The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Former France player and manager Henri Michel
Former France midfielder Henri Michel, who coached eight countries during a 30-year managerial career, has died aged 70.
He was capped 58 times by France and coached the national side from 1984 to 1988, taking them to third place at the Mexico World Cup in 1986.
Michel also led Cameroon, Morocco and Ivory Coast at a series of World Cups and had spells in charge of the United Arab Emirates, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya.
He won three league titles during a 16-year playing career with Nantes, making more than 500 appearances for the club.
His coaching career began with the France team, which won gold at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, beating Brazil in the final. The side also reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1986.
He was appointed Cameroon boss in 1994; began the first of two spells with Morocco in 1995, took charge of the United Arab Emirates in 2000, was appointed Tunisia coach in 2001 and became Ivory Coast boss in 2004.
Michel returned to Morocco in 2007 before coaching Equatorial Guinea and Kenya.
He also worked with Paris St-germain and some of Africa’s leading club sides, including two spells in charge of Zamalek in Egypt and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, as well as South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
The French Footballers’ Union, the UNFP, tweeted: “Henri Michel, a colossus of French Football, left us this morning in his 70th year. UNFP sends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Paris Saint-german, who Michel managed from 1990-1991, tweeted: “Former coach of Paris Saint-germain, a great gentleman and a character of French football went.”