Before becoming a known and recognized coach of the French championship, acting in particular on the side of Lille, Paris or Nantes, Vahid Halilhodzic was a large scorer. He notably marked the spirits during his visit to the Canaries, with 111 goals scored in 192 matches played in the 80s.
Already renowned for its aggressiveness on the ground, Vahid Halilhodzic left an unforgettable memory to Marcel Desailly. Before becoming one of the best defender of his generation, the 98 world champion made his classes on the side of Nantes, where he therefore crossed the road to the ex-selection of Algeria.
“I got my start with him (Vahid Halilhodzic). If I understood how to defend, it is because or thanks to him “, So told Marcel Desailly to the media
Nantes tribune.
Desailly on Halilhodzic: “I took blows, elbows”
At the time at the FCN training center, Desailly remembered the very committed, even brutal duels, with Halilhodzic, who was then the star scorer of the Beaujoire residents. “”
Once every 15 days, we played the pros against young people, I took blows, elbows “, He said, absolutely not resentful, quite the contrary …
The former French international with 116 selections (3 goals) learned not to be only in physical fight, but also to anticipate the movements of his opponents. “” I learned to pass further and get around it. It had to be anticipated “Said Desailly, who knows what he owes to the Bosnian.
