This is the 241stepisode
of my podcast, 'Soccernostalgia Talk
Podcast’.
For this
episode, I interview Distinguished Professor Dr. Laurent
Bellaiche of University of Arkansas as we discuss Girondins de Bordeaux FC
during the Claude Bez Presidency (1978-1991).
AS Monaco hosted Girondins de Bordeaux on January
18th, 1986, in a match that really had no bearing on the title race but
was nevertheless high profile due to the recent history between the teams.
Bordeaux were double defending Champions, in
fact they had won the 1984 title at the expense of Monaco, on goal difference
only.
Bordeaux’s title march in 1985 had been relatively
more comfortable, with Monaco making a late surge to finish third.
At this point, after Matchday 26, Paris St.
Germain were running away with the title.
Bordeaux and Monaco were behind with Bordeaux
slightly in a better position for the European places.
Bordeaux were led by veteran Captain Alain
Giresse and other Internationals like Jean Tigana, Thierry Tusseau, Patrick Battiston,
and new West German signing Uwe Reinders (signed at the start of season to
replace departing West German striker Dieter Muller).
The side was managed for many years by future
1998 World Cup winning Manager Aime Jacquet.
Monaco had started the season is a disappointing
fashion. They had been unable to use the momentum of the previous season to
challenge for the title.
They were just below the UEFA Cup qualification
places.
Lucien Muller’s side had a backbone of
goalkeeper Jean-Luc Ettori and French Internationals like Bernard Genghini,
Daniel Bravo and Bruno Bellone.
Ahead of this match, no one could foresee the
impending disaster for Bordeaux. In fact, their defense had been relatively tight.
Bordeaux were missing veteran Bernard Lacombe
and defender Leonard Specht. This was the debut season of future International
Alain Roche and he deputized for Specht.
Monaco were missing Bellone and the injured
Argentine defender Juan Simon. Felix Lacuesta had been signed in the new year
from Bastia, and he would start in this match and immediately make an impact.
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
Lacuesta scored after just 29 seconds to put
Bordeaux under pressure from the start. Genghini, celebrating his 28th
Birthday, doubled the lead in the 28th minute.
He would celebrate his birthday with four goals
that day.
Despite the (2-0) result in the first half, no
one could foresee the eventual result.
According to Battiston, Jacquet sensed the
impending disaster and warned his players at halftime. It would be to no avail.
As soon as the second half started, Thouvenel,
deflected a cross into his own net and the rout was on.
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
Genghini scored with a header in the 52nd
minute and another effort in the 60th minute.
Bravo scored with a solo effort in the 70th
minute, and then set up Genghini a few minutes later who scored with a diving
header.
Philippe Anziani
scored in the 78th minute and two minutes later Bravo scored the
ninth and final goal in the 80th minute.
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
It was a once in a lifetime result that no one
could have predicted. Bordeaux had not been as impressive as the two previous
Championship winning seasons, but certainly had not looked so vulnerable.
After the match, Bordeaux’s Tusseau stated that,
“it
was like a dream “. Many journalists pointed out that he should have called it
a nightmare.
Battiston expressed that
they had prepared for this match in a normal manner. There was no excess of
confidence, nor fear. He felt tactically, there were no new innovations, and
everyone was ready to face a dangerous opponent.
He added that he did not
want to minimize the score, but he considered it an exceptional event.
Bordeaux manager Jacquet
pointed out to the many individual errors in midfield. He expressed his
humiliation, but nevertheless believed that this was not the true worth of his
team and was not worried about future performances like this.
He added that he might
reconsider his team’s organization and pay more attention on the psychological ramifications.
On the following day,
Bordeaux President Claude Bez called Jacquet to demand an explanation.
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
Monaco goalkeeper
Jean-Luc Ettori stated that if someone had told him that Monaco would have
increased its goal-average against a team like Bordeaux, he would have thought
they were crazy.
Genghini hoped this win
would act as a catalyst to kickstart Monaco’s season, but it did not have the
desired effect. Monaco ended the season in mid-table at ninth place.
Bordeaux would finish
third in the League and somewhat salvaged their season by winning the French
Cup.
For his part, Monaco Manager Lucien Muller felt
Monaco’s (1-5) loss to Bordeaux, early in the season had motivated his players.
In the end, Muller summed
his team’s performance that by saying that “Nothing to add, we played to
perfection.”
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2805bis, January 14, 2000
(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco
9-Bordeaux 0)
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2805bis, January 14, 2000
(January 18, 1986, AS Monaco
9-Bordeaux 0)
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2805bis, January 14, 2000
League
Standings after the match after the 27th Matchday on January 19th,
1986:
1-Paris St. Germain44 points
2-Nantes 36 points
3-Bordeaux 36 points
4-Monaco
30 points
5-RC
Lens 30 points
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
Date: Saturday, January
18, 1986,
Competition:France Division I, 1985/86 Season-Matchday
27
Result :Association Sportive de Monaco 9- Girondins de
Bordeaux Football Club 0
Venue :Monaco-Stade Louis II
Attendance:8,074
Referee:Michel
Vautrot
Linesmen: -
Kick-off time: -
Goalscorers:
(Monaco): Felix
Lacuesta 1 (29 seconds), Bernard Genghini 28, 52, 60, 73, Own Goal
(Jean-Christophe Thouvenel) 46, Daniel Bravo 70, 80, Philippe Anziani 78
(Bordeaux):None
Summary of goals:
1:0 (1st minute (29 seconds),
Monaco): Christen’s
cross from the right led to a series of headers in the box, Lacuesta finally
struck in.
2:0 (28th minute, Monaco): From the
left, Bravo passed to Genghini in the middle who advanced and lobbed over
Dropsy.
3:0 (46th minute, Monaco): Christen’s
cross from the right side was deflected by Thouvenel into his own net at the
far post.
4:0 (52nd minute, Monaco): Tibeuf’s
corner from the left side, was headed across by Stojkovic to the near post and
headed in by Genghini.
5:0 (60th minute, Monaco): Christen’s
corner from the right side, was knocked back by Battiston in the path of
Genghini who sot in.
6:0 (70th minute, Monaco): From the
left side, Bravo dribbles past Thouvenel and cuts back in the middle to shoot
past Dropsy.
7:0 (73rd minute, Monaco): From the
left, Bravo’s cross was headed in by Genghini.
8:0 (78th minute, Monaco): Christen’s
cross from the right was knocked in by Anziani.
9:0 (80th minute, Monaco): After a
combination play in the middle, Lacuesta sent Bravo through to score.
Lineups:
AS Monaco:
Jean-Luc Ettori, Claude Puel, Nenad
Stojkovic (Yugoslavia), Dominique Bijotat, Manuel Amoros, Felix
Lacuesta, Frederic Christen, Daniel Bravo, Bernard
Genghini, Philippe Anziani, Youssef Fofana (Ivory Coast) (Philippe Tibeuf 31)
Coach: Lucien Muller
Booked: Felix
Lacuesta 25
Team Captain: Jean-Luc Ettori
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt Sponsor: Bally
Uniform Colors: Half Red, Half White
divided by diagonal stripe Shirts, Red Shorts, White Socks
Note:
1-Fofana was replaced after an injury
following a clash of heads with Rohr.
Bordeaux:
Dominique Dropsy, Jean-Christophe
Thouvenel, Alain Roche, Patrick Battiston, Gernot Rohr (West Germany) (Laurent
Lassagne 58), Rene Girard, Thierry Tusseau, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse, Marc Pascal,
Uwe Reinders (West Germany)
Coach: Aime Jacquet
Team Captain: Alain
Giresse
Official Kit
Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt Sponsor: OPEL
Uniform Colors: Navy
Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Navy Blue Socks
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
(January 18, 1986, AS
Monaco 9-Bordeaux 0)
References:
France Football, Issue
2076, January 21, 1986
France Football, Issue
2805bis, January 14, 2000
Photo From: Onze, Hors
serie 24, 1985
(Bordeaux Team
information 1985/86)
Photo From: Onze, Hors
serie 24, 1985
(Bordeaux Team
information 1985/86)
Photo From: Onze, Hors
serie 24, 1985
(AS Monaco squad 1985/86)
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2076, January 21, 1986
Bordeaux
and AC Milan were paired in the Quarterfinals of the 1995/96 UEFA Cup.
The
Italian were the premier Team in European Football having won the Champions Cup
(later called Champions League) three times in the previous eight years and
reached the Final on two other occasions.
The
squad managed by Fabio Capello had some of the best Italian players around such
as Legends like Captain Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio as well as
the likes of Alessandro Costacurta, Christian Panucci, Roberto Donadoni, etc.
The
foreign contingent included the recent 1995 Ballon d’Or, the Liberian (and
former Paris St. Germain) forward George Weah, Croatian midfielder Zvonimir
Boban and Yugoslavia’s Dejan Savicevic.
In
the midseason they had acquired promising young French player Patrick Vieira.
The
team were riding high in the League and were on their way to claim a fourth
Scudetto in five seasons.
They
had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Poland’s Zaglebie Lubin
(4-0, 4-1 away), France’s Strasbourg (1-0 away, 2-1 away) and Czech Republic’s
Sparta Prague (2-0 home, 0-0).
In
contrast, French club Bordeaux had been struggling in the League and were in
the lower half of the table.
They
had replaced their Manager, the Yugoslavian, Slavo Muslin with youth coach,
their long serving former German defender Gernot Rohr.
Despite
their struggles the team did have quality and formed a backbone with the trio
of future Legend Zidane Zidane along with defender Bixente Lizarazu and striker
Christophe Dugarry.
The
team also included former Ajax and Barcelona midfielder and Dutch International
Richard Witschge and Denmark’s Jacob Friis-Hansen.
They
had advanced via the Intertoto Cup and had started the previous July.
After
making their entry through the backdoor of the Intertoto Cup, Bordeaux had
qualified from their opening rounds by defeating FYR Macedonia’s Vardar Skopje
(0-2 away, 1-1 home), Russia’s Rotor Volgograd (2-1 home, 1-0 away) and Spain’s
Real Betis (2-0 home, 1-2).
The
first leg, on March 5th, was played at Milan’s Stadio Giuseppe
Meazza (San Siro).
Milan
fans used to the glamour of the Champions League did not view this competition
as highly and the low turn-out (just over 22, 0000) reflected that, as did some
of Capello’s selections.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Team
captains, Bixente Lizarazu and Franco Baresi, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan
2-Bordeaux 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Bordeaux
bench with Manager Gernot Rohr and Club President Alian Affelou, March 5, 1996,
UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
First
choice goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi was rested and in his place Mario Ielpo
started. Liberian striker George Weah was also missing.
Also
missing were, the injured Demetrio Albertini and Croatian Zvonimir Boban (out
because of the flu) in midfield.
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Patrick
Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Bixente
Lizarazu between Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi, March 5, 1996, UEFA
Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
Their
absence gave a rare opportunity for young French midfielder Patrick Vieira to
start.
Bordeaux
Manager Gernot Rohr had lowered expectations before the match and had given his
team only a 10% chance of advancing. His main concern had been to leave Milan
without giving up many goals.
On
the pitch, Milan did the required minimum to win.
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Mario
Ielpo, Richard Witschge and Alessandro Costacurta, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC
Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Marcel Desailly, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC
Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
In
the 30th minute, Marco Simone sent a through ball inside the box for
Savicevic (back to the goal), who laid it on for Eranio to shoot past Huard.
Milan
sealed the match in the 75th minute, through a curling free kick
goal by Roberto Baggio.
Milan
had won without really exerting themselves and were seemingly in a comfortable
lead for the second leg given their recent history.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Patrick
Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
Capello
was dissatisfied that his team had not scored at least one more goal. He also
called into question the refereeing over an offside call against Baggio.
Bordeaux
had been defeated but it had not been the humiliation that many would have
predicted.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Christophe Dugarry, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC
Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
Gernot
Rohr was satisfied with his team’s display especially given their League
position.
Christophe
Dugarry felt a two goal deficit would be hard but they would do their utmost to
win.
Afterwards,
Bordeaux President maintained that despite financial difficulties, there was a
95% chance that Dugarry and Zidane would still remain part of the squad for
next season. (In the end neither player nor Affelou himself remained for the
following season).
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1996
(Gaetan
Huard unable to stop Baggio’s free kick, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan
2-Bordeaux 0)
March 5, 1996
AC
(Associazione Calcio) Milan-Milano (Italy) 2- Football Club Des Girondins de
Bordeaux (France) 0
Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White
Shorts, Burgundy Red Socks
The
second leg, on March 19th, was played at Bordeaux’s Stade Chaban-Delmas (Parc Lescure).
Milan were seemingly in a safe position and the match held
no indications that it would become a classic in a match between the Serie A
League leaders against a team in the 14th position in the French
League.
For Milan, Weah was back in the squad, along with Roberto
Donadoni.
For
Bordeaux, Croci was out and Friis-Hansen was moved into the defense.
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(Team
captains, Bixente Lizarazu and Franco Baresi, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup,
Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Daniel
Dutuel started in midfield and Didier Tholot started upfront in place of
Bancarel.
Bordeaux
started from the beginning and were determined to win this match.
Milan,
perhaps surprised by Bordeaux’s determination were out of sorts in this first
half and had one of their worst displays.
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Gaetan
Huard and Paolo Maldini, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Grenet
between Albertini and Donadoni, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan
0)
Bordeaux
took the lead in the 15th minute. Richard Witschge switched the field
with a long pass from the right to the left side to Lizarazu.
The
Bordeaux Captain crossed inside the box for Tholot to tap in. Mario Ielpo
attempted to stop the shot but the ball went in.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Didier
Tholot scoring, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1996
(Didier
Tholot celebrating the first goal, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC
Milan 0)
Just
ten minutes later, Milan were dealt a blow when Eranio was injured and had to
be replaced by Albertini.
At
the start of the second half, Capello made a tactical switch to improve Milan’s
play. He took out Baggio and put in Paolo Di Canio.
At
first it appeared the change had been beneficial was Milan seemed better but
Bordeaux’s relentless surge continued.
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
In
the 64th minute, Bordeaux scored its second to tie the series.
Zidane
took a free kick from the left side that took a deflection and fell for Dugarry
to score from the rebound.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 110, March 1998
(Patrick
Vieira and Bixente Lizarazu , March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Marcel
Desailly, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0
Six
minutes later, in the 70th minute, Bordeaux scored its third to
overcome the deficit.
Lizarazu
released Zidane on the left side, who in turn tried to release Tholot but his
attempt was blocked and got back to him. Zidane then slid the ball to Dugarry
on the right side who shot high past Ielpo.
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Patrick
Vieira and Christophe Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(George
Weah, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Milan
still had two late chances by Weah, but Bordeaux goalkeeper Gaetan Huard came
to the rescue and saved the attempts.
In
the end Bordeaux won deservingly to seal one of the most memorable encounters
of the history of the European Cups.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Christophe
Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Zinedine
Zidane, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Christophe
Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Milan
had not lost in Europe by three clear goals since 1978. AC Milan’s French
midfielder Marcel Desailly declared afterwards that he was ashamed of their
display especially in the first half. He did however emphasize that Milan had
not underestimate its opponents. Desailly felt Bordeaux had played
exceptionally well by pressing hard.
Veteran Belgian Manager Raymond Goethals would later remark
that AC Milan would never have played in such a careless manner in the
Champions League.
This
result is remembered in the annals of French Football as one of the greatest
performances by a French club in Europe.
It
was not just overturning a deficit but it must be remembered that Berlusconi’s
Milan were at the time Europe’s premier club.
Photo
From: Planete Foot, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Planete Foot, April 1996
(Franco
Baresi and Christophe Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
Bordeaux
went on to eliminate Slavia Prague in the semifinals and advanced to the Final
of the UEFA Cup in May. They were overmatched in the Final by Bayern Munich and
were comprehensively defeated (0-2 away, 1-3 home) to end a European adventure
that had started the previous July.
That
season was also the onset of the Bosman ruling and Bordeaux predictably lost
its most valuable jewels.
AC
Milan themselves signed Christophe Dugarry, while Zidane headed for Juventus
and Lizarazu to Athletic Bilbao.
Even
players such as goalkeeper Gaetan Huard and midfielder Daniel Dutuel took
advantage of the new rules to move abroad.
AC
Milan clinched the League title to meet its primary objective.
This would remain as one of the biggest upsets
of European competitions.
March 19, 1996
Football
Club Des Girondins de Bordeaux (France) 3- AC (Associazione Calcio)
Milan-Milano (Italy) 0
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