Born in Accra, Ghana as Odenke Abbey, Marcel moved to Olympique de Marseille in 1992 and won the UEFA Champions League the following year. In 1994, while a member of A.C. Milan, he again won the Cup (scoring in the final himself), being the first player to win the Cup... Read more
Born in Accra, Ghana as Odenke Abbey, Marcel moved to Olympique de Marseille in 1992 and won the UEFA Champions League the following year. In 1994, while a member of A.C. Milan, he again won the Cup (scoring in the final himself), being the first player to win the Cup in consecutive seasons with different clubs. During his time in Milan he won two Italian league titles, in 1994 and 1996. He moved to Chelsea for a reported 4.6 million pounds prior to the 1998 World Cup. After Euro 2004, he retired from international football as the all-time leader in appearances for France (116). He was snapped up by Qatari outfit Al-Gharafa in 2004 as the club captain and they won the Qatar League in 2005.
Marcel Desailly is considered one of the most accomplished players of the game and one of the best players of the past two decades, having won virtually every major team award. Found predominantly giving his opinion from the touchline at both half time and full time as opposed to residing in the studio, he is a knowledgeable and highly respected commentator on the modern game.
Marcel Desailly’s style has won him an army of British fans, due to his tendency to speak knowledgeably with his heart on his sleeve.
He presents in French and English.
Desailly is a supporter of the 1GOAL Education for All campaign. He is also the UNICEF national Goodwill Ambassador for Ghana. He is the Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador for his personal Charity OrphanAid Africa, that helps abandoned children in Ghana. He is a member of the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation.
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You can book Marcel Desailly through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Marcel's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Marcel Desailly's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Marcel tailored to your event.
Marcel Desailly speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Marcel to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Marcel Desailly for events worldwide, subject to Marcel's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Marcel Desailly is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Marcel can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Marcel Desailly on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Marcel can offer.
Marcel Desailly delivers keynotes in French. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Marcel Desailly's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Marcel's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Marcel Desailly can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Marcel's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Marcel Desailly is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Marcel Desailly, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Marcel's current availability for your dates.
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Marcel Desailly