Photographer : Renaud Corlouer
Originally from Gassin in the Var, David Ginola is a former French international footballer. It is with Paris Saint-Germain that he reveals himself to the general public. It is with the Paris Saint-Germain that David participates in the elimination of Real Madrid twice and then Barcelona in the Champions League. This earns him the nickname 'El Magnifico' by the Spanish press.
English Premier League clubs take note and in the summer of 1995, David is transferred to Newcastle United and then to Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton. It is at Tottenham Hotspur that he is elected best player of the Premier League at the end of the 1998-1999 season. To this day David Ginola remains the only French player to have been conferred this accolade in both France and England.
Since the end of his soccer career, David has pursued several new roles, including actor, comedian and presenter. In addition to presenting live soccer on Canal+ and M6, David has been responsible for presenting one of France's most popular most popular programs in France 'La France a un Incroyable Talent' (France's Got Talent) as well as several editions of the of the Ballon d'Or France Football Awards.
As a teenager, David had to choose between soccer, skiing and tennis. Today, he is also a passionate and competitive golfer. After serving as an ambassador for the 2018 Ryder Cup bid in France, he hosted the opening ceremony of the Ryder Cup as well as the trophy presentation, bringing together the worlds of sport and entertainment.
David is still involved in soccer at the local level and also in the Champions League, not as a player but by contributing to the live Champions League broadcasts on Canal+.
In May 2016, David suffered a cardiac arrest. He survived unharmed thanks to an incredible chain of first aid. Since then, he has been solicited by numerous associations such as the Red Cross, the Fédération Nationale des Sapeurs-pompiers de France, the Protection Civile and the SAMU in France.
In the UK, David has recently been appointed as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The common goal of all these charities is to raise awareness of the importance of first aid and life-saving first aid and the reflexes that can save a life so that others can enjoy the same chance of survival.
