Michael Olise facts for kids
.jpg)
Olise with France in 2026
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Akpovie Olise | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 December 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | White City, London, England | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Current team
|
Bayern Munich | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Hayes & Yeading United | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2016 | Chelsea | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Manchester City | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Reading | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Reading | 67 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Crystal Palace | 82 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Bayern Munich | 66 | (27) | |||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | France U18 | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | France U21 | 7 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | France Olympic | 9 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | France | 23 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:28, 16 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:05, 9 July 2026 (UTC) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Akpovie Olise (pronounced o-LEE-say), born on December 12, 2001, is a talented football player. He plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for the German club Bayern Munich. Michael was born in England but represents the French national team. Many people consider him one of the best players in the world.
Michael started his football journey in various youth academies in England. He made his first professional appearance for Reading in 2019. In 2021, he joined Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He played there for three seasons and was even nominated for a special award for young players in 2024.
After his time at Crystal Palace, Michael moved to Bayern Munich. There, he quickly became one of the most exciting wingers in Europe. During the 2025–26 season, he was named the best player in the German league, the Bundesliga. He also won Bayern's Player of the Season award for the second year in a row. Michael has helped his club win two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup.
He also played for France's youth teams and won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. In September 2024, he made his debut for the senior French national team.
Contents
About Michael Olise
His Early Life
Michael Akpovie Olise was born in White City, London, England, on December 12, 2001. He grew up in a place called Hayes. His mother, Mina, has French and Algerian roots. His father, Vincent, is British-Nigerian and used to play international cricket for Nigeria. Michael also has a younger brother named Richard.
Michael grew up in a family that celebrated many cultures. He often says he feels connected to four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria, and England. He spent time in all these places during his childhood. At home, he spoke both English and French. He shared that this mix of cultures helped him see the world in many different ways.
"I have many different connections with Nigeria, Algeria, France, and England. It's not something I think about every day; it's perfectly normal for me. I carry little things from each country within me. It has broadened my horizons because these cultures are quite different from one another. At home, I had three cultures thanks to my parents. And outside, it was England, where I grew up. I didn't have to force this mix; it was just there."
Michael went to Dr Triplett’s Primary School, the Douay Martyrs School, and St Bede's College. His teachers and coaches remember him as a good student. He was also very shy and quiet. Michael was excellent at many sports, including football, cricket, and table tennis. He was even a champion in cross-country running for his local area. He also won a gold medal in the 400 metres race. When he was young, Michael looked up to French football stars Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry. He dreamed of playing for the French national team.
Football Journey
Starting in Youth Academies
Michael Olise started playing football with Hayes & Yeading United when he was about six years old. He then briefly joined Arsenal's youth team. After that, he spent seven years at Chelsea Academy. He left Chelsea when he was 14. He also spent some time playing for Manchester City's youth teams.
Playing for Reading
In July 2018, Michael joined Reading's Academy program. He made his first team debut for Reading on March 12, 2019. This was in a match against Leeds United. On July 15, he signed his first professional contract with the club, which lasted for three years. He scored his first goal for Reading on September 19, 2020. It was a great volley in a 2–0 win against Barnsley.
In April 2021, Michael was nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season award. He won this award on April 29, 2021, showing how talented he was.
Time at Crystal Palace
On July 8, 2021, Michael Olise signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Crystal Palace. They paid about £8.37 million to bring him to the club. He made his Premier League debut on September 11, coming on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur. Later that month, he played his first full match for Crystal Palace against Newcastle United.
On October 3, 2021, Michael scored his first Premier League goal for Crystal Palace. He came on as a substitute and helped his team draw 2–2 with Leicester City. This made him the youngest player to score for Palace in the Premier League since 1998. On April 9, 2023, he became the youngest player to set up three goals in one Premier League match. This happened in a big 5–1 win against Leeds United.
By May 13, Michael was the first Crystal Palace player to make ten assists in a single Premier League season. He helped Eberechi Eze score a goal in a 2–0 victory over Bournemouth. On August 17, 2023, he signed a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace. This happened even though there were rumors he might return to Chelsea.
Michael had a serious hamstring injury in February 2024. But he returned to play in April that year. He then showed amazing performances, including scoring two goals in a 4–0 win against Manchester United. He finished the season with ten goals and six assists in just 19 games. His excellent play under new coach Oliver Glasner led to him being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Many big clubs were interested in him. On July 7, Crystal Palace announced that he had moved to Bayern Munich. Michael shared a farewell message on Instagram to his fans.
Success at Bayern Munich
_10.jpg)
On July 7, 2024, the German club Bayern Munich announced they had signed Michael Olise. He joined them on a five-year contract until June 30, 2029. The transfer fee was reported to be around €60 million. Michael made his debut for Bayern on August 16 in a German Cup match. He came on as a substitute and quickly assisted a goal for Kingsley Coman.
On September 14, he scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 6–1 win against Holstein Kiel. Just three days later, he scored two goals in his UEFA Champions League debut. This was in a huge 9–2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena. He finished his first season with 12 goals and 15 assists, becoming the league's top assist provider. His great performances earned him a spot in the 2024–25 Bundesliga Team of the Season. He also won the league’s Rookie of the Season award.
On June 15, 2025, Michael scored two goals in a 10–0 win against Auckland City in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. He then scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Boca Juniors. This helped his club reach the knockout stage of the competition. The next month, he was nominated for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d'Or award.
Michael continued his amazing form in the 2025–26 season. On August 22, 2025, he scored two goals in a 6–0 win over RB Leipzig. On April 15, 2026, he scored a winning goal in the final moments of a Champions League quarter-final. This 4–3 triumph over Real Madrid sent his team to the semi-finals. A month later, on May 9, he scored against Wolfsburg. This made him only the second player since 2004–05 to get at least 15 goals and 15 assists in one Bundesliga season. He was then voted the Bundesliga Player of the Season.
Representing His Country
Michael Olise could have played for England, France, Algeria, or Nigeria because of his family background. He chose to play for France. He explained that he always felt a strong connection to the French national team. Playing for France had been his dream since he was a child. His mother even sent videos of him playing to the French Football Federation.
Youth Teams
On May 27, 2019, Michael was called up to the French national under-18 team. He played in the 2019 Toulon Tournament. His debut was on June 2, 2019, against Qatar U23. In March 2021, he was a standby player for Nigeria's team for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In March 2022, Michael was called up to the France under-21 team for the first time. He played in their 2–0 win over the Faroe Islands on March 24.
On July 8, 2024, Michael was chosen for France's team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He had already played his first game for the French Olympic team on July 4 in a friendly match against Paraguay. A week later, on July 11, he scored two goals in another friendly game, a 7–0 win against the Dominican Republic. On July 24, during France's first Olympic match against the United States, he scored a goal. This helped his team win 3–0. He finished the tournament with two goals and five assists, and France won the silver medal.
Playing for the Senior French Team
On August 29, 2024, Michael Olise was called up to the senior French national team for the first time. Manager Didier Deschamps selected him for matches against Italy and Belgium in the UEFA Nations League. He made his debut on September 6 against Italy, playing 58 minutes in a 3–1 loss.
On March 23, 2025, he scored his first goal for the senior French team. This was in a 2–0 win over Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals. He also assisted a goal, helping his team win and move forward in the competition. During the Nations League Finals on June 8, he scored in a 2–0 victory against Germany in the third-place play-off.
On May 11, 2026, Michael was named in the France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A month later, on June 8, he scored his first international hat-trick (three goals) in a 3–1 friendly win over Northern Ireland. He made his World Cup debut against Senegal. He provided an assist and was named Man of the Match in a 3–1 victory. He then provided two assists in a 3–0 win over Sweden in the round of 32. This brought his total to five assists in the tournament, a record not seen since 1994.
How He Plays
Michael Olise is known for his excellent passing skills. He can often send the ball behind the opposing team's defenders or change the direction of the attack. He likes to play in a specific area on the right side of the field. From there, he can choose many ways to continue the attack. Even though he mainly uses his left foot, Michael can score goals with either foot.
When he has the ball, Michael is a very quick and agile player. He can turn quickly and change his speed, even when dribbling in small spaces. In an interview, Michael said he looked up to Neymar when he was a child. He liked Neymar's clever style of play. Michael believes you learn from many players to become a complete footballer.
Off the Field
Michael Olise is known for being shy and quiet. He doesn't like giving many interviews. Because of this, fans and the media have given him the nickname "Mr. Nonchalant." He has not signed a contract with a sports brand for his football boots. This allows him to choose his boots freely to match his team's kit.
Michael is also very smart, with an IQ of 127. His mother taught him how to play chess when he was a child. He still plays chess regularly. He says it helps him focus on something other than football.
Awards and Achievements
Michael Olise has won many awards and achieved great things in his career:
With Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2024–25, 2025–26
- DFB-Pokal: 2025–26
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 2025
With France U23
- Summer Olympics silver medal: 2024
With France
- UEFA Nations League third place: 2024–25
Individual Awards
- Ballon d’Or nominee: 2025
- EFL Championship Young Player of the Season: 2020–21
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020–21
- Premier League Goal of the Month: January 2023
- PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 Championship
- Reading Scholar of the Season: 2018−19
- Crystal Palace Players' Player of the Season: 2022–23
- Crystal Palace Goal of the Season: 2022–23
- Bundesliga Rookie of the Season: 2024–25
- Bundesliga Player of the Month: April 2025, November 2025, January 2026
- Bundesliga Rookie of the Month: October 2024
- Bundesliga Goal of the Month: April 2026, May 2026
- Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2024–25, 2025–26
- VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2025–26
- VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2024–25, 2025–26
- UNFP Best French Player Playing Abroad: 2025–26
- Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2025–26
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2025–26
Orders
- Knight of the National Order of Merit: 2024
See also
In Spanish: Michael Olise para niños
