Raymond Domenech was not only the coach of the France team or the very brief coach of FC Nantes. A professional player and defender renowned for his roughness, he told an anecdote involving him and Michel Platini.
For the youngest, Raymond Domenech is the former coach of the France team, the short-lived coach of FC Nantes, or even the former companion of Estelle Denis. However, the seventy-one year old man has been a professional player for more than fifteen years. Having played for Olympique Lyonnais, Racing Club de Strasbourg, Paris Saint-Germain and even the Girondins de Bordeaux, the man who occupied the position of central defender left his mark on his generation. A bit in his own way since he had the reputation of using tackles often committed. It is precisely in connection with this gesture that he recounted an episode also featuring a certain Michel Platini.
During a cross-exchange with other players, published Saturday in The Team, Raymon Domenech spoke of an episode that took place during a meeting organized by the Variétés Club de France. “ Platini was on the opposing team and I wanted to tackle him! So I waited for someone to pass him. I stood right in line behind him, where he couldn’t see me. Then, as soon as the ball reaches him, I come like crazy and throw myself. And there, bam! He shifts the ball, turns and runs. He had seen me, this idiot! But I still don’t know when and how! » With his vision, Michel Platini managed to completely confuse Raymond Domenech who had nevertheless taken out his finest pair of pruning shears.
“Platini saw everything before others”
The one who is now a consultant has also admitted to having been properly confused, due to the unique talent of his opponent. “ Platini had something brilliant about him, an incredible faculty: he saw everything before others. » Asked to decide between the winner of Euro 84 and Zinedine Zidane, Raymond Domenech on the other hand kicked in. “ There is simply no deciding. They didn’t play the same game at all. Zizou’s strength was ball management. He made an entire team progress and his sense of anticipation systematically made the difference. »
