA, but the tribunal found that he was not anti-Semitic or promote anti-Semitism. Anelka was given notice of termination by the club after West Brom suspended him pending their own probe, as well as remarks made by Anelka on Twitter, as a result of the club's frustration and player's inability to agree to the terms that had caused for the suspension to be lifted. Anelka said the quenelle was only a strike by his former boss Steve Clarke, who is not Jewish.

Anelka has been the subject of two television documentaries, L'Entrée des Trappistes in 2012, chronicling his friendship with Sy and Debbouze, as well as the Netflix documentary Anelka: Misunderstood.

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Club career

Anelka began his playing career at Paris Saint-Germain as a youth athlete at age 16.

Anelka's transfer fee was paid to Arsenal in February 1997, aged 17, under newly appointed manager Arsène Wenger. Despite there being exceptions for players under the age of 24, Arsenal sought to sign him for free under the new Bosman ruling, although Wenger said this age restriction was limited to domestic transfers only.

In the 1996–97 season, his first team appearances were limited, but he stepped into the first team in 1997–98 after a long-term injury to striker Ian Wright. In a 3–2 home victory over Manchester United in November 1997, Anelka scored his first goal for Arsenal. Anelka was a key player in Arsenal's Double victory of both the Premier League and FA Cup this season. In Arsenal's 2–0 victory over Newcastle United in the FA Cup final of the season, Anelka scored their second goal in that season.

With 17 Premier League goals, Anelka was Arsenal's top scorer in the 1998–99 season. Arsenal earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year Award while still struggling to defend their Premier League and FA Cup titles, despite disappointing results in the UEFA Champions League. Fans of transfer rumors and a apparent lack of enthusiasm, giving the striker the nickname "Le Sulk" to describe him. Anelka expressed the desire to leave Arsenal during the close of the season, implying that the British press was responsible for his England's unhappiness. He joined Real Madrid on August 2, 1999.

Anelka later said he should have never left Arsenal, a team he adores so much. Anelka, his former boss at Highbury, Arsène Wenger, is a big admirer and a devoted fan of him. In the club's list of the 50 Greatest Gunners of all time, Anelka finished 29th. He made 90 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 28 goals in total, total.

Anelka's transfer fee was paid to Real Madrid in 1999, and the couple was transferred to Madrid in the summer of 1999. He took time to score for the club on a trip to Marca, where he co-owned the slogan "Anelka finally scores a goal...on a video game." In his first five months with Real Madrid, he failed to score in his first five months with the club before scoring his first goal against Al-Nassr on January 5th, 2000. He scored twice against Corinthians in the same league two days later, while missing an 81st-minute penalty kick that would have earned him a hat-trick.

In a 3–0 victory over Barcelona in El Clásico on February 28, 2000, Anelka scored his first La Liga goal in a 3–0 victory over rivals Barcelona in El Clásico. However, he was suspended by team president Lorenzo Sanz in March for refusing to train as a result of a rift with head coach Vicente del Bosque. Anelka scored in both legs of the Champions League semi-finals, giving Los Blancos a 3–2 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich and advance to the competition final after returning to the team. Real Madrid defeated Valencia 3-0 to win their eighth European Cup, beginning in the final, held at the Stade de France in his home city of Paris.

In July 2000, Anelka agreed to a six-year professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain, marking his return to the club in which he used to play as a youth player in a transfer contract worth £22 million. Last season, the Paris club finished second in Ligue 1, thus qualifying for the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League. With a lot of anticipation, Anelka's return was met with a lot of acclaim. Canal Plus, which owned Paris Saint-Germain, funded the move, while PSG sponsor Nike paid for a large chunk of Anelka's compensation, which was £30–35,000 per week.

Anelka began well and was named captain of a squad that appeared briefly in French Division 1, but the team's form quickly slowed. Philippe Bergeroo was promoted as PSG boss by Luis Fernández in December 2000, following a 5–1 loss to Sedan. PSG finished ninth in Ligue 1 this season, gaining a spot in the UEFA Intertoto Cup next season. PSG came in second place in the first round of group stage, behind Bayern Munich, but the second group stage came in second place, behind Deportivo de La Corua, Galatasaray, and Milan.

However, Anelka's head coach, Luis Fernández (who was already under fire for dismissing Ronaldinho due to his work ethic), raised questions with him once more.

Anelka returned to the Premier League in December 2001 after two-and-a-half years to join Liverpool on a short-term loan contract until the end of the season. He scored goals against Everton,Fulham, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, and Ipswich Town in the 2001–02 FA Cup against Birmingham City, but manager Gérard Houllier refused to give him a permanent contract after the season came to an end, but Senegalese forward El Hadji Diouf came second, finishing second in the 2001-02 FA Premier League, but manager Gérard Houllier preferred not to give him a permanent contract.

Anelka joined Manchester City on May 24, 2002, paying the £13 million transfer fee, which was then a club record high. Anelka's first season with 14 goals, including a goal against Manchester United's last match at Maine Road against former club Arsenal and a last minute winner at Anfield after scoring a penalty just seconds earlier. He was a top scorer again in the club's second season at the City of Manchester Stadium, scoring 25 goals. José Mourinho's first loss as Chelsea boss on October 16, 2004, he won and scored a penalty against Chelsea on October 16, resulting in José Mourinho's first defeat as Chelsea manager.

Anelka had completed a £7 million transfer to Fenerbahçe in January 2005, according to the Turkish team Anelka. He helped the Turkish club win the Süper Lig title in 2005 and competed with them in the UEFA Cup next season as well as the UEFA Champions League the following season.

Bolton Wanderers signed Anelka on a four-year contract for a club record transfer fee of £8 million on August 25, 2006. On September 9, 2006, he made his Bolton debut against Watford. In a League Cup match against Walsall on September 19, he opened his account, scoring the first goal in a 3–1 away victory. He scored his first goals – a brace – on November 25th to help down Arsenal 3-1 after 11 matches without a goal in the Premier League. He played for Bolton in the 2006–07 Premier League, finishing as the country's top scorer with 11 goals.

Anelka said in January 2007 that he would be able to leave Bolton for a return to former team Arsenal. Following talks with manager Sammy Lee, however, he promised his future to Bolton in July 2007. Anelka later said he would not regret leaving the club if Bolton's bad start to the 2007–08 season continued, but soon signed a new four-year deal that would run until 2011. Anelka confessed to signing the deal so Bolton would have a higher transfer fee if he left in June 2020.

Anelka had been confirmed by Chelsea on January 11, 2008, and Chelsea would join Chelsea for £15 million. On January 12, 2008, he made his Chelsea debut against Tottenham Hotspur on January 12, 2008, and his first goal against Wigan Athletic came two weeks later. He scored his first league goal against Portsmouth on February 2nd but Chelsea failed to score again for Chelsea during the 2007–08 season.

Anelka scored Chelsea's seventh penalty, which was saved by Edwin van der Sar, resulting in Manchester United's victory in the 2008 Champions League final. Anelka later blamed boss Avram Grant for his penalty misses, claiming Grant sent him on to play as a late replacement with no warm up or at a time to acclimatize himself in it.

In a 5–0 friendly victory over Milan on August 3, Anelka scored four goals.

Anelka got off to a promising start to the season with Didier Drogba out early in 2008. On November 14, 2008, he was given the Golden Boot Award for being the first player to score ten Premier League goals on a season. Anelka scored his first competitive hat-trick for Chelsea against Sunderland on November 1, 2008, and then continued with two braces against Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion. Despite the return to fitness of Drogba, he established himself as a key member of the squad and retained his spot in the squad. Anelka was more often played on the wing after Guus Hidddink's arrival. In addition, he was ranked as one of the best goal scorers in the league for the season. Chelsea defeated Watford 3-1 in the FA Cup thanks to his hat-trick. In a 4–1 away victory over former club Arsenal, he scored one goal and set up another. Anelka did not celebrate the goal, which he scored in the game, as he said, "he still loves Arsenal." With a goal in Chelsea's last Premier League game of the season, he was voted the top goal scorer for the season, earning him the Golden Boot with 19 goals.

Anelka scored his first goal of the 2009-10 season against Fulham in a 2–0 win at Craven Cottage before winning by 3–0 over Burnley the following weekend. In the 1–0 win over Porto in the first match of the 2009-10 Champions League group stage, he scored his third goal of the season. In the Champions League, Anelka scored one of his season's best goals against APOEL, with the ball being passed outside the box. Anelka's third league goal of the season was scored against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in a 2–0 victory, with compatriot Florent Malouda scoring his second goal. Anelka's fine scoring run in the Champions League ended with the winner's 1–0 victory over Porto over the Estradadio do Drago, the second successive English team to win at Porto's home ground. Chelsea's first goal in the Premier League since October is his first goal in the game since October, and he continued scoring in the Premier League. In Chelsea's 2–1 victory over Portsmouth, he scored another goal.

In an amazing 7–2 victory over Sunderland on January 16, 2010, Anelka scored twice on his return from injury. He maintained his fine form into the next game scoring in an FA Cup tie against Preston North End, bringing his total number in the previous four matches to five goals. Anelka had been playing on the wing to assist Didier Drogba after returning from the African Cup of Nations. In a 1–0 victory over Bolton in April 2010, Anelka's first goal since January was enough to lift Chelsea four points ahead of second-place Manchester United. Chelsea won their third Premier League title and their first in four years on the final day of the season, with two goals against Wigan Athletic, including the first Chelsea goal in the sixth minute. Anelka (along with Ashley Cole) joined Henning Berg in the elite group of players to have won the Premier League title with two separate clubs. Chelsea announced on June 24th that Anelka had signed a new one-year deal that would keep him at the club until 2012.

Anelka's campaign began in 2010–11 with Chelsea's Finest Form. In Florent Malouda's last game against West Brom on the opening day of the Premier League season, he scored a double and then won a penalty against Stoke City in Chelsea's third game of the season. He maintained his fine form in Chelsea's first Champions League match against Mk ilina, scoring a brace in the first half. In a Champions League season, I had scored at least four goals against Marseille and Spartak Moscow, as this was his first season since playing for Paris Saint-Germain. Anelka's impressive goal scoring form in the Champions League continued on Wednesday in Chelsea's second goal of the season and his 50th goal for Chelsea in the 43rd minute of the game. He played in all competitions for the 2010-2011 season.

Chelsea defeated West Brom 2-0 in Premier League scoring for the first time in 2011–12 season. Chelsea's final goal for Chelsea will be decided by Anelka in 2011, but he was unable to find the net in 14 more appearances in 2011. Anelka, alongside center-back Alex, had submitted transfer requests to the club and will be free to leave Chelsea in January following Chelsea's 3–0 win over Newcastle United on December 3rd. Chelsea announced Anelka would join Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on December 12th. In his Weibo, Zhu Jun, the owner of Shanghai Shenhua, reported that his team had agreed to a January 2011 transfer to Anelka in his Weibo. Both clubs later announced the agreement and were finalized the same day.

In total, Anelka scored 59 goals for Chelsea in 184 appearances.

Anelka's annual salary, according to his estimates, was around €12 million, which took him to Shanghai, China. Following his transfer, Anelka said he turned down the opportunity to join PSG in favour of a transfer to Shanghai Shenhua the previous month, owing to a lack of attractive offers to stay within Europe. He scored his first goal in a pre-season friendly match against Hunan Billows on February 21, just 40 seconds after the game began. On the first league match of the season against Jiangsu Sainty, Anelka missed his Chinese Super League (CSL) debut due to a ankle injury. In a 3–2 away loss to Beijing Guoan, he made his CSL debut and scored his first CSL goal on March 16, 2012. Anelka was appointed as part of the coaching staff on April 11, 2012, to assist struggling boss Jean Tigana.

Didier Drogba, Anelka's former Chelsea colleague, was announced on June 19th that he will join Shanghai Shenhua. Anelka was determined to return to the Premier League on June 7th, 2012, after being involved in a tense brawl with a fan for refusing to bow in front of the travelling Shenhua supporters. Shenhua earned a point in a 3–3 draw with Shandong Luneng Taishan on August 25, and Anelka provided two assists for Drogba and kicked in a late equalizer to earn Shenhua a point.

On a five-month loan contract, Anelka joined Italian side Juventus on January 26, 2013. In the Champions League, he made his Juventus debut against Celtic. Anelka made two more appearances for Juventus, both in Serie A, as the club secured the league championship.

After being released by Shanghai Shenhua, Anelka joined West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer, marking another return to the Premier League, the sixth Premier League club he has played for in his career. At West Brom, he said he would like to end his career in England. Anelka reportedly walked out of a training session informing workers that he was leaving the club and retiring on August 22nd. The club, which announced that Anelka would miss one match and that he had left the session early due to the death of his agent, were quickly dismissed by the club. Anelka had decided to remain with the club and would begin training the following day in preparations for West Brom's forthcoming match against Swansea City, which was announced on August 28th, 2013. He returned full-time to the team.

In a 3–3 draw with West Ham United on December 28, 2013, Anelka scored his first goal for the club, scoring a first-half brace in his first appearance in over two months. He donned a quenelle, a hand gesture popularized by his comedian friend Dieudonné's, in some commentators as an inverted Nazi salute. Following allegations of anti-Semitism, the Football Association (FA) and anti-racism organisations investigated the incident. Anelka's five matches were suspended, and an FA discipline hearing was ordered to complete an educational course on February 27, 2014. "[W]e did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to declare or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle," the FA disciplinary hearing panel concluded at the hearing. Both Anelka and the FA have opted not to appeal the decision. Anelka's film Anelka: Misunderstood, the quenelle was only a demonstration against former West Brom boss Steve Clarke, who is not Jewish, according to Anelka.

Anelka's deal with West Brom was terminated due to social media. Anelka had no official word of his departure, according to West Brom, who later gave him 14 days notice of his suspension from the club for gross misconduct.

Anelka of Mumbai, India's newly formed Indian Super League, joined Mumbai City on September 15, 2014, becoming the fifth member. Following his three-match global ban, he made his international debut on October 28th, 2014, defeating Chennaiyin FC 5–1. Anelka scored the match's first home match at the DY Patil Stadium five days later defeating Kerala Blasters by scoring the match's sole goal. He scored his second goal of the season on the same day against the Delhi Dynamos on November 5th. Anelka played a total of seven games for Mumbai, finishing seventh in seventh place and did not qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

Anelka had reached an agreement to join Algerian side NA Hussein Dey on an 18-month contract in January 2015. However, the Algerian Football Federation denied the transfer because, "Only those aged under 27 and playing on the international level for their countries are eligible to sign up with our clubs." Anelka then returned to Mumbai and was named team's player-manager on July 3rd.

International career

Anelka played for the French under-20 team at the 1997 World Youth Championship in 1996, and he made his senior team debut for France in a goalless draw with Sweden's national team on April 22. Anelka was not selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier, but quickly became France's first choice centre forward during France's 3–2 victory over Russia, scoring the first goal and scoring both goals in a thumping 2–0 win over England at Wembley Stadium. Anelka made his first appearance in a major tournament at Euro 2000, which France defeated. He was also a member of the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he scored his first tournament goal in a 5–0 victory over South Korea in the first round. In November 2002, he rejected an emergency call-up by Jacques Santini to face Serbia and Montenegro and was refused by the manager; in February 2004, he considered a return to the UEFA Euro 2004 team after Djibril Cissé was suspended.

Anelka's Raymond Domenech, Anelka, returned to the France squad in November 2005 for a friendly against Costa Rica in Martinique, despite the fact that he was still undercover. The team's first match in the French Caribbean was played in Anelka's homeland. In the 3–2 victory, he scored. Sidney Govou, a Lyon striker, was called up as Cissé's replacement rather than Anelka when Cissé was forced out of the 2006 World Cup due to injury.

Anelka came as a replacement in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania on March 24, 2007, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory. Anelka's performance was praised by France boss Raymond Domenech: "It is the Nicolas I like to see" "It is the Nicolas I like to see...when he performs these attributes, he is a candidate for a permanent position." In the 2–0 win over Ukraine on June 2, 2007, he also scored in the 2–0 victory.

Anelka was a member of the France squad for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Anelka kicked off France's first group game against Romania against Romania, but was forced to leave after 72 minutes. In either of France's remaining two games against the Netherlands and Italy, he did not start either of France's remaining two games, but in both games he came as a replacement.

Anelka was instrumental in France's 2010 World Cup playoffs against the Republic of Ireland. He scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute, putting France in a good spot for a one away goal.

Anelka was sent home after reportedly abusing coach Raymond Domenech at halftime during Mexico's 2–0 loss. Following Domenech's criticism of his positioning, Anelka has been reported to have said, "Vo te faire enculer, sale fils de pute," means "Go fuck yourself, you dirty son of a whore." The incident was later revealed by the media, and the player refused to apologise publicly when asked to do so by French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes. In a show against Anelka's dismissal, the team decided not to train the next day. Anelka was suspended from international football by the FFF for his conduct, effectively ending his international career. Anelka later admitted to being "dying with laughter" at the 18-match ban, after he had already decided to withdraw from international play.

Anelka brought L'Équipe to court for their front page, demanding €150,000 in compensation. He lost the lawsuit because he only denied the accusation made of him, not the fact that he made an accusation. Domenech said in a 2018 documentary that Anelka only insulted his leadership, not as a person or his mother.

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