Aimé Jacquet has a place of choice in the pantheon of French football, he is obviously the coach of the French team of the 1998 world champion. The first coronation of the Blues who changed everything. For his style of play, the coach was violently pointed out by the press (notably the journalists of
The team) During the preparation of the Blues at the Hexagonal World Cup and Zinédine Zidane and his teammates justly accessed the Grail by evolving in a defensive scheme.
But the story tells less of Jacquet's beginnings at the head of the selection. His appointment for Euro 96 qualifiers is a small miracle. After the France-Bulgarian disaster in November 1993, for a defeat against Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes which dismissed the Blues of the 1994 World Cup, Aimé Jacquet, assistant of Gérard Houllier, was then chosen as an interim until the end of the season. No one then saw him take the reins of the French team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elfrzto-jpi
The press and public opinion were indeed awaiting the appointment of a big name, five years from the World 98. After the idol Michel Platini from 1988 to 1992, it was Jean Tigana and Luis Fernandez, two other stars of the European Champions 84 with “Platoche”, who secretly dreamed of taking up EDF. Dutch legend Johan Cruyff was even hoped for, as Richard Coudrais, a historian of the Blues who co-written the book tells. Spain 82, the cup of a new world (Solar 2022).
Aimé Jacquet arrives in 'loser' at the fff
Especially since Jacquet had joined the FFF a little by default, after several failures. “Its reputation was indeed singularly tarnished. Driven from Bordeaux in 1989, fired from Montpellier in 1990, fired from Nancy in 1991, he clearly passed for a “loser” and his integration into the DTN had been perceived as a withdrawal solution after these bad results. The French are therefore surprised to find him on the front of the stage in 1994. We had forgotten the excellent work he had done with the Girondins de Bordeaux in the 1980s, with three titles of champion of France, two French Cups and some beautiful European courses “says Richard Coudrais.
Now Aimé Jacquet immediately put himself in the shoes of the real coach of the French team. In addition to his assessment of four victories in as many matches during the suite of season 93-94, the technician made tactical choices which marked a break compared to Houllier (with the arrival of real side and the appointment of Eric Cantona in Captain). “At the time, it was rather to wait for the misstep to demand its replacement. The candidates were not lacking. But I believe that Jacquet had a very important asset: players' confidence ”summarizes Richard Coudrais on the site Blue chronicles. We know the continuation of the great story.
