French football salutes the memory of the former player and coach, who died this Friday at the age of 72.
Figure of French football, Jean-Louis Gasset died this Friday at the age of 72. Professional clubs, players who came under his command and French football institutions today pay tribute to the former midfielder (1974-1985) who retrained as a coach (number one and assistant).
On its social networks, AS Saint-Étienne, where Gasset coached between 2017 and 2019, writes: “He was the man with the cap, a wise man with a sincere smile, a respected professional, a man listened to. He was more than a coach who made us win.»
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Figure of French football, Jean-Louis Gasset is dead
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Between February and May 2024, in a duty firefighter mission, the Montpellier native took Olympique de Marseille to the semi-final of the Europa League. OM salutes his memory: “The club is now losing much more than a coach: it is losing a respected football man, an experienced technician, and a figure deeply attached to the human values of this sport. In Marseille, he was able to bring his calm, his sense of balance and his wise outlook. Appreciated by players and managers alike, he left behind the image of a fair man, attentive, deeply respected in the locker room and outside. Olympique de Marseille sends its most sincere condolences to his family, his loved ones, as well as to all those who had the chance to work alongside him. Jean-Louis Gasset will forever remain in the memory of French football and in the history of OM.»
In Marseille, during a period of crisis, it was OM football director Medhi Benatia who called on him to replace Gennaro Gattuso on the bench. “My dear Jean Louis, I will never forget your availability, that day when I asked you and you took your car without hesitation to respond to my requestremembers the manager on his Instagram account. Only a man on the ground, passionate and committed as you have always been, could react like this. I will be eternally grateful to you. We are losing a figure in French football, all my thoughts are with your family at these painful times. Rest in peace Mr Gasset.»
You were one of those rare people you meet in football
Amine Harit’s tribute to Jean-Louis Gasset
A sadness shared by Amine Harit, former Marseille player during his stay. “Today, words are weak in the face of the pain I feeladvances on X the Moroccan international. You were one of those rare people that we meet in football, but who make an impact well beyond the field. Rest in peace Papi.»
This Friday at the start of the afternoon, it was the Montpellier Hérault Sport Club – in which the former assistant of Laurent Blanc at Paris Saint-Germain (2013-2016) had evolved as a player then coach – which announced the sad news. PSG, AS Monaco, LOSC, Olympique Lyonnais, SM Caen (where Gasset coached in 2000-2001) and Stade Rennais, among others, also paid tribute to him. Just like the official Ligue 1 account: “[…] French champion four times with the Girondins and PSG, as assistant, Jean-Louis Gasset will be remembered for his commitment and his kindness. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.»
Emotion also at the French Football Federation. Between 2010 and 2012, “the man with the cap” supported Laurent Blanc at the helm of the French team. “French football today loses one of its great servants. Jean-Louis left his mark on entire generations, supports the president of the FFF Philippe Diallo. Beyond the recognized and respected technician, he was a true lover of football, deeply human, inspiring and committed, who over the decades knew how to transmit his values and his passion for the game to all those who had the privilege of knowing him. If his memory will forever be linked to Montpellier, his favorite club, as a player and then as a coach, he also contributed, alongside Laurent Blanc as coach, to putting the French team back on the road to its greatest successes. On this very sad day for French football, the FFF presents its most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
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On Instagram, Kylian Mbappé joins the unanimous tributes: “A football encyclopedia has left us. Thank you for everything and rest in peace. My condolences to his family and loved ones.»
Among the players, former OL striker Georges Mikautadze, playing in Spain at Villarreal, expressed his sorrow in turn. “Some people leave their mark on football well beyond the pitch. Mr. Gasset was one of them. I didn’t know you, but I have deep respect for youwrites the Georgian international. Thoughts of your loved ones. Rest in peace Mr Gasset.»
Quoted by The TeamYacine Idriss Diallo, president of the Ivorian Federation, expresses his “great sadness“. Jean-Louis Gasset was the coach of the “Elephants” of Côte d’Ivoire between 2022 and 2024, leaving his position to Émerse Faé during the African Cup of Nations at home.
«It is with great sadness that I learned of this terrible news. I recruited him to be Ivory Coast coach and I got to know the man. He was a wonderful human being, a great humanist, of great professional morality with a very big heart, declares Yacine Idriss Diallo. The world of football has lost an exceptional man who helped support several generations of players for more than thirty years. We are very, very touched by this news.»
