KESSIE Franck

General
NICKNAME
He was given the nickname 'Il Presidente' after parking in the reserved spot of AC Milan's Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Ivan Gazidis at the club's training facility. "It happened one day in Milanello [AC Milan's training facility]. I'd parked my car in the space reserved for [Ivan] Gazidis. One of the security guys, one we call 'Rambo', said to me, 'Franck, why did you put your car there?' And I said, 'Leave it there, from today I am the new Capo of Milan'. And Ugo Allevi from the press office, who had witnessed the scene, said, 'Because he is il Presidente'. I like it. It's a nickname given as a joke, but as long as they call me that and in the meantime we work hard then it's fine." (rossoneriblog.com, 24 Apr 2021; firsttimefinish.co.uk, 27 May 2021)

GOAL CELEBRATION TRIBUTE
The military salute he uses as a goal celebration is a tribute to his father, who played professional football before serving in the Ivorian armed forces. "Dad was a footballer. Then he became a soldier, but he died of a disease when I was 11 years old. The gesture of the soldier is for him. I think of him when I score and I stand at attention to salute. I would see him do that sometimes when a guest came to the house. I asked him why. He replied, 'This is how you greet a person more important than you'." (goal.com, 21 Sep 2017; rossoneriblog.com, 24 Apr 2021)

MOVE TO MILAN
He was a supporter of AC Milan in his youth and joined the club on loan in 2017, and then on a permanent transfer in 2019. "As a child, I cheered for Milan and was crazy about [Ukrainian footballer, Andriy] Shevchenko. Milan was also my team on the PlayStation. It was easy to cheer for them, in those days they won everything. When I wore the Rossoneri shirt for the first time, I didn't believe it. I thought I should have sweated more for that shirt, because I was also a fan of Milan. That's what I try to do every game." (sempremilan.com, 24 Apr 2021; rossoneriblog.com, 24 Apr 2021)

CLUB CAREER
After beginning his professional football career with Stella Club d'Adjame in Cote d'Ivoire, he moved to Italy in 2015 to join Atalanta. He was on loan at Italian club Cesena from his parent club Atalanta during the 2015/16 season. He joined AC Milan on a permanent transfer in July 2019 following a two-season loan spell at the club between 2017 and 2019. (transfermarkt.com, 23 May 2021; sempremilan.com, 24 Apr 2021; rossoneriblog.com, 24 Apr 2021)

FOUNDATION AND CHARITY WORK
He has established a foundation in Cote d'Ivoire to help provide support for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. He says he also wants to use his platform to help provide support to other nations in Africa. "My idea is also his [Liberian footballer and politician George Weah] and that of many others I guess, always helping Africa, which needs support and infrastructure, but above all to make people understand the beauty of its culture. Africa makes you fall in love, even at first sight. I think about the children who have to go to school and can't, I think about how to help hospitals function better. My relationship with Africa is one of affection but also a practical one. I try to do what I can to help. It is a large and rich continent, and I am not just talking about raw materials. Africa is a whole world and it is special. If I want to spend a lot of money then I help those in need, the people of my country. In Cote d'Ivoire there is a foundation that carries my name. I help the poor, the children in orphanages." (gazzetta.it, 20 Feb 2021; rossoneriblog.com, 24 Apr 2021)

CHANGE OF POSITION
He began his career playing as a central defender but switched to a central midfield role during his time on loan at Italian club Cesena in the 2015/16 season. "In training I was playing as a central defender. I did not play for three games in a row, until one day Sensi got hurt. Then it was the turn of Cascione and then finally Moussa Kone's turn [to get i