Didier Couécou

Didier Couécou ( born July 25, 1944 in Caudéran, today suburb of Bordeaux ) is a French former football player and functionary.

Playing career

In the club

The Left Wing came from the youth of Bordeaux, for which he stormed in Division 1 in 1963. Didier Couécou was a more enthusiastic players, who went no duel out of the way and therefore quickly became the darling of the public, while also technically shod and ball ready. At the end of his first season he was not yet on stem formation when the team was defeated 0-2 in the cup final against Olympique Lyon. That changed in 1964, when he was twice in succession with the Girondins runner and a candidate for the national team ( see below). In the following seasons, the team was one of the top teams in France ( in 1968/69 again league runner-up ), and Couécou contributed his originals, and in particular Héctor De Bourgoing, Laurent Robuschi and later Jacques Simon, to this position at a major. He also themselves often overcame the opposing goalkeeper: 1967 /68 ( 15 goals ) and 1968 /69 ( 13 goals, both on rank 9 years ) he stood among the top ten goalscorers. In those two seasons, he reached Bordeaux also keep the cup final, but lost both times it went ( 1-2 against AS Saint- Étienne and 0-2 against Olympique Marseille).

Nevertheless, the club loaned him in 1969 to the Zweitdivisionär OGC Nice, which succeeded the immediate ascent. Didier Couécou but moved in 1970 to Olympique Marseille, and in the following years, he was finally able to put the reputation of an " eternal second ". In Marseille coach Mario Zatelli had formed a strong offensive team, the 1971 champion and could defend that title in 1972; Olympique since 1972 also won the National Cup, celebrated the Left Wing this year on the side of his top-class strike partner Skoblar, Loubet and Magnusson even winning the Doublé. In the cup final, he scored (2:1 on the SEC Bastia) the early 1-0 lead for OM. Also in Marseille, he distinguished himself mainly by its edges and templates for the inside forward.

After this success, he signed a contract with FC Nantes, and 1972/73, he was also there national champion, also was close to his second Doublé: this time his Endspieltor arrived - with referee Wurtz overlooked ahead of going, clear handball, which Couécou then with "Today called the referee Ray Charles " commented - but only to a performance adjustment ( 1-2 against Olympique Lyon). Also in this year he counted together with Bertrand Demanes, Maas, Michel and Michèle De to the leaders of his team and their coach José Arribas.

Surprisingly, he returned after a few days of play 1973/74 season at Marseille, remained there, however, only for one season, in the Olympique just landed on a mid-table and Couécou played less than half of the league games. In 1976, he returned to his home to Bordeaux, where he was indeed used more frequently, but it was also far from champion and cup honors. There, he finished his playing career in 1976.

Stations

• Girondins de Bordeaux (1963-1969)
• Gymnaste Olympique Club de Nice (1969 /70 in D2)
• Olympique de Marseille (1970-1972)
• Football Club de Nantes (1972 /73)
• Olympique de Marseille (1973 /74)
• Girondins de Bordeaux (1974-1976)

In the National Team

In December 1967 Didier Couécou played his only senior international for France in a 3-1 over Luxembourg, he gave an assist to Charly Loubet, went himself but left empty-handed. Already 18 months ahead coach Henri Guérin had called him in the 22er squad of Les Bleus for the World Cup finals; However, he did not play in England. And in his most successful years (1970 to 1973), the left outer position in the Équipe Tricolore was awarded firmly Georges Bereta.

Palmarčs

• French Champion: 1971, 1972, 1973 ( and runner-up in 1965, 1966, 1969)
• French Cup Winners: 1972 ( and finalist in 1964 [without one. ], 1968, 1969, 1973)
• 1 'A' game ( no hit) for France; World Cup participant in 1966
• 308 games and 117 goals in Division 1, of which 188/75 Bordeaux, 79/28 for Marseille, 41/14 for Nantes
• 18 inserts (5 matches ) in the European Cup competitions, including 10 /2, Bordeaux, 6/2 with Marseille and 2 /1 with Nantes

Life after the player time

After 1976, he was long active in various functions at Bordeaux; February to May 1989, he trained even the professional team, to bridge the interim between Aimé Jacquet and Raymond Goethals. Later he worked in the leadership of FC Toulouse. Beginning of the 21st century, he was also active as a player consultant.