Olympique Lyonnais mourns its legend Bernard Lacombe, who died Tuesday at the age of 72. The striker also made the history of the French team.
Many have known him as an essential right-handed by President Jean-Michel Aulas at the head of the Grand OL, champion of France seven times in a row from 2002 to 2008. The oldest saw him form the French team of Michel Platini winner of Euro 1984, the very first collective title in the history of the country. Bernard Lacombe died at the age of 72 on Tuesday, when he has been hospitalized since January.
“It was with immense sadness that we learned this Tuesday evening the death of Bernard Lacombe. All our thoughts go to his family and loved ones, but also lovers of Olympique Lyonnais and football. Farewell Bernard, you were our legend, the greatest of all ”, wrote the Rhone club on its X account on Tuesday evening.
Bernard Lacombe is a real legend of Olympique Lyonnais. A native of Villefranche-sur-Saône, he started with the Gones and became an untenable Division 1 scorer, including a season at 31 goals in 1972-1973. A short passage to AS Saint-Etienne but especially eight years at the Girondins de Bordeaux make him the second top scorer in the French championship with 255 achievements (behind Delio Onnis and his 299 goals).
38 selections in the French team
Aulas made it its right arm in 1988 as sports director. Lacombe was even the team's coach from 1996 to 2000 before going back to the gallery, as advisor to the president. In charge of recruitment, he is the source of Juninho, Michael Essien or Mahamadou Diarra, players who largely contributed to the Lyon success of the time. Before being replaced in 2017 by Gérard Houllier.
Chez The Blueshe had 38 selections for 12 goals, from 1973 to 1984. He was part of the Michel Platini generation by participating in two World Cups, in 1978 (he scored after 38 seconds of play (against Italy) and in 1982 (he was injured for the tragic semi-final against West Germany in Seville). If he does not mark in four matches.
