5 players who won the Euro with their adopted nation

Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira became a stalwart in the midfield for his adopted nation France

#3 Marcel Desailly

Marcel Desailly France
Marcel Desailly even went on to captain France

Marcel Desailly was born in Accra, Ghana in 1968, but went on to become a French legend. The former Milan defender was just four years old when his family moved to France in 1972 after his mother married the head of the French Consulate in Accra, who adopted all of her children.

Desailly began his professional career with Nantes in 1986, two years after his half-brother Seth Adonkor (playing for the same club) tragically passed away in a car crash. He went on to play for sides such as Milan and Chelsea in his 20-year career.

The 47-year-old made his debut for the French national team in 1993 and went on to lift the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and Euro in 2000. At the Euro 2000, Desailly along with Laurent Blanc remained rock solid at the heart of the defense, with France conceding just 7 goals in the tournament.

Although not part of the starting XI of the team of the tournament, he was included in the 22 member squad of the team of Euro 2000. He stated in his autobiography, Capitaine, although he was eligible to represent Ghana, he never considered to play for a country other than France.

Desailly became the captain of the national team after Deschamps retired and won a total of 116 caps for his adopted country.

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