Saint-Etienne (AFP)

Lonely and mysterious, ex-footballer with a red mop became coach of the European epic of Saint-Etienne in 1976, Robert Herbin, who died on Monday at 81, associated his destiny with that of the Greens, where his visionary training methods have irradiated all of French football.

"Herbin was 5 minutes of discussion and an hour and a half of training. Batteux, the reverse". In a few words, Jacques Santini painted the singular portrait of his former teammate then coach, passed on the bench of the Greens in 1972 following Albert Batteux.

In Saint-Etienne, the only club in which he wore the jersey, the "Sphinx" is a sacred monster, both for his record and his character.

"He was born in Paris, grew up in Nice and then became a Stéphanois among Stéphanois. The values ​​of + Sainté + - solidarity, self-giving, courage - were his", summed up ASSE.

Born March 30, 1939, Herbin moved to Nice at the age of eight where his father, a musician, got a job at the opera. He got his start at the Cavigal, a local club famous for his training, notably ranking third in the young footballer's competition. In 1957, he was spotted there by Pierre Garonnaire, already a recruiter of the Greens.

- "Radical change" -

At ASSE, under the leadership of Jean Snella and then Batteux, his mentors, Herbin established himself in the 1960s as a major player, in midfield then central defender, naturally becoming captain.

Forced to stop his career in 1972 due to a knee injury, the man who passed his education diploma two years earlier, graduating from his promotion, then took over the Stéphanoise team, only 33 years old, relying a lot on a generation of young people from the training center.

"He brought about a radical change in French football. + Roby + really improved the athleticism of the preparation," recalls ex-striker Patrick Revelli.

Often presented as a precursor in physical preparation, Herbin did not hesitate to make his players suffer with this permanent concern to raise them to the highest level.

"Today, the players would very quickly request the dismissal of the coach with such physical sessions. He would only be a week!", Laughs Santini, remembering the "specific head game sessions" imagined by the technician.

Very quickly, he printed his mark. "During the first two or three months, our thighs were as hard as the electric poles that were made of wood at the time," said the former coach of the Blues.

The poles is what made Herbin a legend in French football, with this final of the European Cup of champion clubs lost to Bayern Munich in 1976 in Glasgow. Because, according to the history consecrated, of the square amounts having repelled the Stéphane shots in a match that the former coach assured to have never "digested".

- Multi-titled trainer -

Nicknamed the "Sphinx" for his ability to let no emotion appear, Herbin nonetheless won five French champion titles as a player and four others as a coach. Nine out of the ten crowns of the club, as well as six French cups.

He also played in the 1966 World Cup in England with the French team (23 caps, 3 goals).

The affair of the famous "black box" of the Greens during the 1982-1983 season, during which he was in conflict with President Roger Rocher, caused his departure. Subsequently, his journey was less glorious.

Hired by Olympique Lyonnais, he failed to save the Rhone club from relegation (1983-1985).

Herbin then directed the club of Al Nasr Riyad in Saudi Arabia (1985-1986) then Strasbourg (1986-1987, 9th in D2) before returning to Saint-Etienne (1987-1990), where the splendor of the Greens was more than a memory despite a 4th place in the championship (1988) and a semi-final of the Coupe de France (1990).

He finished his career at the Red Star in the 2nd division (1991-1995).

This experienced music lover and painting lover lived his retirement in L'Etrat (Loire) on the heights of Saint-Etienne, alone. "He waited for confinement to leave quietly. That's all Roby," concludes Revelli.

© 2020 AFP