• FC Nantes unveiled the statue of Henri Michel this Saturday morning.

  • Many former players and partners of the former midfielder, who died three years ago, were present for the event.

Jean-Claude Suaudeau, Patrice Rio, Jean-Paul Bertrand-Demanes, Maxime Bossis, Thierry Tusseau… Many former glories were present this Saturday morning at the Beaujoire stadium, just before the Nantes-Bordeaux match. FC Nantes has indeed inaugurated the statue of Henri Michel, emblematic player of the club who died in April 2018. Scheduled for 2020, this tribute had been postponed due to the health context. "It is the whole of FC Nantes which pays homage to Henri Michel", explained the president Waldemar Kita, speaking "of intense emotions" and of "great pride" to unveil this statue. “One player was unanimous, all generations combined, it is Henri Michel, the legend of our legends. It is an inescapable duty of memory for the institution and for me too. "

The statue of Henri Michel has just been unveiled ... #FCNantes #fcnfcgb pic.twitter.com/MYvJQBCDrk

- David Phelippeau (@dphelippeau) May 8, 2021

After the speech of the Nantes president, visibly very moved - he stood aside for a while - a family photo brought together all the former players in front of the statue.

We will obviously regret, health context requires, the absence of supporters for the inauguration of a player who has marked the history of the FCN forever.

Some fans (a little over 200) were also gathered at the same time outside the enclosure to demand the departure of President Kita.

A statue positioned inside for insurance reasons

The statue was controversial at the end of last year when the club had communicated on its achievement.

The A la Nantaise association regretted not having been made aware of the design of this statue while the association of FCN lovers had launched a subscription and organized a tournament in the summer of 2019 to raise funds to design … A statue in homage to the former player.

The statue being positioned inside the stadium for a matter of insurance, at the level of the official entrance, the supporters will be able, on several dates, to meditate in front of the statue, and this, from next Wednesday between 2 and 6 p.m. (depending on the health regulations in force), indicates the club.

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  • Tribute

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  • Waldemar kita

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