From Munich to Saint-Denis, Michael Olise has become the attacking thread running through France’s opening months under Zinedine Zidane. The Bayern winger has supplied four goals and two assists in his first four Nations League appearances of the new era, emerging as the leading creative force for Didier Deschamps’ successor.
Key takeaways
- Olise set up Kylian Mbappé for France’s 1-0 win over Turkey in Zidane’s first match in charge.
- He scored decisive goals in 1-0 victories over Belgium in Brussels and drew France level against Italy in a 1-1 result.
- The 24-year-old changed the return match with Belgium at the Stade de France, recording two goals and an assist after coming on in the 60th minute of a 4-1 comeback.
- For Bayern this season, Olise has eight goals and four assists, following a 2025-26 club campaign of 22 goals and 31 assists.
- Before reaching Reading, Crystal Palace and Bayern, the London-born France international had been released or left the youth systems of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
France’s new reference point
Olise’s influence has travelled well across the early fixtures of Zidane’s tenure. In the opening 1-0 victory in Turkey, he created Mbappé’s winner. He then settled the contest in Brussels against Belgium before scoring France’s only goal in the draw with Italy.
His most striking contribution came back in Paris. France trailed Belgium 1-0 when Olise entered after an hour at the Stade de France, but he drove a turnaround with a brace and an assist as the home side won 4-1.
There was one major occasion when he could not find a way into the match. France were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the World Cup semi-final on 14 July, with Luis de la Fuente’s defensive plan restricting Olise and much of the French side.
At club level, however, his form for Vincent Kompany’s Bayern has remained bright. The current return of eight goals and four assists follows an exceptional 2025-26 season in which he produced 22 goals and 31 assists.
The route from London to Munich
Olise was born in London but chose France internationally, and his route to the elite was far from straightforward. Arsenal took him on briefly in 2009, when he was eight, but he did not settle and moved to Chelsea later that year.
He remained in Chelsea’s academy until 2016. José Gomes, who later coached him at Reading and is now in charge of Saudi Arabian club Al-Khaleej, said the Chelsea departure was not based on footballing ability. Gomes stated that Olise’s schoolwork and attendance had become an issue.
In July 2016, Olise joined Manchester City’s youth set-up. Gomes has said that the winger was mocked by other players because of his slight upper-body strength, including difficulty with press-ups. Feeling isolated and humiliated, Olise left City as well.
After six months without a club, he joined Reading in July 2017. Gomes worked with him during the 2018-19 season and pushed him hard in training. Speaking in 2021, the Portuguese coach said of Olise: “He is the kind of player who will bring people to stadiums. You cannot watch him play without feeling happy.”
Reading became the platform for the next stages of his rise. Crystal Palace signed him in July 2021 for €9.3 million, before Bayern paid €53 million to take him to Germany in July 2024. He made his France debut on 6 September that year, and his progress has since placed him on the radar of Europe’s leading clubs, with Real Madrid among those drawn to his talent.
