Michel Hidalgo, the former coach of Michel Platini's French team in the late 1970s and early 1980s, died Thursday at the age of 87 from the aftermath. French football lost a legend, who had won Euro 84 at home, the very first title in the history of the Blues.

The French team, and more generally French football as a whole, loses one of its guardian figures. Michel Hidalgo, the former coach of the Blues in the late 1970s and early 1980s (1976-1984), died on Thursday at the age of 87. The former midfielder will forever be the coach of the first title in the history of the French team, Euro 1984, won at home with an exceptional generation of players, led by Michel Platini. Michel Hidalgo was also at the head of the Blues during the legendary and tragic semi-final of Seville at the 1982 World Cup, lost on penalties against West Germany (3-3, 4 tab to 5).

Coach respected and adored by his players, he left the French team after the victory at Euro 1984, to become National Technical Director (DTN) then manager of Olympique de Marseille by Bernard Tapie. He then remained in the soccer world, appearing regularly on television as a consultant. He had appeared very weak in recent years, but still regularly visited by his former players of the Platini generation.