In four and a half decades of (almost) absolute loyalty at the head of AJ Auxerre, Guy Roux has set almost unbreakable longevity records in the landscape of French football. The iconic coach with the hat has notably etched his name in history by directing 894 first division matches (including four during his very short stint in Lens), an absolute peak in Ligue 1 which testifies to a bygone era when projects were long-term.
This statistical prowess is not limited to the national championship, since the child from Colmar has long stood alone on another summit: that of European victories acquired at the head of a French club. A historic record that modern football and its binge on matches are about to bring down
It is precisely this record of victories on the continental scene which is today in the process of escaping him. By winning on the pitch at Bayer Leverkusen with Olympique de Marseille, Bruno Genesio achieved the 41st success of his career in the European Cup, in all competitions, with a French club. A major performance which allows him to match the legendary mark of the former Auxerre coach.
Arsène Wenger, the absolute reference
Having increased his record from OL to LOSC, then from Rennes to OM, Bruno Genesio is preparing to overtake Guy Roux, but could quickly have to lose to Luis Enrique, who already has 31 victories at the head of PSG in just over two seasons.
If Bruno Genesio has to his credit the semi-final of the Champions League played with Olympique Lyonnais in 2020 or the direct qualification for the round of 16 with Losc, two years ago, Guy Roux’s continental achievements with a club with the profile of Auxerre are a romantic feat.
With incomparable financial means,
the Burgundian technician took AJA to the semi-final of the UEFA Cup in 1993 – cruelly eliminated on penalties by Borussia Dortmund – before inviting himself among the eight best teams on the continent in the quarter-final of the Champions League in 1997, defeating European giants on the Abbé-Deschamps lawn.
During his long successive leases at AS Monaco and especially on the Arsenal bench, the Alsatian technician totaled more than 120 victories on the European scene (including the Champions League and the various C3s), placing him irremediably out of reach of most French technicians.
