This is very sad news for French football. Former player and coach Didier Notheaux died on Wednesday at the age of 73. The Normand had played almost his entire playing career between D1 and D2 from 1970 to 1980. Trained in Rouen, the Frenchman had participated in 178 matches and scored 30 goals for his club at heart. He also played for RC Lens and Stade Rennais before starting a long coaching career.
Didier Notheaux had notably made a remarkable visit to Le Havre where he was D2 champion in 1985. “The HAC loses one of its own,” tweeted the Norman club. More contrasting experiences followed at the Stade de Reims, the Stade Rennais, Sochaux, or even Valence and Mulhouse.
The former Rouennais then embraced a coaching career on the African continent. At the head of Burkina Faso, he succeeded in qualifying his team for CAN 2000. His time in Benin will be marked by his conflict with his federation and a stint in front of Fifa. An experience that will allow him to be a consultant for Eurosport France during CAN 2008.
