Death of Just Fontaine: Legendary France World Cup record holder dies aged 89
Just Fontaine, the record holder for most goals scored in a single World Cup, has died aged 89. The legendary striker netted 13 times in just six appearances at the 1958 World Cup as France moved up to third place.
He had a sensational record for The Blues before his career was cut short by injury, scoring 30 goals in 21 appearances between 1953 and 1960.
During his club career, Fontaine played for USM Casablanca, Nice and Stade Reims. He won the French first division four times, as well as the Coupe de France and the Super Coupe de France with Reims.
After retiring from football in 1962, aged 28, he pursued a career in management, briefly serving as France coach in 1967. He then took over the reins of Luchon, PSG and Toulouse before taking the reins Moroccan national team where he led the Atlas Lions to third place in the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was born in Marrakech in 1933 when Morocco was still part of the French Empire and had a Spanish mother but chose to represent France during his international career.
He remains one of the top scorers in World Cup history despite only playing in one tournament. He is fourth in the all-time goalscoring list for the competition alongside Lionel Messi with just Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Muller ahead of him.
His sensational record of 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup may never be broken, as few players came close to surpassing him in the years that followed. It was Muller who made the best attempt, finding the net 10 times in 1970.
Fontaine had the immense respect of his fellow footballers with Pelé naming him as one of the 125 greatest living players in 2004 while he was also crowned the best French player of the last 50 years by the French Football Federation during from an awards ceremony in 2003.
Fontaine also wanted to make an impact off the pitch and founded the National Union of Professional Footballers in France, the French equivalent of the Association of Professional Footballers, alongside Eugène N'Jo Lea in 1961.
Former clubs PSG and Reims lead tributes to the 89-year-old on Twitter. They wrote: "A thought for Just Fontaine. A monument of French football has left us. It's a sad day for the lovers of Paris Saint-Germain, a club he led in the first division 50 years ago ."
While Reims adds: "A star of French football, an outstanding scorer, a Reims legend. To his family, his loved ones, Reims sends its most sincere condolences."
Just Fontaine, the record holder for most goals scored in a single World Cup, has died aged 89. The legendary striker netted 13 times in just six appearances at the 1958 World Cup as France moved up to third place.
He had a sensational record for The Blues before his career was cut short by injury, scoring 30 goals in 21 appearances between 1953 and 1960.
During his club career, Fontaine played for USM Casablanca, Nice and Stade Reims. He won the French first division four times, as well as the Coupe de France and the Super Coupe de France with Reims.
After retiring from football in 1962, aged 28, he pursued a career in management, briefly serving as France coach in 1967. He then took over the reins of Luchon, PSG and Toulouse before taking the reins Moroccan national team where he led the Atlas Lions to third place in the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was born in Marrakech in 1933 when Morocco was still part of the French Empire and had a Spanish mother but chose to represent France during his international career.
He remains one of the top scorers in World Cup history despite only playing in one tournament. He is fourth in the all-time goalscoring list for the competition alongside Lionel Messi with just Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Muller ahead of him.
His sensational record of 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup may never be broken, as few players came close to surpassing him in the years that followed. It was Muller who made the best attempt, finding the net 10 times in 1970.
Fontaine had the immense respect of his fellow footballers with Pelé naming him as one of the 125 greatest living players in 2004 while he was also crowned the best French player of the last 50 years by the French Football Federation during from an awards ceremony in 2003.
Fontaine also wanted to make an impact off the pitch and founded the National Union of Professional Footballers in France, the French equivalent of the Association of Professional Footballers, alongside Eugène N'Jo Lea in 1961.
Former clubs PSG and Reims lead tributes to the 89-year-old on Twitter. They wrote: "A thought for Just Fontaine. A monument of French football has left us. It's a sad day for the lovers of Paris Saint-Germain, a club he led in the first division 50 years ago ."
While Reims adds: "A star of French football, an outstanding scorer, a Reims legend. To his family, his loved ones, Reims sends its most sincere condolences."
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