Joël Bats is a true legend of French football. First of all obviously for his great history with the French team. Selected fifty times for the Blues, the native of Mont-de-Marsan is among the French heroes crowned European champions in 1984. Two years later, he was the unforgettable hero of the quarter-final of the Mexican World Cup against Brazil.
But Joël Bats has also entered the legend of the different clubs through which he passed during his career. Trained in Sochaux, where he took his first steps among professionals, he then revealed himself in Auxerre, accompanying the AJA in its discovery of the big world. But it is obviously at PSG that the Landais wrote the most beautiful pages of his career, notably by contributing to the first French championship title in 1986.
Staying seven years in the capital, Joël Bats compiled 285 matches under the Red and Blue colors. Enough to make him for many the second greatest goalkeeper in the history of the club, only ahead of Bernard Lama. “He is a figure of the club, a big name of PSG”, said of him Gérard Houllier, whom he had under his orders in Paris before meeting him again in Lyon, two decades later.
“Someone we don’t forget”
Three years after the end of his career, the former goalkeeper joined the Parisian staff, whether as goalkeeping coach or assistant coach. “It’s true, he’s quite secretive, he doesn’t open up much. But he’s someone we don’t forget. He was a confidant. He was very close to the players, very appreciated, faithful, upright,” remembered Vincent Guérin, former player of the club
But after a stint in Châteauroux, it was in Lyon that he wrote the most beautiful pages of his career as a technician. Joël Bats stayed at OL for no less than 17 years and was part of the adventure for seven Lyon titles, alongside Jacques Santini, Paul Le Guen and, therefore, Gerard Houllier. He then worked with three of the most emblematic goalkeepers in the history of Les Gones: Grégory Coupet, Hugo Lloris and Anthony Lopes.
“ Jo, he is a god to us. The workouts he offers me during the week are extraordinary. With his experience, everything he shows me is reproduced in a match. He has a large share of responsibility in my progression and my start to my career,
confided Anthony Lopes when he left for Montreal. I’m not just losing a name, a person, a goalkeeping coach, a mentor, I’m losing my dad at OL. He taught me so many things, he gave me self-confidence. »
Strong words from Hugo Lloris
“Joel Bats was my mental trainer, plus he was my reference. He could tell me anything. If in Tignes, he had asked me to cross the lake, I would have crossed it. Even though it was completely stupid, I would have done it, greeted Grégory Coupet. Which is terrible, I think Joel Bats has learned to train me less. To do more quality training than quantity. Push on the details. »
And the most moving tribute undoubtedly came from Hugo Lloris, who took off in Lyon under the orders of Joël Bats. “I always have a memory in my mind. A few weeks after the death of my mother, I returned to Lyon. The day I signed, I found myself having lunch in a brasserie across from the training center, he told her in an exchange for The Parisian. You were present with the president, Bernard (Lacombe), Rémi (Garde) and my father. Right away, you took me under your wing. You were happy that I came. And I will always remember your words: “I will take you where you want to go.” » And that’s exactly what you did. Through your contact, I very quickly learned the very high level, a working method, a mentality. I could have continued working with you for years. It’s so easy! »
