Michael Olise, the genius who lets his football do the talking. The beIN Sports channel is broadcasting a documentary produced by the Bundesliga on the phenomenon of Bayern and the French team Michael Olise. Recruited by the Munich club two years ago from Crystal Palace, the left-handed attacking midfielder has established himself as an unparalleled creator of chances at the German football juggernaut. His total now stands at 62 goals and 60 assists in 143 matches in all competitions, notably to the delight of his compatriot Harry Kane.
A Londoner by birth, Olise is not an English international due to his winding career path. Despite the interest he has had in the Blues since childhood (his mother is a Frenchwoman of Algerian origin), the little dribbler would certainly have been called up to the England youth team if he had not left Chelsea at the age of 14. He spent seven years in the Blues youth teams before being cast aside, a misunderstood ball genius off the field.
Michael Olise missed by Chelsea and Man City
In the documentary, Sean Conlon, who coached Michael Olise as a child at a local club in West London, recounts the player’s departure from the Chelsea academy: “What happened there was kept very private. Nobody really knows. Only a few Chelsea managers. I have the impression that there was some sort of friction.” The CFC trainers most likely lacked patience with this young player with a slightly different mindset from the others, but nevertheless a football fanatic.
After a short stint with Manchester City’s youth team, where he failed to adapt away from home, being too physically weak, Michael Olise remained without a club for six months before being welcomed by Reading. It is in this small town to the west of Greater London that “Mike” finished his training, from 2017 to 2019, before starting in the Championship for two seasons (73 matches, 7 goals), being named in the English D2 team of the season in 2020-2021, just before his arrival at Palace.
