Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin 4:28 p.m., March 01, 2023
Legend of the France team, Just Fontaine died at the age of 89, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
From his record of goals in a single World Cup to his victory at the CAN with Morocco as a technician, a look back at the five highlights of the career of the man nicknamed "Justo".
French football mourns one of its legends.
The former center-forward of the France team passed away at the age of 89, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
Known worldwide for his famous record of 13 goals scored in a single World Cup, the emblematic Stade de Reims player has had a tumultuous professional career marked by slumps but also moments of glory.
Born in Morocco, "Justo" managed to make a name for himself in France and joined the Nice club in 1953. From his debut in the tricolor jersey to his moments of glory on the Paris Saint-Germain bench, here are the five highlights of Just Fontaine's career.
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13 goals in a World Cup, a record
It was in the summer of 1956 that Just Fontaine left Nice to join Reims, the best club in France at the time.
His performances allowed him to be selected for the France team for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
A surprise for the Rémois who was not even sure of being selected and who then had only five caps in five years with the Blues with only one goal scored in the last 53 months to his credit.
Top scorer in the history of a World Cup finals with 13 goals in 1958, died last night at 89.
It is with the greatest emotion that the FFF sends its condolences to his family and loved ones.https://t.co/ztITjXZyua
— FFF (@FFF) March 1, 2023
But this is the revelation.
He scored 13 goals in this edition, an absolute record still in progress.
During this same competition, the Blues finished in third place after being eliminated in the semi-finals by the Brazil of a certain… Pelé.
The French team still manages to get on the podium thanks to a Fontaine in a state of grace and author of a fabulous quadruple against Germany (6-3).
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Tragic wounds
But the beautiful story of the young striker will quickly turn into a nightmare.
Back with the Stade de Reims in the shoes of the third in the Ballon d'Or France Football in 1958 after this successful World Cup, the 24-year-old player suffered a broken leg two years later.
"Justo" manages to return to his level but a few months later, the Reims striker suffers another broken leg during a match against Limoges.
It's one injury too many for the one who scored 197 goals in 235 matches played in the French championship.
Then 28 years old, "Justo" is forced to retire from football.
A heartbreak for Just Fontaine.
"There is a lot of talk about my record but I would have exchanged it for five or six years more, because football was my passion. I was at the top, I earned a lot of money for the time. It was not not the current sums, I earned five times the minimum wage, now it would be more like a hundred times”, he explained in 2013.
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Two matches and then go
Then begins another career for the record holder of goals in a single World Cup.
Just Fontaine embarks on a coaching career and graduates.
He even comes out major of his class.
It was in 1967 that he took charge of the France team.
But the adventure is cut short.
After two defeats for his first two official friendly matches (1-2 against Romania and 2-4 against the USSR), the former Stade de Reims striker was dismissed from his post and remains the coach to this day. the most ephemeral of French football.
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Success at PSG
The iconic striker managed to bounce back, however, as he was called up by Daniel Hechter, then president of Paris Saint-Germain, a small second division club at the time.
Just Fontaine is inducted there as technical director but he actually takes on the role of coach and builds a competitive team.
A thought for Just Fontaine.
It is a monument of French football who has left us, and a sad day for lovers of Paris Saint-Germain, a club he led to the first division 50 years ago.
pic.twitter.com/XZzDjTsi1P
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) March 1, 2023
This is how he achieved the feat of raising PSG to the 1st division in June 1974 after an anthology match against Valenciennes.
Carried in triumph by the supporters, the native of Marrakech suffered a heart attack, fortunately without consequences, during the scenes of jubilation which followed this climb.
Strong and legendary moments engraved forever in the memories of the club's fans.
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Back to Morocco
Just Fontaine decides to return to his native land at the end of his career.
He was then appointed as a technician for the Moroccan national team.
Haloed by his experience with Paris Saint-Germain, the former footballer allowed the Atlas Lions to finish in third place in the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in 1980.
The circle is complete for the one who remains and will remain in the history of football.
He returned to France in 1981 and withdrew completely from the world of football.