Tributes to Michel who guided France to 1986 World Cup semi-finals
Henri Michel, who played for France at the 1978 World Cup and later coached the team to the semi-finals at the 1986 tournament, has died. He was 70.
Michel, who died yesterday, was an accomplished midfielder who played almost his entire career at Nantes and helped the club win three French league titles. He played 58 times for France between 1967 and 1980, including two games at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
He moved in to coaching and had a long and varied managerial career. Under Michel’s guidance, France won the Olympic title in 1984 in Los Angeles.
Two years later, Michel coached the France team to the World Cup semi-finals in Mexico. The side included his former team-mates Michel Platini, Patrick Battiston and Dominique Rocheteau. France, with Platini in his pomp, beat Brazil on penalties in a memorable quarterfinal in Guadalajara before losing 2-0 to West Germany in the last four. The French won the third-place play-off, beating Belgium 4-2 after extra time.
Michel later coached several African national teams, including three in the World Cup finals, taking charge of Cameroon in 1994, Morocco in 1998 and Ivory Coast in 2006.
His Moroccan team defeated Scotland 3-0 in the group stage at France 98 but were denied a place in the last-16 by Norway’s shock last-gasp win over Brazil. His last job was with Kenya in 2012.
The French Footballers’ Union, 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.”