Saint-Etienne (AFP)
The mayor LR of Saint-Etienne, Gaël Perdriau, will have a statue of Robert Herbin, the emblematic coach of the great era of the Greens who died Monday at 81 years old, erected at the entrance to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.
This decision of the elected official, also president of the metropolis of Saint-Etienne, owner of the "cauldron" (nickname of the stadium), takes up an idea launched by supporters via an online petition.
Club leaders had already announced this week that the ASSE training center and headquarters, located in the town of L'Etrat (Loire), was going to bear the name of Robert Herbin.
Erecting him a statue is an "excellent initiative," said Bernard Caïazzo, chairman of the supervisory board of the club and Premier League, the employers' association of Ligue 1 clubs, on Saturday.
"This tribute to Robert Herbin is entirely justified given what he has brought to French football, to the city and to his club which owes him most of his achievements (nine titles of champion of France and six cups from France) ", said Gaël Perdriau, who will choose the statue, the artist who will make it and its exact location with ASSE and his supporters.
A banner in memory of the "Sphinx", with his portrait, will also be deployed on Wednesday on the facade of the Town Hall and a guest book will be opened on the municipality's website.
© 2020 AFP