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FOOTBALL EUROPE: Jacquet ends golden career

/noticias.info/ France's FIFA World Cup winning coach in 1998, Aimé Jacquet, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 65, ending a 46-year career after stepping down from his role as the French Football Association's technical director.

Early retirement
Jacquet's contract with the French FA was due to expire on 30 June 2007 but he has taken the decision to walk away early. "It's time for a new generation to come and for me to take life easier," he said. Jacquet had taken up the role overseeing the game in France after resigning as national coach following the World Cup triumph on home soil.

Glittering career
Twice-capped by France as a player, the defensive midfielder spent 13 years, from 1960 to 1973 with AS Saint-Etienne. Jacquet won five French championships and three French Cups with Les Verts before joining local rivals Olympique Lyonnais in 1976. Moving into coaching, after a spell in charge of Lyon he reached the European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 1984/85 as well a winning three league titles and two French Cups.

World Cup glory
It will be as France coach that Jacquet will be best remembered however. Starting as Gérard Houllier's assistant in 1992, he took over full control when the now Lyon coach was dismissed following France's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. In charge of an exceptional generation of talented players led by Zinédine Zidane, he silenced his critics when his side lifted the biggest trophy in the game with a 3-0 victory against Brazil at the Stade de France four years later.

Lizarazu tribute
Leading the tributes, World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu said: "Jacquet could lead me where he wanted to. He knew how to convince a player his method was the right one. I'll never forget when he visited me in Munich, six months before the World Cup. I was sidelined by a groin injury and he found the words to reassure me and give me the motivation to take part in the adventure with him."

Temporary successor
Jean-Pierre Morlans has been named as Jacquet's temporary successor as technical director by the French FA, however current national team coach Raymond Domenech has already stated his interest in taking over the role. Houllier is another man likely to be shortlisted for the job. notas_de_prensa_archivo