Stars in Europe - France - Keyplayer - Olise's rise to the top

Michael Olise

The Details
Michael Olise is not your typical footballer. Born and raised in England, the Bayern Munich forward set the World Cup alight with France. He loves chess, barely celebrates goals, avoids interviews, and has no deal with any sportswear or boot company. After a season of 25 goals and 28 assists for the Bundesliga champions, the 24-year-old is seen as one of the best players in the world. Going into the last 16 tie with Paraguay, he had become the first player to assist five goals at a single World Cup since Germany's Thomas Häßler in 1994.

The Origins
Born in London to a French Algerian mother, Mina, and a Nigerian father, Vincent, Olise stood out early. "When I saw him play, I knew that he was going to be something special," said Daniel Coker, his sports teacher at Dr Triplett's CE Primary School in Hayes. Even then, the fuss was unwelcome. Olise scored and assisted freely but never celebrated, simply getting back into position to go again. "It's just what he's always done," said Coker. His headteacher remembered a perfectionist who kept kicking the ball around the classroom, and rival schools who sighed when Olise turned up on the opposing team.

The Setbacks
The road was not straightforward. After a brief spell at Arsenal, Olise spent seven years in Chelsea's academy before being released at 14. A short stint at Manchester City ended the same way. Reading's head of recruitment, Brendan Flanagan, had to convince colleagues to sign him at 16 because of the double release. Olise's mother asked for four weeks to rebuild his confidence with a mentor, and she kept her word. "He was without a shadow of a doubt the best player that I've ever bought into this building," said Flanagan. Olise was so keen that he sometimes arrived at 7 am for a 9 am session and slept in his car until it started.

The Choice
Olise debuted for Reading against Leeds in March 2019 at 17 and made 73 appearances. France were the first to call him into their youth setup. Eligible for England, Nigeria or Algeria, he went with the nation that wanted him first.

The Climb
Crystal Palace triggered his £8m release clause in July 2021. Chelsea activated a £35m clause in 2023 to re-sign the player they had released as a boy, but Olise stunned everyone by signing a new deal at Palace instead. In his final season at Selhurst Park he scored 10 goals with six assists in just 19 games. He then played at the Paris Olympics, where France lost the final to Spain in extra time. Before the tournament, Bayern announced his signing for about £50m. Olise told them he had one wish: to finish the Olympic adventure. "A young player who is getting his first big move asking for that was something you don't really see," said Gaël Clichy.

The Bayern Years
Under Vincent Kompany, Olise went from 17 goals and 18 assists to 25 goals and 28 assists, a total of 88 goal involvements in two seasons. He has won two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup. Olivier Giroud compared his habit of cutting inside onto his left foot to Arjen Robben. Olise's viral moments include dodging celebrations, avoiding a TV interview, a half-hearted trophy lift and walking onto the pitch in sandals to check the surface. "He's very much a casual guy who has magic in his feet," said Clichy.

The Ballon d'Or Question
At the World Cup, Olise sat one assist short of equalling Pelé's record of six in a single tournament. "One day Michael could be a contender for the Ballon d'Or," said Giroud. "He thinks more collectively than a selfish player. If he can assist, he will assist, even if he could have shot."

The Closer
Released twice, doubted often, now one of the finest in the world. Olise doesn't chase the spotlight. It found him anyway.