Franck Ribéry

Franck Ribéry

Franck Ribéry (born 7 April 1983) is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for “pace, energy, skill and precise passing.”Ribéry is described as a player who is “fast, tricky and an excellent dribbler” who “has great control with the ball at his feet”.Since joining Bayern, he has been recognised on the world stage as one of the best French players of his generation. The previous talisman of French national team, Zinedine Zidane, has called Ribéry the “jewel of French football”.
Ribéry’s career began in 1989 as a youth player for local hometown club Conti Boulogne. He left the club after seven years to join professional outfit Lille, but departed the club after three years after having difficulties adjusting. In 1999, Ribéry joined US Boulogne, where he played for two years. After spending two more years in the amateur divisions with two different clubs (Alès and Brest), in 2004, Ribéry earned a move to Ligue 1 club FC Metz. After six months with the club, Ribéry moved to Turkey in January 2005 joining Galatasaray where he won the Turkish Cup. After six months at Galatasaray, he departed the club in controversial fashion in order to return to France to join Marseille. Ribéry spent two seasons at the club helping the Marseillais reach the final of the Coupe de France in back-to-back seasons. In 2007, Ribéry joined German club Bayern Munich for a then club-record fee of €25 million. With Bayern, he has won the double on two occasions; in the 2007–08 and 2009–10 seasons. In 2010, Ribéry contributed to the team that reached the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final, but was unable to participate in the match due to suspension.
Ribéry is a French international. Prior to representing the senior team, he played at under-21 level. At senior level, Ribéry has represented his nation two FIFA World Cups and UEFA Euro 2008. He made his international debut in May 2006 against Mexico. At the 2006 World Cup, Ribéry scored his first international goal against Spain and played in the final match against Italy. Individually, Ribéry is a two-time winner of the French Player of the Year award and has also won the German Footballer of the Year becoming the first player to hold both honours. He has also been named to the UEFA Team of the Year and declared the Young Player of the Year in France.

Ribery praying
Samir Nasri and Ribery
Benzema and Ribery
Frank Ribery in Marsille
Ribery and Robben in Bayern Munich
Frank Ribery in Bayern Munich 
Zidane and Ribery

Ribery in French national team

Zidane , Henry and Ribery

Frank Ribery,Umrah & Ramadan

Frank Ribery,Umrah & Ramadan

Before his entry on the field, it is not uncommon to see Ribery pray. His wife is Muslim, he himself has chosen Islam as religion and they have two daughters (Hiziya and Shahin). He moreover said: “It is Islam that gives me strength on the field outside”

In January 2009, the French international that plays for Bayern Munich,Franck Ribéry, a Muslim soccer player, visited to Mecca to perform Umrah during an internship in Saudi Arabia. After playing the first half of the friendly match in Jeddah, Franck Ribery and his teammate Hamid Altintop have traveled to Mecca, 70 km. Then they returned to the hotel at night to join the rest of their team of Bayern Munich in order to continue preparing for the Bundesliga. The German press has asked him how he reconciled the observance of Ramadan and its obligations in the Bundesliga. “The days off I am fasting, but not when I have to play a game,” said Ribery, who adopted the Islamic name Bilal Mohammed Yusuf.