The Museum of Men’s Pastimes in Mosfiloti

The unusual is appealing. Everyone is always keen to see something original and out of the ordinary, to experience first-hand something they’ve never even dreamt of. If you’re a football fan and dream of learning more, seeing, experiencing and touching everything to do with your favourite sport, then Cyprus is the place for you!

The museum dedicated to the great Michel Platini is certainly worthy of a place on the list of the world’s most unusual museums! The great French footballer, the best player of the 20th century, and now President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), smiles from countless photographs on the museum’s shelves.

Just a bit of harmless male fun?

‘The Temple of Michel Platini’ – that is how the museum’s founder, Cypriot Filippos Stavrou, describes his brainchild. The museum is situated in the village of Mosfiloti, 20 km from Nicosia on the road from Limassol.

Even if you’re not particularly interested in football, a visit to the museum will broaden your horizons; here you can experience new emotions. Your children will be delighted too – the future Arshavins, Kerzhakovs, Pavlyuchenkos, or at the very least, their fans.

When they see the display cases with the exhibits, the boys press their noses right up against the glass: ‘Those are the boots Platini wore when he scored that decisive goal!’

‘Platini’s House’ is both a restaurant and a museum, but above all, it’s the embodiment of the former Juventus midfielder’s obsession. But on the whole, it’s a very endearing obsession: a harmless bit of male fun.

 Filippos Stavrou

The walls and ceilings of the venue are adorned with over 1,000 photographs, 700 picture frames and countless posters featuring the three-time Ballon d’Or winner.

All of this was organised – or, to be more precise, collected – by Filippos Stavrou. The restaurateur is 52 years old, and for 30 of those years he has devoted himself to gathering information, memorabilia and personal items belonging to the legendary footballer.

Here is Michel Platini as a child, and here he is taking part in his first football training sessions. Here is his first goal, which made him famous all over the world, and here he is already UEFA President, personally presenting medals and trophies to the winners.

Filippos enlisted the help of all his friends who had travelled to various countries to gather materials. They brought him badges, match tickets, books, magazines, newspapers and posters featuring Platini. There is even a copy of the great footballer’s book *Life Is Like a Match*, which was also published in Russia in 1991.

The museum also has a sort of inner sanctum – a room which the owner does not allow anyone to enter without supervision. It is here that the most important and particularly valuable exhibits are kept, most of which were signed by Platini himself during his visit to the museum in 2009. This was the footballer’s way of paying tribute to a humble fan from the countryside.

A visit from an idol

Filippos takes particular pride in Platini’s suit for official UEFA events, which was presented to him by the maestro himself, as well as the chair and table at which the footballer dined.

Filippos describes his meeting with Platini as one of the defining moments of his life. The restaurateur and collector describes the great footballer not only as the best player of all time, but also as a true gentleman.

‘He got out of the car and said, “Look who’s here!”’ recalls Filippos. ‘The whole village heard my cry of delight! After all, I spend every moment of my life thinking about my favourite sportsman.’ It was like the saying, ‘See Paris and die’. My emotions knew no bounds!

Today, the opportunity to correspond regularly with the UEFA President is like a gift from fate for this extraordinary Cypriot. Filippos is proud that not only he himself, but also his mum and children have corresponded with Platini. And, of course, he is delighted that his family, friends, neighbours and even prominent figures in Cyprus are now supporting him in this passion.

Is there anyone else in the world who loves Michel Platini as much as Filippos Stavrou? Who else would be prepared to officially change their passport details to take the surname of this outstanding Frenchman?

The Guinness Book of Records

– I won’t rest on my laurels. I think I’m the wealthiest collector of sports memorabilia. My collection comprises 21,137 memorabilia items. That’s many times more than, for example, the Guinness World Records holder, the Portuguese Fernando da Silva — a Benfica fan who has collected just 1,625 items,” Stavrou proudly declares.

The Cypriot with this unusual hobby is currently preparing documents to send to the Guinness World Records headquarters. He hopes to have the new record officially recognised. We must pay tribute to the collector’s tireless efforts!

Filippos’s imagination possesses a marvellous gift for transforming the simplest everyday objects. Football memorabilia seem to lead a special, secret life behind the glass, continuing their glorious past – the days spent on the football pitch. For example, the players’ kits were not only a symbol of the team, inspiring the players and delighting the fans, but also served as a talisman, bringing victory.

What a magnificent game of football!

The museum’s exhibits provide plenty of reasons for admiration: for the sheer magnitude of this phenomenon known as ‘football’, for the wealth of talent in this world, and for the athletes’ fierce determination to win.

The museum is not just a celebration, but also a journey down memory lane. A trip down memory lane to the outcomes of past sporting battles at international championships. Looking at the glass display cases, one cannot help but wish to see the Russian flag amongst the crests of the winning teams.

In the meantime, if you’d like to witness the making of yet another Guinness World Record and make history by leaving your own review, do visit the museum in Mosfiloti (map).

Museum address: 10 Petrou Kiprianou, Mosfiloti Village, Larnaca Tel.: Show phone.