Patrick Battiston will forever remain a great man in French football. The central defender participated in all the epics of Michel Platini's Blues in the 80s, to count 56 selections and three goals. It is he who was violently struck by the German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher during the “Seville drama”, the traumatic elimination of France against the FRG (West Germany) in the semi-finals of the 1982 World Cup (3-3, 4 tab at 5). Schumacher was not even sanctioned with a fault by the referee and Battiston left the ground on the stretcher, inert and three teeth less!
Battiston was then the right defender of Michel Hidalgo (due to the suspension of Manuel Amoros) during the coronation of France at Euro 84 at the house. And he formed the central hinge with Maxime Bossis until 3rd place gleaned at the World 86 in Mexico. At the same time, the native of Moselle had a superb career in French D1 with FC Metz, AS Saint-Etienne, the Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Monaco. With 558 matches on the clock, he is the 3rd most capped field player in the history of the championship behind Alain Giresse and Sylvain Kastendenduch. He is also one of the few players to have been French champion with three different clubs!
Battiston recruited by Wenger
The X accounts of the French team, the Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Monaco paid tribute to Patrick Battiston for his 68th anniversary on Tuesday. “Happy Birthday Mr. Patrick Battiston!” This real legend of the Girondins and the French team celebrates its 68th birthday today ”launches the Aquitaine club. Already winner of the D1 in 1981 with the Greens, Battiston was champion of France three times with the FCGB (in 1984, 1985 and 1987). After his football career, he was then coach of the reserve team and under 17, sports director, director of the training center and even club marketing director!
ASM, for its part, published an article to celebrate “The basic man of the 5th title of champion”. Taulier de Bordeaux, Battiston agreed to leave the defending champion in the summer of 1987, at the request of Arsène Wenger, to accompany Roc Luc Sonor in central defense. The Monegasques flew over the season thanks to the 14 goals of English Mark Hateley and the talent of Glenn Hoddle, Youssouf Falikou Fofana and Manuel Amoros (Omar Da Fonseca even scored two goals). Battiston evolved two years in the Principality before concluding his magnificent course with the Girondins.
