Michel Hidalgo, farewell
The man who brought his first title to the French team died on Thursday March 26, at the age of 87.
His tears of joy made France cry... This image is probably, among many others, that many people have of Michel Hidalgo, one of the men, along with Georges Boulogne and Fernand Sastre, who revived French football in the mid-1970s, but above all that of which Les Bleus won their first international title, in 1984.
It would take a whole book to remember his eight years at the head of the French national team, from March 1976 to June 1984, 75 matches, making him the third most capped coach after Raymond Domenech (79) and Didier Deschamps (100). It would take a whole book, too, to pay tribute to this lover of the game, who embodied a certain idea of football, beautiful, passionate, and romantic.
From Florence to Seville
Born on March 22,1933 in Leffrinckoucke (North), Michel Hidalgo enjoyed his first life as a professional player. As a midfielder, he built up a fine record of achievements with the Stade de Reims (French championship and Challenge des Champions 1955) and AS Monaco (French championships 1961 and 1963, French Cups 1960 and 1963, Drago Cup 1961). He played once with the French team, during a short friendly defeat against Italy on May 5, 1962 in Florence (2-1).
But the name of Michel Hidalgo, first as deputy to the National Technical Director (DTN) Georges Boulogne, then as assistant to Romanian coach of Les Bleus Ștefan Kovacs 1973, and the qualifications for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and 1982 in Spain, the latter finishing fourth place.
The first earned him a victory in the Parc des Princes on the evening of his first victory against Bulgaria (3-1) on November 16,1977, while the second inevitably echoes the magnificent and painful memory of the legendary semi-final in Seville, lost to West Germany (3-3, 5-4 tab). The elimination at Euro 1980 was instantly forgiven as the man had made Les Bleus win back the heart of an entire country.
The masterpiece of the Euro
With him and with Platini, Giresse, Tigana and Rocheteau, the Tricolores offered a collective game of quality, sometimes audacious, based on what would be called the "magic square", and often flamboyant. His offensive vision of football was crowned at the Euro 1984 which, on June 27, against Spain (2-0) at home, a radiant French team earned their crown.
AFP
"This Euro has dazzled us", he confided with a touching nostalgia, still under the spell of the summer engraved in many memories. Michel Hidalgo, who became DTN in 1982 – and remained so until 1986 -, was then able to pass on the tricolour baton to Henri Michel and turn a page in the history of Les Bleus. And this was all marked with his tears of happiness.
A tribute by Noël Le Graët, president of the FFF:
“Today we learned with immense sadness and deep emotion the death of Michel Hidalgo. The Federation, and football is in mourning. Michel Hidalgo is one of the greatest names in French football. He left his mark on the history and achievements of French and international football with the first major title won by our French team. Through his philosophy of play, his personality, and his exemplary passion, he contributed to the influence of our sport on an international level and to its popularity in France. He provided us with emotions that are and will remain forever engraved in our memory. He remains a symbol, a coach, a leader, a lover of the beautiful game, close to the players. Michel has fulfilled multiple functions in his career in the service of football, always with competence, respect for people and the collective interest. He was a man of great and beautiful humanity, a rare personality that I had the pleasure of knowing. On behalf of the French Football Federation and all of French football, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
The reaction of Didier Deschamps, french national team's coach:
"I was very saddened to learn of Michel Hidalgo's death. My youth, like that of many French people of my generation, was marked by the sparkling performances of "his" French team, from the qualification for the 1978 World Cup, which our football had been waiting for for 12 years, to the dazzling victory at the Euro 1984. This first international trophy paved the way for other great successes for French football. On a more personal note, I had the chance and privilege of getting to know Michel during my two stints at Olympique de Marseille, first as a player and then as a coach. In good times and bad, Michel has always been very kind to me. He was a deeply kind man. Beyond his technical skills, it is also the memory of his kindness that I want to remember. To his family and friends, I offer my sincere condolences. »