After the death of the famous footballer Pele, the world of sport is again in mourning this Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The French team is mourning the death of Just Fontaine, 89 years old former international, who started his career in Ligue 1 at OGC Nice in 1953, then at Stade de Reims in 1956. Very prolific, he secured a place in the national team with Les Bleus and played in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, alongside Raymond Kopa. He scored 13 goals during the competition, a record that has remained unbroken ever since, and became a true legend of the French team.
Unfortunately, he had to sign the end of his career earlier than expected, victim of a double fracture in the left leg in 1960, after 30 goals in only 21 appearances. He also said years later:"Les Bleus were my only passion. In 1960, injuries forced me to retire from international football. It was a heartbreak. But the soccer player did not stop there and will mark the history of French soccer with his mark. In 1961, he created the first players' union, theNational Union of Professional Footballers, the UNFP, and improved the working conditions of footballers.
From 1973 to 1976, he coached the very young Paris-Saint-Germain and helped the now famous Parisian club to take off by taking it up to Ligue 1, from which it has never come down since. Between 1979 and 1981, Just Fontaine took the lead of the Moroccan national team, on appointment of King Hassan II, the player being born in Marrakech. The striker received in 2014 from the hands of Ronaldo and Michel Platini a golden shoe for his mark in the history of soccer.
A thought for Just Fontaine.
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) March 1, 2023
It is a monument of French soccer that has left us, and a sad day for lovers of Paris Saint-Germain, a club he led to the first division 50 years ago. pic.twitter.com/XZzDjTsi1P
