Pierre Pibarot
Encyclopedia
Pierre Pibarot, was a French football player
and legendary football manager. He was born in Alès
, France.
A product of the Olympique Alès
youth programme, Pibarot left Alès
briefly in 1932 to play for the now-defunct sporting club attached to the lycée Victor Hugo-de-Marseille. He returned to Olympique Alès in 1934, and was part of the team that won the Ligue 2
championship the following season.
His promising playing career was cut short by a leg injury he received at the Battle of Narvik in 1940; his short-lived return to professional play for Nancy was terminated when he turned manager in 1944, at the age of 29, after being part of the Coupe de France
winning Nancy side.
His old club offered him the manager's position in 1945; he used the following four years to perfect the 'line defence" technique that would make him famous, and in the process took Olympique Alès
back to the first division for the second time in its history.
In 1949 he moved to Nîmes Olympique
, which team too he took up to Ligue 1
, before being tapped to bring his skills to the French national team
in 1955. He had already been involved as a technical strategist with the team as early as their friendly against England
in 1951.
He ended his career with stints at RCF Paris
.
In recognition of his contributions to the science of defence and his excellence as a trainer, the main stadium at France's football academy at Clairefontaine
was named for him. The stadium of his old club at Alès
, where he is something of a hometown hero, is also named for him in memory of his contributions to the team as player and manager.
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
and legendary football manager. He was born in Alès
Alès
Alès is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. It is one of the sub-prefectures of the department. It was formerly known as Alais.-Geography:...
, France.
A product of the Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès is a French association football club founded in 1923, based in the commune of Alès. The Cévennes club currently playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale – the seventh division – of the Ligue du Languedoc; the club in the past has played for six seasons in Ligue 1...
youth programme, Pibarot left Alès
Alès
Alès is a commune in the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. It is one of the sub-prefectures of the department. It was formerly known as Alais.-Geography:...
briefly in 1932 to play for the now-defunct sporting club attached to the lycée Victor Hugo-de-Marseille. He returned to Olympique Alès in 1934, and was part of the team that won the Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
championship the following season.
His promising playing career was cut short by a leg injury he received at the Battle of Narvik in 1940; his short-lived return to professional play for Nancy was terminated when he turned manager in 1944, at the age of 29, after being part of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
winning Nancy side.
His old club offered him the manager's position in 1945; he used the following four years to perfect the 'line defence" technique that would make him famous, and in the process took Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès is a French association football club founded in 1923, based in the commune of Alès. The Cévennes club currently playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale – the seventh division – of the Ligue du Languedoc; the club in the past has played for six seasons in Ligue 1...
back to the first division for the second time in its history.
In 1949 he moved to Nîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique is a French association football club based in Nîmes. The club was formed on 10 April 1937 and currently play in Championnat National, the third level of French football. The club's only achievement was winning Ligue 2 in 1950 and the Championnat National in 1997...
, which team too he took up to Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, before being tapped to bring his skills to the French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in 1955. He had already been involved as a technical strategist with the team as early as their friendly against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1951.
He ended his career with stints at RCF Paris
RCF Paris
Racing Club de France – Levallois 92 is a French association football club formerly based in Colombes, a suburb of Paris. In 2009, the club moved to nearby Levallois-Perret after the club reached a financial agreement with the commune. Racing was founded in 1882 as a sports club and is one of the...
.
In recognition of his contributions to the science of defence and his excellence as a trainer, the main stadium at France's football academy at Clairefontaine
Clairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre , commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine , INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players...
was named for him. The stadium of his old club at Alès
Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès is a French association football club founded in 1923, based in the commune of Alès. The Cévennes club currently playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale – the seventh division – of the Ligue du Languedoc; the club in the past has played for six seasons in Ligue 1...
, where he is something of a hometown hero, is also named for him in memory of his contributions to the team as player and manager.