Marcel Desailly is one of the most accomplished footballers of his generation: a FIFA World Cup winner, two-time Champions League winner, former France captain and one of Pelé’s FIFA 100 greatest living players. Nicknamed “The Rock” during his playing career, he is recognised for his leadership, resilience and ability to... Read more
Marcel Desailly is one of the most accomplished footballers of his generation: a FIFA World Cup winner, two-time Champions League winner, former France captain and one of Pelé’s FIFA 100 greatest living players. Nicknamed “The Rock” during his playing career, he is recognised for his leadership, resilience and ability to perform under pressure at the highest level of world football.
Nicknamed “The Rock” during his playing career, Marcel is considered one of the most accomplished footballers of his generation, and one of the finest French defenders. Marcel was noted for his leadership skills and in 2004, he was named by Pele in the FIFA 100 as one of the world’s greatest living players.
Marcel was born in Accra, Ghana on September 7th 1968 and moved to France when he was just 4 years old. Starting his football career in Nantes, where he now lives, he moved to Olympique de Marseille and then A.C. Milan where he won the UEFA Champions League with both. When Marcel moved to Chelsea in 1998, he went on to be their Captain and became an instant fan favourite. After leaving Chelsea, he moved to Qatar in 2004 where he represented Al-Gharafa and Qatar S.C. before retiring from professional football.
On the International stage he was a star of the French national football team squad, with whom he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He also was made captain and led them to victory in the 2001 Confederations Cup. In April 2003, Marcel surpassed the record for the number of appearances for the French national team, a number which eventually reached 116 when he announced his retirement from international football following the Euro 2004.
Marcel Desailly is a very personable, confident, intelligent and charismatic football analyst. Speaking 4 languages (French, English, Italian and Ghanaian) allows Marcel to present on networks internationally. This combined with his experience captaining some of the top teams in the game and winning the biggest competitions (World Cup, Champions League, FA Cup, Serie A) have enabled him to talk with credibility and confidence.
He currently has a worldwide contract as one of BeIn Sports’ most important pundits. He has worked with many channels including Canal+, ITV 1 and Turkish TV and has provided analysis for the most recent major competitions, including FIFA World Cup 2010 and UEFA EURO 2012 and the 2014 World Cup for SuperSport in South Africa.
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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 Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Performance, Sports. 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 English, 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 Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Performance, Sports. 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 Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Performance, Sports 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.