Claude
Bez: The Successful and Turbulent Presidency of Girondins de Bordeaux
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In
the Late 1970s, clubs such as FC Nantes and AS Saint Etienne dominated French
soccer.
Clubs
whose success relied upon a successful youth set up of detection and promotion.
Bordeaux
was a modest team that regularly finished in mid table.
It
was on August 1st, 1978, that former club Treasurer and Vice
President Claude Bez became President of Bordeaux, following Jean Roureau’s
resignation.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 111, March 1985
(Bordeaux
President Claude Bez)
|
Bez
had the ambition to make Bordeaux a force to be reckoned with at home and
abroad.
He
sought to build a team around long serving standard-bearer Alain Giresse.
However,
in the initial stages there were no funds available, therefore Bez made a
specialty of signing end of contract players to avoid paying transfer fees.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 18, September 1981
(Alain Giresse) |
For
his first full season as President (1978/79), with Argentinean Luis Carniglia
as Manager, he signed goalkeeper Christian Delachet, Francis Meynieu, Andre
Guesdan, Eric Boucher, George van Straelen, Mansilo Vukotic, Phillipe Redon and
Nambatingue Toko.
These
were all solid players, though clearly not the star quality that would be
acquired in the years to come.
The
team finished in tenth place for this first season.
For
the following season (1979/80), the signings were more ambitious. They included
defenders such as future International Jean-Christophe Thouvenel and Daniel
Tallineau.
Also
arriving were Felix Lacuesta, Omar Sahnoun, the Argentine Juan Domingo Cabrera
and strikers such as Bernard Blacquart and Internationals Bernard Lacombe,
Albert Gemmerich and Gerard Soler.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 55, October 1984
(Bernard Lacombe vs. Athletic Bilbao in the
First Round of Champions Cup, 1984/85) |
Belgian
manager Raymond Goethals replaced Luis Carniglia after 13 matches.
The
team finished at sixth place, with these quality imports, and was in touching
distance of a UEFA Cup place.
From
the beginning Bez and his Technical Director Didier Couecou had tried to
convince Bordeaux Mayor Jacques Chaban-Delmas, that financial help would be required
to take Bordeaux to the next level.
For
the (1980/81) season, more impressive signings were made as the Municipality of
Bordeaux subsidized Six Million Francs.
International
defenders Marius Tresor and Francois Bracci arrived from OM and Strasbourg.
Tough
battling midfielder Rene Girard and Jean Fernandez arrived from Nimes and OM
respectively to strengthen a much improving side.
More
importantly future World Cup winning manager Aime Jacquet arrived from
Olympique Lyonnais to take charge.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 111, March 1985
(Aime Jacquet) |
The
team finished in the third place and earned UEFA Cup qualification.
In
this successful season, Alain Giresse also fought his way back into the
National team.
For
the following season (1981/82), Bez was already eyeing the League title and
once again the Municipality subsidized Four Million Francs for transfers.
International
midfielder Jean Tigana arrived from Olympique Lyonnais, joining up with his
former Manager Jacquet from Lyon.
Yugoslav
goalkeeper Dragan Pantelic arrived from Radnicki Nis along with Algerian defender
Nourdine Kourichi, midfielder Antoine Martinez and striker Mario Relmy rounding
out the signings.
Despite
challenging for the title up to near the end, the team finished in fourth place
and was eliminated from the UEFA Cup by SV Hamburg in the Second Round after
eliminating Iceland’s Vikingur in the First Round.
The
lowest point of the season was the sending off Pantelic towards the end of the
season that led to a one-year suspension after he was accused of kicking one of
the linesmen. To protest this decision, for the final match of the season vs.
Nantes, Claude Bez forced captain Alain Giresse to play as goalkeeper, replaced
after an hour by Marius Tresor. The final score of (0-6) was no surprise.
Several
Bordeaux players earned spots in France’s 1982 World Cup squad that finished
fourth.
These
included France’s Star of the tournament Alain Giresse, as well as Marius
Tresor, Jean Tigana, Bernard Lacombe, Gerard Soler and Rene Girard.
With
the collapse of Saint Etienne due to the ‘La Caisse Noire’ Financial scandal,
Bordeaux was increasingly laying claim as France’s top team.
For
the (1982/83) season, once again the Municipality kicked in Six Million Francs
for team strengthening.
The
new signings included goalkeeper Richard Ruffier from Nimes, a necessity after
Pantelic’s lengthy suspension.
Though
it was an unsuccessful signing as eventually Christian Delachet reclaimed the
goalkeeping position.
Others
included former International defenders Leonard Specht and Raymond Domenech
from Strasbourg and Paris St Germain.
West
German midfielder Caspar Memering arrived from SV Hamburg, along with West
German striker Dieter Muller from VfB Stuttgart.
Michel
Audrain arrived from Angers as a striking option.
Bordeaux
finished a distant second to an excellent Nantes side, but were clearly
regarded as the team of the future as well as the most spending.
In
the UEFA Cup, Bordeaux were once again eliminated in the Third Round by
Universitatea Craiova after eliminating Carl Zeiss Jena and Hajduk Split and in
exciting encounters.
For
the following season (1983/84), Bordeaux made their intent clear by signing
defender/midfielder Thierry Tusseau from Nantes.
Signing
a key player from the recent Champions was a very symbolic act, as it showed
they were the top dogs that even the Champions could not hold onto their best
assets.
Veteran
International defender Patrick Battiston arrived to strengthen the defense
leaving the sinking ship at Saint Etienne.
Bernard
Zenier arrived from Nancy as an extra attacking option.
In
contrast to the previous seasons these new reinforcements came free, as their
contracts had expired.
Bordeaux
were neck to neck with AS Monaco through the entire season, but finally
triumphed in the League only due to goal difference.
This
League title was Bordeaux’s first since 1950.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, May 8, 1984
(Bordeaux Champions of France, May 2, 1984,
Rennes 0-Bordeaux 2) |
Alain
Giresse, Bernard Lacombe, Jean Tigana and Thierry Tusseau were also members of
the France National Team that triumphed in the UEFA European Championships at
the end of the season on home soil.
While
defender Jean-Christophe Thouvenel participated in the victorious Los Angeles
Olympics.
In
the UEFA Cup Bordeaux had been disappointing, they were overpowered and
eliminated by East Germany’s Lokomotiv Leipzig in the First Round (2-3 and 0-4
losses).
Now
firmly established as the dominant force in France, Bordeaux entered their
first Champions Cup with a stronger and more experienced squad.
For
the following season (1984/85), former International goalkeeper Dominique
Dropsy arrived from Strasbourg.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 60, March 1985
(Aime Jacquet and Dominique Dropsy) |
After
offloading the disappointing Caspar Memering, Bordeaux signed the Portuguese
midfielder Fernando Chalana from Benfica after he had starred in the recent
European Championships.
Unfortunately
his time at Bordeaux would be wrecked by series of injuries and he never had
the desired impact.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 112, April 1985
(Portuguese Fernando Chalana) |
Bordeaux
once again triumphed in the League and this time with more ease than the
previous season, despite some resistance by Nantes.
In
the Champions Cup, Bordeaux showed its newfound confidence and experience by
eliminating Spain’s Athletic Bilbao and Romania’s Dinamo Bucharest in difficult
First and Second Round ties.
For
the Quarterfinals, they were paired with USSR’s Dnipropetrovsk. Though Bordeaux
were favored this time, the ties were once again hard fought. The first leg at
home ended in a one-to-one tie with Dieter Muller even missing a penalty kick.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 111, March 1985
(JeanTigana , Patrick battiston and Alain
Giresse, 1984/85) |
The
second leg seemed daunting, specially after Bordeaux fell behind early in the
match, however, they showed their resilience by fighting their way back and
scoring through a free kick by Tusseau.
Bordeaux
went through on a penalty kick shoot-out with Chalana scoring the decider.
In
the semifinals Bordeaux were paired with Michel Platini’s Juventus and this was
one hurdle too many, as Juventus displayed its far more extensive experience in
the European stage by comprehensively defeating Bordeaux (3-0) in Turin with
Platini in inspired form by assisting on the first two goals and scoring the
third one himself.
Two
weeks later, Bordeaux gained some honor and consolation by defeating Juventus
(2-0) at home, however, it was clear that despite some progress Bordeaux was
perhaps not yet ready for European triumph.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 22, 1985
(Bordeaux squad, France Champions 1984/85, Top
Row, left to right: Jean-Christophe Thouvenel, Gernot Rohr, Patrick Battiston,
Leonard Specht, Thierry Tusseau, Laurent Lassagne, Bruno Gimenez, Middle Row,
left to right: Bernard Michelena (technical staff), Christian Delachet, Jean
Tigana, Joel Lopez, Rene Girard, Bruno Lippini, Dominique Dropsy, Aime Jacquet,
Bottom Row, left to right: Hassan Hanini, Fernando Chalana, Bernard Lacombe, Alain
Giresse, Dieter Muller, Michel Audrain, Antoine Martinez) |
For
the (1985/86) season, West Germany’s Dieter Muller departed after three
successful seasons and replaced with fellow West German Uwe Reinders of Werder
Bremen.
Young
promising players such as midfielder Pascal Malbeaux from Rouen and striker
Marc Pascal from Olympique Marseille also arrived.
The
backbone of the squad remained intact.
With
Lacombe and Giresse showing signs of age, Bordeaux finished in third place
behind Champions Paris St Germain and Nantes.
Their
Champions Cup experience was a fiasco as Fenerbahce eliminated them in the
First Round, despite having high hopes after the previous season’s exploits.
This
Bordeaux squad reached its nadir by losing to Monaco by a lopsided score of 0
to 9 on January 18, 1986.
However,
Bordeaux did manage to win the French cup at the expense of Olympique Marseille
and salvage a somewhat disappointing season.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 126, June 1986
(Alain Giresse and Technical Director Didier
Couecou, April 30, 1986, French Cup, Bordeaux 2-OM 1) |
The
only other bright spot of the season was the emergence of young home grown
defender Alain Roche who would go on and earn International caps.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 156, December 1988
(Alain Roche, November 9, 1988, UEFA Cup,
Bordeaux 1-Ujpesti Dozsa 0) |
For
the following season (1986/87), Bez tried to rejuvenate the side by signing
young International midfielders Jean-Marc Ferreri and Phillipe Vercruysse from
Auxerre and RC Lens respectively.
Young
International striker Jose Toure was also signed from Nantes.
Yugoslavia’s
Vujovic Twins, defender Zoran and striker Zlatko arrived from Hajduk Split.
These
signings marginalized the position of older players such as Specht, Lacombe and
Reinders.
Alain
Giresse saw the writing on the wall with the double signing of Ferreri and
Vercruysse and joined Bernard Tapie’s revolution at Olympique Marseille.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 135, March 1987
(Phillipe Vercruysse and Jean-Marc Ferreri) |
This
move deeply angered Bez as Giresse had given his word that he would remain at
Bordeaux for one more season and would have repercussions during the course of
the season.
Bernard
Tapie’s takeover at OM had also triggered a new era, as Bez would now have to
compete on the transfer market with the equally ambitious Tapie and OM.
Despite
the two teams being neck to neck for a majority of the season, Bordeaux broke
free towards the end and not only won the League title but also retained the
French Cup by defeating their archrivals OM in the Final.
Bordeaux’s
midseason acquisition of young striker Phillipe Fargeon had made the difference
as he went on a scoring spree.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 39, April 1992
(Presidents Claude Bez and Berbard Tapie leading
out their teams, June 10, 1987, French Cup, Bordeaux 2-OM 0) |
A
very negative incident that occurred during the season was when OM played at
Bordeaux on April 11, 1987 for what was Alain Giresse’s first match back at
Bordeaux.
Claude
Bez wanted to use the occasion to settle his scores with Giresse. He made sure
that the Match Programme had no mention of Giresse in it and a question mark
was placed on the journal under where his name and photo would have appeared.
During
the match itself, tough West German defender Gernot Rohr was given the task of
brutally marking him. So bad was his treatment that Rohr was sent off along
with OM’s Bade after a nasty foul on Giresse in the 22nd minute led
to an altercation between Rohr and Bade.
Bez
went on to say that Giresse will always be a great player but his human
qualities leave a lot to be desired.
In
the Cup Winners Cup, Bordeaux defeated Ireland’s Waterford, Benfica and Torpedo
Moscow to meet East Germany’s Lokomotiv Leipzig in the semifinals.
Each
team won (1-0) away from home and this close contest was decided with Leipzig
getting through narrowly on a penalty kick shoot-out.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Hors serie 30, 1987
(Bordeaux squad, Double Winners 1986/87, June
10, 1987, French Cup, Bordeaux 2-OM 0) |
For
the following season (1987/88), many ageing players departed after years of
solid service. Patrick Battiston joined AS Monaco; Specht returned to
Strasbourg, Chalana returned to Portugal, while Bernard Lacombe retired.
Defenders
Eric Pean and Didier Senac joined from Lille And RC Lens respectively.
International
midfielder Dominique Bijotat arrived from AS Monaco.
Bordeaux
finished as runner-ups that season behind Arsene Wenger’s AS Monaco bolstered
by the arrivals of English pair of Mark Hateley and Glenn Hoddle.
In
the Champions Cup, Bordeaux eliminated Dinamo Berlin and Lillestroem in the
first rounds to be paired up with PSV Eindhoven in the Quarterfinals.
Bordeaux
were eliminated on the away goals rule after tying (1-1) at home and a
scoreless tie in Eindhoven.
The
following season (1988/89) proved to be Bordeaux’s worst season in a decade.
Jose
Toure, Rene Girard, Dominique Bijotat, Philippe Fargeon and Zlatko Vujovic were
all offloaded to be replaced by Dominique Thomas (Lille), Eric Dewilder (RC
Lens), Bernard Genghini (OM) and Yannick Stopyra (Toulouse).
Belgian
midfielder Enzo Scifo arrived on loan from Internazionale Milano and English
striker Clive Allen arrived from Tottenham.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 157, January 1989
(Enzo Scifo, December 7, 1988, UEFA Cup, Napoli
0-Bordeaux 0) |
Early
in the season, Claude Bez was involved with the French National team when he
acted behind the scenes to organize the ousting of National Team manager of
Henri Michel after France’s World Cup Qualifier at Cyprus ended as a tie and
jeopardized the World Cup Qualification.
A
role was created solely for him, as he became the superintendent of the
National team. He was responsible in appointing Michel Platini as new National
team Manager.
Their
League form was simply disastrous, as the new recruits were mostly
disappointing, and Aime Jacquet paid the price and was sacked in February 11,
1989 with the team in a perilous position.
Didier
Couecou acted as interim Manager for the remainder of the season.
The
team finished in a disgraceful 13th position and failed to qualify for Europe
for the first time in nearly a decade.
The
midseason signings of Danish midfielder Jesper Olsen from Manchester United and
striker Eric Cantona from Olympique Marseille (on loan) did not improve
matters.
The
only positive aspects of the seasons were the debuts of future stars Bixente
Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry.
In
the UEFA Cup, Bordeaux reached the Third Round after eliminating Dnipropetrovsk
and Ujpesti Dozsa. In the third Round they were paired with Diego Maradona’s
Napoli and were eliminated after losing at home (0-1) and a scoreless tie away.
By
the new year it was becoming apparent that their was a lack of revenue at
Bordeaux and Bez decided to cut funding from all the other sports to
concentrate the funds solely on the Football team.
A
shift of power seemed to be taking place when Bernard Tapie’s Olympique
Marseille clinched the domestic double that season and were openly making a bid
to land Europe’s top prize for the coming future.
For
the following season (1989/90), with no European Football to generate extra
revenue, the team was in dire financial straits and many key players had to be
offloaded.
Alain
Roche and Jean Tigana were sold to recent double winners Olympique Marseille.
Foreign
players Zoran Vujovic, Enzo Scifo and Clive Allen were all offloaded.
Veteran
Belgian Manager Raymond Goethals was back for a second stint to steady the
ship.
Cameroon
goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell arrived from Toulon along with former defender
Patrick Battiston returning after two seasons with AS Monaco.
Jean-Luc
Dogon, William Ayache and West German veteran Manfred Kaltz came on board as
defensive reinforcements.
Kaltz
left as soon as the season started due to foreign player restrictions and
joined Mulhouse.
New
midfielders Frederic Meyrieu and Internationals Bernard Pardo and Jean-Philippe
Durand were signed from OM, Toulon and Toulouse respectively.
West
German striker Klaus Allofs arrived from OM along with veteran Dutch striker
Piet Den Boer from Belgian side Mechelen.
These
new signings clicked well and Bordeaux were League leaders for much of the
season.
They
were eventually overtaken near the end of the season by defending Champions
Olympique Marseille.
But
worse news was the fact it was discovered that the club 300 Million francs to
creditors.
The
following season (1990/91) was the last of the Bez era as the team collapsed
amid the scandals.
Jesper
Olsen, Klaus Allofs, Pardo, Den Boer and Meyrieu departed to be replaced with
Belgian midfielder Patrick Vervoort (Anderlecht), Dutch striker Wim Kieft (PSV
Eindhoven), Icelandic striker Arnor Gudjohnsen (Anderlecht), Pascal Plancques
(Brest), Racing Paris’ duo of Hakim Ben Mabrouk and Jean-Pierre Bade and Didier
Deschamps on loan from OM.
The
mediocre season started with Goethals being sacked early in the season, to be
replaced first on an interim basis by former defender, the West German Gernot
Rohr and eventually by former Olympique Marseille Manager Gerard Gili.
In
the UEFA Cup after eliminating Glenavon and Magdeburg, Bordeaux were completely
overpowered by AS Roma in the third round by losing (0-5) away and (0-2) at
home.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 23, December 1990
(Jean-Marc Ferreri, December 12, 1990, UEFA Cup,
Bordeaux 0-AS Roma 2) |
On
October 30, 1990, Bez admitted that he had in the past offered prostitutes to
referees for European Cup matches.
On
November 26, 1990, Claude Bez resigned after a 12 year Presidency under the
weight of the debt.
Bordeaux
finished off the season in 10th position, but due to its massive
debt, was forcibly relegated to the second division.
Alain
Affelou became the new President with the task of rebuilding.
In
the following years Claude Bez was investigated for laundering money from
player transfers among other charges.
On
March 22, 1994, Bez was sentenced to a 2 years prison sentence (one year suspended)
and a fine of 2 million Francs, after it was discovered the club had laundered
money from local collectors to renovate the Haillan team headquarters.
Claude
Bez passed away on January 26, 1999 after a heart attack aged 58.
By
the time he passed away, there were still many potential lawsuits on the
horizon.
He
was credited for building a team that could rival the best in Europe as well as
generating revenue for teams from Television. Up to the 1980s clubs did not
receive any money from Television, as the airwaves were free. Bez was
instrumental in making sure that for covering home matches Television stations
paid money and the rest of the teams benefited.
Despite
his achievements on and off the field, his abrasive manner and the scandals
overshadowed his legacy, as he became synonymous as symbol of the excesses and
frauds of French soccer of the late 1980s.
